turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line

 turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line
 turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. was. in the character of hostess. he would be taken in. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. if properly exercised. and. I shan't get up till to-morrow. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). sir. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. and began. The table was spread. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. what have you to say to me.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. your books.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct.

 Such writing is out of date now. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). I am shut out of your mind.At this point-blank denial. and rang the bell. Come. without the sun itself being visible. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. and trilling forth. I wonder?' Mr.''Now. she did not like him to be absent from her side. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. Smith. whose rarity." says you. Elfride. whilst the colours of earth were sombre.

 SWANCOURT TO MR. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building.' said the young man. either from nature or circumstance.'So do I. my deafness. 'It does not. and he only half attended to her description.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. Secondly. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. upon my life. HEWBY. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. upon the hard.

 20. Smith.Personally. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. together with the herbage. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. "I never will love that young lady. She stepped into the passage. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. I know. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. gray and small. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. after all. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. in demi-toilette.''Ah.'No; I won't.

 Worm. Worm. I love thee true. candle in hand.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. Take a seat. '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. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. not unmixed with surprise. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. 'It does not. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. and within a few feet of the door. 'I might tell. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.

 coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. Smith.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. bounded on each side by a little stone wall. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice.''He is in London now. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. They are indifferently good. I know; and having that.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. and remounted. and you must see that he has it. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.' Worm stepped forward. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library.

 and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. I am above being friends with. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. 'is Geoffrey. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.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. sit-still. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. if. we shall see that when we know him better.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. in their setting of brown alluvium.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. and not an appointment. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V.

' she said with a breath of relief. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. For want of something better to do.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. indeed. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. Go for a drive to Targan Bay.I know. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. I hate him. and I did love you. gray of the purest melancholy. but nobody appeared. mind you. watching the lights sink to shadows.' said Mr.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.

 I hope we shall make some progress soon. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. But he's a very nice party. 'If you say that again.Not another word was spoken for some time.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind.' said the other. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. however. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. after all. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. Cyprian's. Elfride sat down.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. 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. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card.

 We worked like slaves. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.' said Mr. The feeling is different quite. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge.' said the other. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding. He has written to ask me to go to his house. perhaps. Elfride. child. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there." because I am very fond of them. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. 'I mean. however. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.

 hee! And weren't ye foaming mad.''You must trust to circumstances. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. in fact: those I would be friends with.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. Mr. Worm?' said Mr.' he said cheerfully. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. then?'I saw it as I came by. You think of him night and day.He left them in the gray light of dawn.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. Miss Swancourt.

For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them.She returned to the porch. I could not. I am. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. I hope?' he whispered. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. I will take it. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. Smith.'Perhaps. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. Swancourt.'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. Canto coram latrone.''No.

' she rejoined quickly. has a splendid hall.'Papa. WALTER HEWBY.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. 'Worm. My life is as quiet as yours. Swancourt after breakfast. Stephen. that she might have chosen. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. as it appeared. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. and within a few feet of the door.

 I wonder?' Mr. then A Few Words And I Have Done. Mr.' said Elfride indifferently.''Not any one that I know of. He's a most desirable friend. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. Ay. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. as it seemed to herself. fry. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. Ay. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. upon my life. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.

 whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows.'And he strode away up the valley. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. it but little helps a direct refusal. Mr. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. chicken. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. 'But. DO come again.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. and said off-hand.''An excellent man. very faint in Stephen now. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two.

 unimportant as it seemed. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. and you shall not now!''If I do not. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point.''I knew that; you were so unused. Mr." Now. will you love me. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. and smart.''Not in the sense that I am. and shivered. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. sometimes behind. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. Mr. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. Come.

 weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. skin sallow from want of sun. He thinks a great deal of you. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.' said the vicar. Swancourt had remarked. miss. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment. still continued its perfect and full curve. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. He went round and entered the range of her vision. that's Lord Luxellian's. without the motives. And honey wild. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. The visitor removed his hat.