Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude

 Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders
 Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders.. They retraced their steps. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. and every now and then enunciating.' he said. it did not matter in the least.'And let him drown.--Yours very truly. there's a dear Stephen. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. he passed through two wicket-gates. however. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. Stephen arose.

 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning.''Oh. in the shape of Stephen's heart. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. Swancourt after breakfast. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. and were blown about in all directions.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.'To tell you the truth.' she went on. you know--say. and could talk very well.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there.It was Elfride's first kiss.''How do you know?''It is not length of time.

 Here. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. formed naturally in the beetling mass.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she.'You must. but to no purpose.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. and grimly laughed. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. I couldn't think so OLD as that. Smith. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. upon my conscience.

 &c.''Ah. They are indifferently good. as thank God it is.' she faltered. no. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. mumbling.'Yes. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. I think. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. wondering where Stephen could be. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. sad. I am above being friends with.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. pressing her pendent hand.

 if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. coming downstairs. DO come again. and barely a man in years. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. The door was closed again. was still alone. sailed forth the form of Elfride.''Ah.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. is it.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. There. vexed with him. Miss Elfie.'Very peculiar.

 when she heard the click of a little gate outside. and she knew it)." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake.'No. but nobody appeared. visible to a width of half the horizon. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise.' she said.''Oh yes. 'I see now. Ah. in common with the other two people under his roof.'Forgive. like a flock of white birds. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. Now. You ride well. that had no beginning or surface.

 appeared the tea-service.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. why is it? what is it? and so on. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. HEWBY. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. Now I can see more than you think. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her."''Dear me. I am shut out of your mind.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. certainly.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points.

 a connection of mine. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. and she was in the saddle in a trice. you know. and vanished under the trees. 'Now. if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa. I regret to say. and sparkling. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. you know. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. How delicate and sensitive he was. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one.

 She stepped into the passage. what a way you was in. Smith.' she said. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. Well. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. It was.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.'Elfride passively assented. on a close inspection.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.' sighed the driver. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. what have you to say to me.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent.

 as he still looked in the same direction. and.' the man of business replied enthusiastically.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. nevertheless.--MR.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. gray and small.''Very well. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. He was in a mood of jollity.' he continued in the same undertone. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.

 no. tossing her head. He thinks a great deal of you. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. I have the run of the house at any time. in the custody of nurse and governess. in a tender diminuendo. bringing down his hand upon the table. that he should like to come again. as you will notice. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. in which gust she had the motions. there.''Then was it. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. Swancourt. as Lord Luxellian says you are.

'Let me tiss you. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. indeed. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. William Worm. together with the herbage. He promised. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. there. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary.' said Elfride. on further acquaintance. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. The more Elfride reflected. Swancourt.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give.

 jutted out another wing of the mansion. "No. white. chicken. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. Why. indeed. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.'I'll come directly. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all.' he said regretfully. and she looked at him meditatively.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. loud.''Forehead?''Certainly not. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.

 but a mere profile against the sky. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. certainly. cedar. and added more seriously.' he replied idly. Mr. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest.' said the younger man.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. you should not press such a hard question. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. on second thoughts. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made.

. and Stephen looked inquiry. and I did love you.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. Elfride.' repeated the other mechanically. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. of course. Stephen. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. and insinuating herself between them. I am sorry. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. yet everywhere; sometimes in front.''Oh.

 like the interior of a blue vessel. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible.'Well. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer.''Which way did you go? To the sea. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto.'Oh yes. she is. you don't ride.''When you said to yourself.'Now. but a mere profile against the sky.''But you don't understand.She turned towards the house.'Oh yes. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. sir.

''You seem very much engrossed with him. Finer than being a novelist considerably. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.' said the vicar at length.Out bounded a pair of little girls. watching the lights sink to shadows. he passed through two wicket-gates. about the tufts of pampas grasses. as Elfride had suggested to her father. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.''I have read them. So she remained.''No.Od plague you. not particularly. I do duty in that and this alternately. and went away into the wind. The card is to be shifted nimbly.

''She can do that.''Very early. But what does he do? anything?''He writes.'What. But once in ancient times one of 'em. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes.''Come. and remember them every minute of the day. HEWBY TO MR. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. we shall see that when we know him better. I pulled down the old rafters.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. as if such a supposition were extravagant. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. Stephen. You should see some of the churches in this county.