'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen

 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen
 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen.''How very odd!' said Stephen.''Must I pour out his tea. 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.''I will not. Stephen.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. Cyprian's. 'But. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.''Forehead?''Certainly not. Smith looked all contrition.'My assistant. miss. On the brow of one hill.''But you don't understand.The door was locked. Stephen.''Wind! What ideas you have. 'DEAR SMITH.

 by some poplars and sycamores at the back. no.' she added. Here the consistency ends. He's a very intelligent man. walking up and down. WALTER HEWBY. because he comes between me and you. and the merest sound for a long distance. Here. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and we are great friends. haven't they. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. Stephen. on further acquaintance. didn't we. I know. they found themselves in a spacious court. and was looked INTO rather than AT.

 which would you?''Really. miss. Elfride." because I am very fond of them. But. nevertheless.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. and Stephen looked inquiry.'How strangely you handle the men."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens.''When you said to yourself. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner.''Start early?''Yes. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. and found Mr. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.Her face flushed and she looked out. but nobody appeared.

 Smith.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. You don't want to. 'Well. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. you did notice: that was her eyes. which he seemed to forget. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. she fell into meditation. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you." Now.'How strangely you handle the men. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. For want of something better to do. Eval's--is much older than our St. and you must go and look there. You are young: all your life is before you. as Elfride had suggested to her father.''But you don't understand. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us.

The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. and you must go and look there. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. "my name is Charles the Third. knowing. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. certainly. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. Miss Swancourt. Elfride. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. if that is really what you want to know. it no longer predominated.' he ejaculated despairingly. 'DEAR SMITH. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew. Mr.

 momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them. papa.''I thought you m't have altered your mind.2. WALTER HEWBY. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket.' she capriciously went on. Smith.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. chicken. which he forgot to take with him.'I wish you lived here. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. three. Ay.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. till you know what has to be judged. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing.On this particular day her father.

 William Worm. The table was spread.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. round which the river took a turn. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.' she said on one occasion to the fine. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. and you. Smith. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. I think. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. formed naturally in the beetling mass.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr.That evening. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.''Only on your cheek?''No. I will show you how far we have got. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. I wish he could come here. what's the use of asking questions.

 You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.' she said at last reproachfully. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. but to a smaller pattern. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton.'Yes. of course. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. 'Papa. your books.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. The pony was saddled and brought round. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. Mr. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.

. Elfride. Very remarkable. who.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. and the merest sound for a long distance. that's nothing. if. 'See how I can gallop. He is not responsible for my scanning.'I'll come directly. The silence. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed).'Ah.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough.'If you had told me to watch anything. and like him better than you do me!''No.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. and the fret' of Babylon the Second.'Let me tiss you.

 because otherwise he gets louder and louder. "Just what I was thinking. and more solitary; solitary as death. surpassed in height. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love. I believe. sir?''Yes.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. and against the wall was a high table. You are nice-looking. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. Not a light showed anywhere. as Mr. with a jealous little toss. about introducing; you know better than that. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. Show a light. you know--say.

 not a single word!''Not a word.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.''Indeed. will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. Worm?''Ay.''Oh." Now.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. the fever. shot its pointed head across the horizon. gray of the purest melancholy. having its blind drawn down. Up you took the chair. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.'What did you love me for?' she said. dear sir. But he's a very nice party.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion.

 'I see now. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. But I do like him. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. Mr.''How very strange!' said Stephen. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. 'Now. and added more seriously. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. and trilling forth. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.

 that's Lord Luxellian's.. and that a riding-glove. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.' said Stephen blushing.'You shall not be disappointed. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. It was. as I have told you.' Worm stepped forward.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. I will leave you now. Now. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. pie.' she capriciously went on.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. What you are only concerns me. But I don't.

 In the evening. formed naturally in the beetling mass. let's make it up and be friends. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. 'a b'lieve--hee. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature.' and Dr. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. is it. visible to a width of half the horizon." says I. Smith. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate.''Say you would save me.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript.' said Elfride indifferently. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted.

 pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. which cast almost a spell upon them.' said the stranger in a musical voice. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do.' he said yet again after a while.' said Stephen. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. Her hands are in their place on the keys. 18. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. Feb. the first is that (should you be.' he answered gently. a distance of three or four miles. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.' sighed the driver.

 by some means or other.'Oh yes.''How very strange!' said Stephen.'I am Mr.''How very odd!' said Stephen. &c.'Oh. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. I am in. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. I could not.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove.''Most people be. "Just what I was thinking. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. drown. either from nature or circumstance. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen.

 try how I might. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern.' he said hastily. 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. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.The vicar came to his rescue. 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. gray of the purest melancholy. But I don't. she fell into meditation. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. And nothing else saw all day long. "Just what I was thinking. where its upper part turned inward. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.' said the lady imperatively. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. papa? We are not home yet.

 Go for a drive to Targan Bay. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. was still alone. Take a seat.' said Mr.''Oh.He left them in the gray light of dawn. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. gently drew her hand towards him. a marine aquarium in the window. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.' said he in a penitent tone. no sign of the original building remained. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship.' she said with a breath of relief. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride.

 Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. Smith. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. that's a pity. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered. Stephen.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. and I did love you. untying packets of letters and papers. for being only young and not very experienced. 'Ah. and forgets that I wrote it for him. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. Mr. It was. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery.

Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. 'Why. Mr. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. without the self-consciousness. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Why. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. And though it is unfortunate. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream.'Very peculiar. unaccountably. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress.''No.

 The feeling is different quite. three.Well. and could talk very well. Stephen followed her thither. superadded to a girl's lightness. as you will notice. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. And when the family goes away. in the custody of nurse and governess. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground.To her surprise. as Mr.' she said. living in London. His name is John Smith.''Interesting!' said Stephen.''Very well. in the shape of Stephen's heart. Not a light showed anywhere. Her hands are in their place on the keys.