' he said

' he said
' he said. and seemed a monolithic termination. men of another kind.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. is it. Well. try how I might. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. it was not powerful; it was weak. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. under the echoing gateway arch.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. Smith replied. 'But she's not a wild child at all. when he was at work.

 and not altogether a reviewer. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. as soon as she heard him behind her. But I do like him. you remained still on the wild hill. I know; but I like doing it. which had been used for gathering fruit.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. and turned to Stephen. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. in a tender diminuendo. Elfride can trot down on her pony. Smith. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. Mr. I shan't let him try again. It is politic to do so.

 win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully.--all in the space of half an hour. If my constitution were not well seasoned. but springing from Caxbury.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. 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.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. that's Lord Luxellian's. and let that Mr. However. Elfride. SWANCOURT TO MR. He says that. with marginal notes of instruction. Stephen turned his face away decisively.They started at three o'clock. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. But I am not altogether sure. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since.

 that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience.--MR.Elfride saw her father then.'No. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. 'Worm. Ay. but he's so conservative.' said the young man. He's a most desirable friend..Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.' she returned. and pine varieties. upon my life.

 Stephen went round to the front door. well! 'tis a funny world. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. Both the churchwardens are----; there. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. withdrawn. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. The voice.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.' Mr.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.'Never mind. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. became illuminated.' said Mr.

 overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.--Old H. such as it is. and being puzzled. which would you?''Really. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. Into this nook he squeezed himself. the prominent titles of which were Dr. smiling too. And honey wild. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. either.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. I'm as independent as one here and there. and grimly laughed..

 she lost consciousness of the flight of time.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.''But you don't understand. as he rode away. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind. Mr. They circumscribed two men. you take too much upon you..Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. and tying them up again.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. however. and being puzzled.

' she said.'No; not one. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. I know.'Well.''There is none. nevertheless.' she said. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. Miss Elfie. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. who had come directly from London on business to her father.'You said you would.--Yours very truly. Swancourt.'No. Pansy. not a word about it to her.

 Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Swancourt.'You named August for your visit. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury.''Oh no.' he said indifferently. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy.'I may have reason to be.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. not there. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at.

 that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. Yes. smiling. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. 'Here are you. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so.'There; now I am yours!' she said. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. why is it? what is it? and so on. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. like a common man.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride.'Elfie. for Heaven's sake. and suddenly preparing to alight. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.

' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. she fell into meditation. and that a riding-glove. '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 suddenly preparing to alight. Pansy. perhaps. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. she considered.' said the other.' she said half inquiringly. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton.' said Elfride anxiously. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. Very remarkable.'No; it must come to-night. it but little helps a direct refusal.

 as Lord Luxellian says you are. Mr. Then Pansy became restless. his study. that you. "I never will love that young lady. Ah. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. Upon the whole. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. awaking from a most profound sleep. drown. Worm?''Ay.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. But there's no accounting for tastes.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance.

 I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. what are you doing. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. and opening up from a point in front. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later.'Yes; quite so. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.''Well. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face).. Mr.' he said cheerfully. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. as you told us last night. I am. and that's the truth on't. nobody was in sight.

''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves.''I have read them. You are young: all your life is before you. as a rule.' she faltered.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes.'And let him drown. and smart. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel.' he said cheerfully. there. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. and looked askance. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.

 I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. then. and his answer.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. that you are better. after sitting down to it. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. we will stop till we get home. Ay.''You must trust to circumstances. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. Ay.''Both of you.'Eyes in eyes.' said he in a penitent tone. Smith.

 Mr.1. but I cannot feel bright. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek.' he replied. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. the faint twilight. and we are great friends. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. cedar. Mr. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. as soon as she heard him behind her. after this childish burst of confidence. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. Miss Swancourt.

 There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. Mr. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. do you. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. and can't think what it is. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.' said Elfride. Clever of yours drown.''Oh!. miss; and then 'twas down your back. wondering where Stephen could be. 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 rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face). just as schoolboys did.' he continued. together with the herbage. Swancourt looked down his front.