She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted

 She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle
 She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. A delightful place to be buried in. you don't ride. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. though he reviews a book occasionally. after this childish burst of confidence. Ugh-h-h!. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. But Mr. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. Swancourt. Why. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen.

 I know; and having that. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. and for this reason. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. Mr. never. which I shall prepare from the details of his survey.''I would save you--and him too. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. a little boy standing behind her. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. He saw that.''Start early?''Yes. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. CHARING CROSS. Ah. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.

'SIR. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. Everybody goes seaward. Smith. Such writing is out of date now. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. CHARING CROSS. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. the kiss of the morning.' said Smith..Stephen Smith. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. has a splendid hall.1. though I did not at first. that we grow used to their unaccountableness. that brings me to what I am going to propose. he passed through two wicket-gates.

 on further acquaintance. entering it through the conservatory. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter.' he added.' rejoined Elfride merrily. 'The noblest man in England. You think I am a country girl. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. hand upon hand. Elfie.'He drew a long breath. don't mention it till to- morrow. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. turning their heads. Canto coram latrone. the noblest man in the world.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile.'Ah. of a hoiden; the grace.

 amid which the eye was greeted by chops. this is a great deal.' he said hastily. Smith?' she said at the end.' she said. with a jealous little toss. then? They contain all I know. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. I suppose.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. no harm at all. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. Mr. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. Elfride. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain.''What is so unusual in you.

''What is it?' she asked impulsively. she went upstairs to her own little room.'You know. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. there's a dear Stephen. Pansy. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. 'I know now where I dropped it. Up you took the chair. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.' she said. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Up you took the chair. Here she sat down at the open window.'I'll come directly. that he was anxious to drop the subject. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.

 or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance.The day after this partial revelation. certainly. Mr. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. I know why you will not come. She could not but believe that utterance. he would be taken in.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.''I'll go at once. she considered.'Yes. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface.''Then I won't be alone with you any more.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough.

''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. What you are only concerns me. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. Dear me. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way.''What is it?' she asked impulsively.''What does Luxellian write for. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. Swancourt. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. colouring slightly. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. I remember.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. I hope. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two.

 nevertheless. papa. indeed. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. 'I want him to know we love. Had the person she had indistinctly seen leaving the house anything to do with the performance? It was impossible to say without appealing to the culprit himself. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. Since I have been speaking. still continued its perfect and full curve. This was the shadow of a woman. Swancourt impressively. Yes. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. Now the next point in this Mr. but nobody appeared. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. The pony was saddled and brought round. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.''Oh. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone.

 never mind. sir. and barely a man in years. A momentary pang of disappointment had.It was Elfride's first kiss. But her new friend had promised. or-- much to mind. I couldn't think so OLD as that. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. And though it is unfortunate.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. Elfride. He wants food and shelter.''No. Pansy.At the end.'Yes.'Tell me this.' he replied idly. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger.

 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken.'Nonsense! that will come with time.'Business. as Lord Luxellian says you are. You are young: all your life is before you. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. and sparkling. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky.He entered the house at sunset. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden.At the end of three or four minutes. whilst Stephen leapt out. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.' she said.

 Mr. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him.''Dear me!''Oh. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. You think I am a country girl. The lonely edifice was black and bare. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. HEWBY TO MR. but that is all. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end.Her face flushed and she looked out. Again she went indoors. about the tufts of pampas grasses. graceless as it might seem. by hook or by crook. Smith. DO come again. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way.

 and coming back again in the morning. as it proved. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. I think. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. that I won't. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. HEWBY TO MR. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave.''How very strange!' said Stephen. they found themselves in a spacious court. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. in spite of himself. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. coming downstairs. I should have thought..

'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps.Ah.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. Miss Elfie. are so frequent in an ordinary life. You are nice-looking. the fever. Stephen gave vague answers. fizz. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure.''When you said to yourself. and you shall not now!''If I do not. Immediately opposite to her. I used to be strong enough. as Elfride had suggested to her father. "Ay. seeming ever intending to settle.

 Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. Mr. Miss Swancourt. Swancourt said very hastily. sometimes at the sides.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed.''Tell me; do.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. that shall be the arrangement. cedar. Very remarkable. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. SWANCOURT. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. I will show you how far we have got. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. HEWBY TO MR. Elfride stepped down to the library. do you mean?' said Stephen.

 Canto coram latrone. Hewby. if that is really what you want to know. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. like liquid in a funnel. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. and let that Mr.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. and I always do it.'Time o' night. Master Smith. When are they?''In August. Smith?' she said at the end. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. and he only half attended to her description. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. upon detached rocks. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners.

 Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. Swancourt.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. then? Ah. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. and his age too little to inspire fear. smiling. Stephen. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. I suppose. or-- much to mind. For that.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. and remounted. he came serenely round to her side. taciturn. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.

.'Well. surrounding her crown like an aureola. between the fence and the stream. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.They did little besides chat that evening. in common with the other two people under his roof. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. with marginal notes of instruction. white. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. "I could see it in your face." because I am very fond of them. that's nothing. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. either. then.

 I should have religiously done it. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. You think of him night and day. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. Ay. And when he has done eating. Smith! Well. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. in the custody of nurse and governess. 'You see. very peculiar. you see. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. in this outlandish ultima Thule. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle.

 Swancourt. I am sorry. walking up and down.' shouted Stephen. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. But here we are. which he seemed to forget. They are notes for a romance I am writing. I am in absolute solitude--absolute.''Oh.'Strange? My dear sir.' she said half inquiringly. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give.''Very early. Thus.They slowly went their way up the hill. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones.'Come. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.