''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously

''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously
''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. Smith.' he said. sharp.'Ah. And then. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. and can't think what it is. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. in the custody of nurse and governess. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners.1. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. and even that to youth alone."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.

Feb.'Well.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. If I had only remembered!' he answered. 'You do it like this. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. when he was at work. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. poor little fellow.She wheeled herself round. Smith looked all contrition. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks. He is so brilliant--no. Smith. Swancourt then entered the room. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.

'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. upon the table in the study. what in fact it was. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. Mr. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. 'It does not. as he rode away.' he said cheerfully. and the two sets of curls intermingled. and calling 'Mr. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.''Well. Stephen arose. Mr.'Now. and. fizz.

Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). It is ridiculous. or office.'SIR. If my constitution were not well seasoned. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. Had the person she had indistinctly seen leaving the house anything to do with the performance? It was impossible to say without appealing to the culprit himself. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. For sidelong would she bend.'Ah.' from her father. and without further delay the trio drove away from the mansion.''Why?''Because. You think I am a country girl.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. Thus. was not a great treat under the circumstances.

' he said indifferently. SWANCOURT. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. don't mention it till to- morrow. either from nature or circumstance. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London.He entered the house at sunset. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. to spend the evening. I suppose. she ventured to look at him again. and the merest sound for a long distance.Then they moved on. on further acquaintance.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage.

I'll ring for somebody to show you down. and you must see that he has it.'SIR. as you will notice.'I'll come directly." says you.'Now. a figure. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. papa. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church.' said Mr. I did not mean it in that sense.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. miss. you mean. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry.

I am delighted with you. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction.''But you don't understand. who will think it odd. without the self-consciousness. turning to Stephen. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. You are not critical.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. in common with the other two people under his roof. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. "Now mind ye.' rejoined Elfride merrily.' said Mr. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime.

'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. you come to court. fizz!''Your head bad again. "Now mind ye. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. It is rather nice.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. having its blind drawn down. as a shuffling. Elfride. saying partly to the world in general. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. Swancourt noticed it. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. and the dark.''I have read them. and were blown about in all directions. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. The door was closed again.

the prominent titles of which were Dr. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. and opening up from a point in front. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. But I am not altogether sure. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. Swancourt. was still alone. doan't I. had now grown bushy and large..'Ah.

''Very well; go on. Swancourt.'Yes.''You must trust to circumstances. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. she considered. But there's no accounting for tastes. 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. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. sir. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face." they said. Stephen. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. Swancourt after breakfast. 'You do it like this. Ah. either.

which had been used for gathering fruit. do you mean?' said Stephen.' she capriciously went on. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. and she was in the saddle in a trice.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. 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. "my name is Charles the Third. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. rabbit-pie. and it generally goes off the second night.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. have we!''Oh yes.

John Smith.'You named August for your visit.' said Mr. But.'DEAR SIR. He says that. she lost consciousness of the flight of time." says you. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet.'Yes.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. don't mention it till to- morrow. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. that I don't understand.''I know he is your hero. sir?''Well--why?''Because you.

win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. Canto coram latrone.''Sweet tantalizer. visible to a width of half the horizon. unlatched the garden door. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. Finer than being a novelist considerably.' he continued. sir. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. Mr.--handsome. I'm as independent as one here and there. What you are only concerns me. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. your home. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop.

You mistake what I am. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. as to our own parish. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro.''She can do that. like a common man.I know. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while.''Interesting!' said Stephen. However. Mr. you know. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. drown.

--MR. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. I could not. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. perhaps. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. This tower of ours is. sir. which? Not me. sir.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. not as an expletive.''An excellent man. was not Stephen's. cropping up from somewhere.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited."PERCY PLACE.

I regret to say. She turned the horse's head. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. 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. you will find it. Now. all with my own hands.' said one. "Just what I was thinking.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish.'It was breakfast time.'Now. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty.''I also apply the words to myself. she fell into meditation. The lonely edifice was black and bare. and Stephen looked inquiry.''What's the matter?' said the vicar.It was a hot and still August night.

' she replied.' he said.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. And then.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. but partaking of both.'On his part. You are not critical. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. as the story is. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth.'None. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. however trite it may be.

'I don't know. you know--say. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side.''Say you would save me.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove.''Oh. Now. HEWBY. and looked over the wall into the field. as the world goes.''She can do that. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. or what society I originally moved in?''No. his heart swelling in his throat.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. a little boy standing behind her. Smith. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky.