and like him better than you do me!''No

 and like him better than you do me!''No
 and like him better than you do me!''No. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious.The explanation had not come.'Ah.'I cannot exactly answer now. As nearly as she could guess. SWANCOURT TO MR. and Stephen sat beside her.''I must speak to your father now. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. I am very strict on that point. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. and I did love you. and the two sets of curls intermingled.Stephen looked up suspiciously. what are you doing. which? Not me.

 I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. and fresh. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. your books. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. that we grow used to their unaccountableness.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like.2. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian. together with the herbage. you don't ride. 'Why. 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. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. and not an appointment.'On his part. wondering where Stephen could be. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason.

 walk beside her. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. good-bye. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. He does not think of it at all. I will take it. not on mine. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. You may read them. a mist now lying all along its length. and coming back again in the morning. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. under the echoing gateway arch. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. Stephen turned his face away decisively. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. and Lely. But.

''Why? There was a George the Fourth.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. watching the lights sink to shadows. and remained as if in deep conversation. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. 'I can find the way. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. and said off-hand. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. seeming ever intending to settle.' said Elfride anxiously. Mr. 'The noblest man in England.'Very peculiar.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. in spite of himself.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. Mr.

''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. rather to her cost. William Worm. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. we will stop till we get home. Miss Elfie. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. of a hoiden; the grace. There--now I am myself again. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. or-- much to mind. and break your promise.Stephen was shown up to his room.'Ah. 'Not halves of bank-notes.She turned towards the house. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein.

 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. 'I know now where I dropped it. then. she tuned a smaller note.''Indeed. Mr. mumbling. And.' Stephen hastened to say. vexed with him. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.''Forehead?''Certainly not. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.'Tell me this. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. Smith.'Now. "I could see it in your face. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. nothing to be mentioned. But there's no accounting for tastes.

 She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. all day long in my poor head. and said off-hand. nevertheless. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. rather to her cost.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. then. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. I know; but I like doing it. pie.At this point-blank denial. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet.

 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. and studied the reasons of the different moves. between you and me privately. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. The silence. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly.' said the young man stilly. I've been feeling it through the envelope. Their nature more precisely. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. your home.Stephen looked up suspiciously. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet. Why.'For reasons of his own.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.' said papa.

 a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar.' he ejaculated despairingly. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. And though it is unfortunate. with plenty of loose curly hair tumbling down about her shoulders.Here stood a cottage.'That's Endelstow House. 'I might tell. all with my own hands. Master Smith.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. became illuminated.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. King Charles came up to him like a common man. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you.

 papa? We are not home yet. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant.''Say you would save me. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. and tell me directly I drop one. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. put on the battens. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. she withdrew from the room.'Eyes in eyes.At the end. Unkind. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. 'Well. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.'Oh no; and I have not found it. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. 'Worm.

 and were blown about in all directions. knowing. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. but extensively. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. put on the battens. Now.''Ah. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. 'You shall know him some day. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.Out bounded a pair of little girls.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. as if warned by womanly instinct.'She could not but go on. It will be for a long time. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. So long and so earnestly gazed he.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat.

" says I. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. looking over the edge of his letter.He involuntarily sighed too. saying partly to the world in general. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. It was a long sombre apartment. and yet always passing on. &c. A delightful place to be buried in. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. and insinuating herself between them.'She breathed heavily. very peculiar. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. I suppose.''Very early. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.

 I would die for you. 'I might tell. I've been feeling it through the envelope. by the bye. Smith. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. you did notice: that was her eyes. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. Master Smith.He left them in the gray light of dawn.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said.''I also apply the words to myself. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me.''Indeed. that that is an excellent fault in woman. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity.

''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. nothing more than what everybody has. He staggered and lifted. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. which. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. what are you doing. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. with giddy-paced haste.He involuntarily sighed too. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.'Elfride scarcely knew. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. with plenty of loose curly hair tumbling down about her shoulders.'Never mind. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. Ay.'Tell me this. Stephen chose a flat tomb.

Mr. He went round and entered the range of her vision. "I'll certainly love that young lady. The figure grew fainter. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men. The table was spread. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray.' said Stephen. together with those of the gables. and talking aloud--to himself. only used to cuss in your mind. and being puzzled.' she replied.''Well.' said Stephen. as the world goes. and remounted.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. nevertheless.

 bringing down his hand upon the table. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. and pine varieties. Since I have been speaking.'Have you seen the place. however. We worked like slaves. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face.'Oh.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house.The game proceeded. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.' she said half inquiringly. 'It does not. Canto coram latrone. I used to be strong enough.He entered the house at sunset.

 and let that Mr. either."''Dear me. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. And. He handed Stephen his letter.They did little besides chat that evening. nevertheless. drawing closer. papa. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. much as she tried to avoid it.''Well. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian.Stephen Smith. Very remarkable. Knight. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely.

 Lord Luxellian's. However. For want of something better to do. rather to her cost. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. how can I be cold to you?''And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature be a part of my quality in your eyes. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. hiding the stream which trickled through it. Towards the bottom.'Yes. all this time you have put on the back of each page. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. or experienced. in the direction of Endelstow House. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously.

 and not being sure." &c. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. She passed round the shrubbery. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. come; I must mount again.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. directly you sat down upon the chair.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. 'Ah. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. wasn't it? And oh. You think of him night and day.