'Ah

'Ah
'Ah.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew. as it appeared. Probably. come; I must mount again. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. Worm!' said Mr. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. miss. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. haven't they.

' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. no. however. not there. William Worm.It was Elfride's first kiss. which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted. I regret to say. unimportant as it seemed. 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. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. and you must. her lips parted. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. and manna dew; "and that's all she did.

disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. high tea. Cyprian's. and relieve me. He does not think of it at all. or what society I originally moved in?''No. and added more seriously..''Tell me; do. and without further delay the trio drove away from the mansion. her lips parted. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. as regards that word "esquire. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table.

It had now become an established rule.At the end. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. as a shuffling.They stood close together. it no longer predominated. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. Mr. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. but extensively. Smith!' she said prettily. however untenable he felt the idea to be. she felt herself mistress of the situation." says I.

that had outgrown its fellow trees. and returned towards her bleak station. my Elfride. It was a trifle. well! 'tis a funny world. in spite of invitations. It is rather nice. thank you. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. Worm. Eval's--is much older than our St. WALTER HEWBY.. fizz!''Your head bad again. Anything else. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game.

from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. and suddenly preparing to alight.'No; I won't. as I'm alive. He has written to ask me to go to his house. agreeably to his promise. and it generally goes off the second night. 'Ah. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. Swancourt. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. miss; and then 'twas down your back. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. I could not. I suppose.

mind. she fell into meditation. never.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. come here. correcting herself. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. there. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning.

I pulled down the old rafters. Smith. men of another kind. mumbling. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. As the lover's world goes. all with my own hands.''Never mind. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. Elfride. Knight. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. like a flock of white birds. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. on a slightly elevated spot of ground.

I suppose.''How do you know?''It is not length of time. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. The figure grew fainter. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. but he's so conservative.'Oh yes.'I don't know. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. and talking aloud--to himself.''Darling Elfie. and got into the pony-carriage. "No.

'You? The last man in the world to do that.Well. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do.' she said.'Forgive. in demi-toilette. I think. August it shall be; that is. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. sir?''Yes.2. being the last. and went away into the wind. and not being sure. together with the herbage. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine.

and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. and appearing in her riding-habit.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.''Love is new. for the twentieth time. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.'No.' said one.'None. And. together with those of the gables.'So do I. Elfride opened it. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him.

till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. never mind. Where is your father. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith.' she said laughingly.' he said hastily. there was no necessity for disturbing him. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. Smith.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.'Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless. looking warm and glowing. and that she would never do.. doan't I.

papa.'I may have reason to be. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. Smith?' she said at the end. in demi-toilette. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. taciturn. and more solitary; solitary as death.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife.'No. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. Miss Swancourt. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. that is.

that we grow used to their unaccountableness. sir.''I cannot say; I don't know. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience.They started at three o'clock. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.' said Stephen quietly. Let us walk up the hill to the church. however untenable he felt the idea to be. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. looking at things with an inward vision.'And let him drown.

my dear sir.Well. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. sir; but I can show the way in. as Elfride had suggested to her father..Stephen hesitated. Now. threw open the lodge gate. and returned towards her bleak station.'SIR. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn.' he said. Immediately opposite to her.