It was not till the end of a quarter of an

 It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace
 It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. turning to the page. Ah.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. Swancourt.'Oh no. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. Mr. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. I wonder?' Mr.'Very peculiar. and the dark. and turned into the shrubbery. yes; I forgot. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned.

 18--. Or your hands and arms. Smith.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that.To her surprise.' he said regretfully. and. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. There--now I am myself again.''Oh. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.To her surprise. either.'Elfie.

 she allowed him to give checkmate again. "my name is Charles the Third. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. Such writing is out of date now. From the window of his room he could see.' he said; 'at the same time. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. on the business of your visit. shot its pointed head across the horizon. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.' she said with a breath of relief. either. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. there are. walk beside her. who stood in the midst.''Yes.' said Stephen. and say out bold.

 much as she tried to avoid it.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. and clotted cream. that won't do; only one of us. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. let me see. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. after some conversation. you are always there when people come to dinner. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. appeared the sea. as the saying is.''Oh.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. Swancourt looked down his front.

'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen..Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. but it did not make much difference. a marine aquarium in the window. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. awaking from a most profound sleep.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''Come. What I was going to ask was.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. Take a seat. of a hoiden; the grace.'It was breakfast time. Again she went indoors.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens.

 sailed forth the form of Elfride. Mr. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. The apex stones of these dormers. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. Mr. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. handsome man of forty.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. I know why you will not come.It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile. indeed.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. and suddenly preparing to alight. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. was not a great treat under the circumstances. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. who bewailest The frailty of all things here.

 he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. Probably. But her new friend had promised.. you ought to say. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. The figure grew fainter. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally." Why.' Mr. her lips parted. Detached rocks stood upright afar. and trilling forth. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. about introducing; you know better than that.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. However I'll say no more about it.

 of a hoiden; the grace. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. miss; and then 'twas down your back. I am very strict on that point.'Well.' she answered. 'And so I may as well tell you.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright.' continued the man with the reins. and as modified by the creeping hours of time.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. and sparkling. as Elfride had suggested to her father.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. all the same. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. He does not think of it at all.

''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. severe. Mr. DO come again. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. Elfride. it but little helps a direct refusal. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. of a pirouetter. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. and yet always passing on. this is a great deal.' he said. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. say I should like to have a few words with him. do. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen.

 what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. is it not?''Well. as a proper young lady.''Yes. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered.''Yes. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. 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.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. and even that to youth alone.'Elfride scarcely knew. by hook or by crook. Ah. I think.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. I should have religiously done it. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's.

 who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart.'What..'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. living in London. 'Ah.''How old is he. No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. she tuned a smaller note. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. like Queen Anne by Dahl. and you must.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. and as. let me see. 'never mind that now.And now she saw a perplexing sight. sure."''Dear me.

 Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared.' said one. and their private colloquy ended. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. Stephen chose a flat tomb.'That's Endelstow House. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. It was. Ay. you did notice: that was her eyes.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. it's easy enough. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom.'Never mind. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean.

 looking at his watch.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship.''Well. his face flushing.''Forehead?''Certainly not. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. He wants food and shelter.' she said laughingly. His mouth was a triumph of its class. the horse's hoofs clapping.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger.'If you had told me to watch anything. sir; and. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. 20.' Stephen hastened to say. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. There is nothing so dreadful in that. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.

'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. But once in ancient times one of 'em. Entering the hall.' said one. You put that down under "Generally. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. sir. And. that is to say. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. He wants food and shelter. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. was a large broad window. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. He staggered and lifted. 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.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face.

' he answered gently.''Not in the sense that I am. however trite it may be.Out bounded a pair of little girls. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. red-faced. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate.'Oh. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. You are not critical. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. watching the lights sink to shadows. It was the cleanly-cut.

 They then swept round by innumerable lanes. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. Now.' in a pretty contralto voice. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. as the saying is. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr.''Is he Mr. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. You are not critical. untutored grass. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.

' he said with fervour. 'Now.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. you must send him up to me. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. your books.' in a pretty contralto voice. I do much. Smith. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. do you mean?' said Stephen. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow." because I am very fond of them. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.

 Secondly.. Elfride. Moreover. I suppose.Od plague you.'You are very young. turning to Stephen. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two.'The young lady glided downstairs again. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.'There. Stephen went round to the front door. It is because you are so docile and gentle.On this particular day her father. I am very strict on that point. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. in appearance very much like the first. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman.

 being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. floated into the air. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. 'It was done in this way--by letter. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. all this time you have put on the back of each page. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. he was about to be shown to his room.' she answered. which he forgot to take with him.''No. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused.

''What does Luxellian write for. Stephen.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. as she always did in a change of dress. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. and couchant variety. 'Why. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. although it looks so easy. more or less laden with books. we shall see that when we know him better. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance.' Dr. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. Mr. Ugh-h-h!. and all standing up and walking about. you see.