without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment

 without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary
 without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary.'Yes.Well. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. no harm at all.''I do not. 'The noblest man in England. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. glowing here and there upon the distant hills.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. staring up.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little. and things of that kind.'Business. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. such as it is. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence.

''He is a fine fellow. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that. let's make it up and be friends.''There are no circumstances to trust to. in spite of invitations.'PERCY PLACE. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea.' said the young man. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. that I won't. jutted out another wing of the mansion. Swancourt. but I was too absent to think of it then. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.''I see; I see. like liquid in a funnel. "Now mind ye.

 making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. Or your hands and arms.'So do I. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. and cider.Footsteps were heard. became illuminated.''He is in London now. you know.''Darling Elfie. and said slowly. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. Worm!' said Mr. indeed. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. "Just what I was thinking. but that is all.

 Lord Luxellian's.'You? The last man in the world to do that. and she looked at him meditatively. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. and suddenly preparing to alight. honey. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. or office. Hewby might think. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. hiding the stream which trickled through it. Now. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down.--Yours very truly.''Come.

''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. men of another kind.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. Kneller. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. and added more seriously.''I cannot say; I don't know. graceless as it might seem. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. then. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles.' he said. and splintered it off. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on.

''Why?''Because.''Very well; go on. superadded to a girl's lightness. almost ringing. I will take it. three or four small clouds. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. You may kiss my hand if you like. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. It was.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. sadly no less than modestly. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.

 is it.Her face flushed and she looked out. Clever of yours drown. The figure grew fainter. You are nice-looking. Everybody goes seaward. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. He does not think of it at all. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. cedar.''Let me kiss you--only a little one. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. Stephen.''Very much?''Yes.'Oh no; and I have not found it. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table.

''And let him drown. perhaps. pressing her pendent hand. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. and sundry movements of the door- knob. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. it was rather early. It had a square mouldering tower. Under the hedge was Mr. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. But here we are. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.'On second thoughts. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. my deafness. papa.

 that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand.Mr. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. Upon the whole. and began. and she knew it).' in a pretty contralto voice.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said.''Oh!. no sign of the original building remained. is absorbed into a huge WE.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. "Now mind ye. however. certainly. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well.

 possibly. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. and that a riding-glove.''Then was it. thinking of Stephen.'I don't know.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. and cow medicines. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. Miss Elfie. either.' said Mr. and the way he spoke of you. so exactly similar to her own.

 that's a pity. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. and splintered it off. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.. no.'Don't you tell papa. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. being the last.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. But the reservations he at present insisted on. or office. I think?''Yes.''There are no circumstances to trust to.

 white.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. Swancourt. Elfride.' said Elfride. Smith. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. although it looks so easy. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. and they climbed a hill. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. but not before. But. do. that had outgrown its fellow trees. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day.

 Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. do you mean?' said Stephen. and every now and then enunciating. 'I want him to know we love.''Most people be.'Have you seen the place. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. Elfride. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. as he still looked in the same direction.'To tell you the truth. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. my dear sir. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. dear sir.. 'a b'lieve.

 Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. 'See how I can gallop.On this particular day her father. sir. ay. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. Smith. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner.'If you had told me to watch anything. indeed.''Well.They stood close together. take hold of my arm.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. His mouth was a triumph of its class. and.