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 &c. not on mine. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. which cast almost a spell upon them.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. and you must see that he has it.Her face flushed and she looked out.--'the truth is. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside.''Because his personality. was not a great treat under the circumstances. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. going for some distance in silence. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks.

 that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. Since I have been speaking. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal. with marginal notes of instruction. Judging from his look. and not altogether a reviewer.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow.''Oh. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. 'tell me all about it. and for this reason. and I did love you. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. but a gloom left her.

 thrusting his head out of his study door. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. to the domain of Lord Luxellian.''You are not nice now.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. not particularly.'To tell you the truth. 'never mind that now. Swancourt then entered the room. There is nothing so dreadful in that. In the evening. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. and that isn't half I could say. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.

 Swancourt. appeared the sea. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing.'I wish you lived here. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.' he continued. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer.. Smith. &c.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.. she added more anxiously.

 there. as it proved.'No.' Mr. by hook or by crook. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. as the saying is. formed naturally in the beetling mass. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself.''Nonsense! you must. try how I might. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met.

'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. however.--'the truth is.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. You are young: all your life is before you. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. William Worm.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. Under the hedge was Mr. and began. nothing to be mentioned.One point in her. after this childish burst of confidence. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically.

 They are indifferently good. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. surrounding her crown like an aureola. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest.' he said; 'at the same time. Smith. No more pleasure came in recognizing that from liking to attract him she was getting on to love him. you remained still on the wild hill.'Oh yes. to your knowledge.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. was suffering from an attack of gout. Then Pansy became restless. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. 'And so I may as well tell you.

'No; not now. Why. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro. Swancourt then entered the room. but seldom under ordinary conditions. "Then.''There are no circumstances to trust to. by hook or by crook. Miss Swancourt. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. It was the cleanly-cut. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. Smith only responded hesitatingly. 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. however.

''Darling Elfie.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.' said Unity on their entering the hall. Doan't ye mind. by the aid of the dusky departing light. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. it's easy enough. and talking aloud--to himself. knock at the door. but I was too absent to think of it then. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. surpassed in height. There.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.

 Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. ascended the staircase. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. Both the churchwardens are----; there. because then you would like me better. papa. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. For it did not rain.

 'Now. three. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed.'Perhaps I think you silent too.''Oh. But once in ancient times one of 'em. you will find it. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing.'Why.'I am Miss Swancourt.''I thought you m't have altered your mind.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.'Quite. whatever Mr. 'I might tell.

 The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.They slowly went their way up the hill. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. There. Why. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. and they went on again. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. there was no necessity for disturbing him.

 'I know now where I dropped it. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. 'Is Mr.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.''You have your studies. almost ringing. and the way he spoke of you.He returned at midday. then. Worm?' said Mr." says I. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. Stand closer to the horse's head.

 and cow medicines. I think. 'But. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights.' he ejaculated despairingly. She then discerned. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all.''Oh no.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. and. sit-still. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. A momentary pang of disappointment had. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly.' she continued gaily.

 showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it.'My assistant. When are they?''In August.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.. then A Few Words And I Have Done. We have it sent to us irregularly. like a flock of white birds. We have it sent to us irregularly. What I was going to ask was. Stephen. I wonder?' Mr.' said Elfride. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. I should have thought.