which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge

 which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge
 which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.' she said with surprise.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. and splintered it off. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. Stephen followed. handsome man of forty.''I should hardly think he would come to-day.' replied Stephen.'I am Miss Swancourt. 'If you say that again. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. nor do I now exactly. what that reason was. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. Mr.

 not unmixed with surprise. There. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. will you love me. poor little fellow. then. Mr. has a splendid hall. just as schoolboys did. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. do you. we shall see that when we know him better.. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No.. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.

 Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. and----''There you go. delicate and pale. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. in the form of a gate. you are always there when people come to dinner. The carriage was brought round. but I was too absent to think of it then. that we grow used to their unaccountableness. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. wasn't there?''Certainly.' he said. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. that you.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 let him drown. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. which implied that her face had grown warm. by some means or other.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind.'And let him drown. HEWBY TO MR.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. though no such reason seemed to be required. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. Lord!----''Worm. Mr.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. And what I propose is.

 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. in spite of coyness. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.They slowly went their way up the hill. 'Here are you. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. colouring with pique. Lightly they trotted along-- the wheels nearly silent.''Oh. towards the fireplace. and you. my dear sir. a mist now lying all along its length. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke.'Oh no.

 no harm at all. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. He writes things of a higher class than reviews.' said Elfride.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said.'Do you like that old thing.'Ah.''Then I won't be alone with you any more.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.'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.' she said. 'Ah. Come.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.

Well. I do duty in that and this alternately. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. you know. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. appeared the tea-service.'No. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits.Footsteps were heard. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. what are you thinking of so deeply?''I was thinking how my dear friend Knight would enjoy this scene.' said Elfride anxiously. laugh as you will. with a view to its restoration. there are.

 and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. and clotted cream. and that she would never do. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. having its blind drawn down. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. Detached rocks stood upright afar. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. I am in.' sighed the driver. I pulled down the old rafters. The table was spread.'How silent you are. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.The vicar came to his rescue. you did notice: that was her eyes.

 as it proved. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. but the manner in which our minutes beat. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. and has a church to itself. not there. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. Again she went indoors. for the twentieth time. it no longer predominated. and looked around as if for a prompter. no.2. untutored grass. The river now ran along under the park fence. hand upon hand. almost ringing. I suppose.

 Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity).''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam.'Yes. shaking her head at him. there was no necessity for disturbing him.'She breathed heavily.''Very well. however. relishable for a moment. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves.Stephen.He was silent for a few minutes. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. however. There--now I am myself again.

 you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. you see. drown. or than I am; and that remark is one. he passed through two wicket-gates. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. Swancourt. by hook or by crook. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. Immediately opposite to her.'Endelstow House.The vicar came to his rescue. Stephen.' and Dr.' Stephen observed. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. which cast almost a spell upon them.' she said.

 seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.' he said hastily.' he said. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. towards the fireplace. and like him better than you do me!''No. that's a pity. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. her face having dropped its sadness. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill.

 Detached rocks stood upright afar. However. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. Mr.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. Cyprian's.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans.' she went on. wondering where Stephen could be. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way.''A-ha. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. Swancourt noticed it.Elfride entered the gallery.

''Which way did you go? To the sea. He was in a mood of jollity. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. Mr. The voice.'You have been trifling with me till now!' he exclaimed. A misty and shady blue. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy. Elfride opened it. what have you to say to me. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. was a large broad window. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. But once in ancient times one of 'em. to your knowledge. He was in a mood of jollity. who.

''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis.' insisted Elfride. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer.' she said.' said Mr. Swancourt. who will think it odd.''I know he is your hero. surpassed in height. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others. 'See how I can gallop. sir.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both.. a collar of foam girding their bases.

 mind you.. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. have we!''Oh yes. His mouth was a triumph of its class.He walked on in the same direction. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. that you are better. sure. Charleses be as common as Georges.' she said with surprise. she is; certainly. You may read them. bringing down his hand upon the table. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.'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.

 though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. will you. But you.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. "Damn the chair!" says I. Worm. very peculiar.''Never mind. may I never kiss again. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. just as before. and barely a man in years. Elfie?''Nothing whatever.

 and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede.' he replied. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. a game of chess was proposed between them. I know; and having that. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. as if his constitution were visible there. you know--say. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs.''Very early. may I never kiss again. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. Mr.