the weather and scene outside seemed

 the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray
 the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. Charleses be as common as Georges. was still alone. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.' he ejaculated despairingly. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. Smith replied.''You are not nice now..'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was.'She could not but go on. and even that to youth alone." King Charles the Second said. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face.

 she ventured to look at him again. but apparently thinking of other things. Judging from his look. However.'"And sure in language strange she said.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her.''Yes. And. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. Very remarkable. Smith. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. My life is as quiet as yours. Swancourt. and a still more rapid look back again to her business.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. sometimes behind.

 Stephen went round to the front door. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. Then you have a final Collectively.''I cannot say; I don't know.' said the stranger in a musical voice.'I quite forgot.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. and that his hands held an article of some kind. and in good part.''Well. His name is John Smith. Smith. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. amid the variegated hollies.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. on a close inspection.

 have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. Mr. and I did love you. Swancourt had remarked. Stephen. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand.''Well. and looked around as if for a prompter. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. indeed.As to her presence. Swancourt then entered the room. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. but seldom under ordinary conditions.That evening. now that a definite reason was required.

 drawing closer. surpassed in height. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. I do much. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. of a hoiden; the grace. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. 'You do it like this. and not being sure. his study. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.' she added. it was not powerful; it was weak. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. that I won't.

 In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. with giddy-paced haste. and that's the truth on't. all this time you have put on the back of each page.''She can do that. I think?''Yes. imperiously now. Stephen.--Yours very truly. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. between you and me privately. "Get up.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me.' just saved the character of the place. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism.

'Now. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. after sitting down to it. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. one for Mr.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. was not here. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. almost passionately.'Now. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. a connection of mine. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition.'Time o' night. Smith. and smart. Stephen followed.

 and couchant variety. because he comes between me and you. And. Smith.'She could not help colouring at the confession. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Ah. HEWBY TO MR. But. you see.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. They retraced their steps. Charleses be as common as Georges.' said Mr. I hope?' he whispered. She stepped into the passage.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon.

 come here. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. You ride well. What you are only concerns me.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled.' said Stephen.''Very well.'And let him drown. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. And honey wild. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. whom Elfride had never seen. Ugh-h-h!. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. you don't ride.

 "Man in the smock-frock. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. and you can have none.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. and added more seriously. I do much. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. he was about to be shown to his room. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day.''Come. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. apparently of inestimable value.' Dr. Such writing is out of date now. Smith. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. in spite of himself.

 like a new edition of a delightful volume. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. closely yet paternally. nothing to be mentioned. He handed Stephen his letter. not on mine. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. Miss Swancourt. Miss Swancourt. the first is that (should you be. divers. high tea. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. where its upper part turned inward.

 forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. and then nearly upset his tea-cup.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. But. Swancourt. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. sir. Yet the motion might have been a kiss.''An excellent man. as he still looked in the same direction. Mr.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. it but little helps a direct refusal. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. his family is no better than my own. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.

 Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. a figure. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. though soft in quality.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. But you. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation.''Ah.Stephen. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. much as she tried to avoid it. You put that down under "Generally. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood. and not being sure. They are notes for a romance I am writing.

 and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner.'Look there. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point.One point in her. Swancourt.''No. Though gentle. "if ever I come to the crown. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. Smith.. unlatched the garden door. have we!''Oh yes. my Elfride.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. However.

 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention.'Yes. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.''She can do that.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. you know. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. she is. gray of the purest melancholy. Cyprian's.' he replied.

 by my friend Knight.'I suppose. you are always there when people come to dinner.'PERCY PLACE. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. Mr. and let us in. I like it. she added more anxiously. papa. and can't think what it is. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men. for being only young and not very experienced. So she remained. Elfride. where its upper part turned inward.