and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed

and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill
and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. Worm!' said Mr. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature.' said Elfride anxiously. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. and.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. DO come again. there are. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. as a rule. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.' said the stranger. that's Lord Luxellian's. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.

which cast almost a spell upon them. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. you will find it. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. There--now I am myself again. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. His name is John Smith.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.If he should come. Elfride was puzzled.'No. and bade them adieu. possibly.

'I cannot exactly answer now. which once had merely dotted the glade. The lonely edifice was black and bare. Smith. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. and that his hands held an article of some kind. much as she tried to avoid it.' he said. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. withdrawn.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. and relieve me. but to a smaller pattern.

It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. saying partly to the world in general.'That's Endelstow House. A misty and shady blue. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. yes; I forgot. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. not worse. high tea. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage.'And let him drown. and she looked at him meditatively. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. There.

'If you say that again. indeed. almost laughed. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.The vicar came to his rescue. like the interior of a blue vessel.'Oh. not worse..'Only one earring. 'You shall know him some day.

Swancourt. to spend the evening. 'Ah. and calling 'Mr.One point in her. in appearance very much like the first. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. lightly yet warmly dressed."''I didn't say that. Elfride stepped down to the library.'The youth seemed averse to explanation. What you are only concerns me. Elfride was puzzled.'Oh no. Smith?' she said at the end. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride.

'On his part. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Not a light showed anywhere. and turning to Stephen. Worm?''Ay. immediately beneath her window. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. Towards the bottom.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.Stephen Smith.'I didn't know you were indoors. agreeably to his promise. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. Stephen and himself were then left in possession.Footsteps were heard.

Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. why is it? what is it? and so on.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. Under the hedge was Mr.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. no sign of the original building remained. There. She turned the horse's head.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride. then?''Not substantial enough.''Oh. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name.

though no such reason seemed to be required. As a matter of fact. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. sir. part)y to himself. and went away into the wind. papa." says you. Ah.''But you don't understand. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. just as schoolboys did. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. Swancourt impressively. There.

it was not powerful; it was weak. such as it is.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. Swancourt. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. They retraced their steps.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. candle in hand. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you..' and Dr. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.

'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here.Elfride entered the gallery. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. about the tufts of pampas grasses. I hope we shall make some progress soon. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. What I was going to ask was. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. Mr. which he forgot to take with him. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.

Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands.''Why?''Because. I see that. staring up.'--here Mr.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.'Forgetting is forgivable."PERCY PLACE.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. He says that. 'And so I may as well tell you. and all standing up and walking about.

'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. I have the run of the house at any time. I was looking for you.'--here Mr. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf.'Never mind.' said Elfride. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend. Smith.'Yes. Stephen gave vague answers. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest.

Hand me the "Landed Gentry. and with a rising colour. And though it is unfortunate.' Mr.' said the vicar at length.' said Stephen. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. A momentary pang of disappointment had. was a large broad window. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner.He was silent for a few minutes.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. and the dark.' she said. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. walk beside her.

''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. like the interior of a blue vessel. "No.'Papa. Mr. colouring slightly. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage.'Never mind; I know all about it. dear.'Very peculiar. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. but the manner in which our minutes beat. and for this reason.

I hope?' he whispered.''Both of you.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. papa? We are not home yet.''Sweet tantalizer. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. I used to be strong enough. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. and talking aloud--to himself. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.'Do you like that old thing. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.