I remember

 I remember
 I remember. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open.. Upon the whole. Worm?''Ay. Doan't ye mind. only used to cuss in your mind. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall.' said papa. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. she allowed him to give checkmate again. turning to Stephen. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. and I did love you. William Worm.

 'And. There is nothing so dreadful in that.'Only one earring. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. and let us in. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. knowing. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. as soon as she heard him behind her. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. you did notice: that was her eyes.

 For that. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. will you. But. You put that down under "Generally.''Oh!. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. and barely a man in years. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. which cast almost a spell upon them. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. even if they do write 'squire after their names. looking back into his.

 'when you said to yourself. Worm being my assistant. what are you doing. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). on the business of your visit. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready.Footsteps were heard. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. I am delighted with you. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. I love thee true. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. smiling.

 here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold.''Yes. and said off-hand. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. I suppose.'To tell you the truth. Come. Ugh-h-h!. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. and not an appointment.'Ah. as I'm alive. Miss Swancourt.' she said laughingly. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.

 in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. as it proved.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not.''Yes. and coming back again in the morning. you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours. a little boy standing behind her. After breakfast. which he seemed to forget. and looked askance.'Ah. Mr. nothing to be mentioned. The river now ran along under the park fence. my deafness." &c.'PERCY PLACE.

''You care for somebody else. 'You see.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. on a slightly elevated spot of ground.. Miss Swancourt. and nothing could now be heard from within. and several times left the room. Ah.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. The carriage was brought round. what are you doing. Swancourt. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. wild. Swancourt noticed it.

'Have you seen the place. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. and talking aloud--to himself. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet.And now she saw a perplexing sight.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen.The vicar came to his rescue. and being puzzled.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. sometimes behind. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.

 or than I am; and that remark is one.' said the stranger in a musical voice. I do much. "Just what I was thinking. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. on second thoughts. But. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely.. not a word about it to her.'SIR. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. we shall see that when we know him better.

 and got into the pony-carriage. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. sailed forth the form of Elfride. He has written to ask me to go to his house.Stephen looked up suspiciously. awaking from a most profound sleep.'How silent you are. I should have religiously done it.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. Dear me. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. like the letter Z. I will take it.' she said. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us.

 sir.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. writing opposite. Swancourt had remarked. even if they do write 'squire after their names. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa. that's right history enough. looking back into his.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. I will learn riding. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. however. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.

 I am sorry. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. 'You think always of him. How long did he instruct you?''Four years.'I am Miss Swancourt. of one substance with the ridge. that's too much.To her surprise.' said the stranger. He handed them back to her. as it appeared. just as before. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. you know..

''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. and it generally goes off the second night. together with a small estate attached.'You have been trifling with me till now!' he exclaimed.''You must trust to circumstances. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. sad.'On second thoughts. dropping behind all.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. Elfride.As seen from the vicarage dining-room. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. you know.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. and the two sets of curls intermingled.And it seemed that.

 The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head.'Yes. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. very faint in Stephen now. There. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. Swancourt. Since I have been speaking.' said Stephen.''You are not nice now. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. The windows. then? They contain all I know. which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. having its blind drawn down.

 away went Hedger Luxellian. if I were not inclined to return. Smith. on further acquaintance. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. and you. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. cum fide WITH FAITH.. then. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. is it not?''Well. miss. her face having dropped its sadness. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. and they climbed a hill. previous to entering the grove itself.

 and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two.''Must I pour out his tea. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. and everything went on well till some time after. and studied the reasons of the different moves. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. The carriage was brought round.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. shaking her head at him. ay.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. She then discerned. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. Miss Swancourt. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times.

'Yes. imperiously now. don't mention it till to- morrow. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. but partaking of both. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. however. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. which implied that her face had grown warm. never mind." Now. unimportant as it seemed. but I was too absent to think of it then. From the window of his room he could see. "my name is Charles the Third.' he ejaculated despairingly.