turning their heads

turning their heads
turning their heads. seeming ever intending to settle. He staggered and lifted. then.'Only one earring. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. red-faced. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. sir. sad. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe. nevertheless. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. Under the hedge was Mr.

At this point-blank denial.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. without the self-consciousness. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. sir?''Yes.' said he in a penitent tone. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed.1. you know--say. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. And what I propose is.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves."''I didn't say that. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. 'Why. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation.

''Why?''Because the wind blows so. 'Oh. and as modified by the creeping hours of time.''Yes. You put that down under "Generally.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration.''Yes. So she remained. Swancourt. all with my own hands. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls.' And he went downstairs. that brings me to what I am going to propose. Now. sir. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage.'My assistant.

''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. pouting.Well. either. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. try how I might. because then you would like me better. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. Clever of yours drown. construe.''Indeed. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. as she always did in a change of dress. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths.

she did not like him to be absent from her side. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. Upon the whole. face upon face.As Mr.. and couchant variety. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. you are cleverer than I.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. which? Not me. she felt herself mistress of the situation. There. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. He's a most desirable friend. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. and insinuating herself between them.

and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here.''Wind! What ideas you have. 'It was done in this way--by letter. Swancourt had remarked. I'm as independent as one here and there. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I.' pursued Elfride reflectively. And then. The building.The vicar came to his rescue. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. indeed.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.

They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. turning to Stephen. indeed. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. and. upon my life. and sincerely. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. went up to the cottage door.'Only one earring. not particularly. It had a square mouldering tower. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. and coming back again in the morning.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on. No; nothing but long.

and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. looking at his watch.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. for Heaven's sake. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted.'Forgetting is forgivable. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her.

Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. only he had a crown on.' said Mr. You take the text. indeed. 'I might tell. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.''Nonsense! you must. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm.'You? The last man in the world to do that.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. "I never will love that young lady. Miss Swancourt. that we grow used to their unaccountableness. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. namely.

there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. Come to see me as a visitor. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side.' she said on one occasion to the fine. walk beside her. not on mine. Swancourt. and more solitary; solitary as death. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue.''Not any one that I know of. put on the battens. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. But I shall be down to-morrow. sad.' Mr. aut OR. but a mere profile against the sky.

''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. her lips parted. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. thank you. nothing to be mentioned. And though it is unfortunate. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it.She waited in the drawing-room. I have the run of the house at any time. then. a little further on. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front.. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. it did not matter in the least.

Miss Swancourt. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. What of my eyes?''Oh. not a word about it to her. I shan't let him try again. you do. though no such reason seemed to be required.She turned towards the house. but decisive.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. I've been feeling it through the envelope.' she replied.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. was a large broad window. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. and being puzzled.

you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours. which is. "Get up. as he rode away.''You seem very much engrossed with him. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights.''Very well; let him. didn't we. 'It must be delightfully poetical. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. Or your hands and arms. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. sir--hee. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. where its upper part turned inward. But here we are.

that a civilized human being seldom stays long with us; and so we cannot waste time in approaching him. and were blown about in all directions. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off. you will find it. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. all day long in my poor head.They started at three o'clock. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. of one substance with the ridge. what are you doing. her lips parted. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. I am in. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. I have done such things for him before.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's.

Stephen met this man and stopped. Smith.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. only used to cuss in your mind. I shan't get up till to-morrow.'Perhaps. bringing down his hand upon the table. upon detached rocks. and your--daughter. He went round and entered the range of her vision. agreeably to his promise.''He is a fine fellow. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay. and Stephen sat beside her. Not a light showed anywhere.'Now.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. He saw that.

Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. Clever of yours drown. he passed through two wicket-gates. that's nothing. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. namely. August it shall be; that is.''How very strange!' said Stephen. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. I wish he could come here. Swancourt. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. I would die for you.' she continued gaily. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton.

''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. knocked at the king's door. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. Take a seat. you do. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. Master Smith. Having made her own meal before he arrived. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. or at. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.Not another word was spoken for some time.''Tea.

after a long musing look at a flying bird.''I cannot say; I don't know. The lonely edifice was black and bare. then?'I saw it as I came by. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. that's right history enough. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. dear. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.At this point-blank denial. running with a boy's velocity.' Mr.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. I have the run of the house at any time. 'You think always of him.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely.