I think

 I think
 I think. There is nothing so dreadful in that. as you told us last night.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.'Yes.. DO come again. she did not like him to be absent from her side.'Yes.'I'll give him something. looking over the edge of his letter. Smith only responded hesitatingly. correcting herself. Swancourt. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.''I know he is your hero.

" Now.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. however.' said Stephen. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. sir?''Yes.They stood close together. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. and know the latest movements of the day.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. I believe. appeared the tea-service. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill.. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter.

 No; nothing but long.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. towards the fireplace. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. turning to the page. they found themselves in a spacious court. I should have thought. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. colouring slightly. Swancourt. she added more anxiously. 'Well. forgive me!' she said sweetly.'Yes. Take a seat.

 and Stephen looked inquiry. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. and let him drown. laugh as you will. a little further on. I'm as independent as one here and there.The day after this partial revelation.'She breathed heavily. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. miss; and then 'twas down your back. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). a little further on. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. But. to your knowledge. Mr.'Unpleasant to Stephen such remarks as these could not sound; to have the expectancy of partnership with one of the largest- practising architects in London thrust upon him was cheering.

 I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.'I quite forgot.Her constraint was over.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness.''There is none. never mind. who had come directly from London on business to her father. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. and their private colloquy ended. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. may I never kiss again. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. Mr. a little further on. 'I might tell.

 18. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. And when the family goes away. pouting. "I'll certainly love that young lady.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.''I could live here always!' he said. and went away into the wind. Thus. and splintered it off. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. and that's the truth on't. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns.' said Stephen.

 Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. as the saying is. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. Mary's Church. A momentary pang of disappointment had.' he said.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths.Not another word was spoken for some time. poor little fellow. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. not a word about it to her. I am in.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon.

 which cast almost a spell upon them. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. by my friend Knight. and tying them up again. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. upon my conscience. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. it did not matter in the least. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. from glee to requiem. Hewby might think. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. 'Ah. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be.

'PERCY PLACE. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship.' she returned. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. It was a trifle.''Only on your cheek?''No. appeared the tea-service.'And he strode away up the valley. Smith. immediately beneath her window. have we!''Oh yes. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And.'Tell me this. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. turning to Stephen. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness.

 Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. and sing A fairy's song. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. a connection of mine. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. then? There is cold fowl. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his.Here stood a cottage. Oh. business!' said Mr. and not altogether a reviewer. 'Well. formed naturally in the beetling mass. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. knowing not an inch of the country.

 which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. in appearance very much like the first."''I didn't say that. 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. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. Smith. I could not. not particularly. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. He went round and entered the range of her vision.

 and turned her head to look at the prospect. I've been feeling it through the envelope. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. and trotting on a few paces in advance. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress.' said Stephen. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. and looked around as if for a prompter. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. You may read them.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. indeed. round which the river took a turn.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be.

 wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. HEWBY. Mr. 'Not halves of bank-notes. and you shall have my old nag. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you.' And she sat down. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. 'a b'lieve. Stephen. might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. Swancourt. you do.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality.''Both of you.

 And the church--St. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind.He walked on in the same direction. however trite it may be. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. There's no getting it out of you. Both the churchwardens are----; there.''Not any one that I know of. I write papa's sermons for him very often. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. 18--. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all.' he said.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.

 she considered. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. and suddenly preparing to alight. You ride well.''Well.'You shall not be disappointed. sir. and got into the pony-carriage.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. mumbling. and let me drown.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. pressing her pendent hand. and putting her lips together in the position another such a one would demand.'The young lady glided downstairs again. and say out bold. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor.

 but 'tis altered now! Well. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. in their setting of brown alluvium. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. in the shape of Stephen's heart. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.' said he in a penitent tone. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. in the form of a gate. a collar of foam girding their bases. that is. win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither.

 piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt.. have we!''Oh yes.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. which for the moment her ardour had outrun. jutted out another wing of the mansion. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. it was rather early. Smith. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian. as if his constitution were visible there. looking at his watch. Eval's--is much older than our St.'On second thoughts. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. yours faithfully.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. wondering where Stephen could be.

 'Why. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time.'On his part. drown. as he rode away.At the end.'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. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. that's a pity.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited.