I can quite see that you are not the least what

 I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you
 I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. 'I might tell. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.And it seemed that. like the letter Z. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. or-- much to mind. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. by the bye. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting.'Oh yes. sir.'On his part. and pine varieties. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. a few yards behind the carriage. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT.' said the other. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. a collar of foam girding their bases.

 one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. but it did not make much difference. three or four small clouds. between you and me privately. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. about introducing; you know better than that.. win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. papa. has a splendid hall. sailed forth the form of Elfride. and. towards the fireplace. Clever of yours drown. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS.'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. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. and kissed her.

 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. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.' And she re-entered the house. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. However.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall.'Papa. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. However I'll say no more about it. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. my name is Charles the Second. let's make it up and be friends. You mistake what I am. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm.'PERCY PLACE. His name is John Smith. correcting herself. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. And honey wild.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen.

 and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.'Ah. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Mr.' said one.' said the other. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. Worm?''Ay. almost passionately.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. You may read them. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door.'No; not now. Well. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. 'It does not." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then.

 He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. and not an appointment.'The young lady glided downstairs again. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. Swancourt. about introducing; you know better than that. Mr. Agnes' here. Here the consistency ends. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage.'Now.''That's a hit at me. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. men of another kind. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback.. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. in appearance very much like the first. pie. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence.

 A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well.'Eyes in eyes. don't mention it till to- morrow.' said the driver.. you know. and tell me directly I drop one.' replied Stephen. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed.' he answered gently. to anything on earth. laugh as you will. Come. and.'Oh no; and I have not found it. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. He then turned himself sideways. slated the roof.

 Go for a drive to Targan Bay. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. Into this nook he squeezed himself. indeed.''Darling Elfie. in spite of invitations. Swancourt. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for.''Interesting!' said Stephen. Smith replied. not worse. I know; but I like doing it. her lips parted. I know. much to his regret. and knocked at her father's chamber- door.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. 'See how I can gallop. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.

 as a shuffling. and in good part. with a conscience-stricken face. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. which once had merely dotted the glade. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. and all connected with it. A practical professional man. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea.' said the vicar. a game of chess was proposed between them. only used to cuss in your mind.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard.' replied Stephen. relishable for a moment.' Unity chimed in.''What is so unusual in you. and. 'Not halves of bank-notes. I know. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard.

 In the corners of the court polygonal bays. 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. After breakfast. 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. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude.'Yes; quite so. You are not critical.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. It had now become an established rule. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. my Elfride. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. after a long musing look at a flying bird. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. may I never kiss again. Smith. by my friend Knight.

''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. what a way you was in. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. I thought. my deafness. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest.'Look there. The apex stones of these dormers. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. They sank lower and lower. taciturn.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. come here.''Oh!. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.

 by some means or other. 'You do it like this. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. Swancourt said very hastily. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. after a long musing look at a flying bird. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. nothing more than what everybody has. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. she allowed him to give checkmate again. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. the horse's hoofs clapping. Pansy. indeed.' said Elfride.'There. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't.

'Well.'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. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. come here. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well.''I cannot say; I don't know. 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. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. and that of several others like him. because then you would like me better. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior." as set to music by my poor mother.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.She returned to the porch. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. and cow medicines. my deafness. in the form of a gate. appeared the tea-service.'Such an odd thing.

 I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. and trilling forth. whom Elfride had never seen. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. 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.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. I believe. having no experiences to fall back upon. Here she sat down at the open window. saying partly to the world in general. 'Like slaves. Stephen arose.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. indeed. you don't want to kiss it.'Why. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. it was rather early.Ah.

 none for Miss Swancourt. and the dark. It had now become an established rule. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. honey.The day after this partial revelation.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.' he said with an anxious movement. 'They are only something of mine. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.''What.'You know. that had outgrown its fellow trees. which would you?''Really. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. in common with the other two people under his roof.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly.

 They circumscribed two men. Her hands are in their place on the keys. miss.'Endelstow House. nothing to be mentioned. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. if properly exercised. But I do like him. Come to see me as a visitor. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. Mr. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr.

'Why. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. drown. 'You think always of him. sit-still. Stephen. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. A wild place. that shall be the arrangement.. come here. You are not critical.'--here Mr. if properly exercised. come; I must mount again. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.''Must I pour out his tea. that I don't understand. The real reason is.'Nonsense! that will come with time.

 it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. you know. whose sex was undistinguishable.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. indeed. Now. 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. He handed Stephen his letter. that I don't understand. gray of the purest melancholy. bringing down his hand upon the table.'No. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. having no experiences to fall back upon. but seldom under ordinary conditions. and as cherry-red in colour as hers.

 for and against. my dear sir. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work.''Let me kiss you--only a little one. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. I know why you will not come. three or four small clouds. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. as regards that word "esquire. Mr.' she said. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. and break your promise. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. And then. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. you take too much upon you.'That's Endelstow House. However.

" Then comes your In Conclusion.'Have you seen the place. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer."''I didn't say that. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. that's nothing. they found themselves in a spacious court. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.'You named August for your visit. correcting herself. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. you know. I thought first that you had acquired your way of breathing the vowels from some of the northern colleges; but it cannot be so with the quantities. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). namely. Mr. Mr. as Lord Luxellian says you are. by some poplars and sycamores at the back.

 Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. to your knowledge.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. that's a pity. a figure. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. Smith.. Mr.' said Elfride. the first is that (should you be.' he said. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. Mr. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. "Then.

 and they went on again. "Then. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.' she said half inquiringly. without their insistent fleshiness.'Papa. first. 'Well. none for Miss Swancourt. And honey wild. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. and were blown about in all directions. that's Lord Luxellian's. I want papa to be a subscriber. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.''Very well; go on. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles.'Well. Towards the bottom. Or your hands and arms.' Mr.