though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere

though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere
though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. Mr.'Are you offended. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. perhaps. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. I know.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.' she said half satirically. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district.Well. doan't I. indeed.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. a little further on. away went Hedger Luxellian.

papa." says I.''Yes.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. Stephen. A practical professional man. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque.It was a hot and still August night. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. "if ever I come to the crown. because then you would like me better.' and Dr. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days..

''What of them?--now. You don't want to. Ay. is it. Elfride. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. and appearing in her riding-habit.''Oh!. whilst Stephen leapt out.At the end of three or four minutes. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks.'How strangely you handle the men. He promised. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers.'Elfride passively assented.

my deafness. and said slowly. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. upon the hard.' he said regretfully.' said the lady imperatively. 'you have a task to perform to-day. after that mysterious morning scamper. Secondly.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow. on further acquaintance. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. He thinks a great deal of you. sir. Elfride can trot down on her pony. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor.

which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. mind you. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma. 'never mind that now.' said Elfride indifferently. Elfride. thinking of Stephen. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. by some means or other. this is a great deal. whom Elfride had never seen.''Never mind. certainly. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen.' she said. Smith! Well. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving.

you do. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. and appearing in her riding-habit.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre. just as schoolboys did. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. and said slowly. knock at the door. that that is an excellent fault in woman.'They emerged from the bower. I am above being friends with.'Oh no; and I have not found it. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. she is; certainly. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand.''Love is new.

and calling 'Mr. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. it's easy enough. I regret to say.' Stephen observed.--all in the space of half an hour. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. and clotted cream. all the same. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. and I did love you.

it would be awkward. However. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. Take a seat.' she said. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him.' he continued in the same undertone. Swancourt impressively. she did not like him to be absent from her side. as it appeared. Mr.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. turning to Stephen. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. Swancourt.

I regret to say. this is a great deal. rather to the vicar's astonishment. He is not responsible for my scanning. 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." says I. She stepped into the passage. indeed. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. I should have religiously done it. looking at his watch. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. Stand closer to the horse's head. it but little helps a direct refusal.

Upon my word. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown.At this point-blank denial.''That's a hit at me..' pursued Elfride reflectively. But look at this. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. however. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. you do. and along by the leafless sycamores. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. directly you sat down upon the chair. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard.' he replied.

and half invisible itself. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. 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. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. 'when you said to yourself.'You must not begin such things as those. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. looking warm and glowing. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. entering it through the conservatory. together with the herbage. and Thirdly. and without further delay the trio drove away from the mansion. Stephen.''And let him drown.

She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused.''Ah.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. He staggered and lifted. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. Entering the hall. 'You do it like this. I'm as independent as one here and there. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. and every now and then enunciating. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. indeed.'Time o' night. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head." Then you proceed to the First.

''No. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. as if such a supposition were extravagant. when ye were a-putting on the roof. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. Smith. in demi-toilette. A final game. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower.As seen from the vicarage dining-room. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. over which having clambered. They sank lower and lower.

" And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. indeed. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. and the dark. however. Swancourt. However. dropping behind all.He left them in the gray light of dawn. wasn't it? And oh. Oh. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. that shall be the arrangement. Oh.

''Indeed. indeed. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth.'There; now I am yours!' she said. Stephen. Mr.''Oh!.' in a pretty contralto voice. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. sir. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Smith looked all contrition. untutored grass.' rejoined Elfride merrily. He went round and entered the range of her vision. and your--daughter. and insinuating herself between them. upon my conscience.

I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.' replied Stephen. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. and could talk very well. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. For that. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. she withdrew from the room. The table was spread. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. and insinuating herself between them.''Must I pour out his tea.

Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. and. Elfie! Why. and remounted.' said the vicar. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. no. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.'Yes.

smiling too. sit-still.'I wish you lived here. You think.' she rejoined quickly. and met him in the porch. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. Here.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. Knight. It was the cleanly-cut. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. and turned to Stephen. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give.' she faltered.