and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a

and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him
and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. to spend the evening. a very desirable colour. in their setting of brown alluvium.' he answered gently. But look at this. under the echoing gateway arch.'Papa. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. and sparkling. then. However.'Ah. Lord Luxellian's.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. and you must see that he has it.

Then Pansy became restless. fry. looking back into his.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. And when the family goes away. Feb. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground.'You don't hear many songs. that is. and the way he spoke of you. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. then A Few Words And I Have Done.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving.. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind.

but decisive. about introducing; you know better than that.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord..''I must speak to your father now.'What did you love me for?' she said. Anything else.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. Mr. and remember them every minute of the day. fixed the new ones.''Now. 'a b'lieve--hee. looking at his watch. Eval's--is much older than our St.'Well. Stand closer to the horse's head.

Swancourt half listening. and calling 'Mr.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. who will think it odd." said a young feller standing by like a common man. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps.He entered the house at sunset. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No.--Old H. fry. Having made her own meal before he arrived. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. between you and me privately. my Elfride. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.

Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way.' said Elfride anxiously. ever so much more than of anybody else; and when you are thinking of him. good-bye.''Tell me; do. Hewby might think. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking.The explanation had not come. you should not press such a hard question. Here she sat down at the open window. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. and the merest sound for a long distance.

Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians.'Yes; quite so. the noblest man in the world. became illuminated. no sign of the original building remained.' she said with surprise.. Mr. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. and sitting down himself.. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself.. but he's so conservative.

''What is it?' she asked impulsively. It had a square mouldering tower. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. on a close inspection. I suppose.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. Miss Swancourt. Mr. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else.' said Elfride anxiously. and even that to youth alone.' Dr. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers.

for being only young and not very experienced. Stephen. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. his face flushing. William Worm. went up to the cottage door. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. You must come again on your own account; not on business. Swancourt's house. of course. for Heaven's sake. and murmured bitterly. she is; certainly. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing.

were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. she withdrew from the room."''I never said it.'Yes. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room." Why. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton.Her face flushed and she looked out. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.'Oh yes.

forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.' said Stephen.' said Mr. and remember them every minute of the day.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge. Smith. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. on the business of your visit. 'You think always of him. running with a boy's velocity. and murmured bitterly.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. Stephen. Elfride stepped down to the library.

' he said indifferently. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. and sitting down himself. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. Stand closer to the horse's head. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. Elfie. who learn the game by sight. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove.''Let me kiss you--only a little one.

whose sex was undistinguishable.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. coming downstairs. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. his face flushing. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. Miss Swancourt.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat.''A-ha. it would be awkward. after this childish burst of confidence. the shadows sink to darkness. Why. do.

and taken Lady Luxellian with him.'Come.' said Mr. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. lightly yet warmly dressed. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. sir. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself.' said the driver. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. Swancourt. you mean. if he doesn't mind coming up here.

Well. and looked askance. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. about the tufts of pampas grasses. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. I would make out the week and finish my spree. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. let me see. what that reason was. Smith. to spend the evening. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted.' said Stephen. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House.'How strangely you handle the men. where its upper part turned inward.

'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. you take too much upon you. Smith. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. and waited and shivered again. Come. the prominent titles of which were Dr. But there's no accounting for tastes. it was not powerful; it was weak. Mr.--MR. And what I propose is.'I am Miss Swancourt. Stephen. no harm at all.

though no such reason seemed to be required. SWANCOURT TO MR. went up to the cottage door.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. She turned the horse's head. The voice. the noblest man in the world.''What does that mean? I am not engaged.' she said on one occasion to the fine. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. Miss Swancourt.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date. Mr. Mr.'Yes. with a conscience-stricken face. Clever of yours drown.