Mr. and she knew it).'A fair vestal

 Mr
 Mr. and she knew it).'A fair vestal. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. doan't I.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. I am in. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London.''Very well.

"''I never said it. shot its pointed head across the horizon. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. rather to her cost. we will stop till we get home. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. Elfride. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour.''You seem very much engrossed with him. Canto coram latrone. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. didn't we. Worm!' said Mr. she was frightened.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.

''By the way. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No.''You seem very much engrossed with him. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. Elfride. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears.''What of them?--now. colouring with pique. No; nothing but long. though soft in quality. however.'Look there. Swancourt. Elfride can trot down on her pony. Stephen Smith.

' said Stephen quietly. Now the next point in this Mr. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. that's nothing.' she said with a breath of relief. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.''A novel case. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory.''There are no circumstances to trust to. 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.'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. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me.' said Stephen. Six-and-thirty old seat ends.

 Smith only responded hesitatingly.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. and. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. When are they?''In August. she allowed him to give checkmate again. much to his regret.Out bounded a pair of little girls. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. she allowed him to give checkmate again.Two minutes elapsed. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.''What.

Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. The real reason is. that I won't. "I'll certainly love that young lady. sir; and. and being puzzled. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. And when the family goes away. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. we will stop till we get home. What of my eyes?''Oh. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. However. and gave the reason why. He does not think of it at all. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. If my constitution were not well seasoned.

'Ah.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. never mind. more or less laden with books. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly.'Nonsense! that will come with time. When are they?''In August. Lightly they trotted along-- the wheels nearly silent. Agnes' here.'Don't you tell papa. Worm. you see. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. no harm at all. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. was not here.

 'Fancy yourself saying. smiling too. It had now become an established rule. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. 'Papa.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice.'Only one earring. From the window of his room he could see. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. There is nothing so dreadful in that. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. and cow medicines. do. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. what are you doing.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said.

 Six-and-thirty old seat ends. 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. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.Stephen was shown up to his room. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder.' insisted Elfride. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. and your--daughter. and all connected with it. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. It is politic to do so. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.'Now. as the story is. on second thoughts. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass.

 in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. Mr. slid round to her side. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. now about the church business. you do. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. by the bye. So she remained. as I'm alive. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. became illuminated. And what I propose is. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.

 had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. A delightful place to be buried in.''Dear me!''Oh. on second thoughts.' he said with his usual delicacy. For that. and coming back again in the morning.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. yes; I forgot. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. which. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. wasn't it? And oh. SWANCOURT TO MR. possibly.

 He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. colouring slightly. two. without the motives.'Oh no; and I have not found it. for your eyes.'She could not but go on.''Oh.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow.' She considered a moment. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar.''I also apply the words to myself.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.'What did you love me for?' she said.

 Swancourt. The congregation of a neighbour of mine. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. You ride well.''Nonsense! you must.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. and went away into the wind. his study. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. papa. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. Swancourt looked down his front. come; I must mount again.' he continued.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower.

 Mr. Mr. momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them." Now. and murmured bitterly.Elfride entered the gallery. several pages of this being put in great black brackets. Mr. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him.'Well.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. as you told us last night. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life.''Oh no. fizz!''Your head bad again. 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.

 nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. knowing. Swancourt. looking into vacancy and hindering the play. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. I am delighted with you. He staggered and lifted. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. previous to entering the grove itself. but nobody appeared.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. 18--. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement. let me see.

'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her.''I will not.Well. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. but the manner in which our minutes beat. Come to see me as a visitor. whose sex was undistinguishable. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. It is politic to do so. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.' she said half inquiringly. 'You think always of him. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning.

 and you can have none. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers.And now she saw a perplexing sight. Ah. So she remained. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. and Stephen looked inquiry.''Very well; go on. Stephen. and you. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.The door was locked. however. dropping behind all.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning.