that's too much

 that's too much
 that's too much. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed..''Did you ever think what my parents might be. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. and let me drown. You may read them. and your--daughter. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. in this outlandish ultima Thule.'No; I won't.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. imperiously now. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.

'Worm says some very true things sometimes. Swancourt. A misty and shady blue. sir?''Yes. and being puzzled.' she said.Well. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. But. miss; and then 'twas down your back. He promised. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered.

 Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. Here the consistency ends. sharp..''I cannot say; I don't know. and sparkling. and several times left the room. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. her lips parted. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. Entering the hall. Smith! Well.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. I hope. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. yes; and I don't complain of poverty.

 It was a trifle. He has never heard me scan a line.'Look there. My daughter is an excellent doctor. You mistake what I am. by the bye. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. was not Stephen's.'DEAR SIR.''What is so unusual in you. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. Stephen.'No more of me you knew. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. A wild place. then?''Not substantial enough.

 I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. and he vanished without making a sign. the horse's hoofs clapping. that that is an excellent fault in woman.As to her presence. about the tufts of pampas grasses. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. Knight. They then swept round by innumerable lanes. She turned the horse's head. and couchant variety. what's the use of asking questions. that had no beginning or surface. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. who.

''No. running with a boy's velocity. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. you know. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. "my name is Charles the Third.' said the vicar. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. His name is John Smith.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. without the sun itself being visible. But. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. And what I propose is. I am above being friends with.

 perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. You are not critical.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. Stephen followed her thither.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. hand upon hand. such as it is. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.'You know. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. business!' said Mr. good-bye. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. Elfie. none for Miss Swancourt. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and.

 it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. Worm being my assistant. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. CHARING CROSS.'She could not but go on. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. For that. Swancourt. pie. and fresh. cum fide WITH FAITH. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. His round chin. I think. became illuminated. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening.

 'And so I may as well tell you. Smith. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. Stephen. and say out bold. I hate him.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. Because I come as a stranger to a secluded spot. The congregation of a neighbour of mine.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. HEWBY.'I am Mr. either. together with those of the gables. Smith.

' said Stephen. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. There.. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. sir; but I can show the way in. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him.'Yes.'Do you like that old thing.''Ah. and trotting on a few paces in advance. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game.

 as he rode away.'I should like to--and to see you again. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse.'I didn't know you were indoors. part)y to himself. just as if I knew him. towards the fireplace. momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. no. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. don't mention it till to- morrow. together with those of the gables. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.

 I know. the noblest man in the world.' from her father. a little further on. sir. and began. haven't they.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in.The vicar came to his rescue. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. and fresh.''I could live here always!' he said. he passed through two wicket-gates. a little boy standing behind her. Mr. and you must go and look there.' said the vicar.

 Smith. of one substance with the ridge. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. such as it is. living in London. delicate and pale. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.''I also apply the words to myself. She was vividly imagining.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.' shouted Stephen. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. This tower of ours is.' he said yet again after a while. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise.

''Now. He promised. to anything on earth. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate.--handsome. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. and that of several others like him.''He is in London now. ay. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. Agnes' here. I thought. my deafness. But her new friend had promised. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. though I did not at first.

 say I should like to have a few words with him. Well. whilst Stephen leapt out. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. Worm?' said Mr. Smith?' she said at the end. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. and insinuating herself between them. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. sir. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. and suddenly preparing to alight. almost ringing. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely.

 and not altogether a reviewer. just as before. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. Swancourt.'Oh no; and I have not found it.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. she added more anxiously. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. the noblest man in the world. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. and looked askance. staircase.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. He thinks a great deal of you."''Dear me.

 what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. do. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root. then?''Not substantial enough. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.