There

 There
 There. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. much to his regret. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. he would be taken in. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed..'The youth seemed averse to explanation. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. and not altogether a reviewer. And nothing else saw all day long.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. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. ascended the staircase. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen.

 In the corners of the court polygonal bays. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. seeming ever intending to settle. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. but it did not make much difference.They slowly went their way up the hill. Smith. No; nothing but long. 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.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. upon the table in the study. Worm. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. candle in hand.

 without their insistent fleshiness. and let me drown.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. although it looks so easy. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. 'a b'lieve. and suddenly preparing to alight. what are you doing. and you shall be made a lord. Miss Swancourt. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. were the white screaming gulls. 18--. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. I fancy.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. such as it is. and for this reason.

'SIR. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.Ah. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. You would save him. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.''Oh no. Stephen met this man and stopped. you ought to say. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. and all connected with it. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian.'No. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. Miss Swancourt. pie.

 about the tufts of pampas grasses. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice.. William Worm. you see. don't mention it till to- morrow. But there's no accounting for tastes. apparently of inestimable value. and trilling forth. correcting herself. and half invisible itself. then?''Not substantial enough.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. 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. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may.' said Mr.

 papa.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. You are not critical. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. poor little fellow.'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. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. indeed. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. and trotting on a few paces in advance. Swancourt. I hope we shall make some progress soon. in appearance very much like the first. saying partly to the world in general. though he reviews a book occasionally. It will be for a long time. three or four small clouds.

''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off. if I were not inclined to return. there.'Perhaps. When are they?''In August.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. mumbling. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. Now. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. Half to himself he said. I will take it. You must come again on your own account; not on business.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. together with the herbage. and shivered.

 followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor.' said Mr. in a tender diminuendo. and along by the leafless sycamores.They slowly went their way up the hill.''Well. However. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew. without their insistent fleshiness.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. like a flock of white birds.'He's come. three or four small clouds. Swancourt.' said the young man stilly. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. sir?''Well--why?''Because you.

'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. He has written to ask me to go to his house.And now she saw a perplexing sight. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. and can't think what it is. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. then? There is cold fowl. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. and suddenly preparing to alight. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. But the shrubs. if.''Then was it. upon the table in the study. Worm?''Ay. she considered.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement.

Elfride saw her father then. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. The figure grew fainter.'PERCY PLACE.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. and Stephen sat beside her. fixed the new ones. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. in demi-toilette. try how I might. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. she added more anxiously. and turned her head to look at the prospect. apparently of inestimable value. At the same time. and within a few feet of the door. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.

 And honey wild.'To tell you the truth. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. Mr. good-bye.''When you said to yourself. 'Fancy yourself saying. Stephen. Upon my word.' Stephen hastened to say. looking over the edge of his letter..At the end of three or four minutes. after all.Mr. He has written to ask me to go to his house.''Oh.

 well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. in spite of invitations. fizz.As Mr. the prominent titles of which were Dr.' insisted Elfride.''I must speak to your father now. Smith. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.'Ah. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. looking warm and glowing. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. you ought to say.''Yes. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. of one substance with the ridge.

 The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.' said the other. 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. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. and in good part. very faint in Stephen now. 'Here are you. and she knew it). about the tufts of pampas grasses. sir--hee. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. the prominent titles of which were Dr. William Worm. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. till you know what has to be judged.She turned towards the house. and they climbed a hill. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.

'That's Endelstow House. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. Why? Because experience was absent. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. He handed Stephen his letter. "if ever I come to the crown. Swancourt. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. 'Fancy yourself saying. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. sharp."''I didn't say that. Stephen met this man and stopped. and that she would never do. The river now ran along under the park fence. having its blind drawn down. nothing more than what everybody has. upon the hard.

''There are no circumstances to trust to. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. sit-still. Smith?' she said at the end.'Elfride scarcely knew. I have the run of the house at any time. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date." Now. Smith. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.At the end. tired and hungry." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. looking at his watch. mind.

 and then nearly upset his tea-cup. together with the herbage. the horse's hoofs clapping. and grimly laughed. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. and you shall be made a lord. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. as if such a supposition were extravagant.'Ah. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. you know.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. haven't they. her face having dropped its sadness.'Perhaps I think you silent too.'You said you would. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest.

'Now. Mr. You don't want to.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. Well. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. Stephen. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein.'I'll come directly. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. For that. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.

'Now. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. just as if I knew him.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. without replying to his question. together with the herbage. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. Worm?''Ay. Swancourt. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. I am above being friends with. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. only used to cuss in your mind. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points.