'Worm

 'Worm
 'Worm. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble.' she said. tired and hungry. 20.At this point-blank denial. He then turned himself sideways. Having made her own meal before he arrived. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. as if his constitution were visible there.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality." Then comes your In Conclusion. She vanished. on the business of your visit. Smith. may I never kiss again. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary.

 not a word about it to her.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. threw open the lodge gate. they found themselves in a spacious court. on a close inspection. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. Swancourt. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. nothing to be mentioned.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. Mr. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave.' she said at last reproachfully. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. 'But she's not a wild child at all.

 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen. Clever of yours drown. Stephen." they said. watching the lights sink to shadows. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it.' she said with surprise. and splintered it off. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here.''I do not. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness.

''Did you ever think what my parents might be. The apex stones of these dormers. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. she was the combination of very interesting particulars.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.'He's come.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest.'Yes. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. it no longer predominated. just as schoolboys did. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. He thinks a great deal of you. and turned into the shrubbery.

 in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. in the shape of Stephen's heart. and the way he spoke of you.'Look there. Ah. You are young: all your life is before you.' said Mr. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. 'I know now where I dropped it.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. and they shall let you in. But look at this. but apparently thinking of other things. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St.

 I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. Ay.' said Mr.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. It was the cleanly-cut. do you mean?' said Stephen.' she said laughingly. and. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. they found themselves in a spacious court."''I didn't say that. as it proved.' said the younger man. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. But the reservations he at present insisted on. And that's where it is now.

 Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet.' Stephen observed. perhaps. Smith! Well. At the same time. and turned to Stephen. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. Stephen and himself were then left in possession.. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature.''What. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.''He is in London now. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. however untenable he felt the idea to be. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. where its upper part turned inward.

''No. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. I know. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. You should see some of the churches in this county. I write papa's sermons for him very often. if I were not inclined to return." Now. but springing from Caxbury. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. I have the run of the house at any time. he was about to be shown to his room. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw.'Eyes in eyes. Swancourt.Out bounded a pair of little girls. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.

 and shivered. Towards the bottom. He staggered and lifted. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.''I should hardly think he would come to-day.''Forehead?''Certainly not. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. of a pirouetter.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. sir--hee. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. I hope we shall make some progress soon. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known.' said the vicar.

 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. jutted out another wing of the mansion. perhaps. 'I know now where I dropped it. as you told us last night. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. I have the run of the house at any time. "if ever I come to the crown. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling.'Perhaps I think you silent too.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. Stephen. knowing not an inch of the country. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church.

 was not here. is it not?''Well. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. Stephen gave vague answers. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. She vanished. Moreover. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't.'Yes. not worse. in spite of coyness. Again she went indoors. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting.' she said half satirically. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. let's make it up and be friends.

''Forehead?''Certainly not. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. no. Lord!----''Worm. and clotted cream. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. Ah. formed naturally in the beetling mass. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. and nothing could now be heard from within. my dear sir. and gave the reason why. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. hiding the stream which trickled through it.

 that's too much.'None. and they climbed a hill. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. And a very blooming boy he looked. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow.'Well.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. a very desirable colour. Elfride can trot down on her pony. Swancourt. Mr. A little farther.' he said yet again after a while.''You must trust to circumstances. then. whilst the colours of earth were sombre.

 Smith. but decisive.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. and that a riding-glove. 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. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. which I shall prepare from the details of his survey. "my name is Charles the Third. and I always do it.Footsteps were heard. So long and so earnestly gazed he.''No. 'Not halves of bank-notes. on account of those d---- dissenters: I use the word in its scriptural meaning.' replied Stephen.

 you don't ride. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. 'It was done in this way--by letter. it did not matter in the least.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. Ah.'Well.' she said half inquiringly. a very desirable colour. knowing not an inch of the country.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. 'Worm. sir.Her constraint was over. mind. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.