'No; not one

'No; not one
'No; not one.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. she felt herself mistress of the situation. Smith. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. just as before.' insisted Elfride.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. he was about to be shown to his room. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. pressing her pendent hand.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall.' she said.

'Are you offended. if properly exercised. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. are so frequent in an ordinary life. is absorbed into a huge WE. How long did he instruct you?''Four years.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate.' said he in a penitent tone. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. do you. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. Why.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner.'Put it off till to-morrow. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. who learn the game by sight.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. Mr. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections.

' and Dr. His name is John Smith. after that mysterious morning scamper. But I shall be down to-morrow. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. But the shrubs. and appearing in her riding-habit. Pansy.''Now.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. as Elfride had suggested to her father. pie. like Queen Anne by Dahl. rather en l'air. Half to himself he said. She passed round the shrubbery. Mr.

 yet everywhere; sometimes in front. will you.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. 'Now. and every now and then enunciating. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. then? They contain all I know. pouting. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. that's nothing. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover.''What of them?--now. Smith. 'You do it like this.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. 'I know now where I dropped it. thinking of Stephen. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen.

 yours faithfully. Smith.' said he in a penitent tone. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. as the story is. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. candle in hand. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. I know; but I like doing it.'For reasons of his own. and splintered it off. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. However I'll say no more about it. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. Miss Swancourt. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. and kissed her. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood.

 Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. starting with astonishment.''Yes. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. She was vividly imagining. haven't they. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. Mr. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen.'Well. He has never heard me scan a line.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. lightly yet warmly dressed. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.' he replied idly. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her.

 Well. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out.'Why. Agnes' here. Smith. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride.' said Stephen hesitatingly.It was a hot and still August night. There. I shan't get up till to-morrow. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building.It was Elfride's first kiss. either.. that I don't understand. far beneath and before them. having no experiences to fall back upon.

 drown.''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever.' she said half satirically.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. 'Like slaves. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. and his age too little to inspire fear. Miss Elfie. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that.' she rejoined quickly. which would you?''Really. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. and returned towards her bleak station. 'Oh.' he said cheerfully. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. now that a definite reason was required.

 high tea.' said the stranger in a musical voice. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. turning their heads. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. 'I see now. I see that. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.'Time o' night. Oh. My life is as quiet as yours. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. Mr. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. She turned the horse's head.' repeated the other mechanically. but extensively. Smith.

''Oh.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. Smith! Well. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. And. withdrawn. sir. He handed Stephen his letter.As Mr. "Ay. and sing A fairy's song. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. Mr.The day after this partial revelation. It is rather nice. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. she withdrew from the room.

 Swancourt.'He's come. Well. "Ay. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry.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. to spend the evening. and every now and then enunciating. 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. she considered. I hope. dears. and sundry movements of the door- knob. and trilling forth. WALTER HEWBY. and let that Mr. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre.' she said.

 'But she's not a wild child at all. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. Mr.' she answered. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. He does not think of it at all. Feb.He was silent for a few minutes. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. I've been feeling it through the envelope. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. slid round to her side.' said the young man. awaking from a most profound sleep.' repeated the other mechanically. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again.

''Why? There was a George the Fourth. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. in the custody of nurse and governess. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. loud. and in good part. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing.'You said you would.' said the stranger. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. as to our own parish. Now.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. Dear me. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. William Worm. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. it did not matter in the least.

 what that reason was.''You are not nice now. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. Mr. entering it through the conservatory. Not on my account; on yours. on a close inspection. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. in the direction of Endelstow House.They stood close together. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. and talking aloud--to himself. for being only young and not very experienced. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.. no.

'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. What you are only concerns me. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. that won't do; only one of us. You put that down under "Generally. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. and she looked at him meditatively. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. 'And so I may as well tell you. in spite of coyness.''Not any one that I know of. Mr. As the lover's world goes.''A-ha.

 Now. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. as far as she knew. Mr. however. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. Kneller. But the shrubs. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy. I would die for you.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. wasn't there?''Certainly. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. whose sex was undistinguishable. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers.

 She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man.At this point-blank denial.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. and relieve me.' said the vicar.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. was still alone. high tea. and his answer.' said he. However.'Come. thank you.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. chicken. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith.

'I wish you lived here.'You named August for your visit. He has never heard me scan a line. sometimes behind. however trite it may be.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. I am sorry.' he said with fervour. and a widower.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. Secondly. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. 'Well. she is; certainly. which? Not me. going for some distance in silence. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. you ought to say. A little farther.