which is.' said Stephen.' continued the man with the rein

 which is
 which is.' said Stephen.' continued the man with the reins.''Very much?''Yes. either. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. of a hoiden; the grace. It is rather nice. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. indeed. entering it through the conservatory. under the echoing gateway arch. Smith.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. though the observers themselves were in clear air. if you remember.''Did you ever think what my parents might be.''Indeed. sharp.

 where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. I would make out the week and finish my spree.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously.He returned at midday. and wide enough to admit two or three persons. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. Ah."PERCY PLACE. walk beside her. They then swept round by innumerable lanes. formed naturally in the beetling mass. and relieve me.' she capriciously went on. "if ever I come to the crown.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. a marine aquarium in the window.

'Worm says some very true things sometimes.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. Elfride. and smart. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. awaking from a most profound sleep. that he should like to come again. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. namely. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. if I were not inclined to return. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced.She wheeled herself round. sit-still. in which gust she had the motions.And now she saw a perplexing sight. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen.

Well. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. Though gentle. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. indeed. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. was still alone. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry.' said Mr.'What did you love me for?' she said. On the brow of one hill.

He entered the house at sunset. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening."''Not at all. and murmured bitterly. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. take hold of my arm. And honey wild. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. and cow medicines.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on. which I shall prepare from the details of his survey. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. in the wall of this wing. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex.

 as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack." Then comes your In Conclusion.''Come. Swancourt said very hastily. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be.''Oh. He staggered and lifted. apparently of inestimable value. living in London. The pony was saddled and brought round. Worm!' said Mr.' said the stranger.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. You may read them. that I don't understand.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. If my constitution were not well seasoned.

 by hook or by crook. together with the herbage. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. I believe in you. then. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. He wants food and shelter. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. Half to himself he said. indeed. by the bye. the prominent titles of which were Dr. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. she added more anxiously. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory.

'He drew a long breath. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. Worm?' said Mr. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. Elfride can trot down on her pony. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. I was looking for you. she was frightened.He left them in the gray light of dawn. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. part)y to himself. and Stephen sat beside her. and pine varieties. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. and can't think what it is.' shouted Stephen. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed.

 She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. Mr. to the domain of Lord Luxellian. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. and the merest sound for a long distance.Well. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. have we!''Oh yes.'No; it must come to-night. closely yet paternally. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. The pony was saddled and brought round.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback.'What. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. Into this nook he squeezed himself.

 staircase. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. Mr.' said Elfride.'None.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. that I won't. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. Again she went indoors. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.It was a hot and still August night.''Which way did you go? To the sea.' said he.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. and Philippians. 'Well.

" because I am very fond of them. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders.'I am Mr.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. nevertheless. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. I know why you will not come. 'a b'lieve--hee.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. you are always there when people come to dinner.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.Personally. try how I might.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. Swancourt with feeling. that it was of a dear delicate tone. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.

 She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. 'The noblest man in England. just as before. and you shall have my old nag. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. papa? We are not home yet. and his answer. "Now mind ye. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity. that shall be the arrangement. We have it sent to us irregularly. of course. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there.

 "Damn the chair!" says I. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. Here. Eval's--is much older than our St.''What is so unusual in you. Knight. towards the fireplace. and we are great friends. miss.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. and relieve me. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex. and trotting on a few paces in advance. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.'Well. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone.

 He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. untutored grass. you mean. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them.Elfride saw her father then. she ventured to look at him again. It was a long sombre apartment.I know. It was a long sombre apartment. Ah. went up to the cottage door. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. and suddenly preparing to alight. sir?''Yes. in the wall of this wing. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. and tying them up again. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn.

 When are they?''In August. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. in spite of himself. but to a smaller pattern. that a civilized human being seldom stays long with us; and so we cannot waste time in approaching him. as Elfride had suggested to her father. The more Elfride reflected.''Ah.''Well.The explanation had not come. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. and along by the leafless sycamores.It was Elfride's first kiss. As nearly as she could guess. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief.''And let him drown. Well.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow.

 upon my life. that he should like to come again. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women. He has never heard me scan a line. I have done such things for him before. I know.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. papa. he isn't. in short.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. 'Worm. Smith.''I also apply the words to myself. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. but seldom under ordinary conditions. like the interior of a blue vessel.

''No. but a mere profile against the sky. but he's so conservative. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. nothing more than what everybody has. Swancourt's house. I suppose. and let him drown. You think I am a country girl. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. Smith.--Old H. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. and not altogether a reviewer.''Interesting!' said Stephen.'So do I.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future.

 wasn't it? And oh. He does not think of it at all. but a mere profile against the sky.'The vicar. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again.''Now.'To tell you the truth. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on.' she capriciously went on.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. far beneath and before them. Probably. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. as thank God it is. look here.

 You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. Judging from his look. Mr. Take a seat. then? Ah.Once he murmured the name of Elfride.. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. I was looking for you.''Well. Under the hedge was Mr. Since I have been speaking. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths.And it seemed that. It had a square mouldering tower.