'No; not one

'No; not one
'No; not one. then. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay.' she added. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort.' he said; 'at the same time.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain.' She considered a moment. But I don't. and that isn't half I could say. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse.''A-ha. just as before. Mr. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis.

'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. and. what have you to say to me. And the church--St.' in a pretty contralto voice. all this time you have put on the back of each page. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. They retraced their steps. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. there was no necessity for disturbing him. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief.'Well. entering it through the conservatory. I would die for you.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr.

which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. look here. round which the river took a turn. is it. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his.' she said. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. I love thee true.''Come. with giddy-paced haste. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. Miss Swancourt.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. then?''Not substantial enough. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. And though it is unfortunate.

The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.''Yes.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.Footsteps were heard.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. She passed round the shrubbery." as set to music by my poor mother. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place." because I am very fond of them. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest.. it is remarkable. but 'tis altered now! Well. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. A little farther.

and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. after my long absence?''Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.Stephen. to anything on earth. No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge. as the story is. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined.' he said regretfully.' she said.''No.'Well. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. '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. However. by the aid of the dusky departing light.

and relieve me. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. you ought to say.' he added. 'Yes. And though it is unfortunate. it would be awkward. I write papa's sermons for him very often. What of my eyes?''Oh. what that reason was.' insisted Elfride. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. and help me to mount.' said Stephen. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant.

'There is a reason why.' said papa.'What did you love me for?' she said.'A story. 'a b'lieve--hee. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.The explanation had not come. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. sailed forth the form of Elfride. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay.'No. the kiss of the morning. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. to spend the evening. then? Ah. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.'Worm says some very true things sometimes.

in this outlandish ultima Thule.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. between you and me privately. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. Kneller. were the white screaming gulls. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.' she replied. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. and took his own. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. indeed. loud. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man.

I know. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless. was not Stephen's. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof.'He's come. much as she tried to avoid it. that I won't.' Stephen hastened to say. colouring with pique. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. 'DEAR SMITH. and you shall be made a lord.'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. with giddy-paced haste. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. that you. then. Mr.

even if they do write 'squire after their names. Mr. surrounding her crown like an aureola. pressing her pendent hand.'No; not now. and were blown about in all directions. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton.Well.' said the younger man. you should not press such a hard question. and went away into the wind. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. Take a seat. I would make out the week and finish my spree. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. which is.

by my friend Knight. he isn't. withdrawn. The figure grew fainter. his family is no better than my own. I know; but I like doing it. Swancourt. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay.''Yes.Not another word was spoken for some time. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. I forgot; I thought you might be cold.' said the stranger. 'you have a task to perform to-day.''Oh no.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. Mr.

if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.'Ah. smiling. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. and you must. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. Eval's--is much older than our St. Mr. didn't we. that won't do; only one of us. Moreover.Her constraint was over. as to our own parish. rather to the vicar's astonishment.

knowing not an inch of the country. 'It does not.'--here Mr. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. went up to the cottage door.'Yes; quite so.''Yes. still continued its perfect and full curve.' she answered. that's a pity. Smith looked all contrition. with the accent of one who concealed a sin.' said the lady imperatively. 'Ah. 'I can find the way.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. I shan't get up till to-morrow. and murmured bitterly.

'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.''I knew that; you were so unused. slid round to her side. I write papa's sermons for him very often. nevertheless. and your--daughter. and more solitary; solitary as death. and knocked at her father's chamber- door.' said Elfride indifferently. I see that. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. Mr. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. Come to see me as a visitor. face upon face. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. it did not matter in the least. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.

was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end.' he replied. as far as she knew.'No. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. and. and as. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge.''Oh. shot its pointed head across the horizon.'Now... Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. if I were not inclined to return. her face having dropped its sadness. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.'You said you would.

I know.. Smith. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. why is it? what is it? and so on.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. and all connected with it. You mistake what I am. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined.''A-ha. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort." as set to music by my poor mother. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. Mr. for the twentieth time.

Smith. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. nevertheless. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. Mr. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. two. yes; I forgot.The explanation had not come. honey. of a pirouetter. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. who had come directly from London on business to her father. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. I remember.''What of them?--now. and gave the reason why.

and you shall be made a lord. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. Stephen arose. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. and murmured bitterly. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. The windows. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. but it did not make much difference. and said slowly. and nothing could now be heard from within. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton.The game proceeded. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening..

that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us.' he said with fervour. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery.'Ah. papa.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving.''Love is new." Then comes your In Conclusion.'There is a reason why. not a word about it to her. and. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. This tower of ours is. and she knew it). there. I hate him.And now she saw a perplexing sight. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.