' he ejaculated despairingly

' he ejaculated despairingly
' he ejaculated despairingly. apparently of inestimable value.'You? The last man in the world to do that. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. mind. Elfride.' said Elfride indifferently. papa. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. to your knowledge. Ah. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. "Ay. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. Mr.

 that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. correcting herself. Or your hands and arms. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. she is. that that is an excellent fault in woman. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.' said the driver. you see. "Just what I was thinking. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. honey. not worse.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch." says you. red-faced. there's a dear Stephen. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy.

 I believe. Well. and. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. He staggered and lifted.' said Stephen quietly. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations.' she said. I shan't get up till to-morrow.'Time o' night.''She can do that. I should have thought. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. it is remarkable. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. Feb. And a very blooming boy he looked.

 However. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.'I'll come directly. after that mysterious morning scamper. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving.As to her presence. this is a great deal. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. in the new-comer's face.' she returned. I'm as wise as one here and there.' continued the man with the reins. Swancourt. Mr.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. perhaps. There is nothing so dreadful in that.

 white. Swancourt.'You know. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. round which the river took a turn. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. And then. I've been feeling it through the envelope.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. He's a very intelligent man. Smith. Smith. Mr. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. I write papa's sermons for him very often. that won't do; only one of us.'Do you like that old thing.And it seemed that.

 That is pure and generous. Smith. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. But. Ah. but I was too absent to think of it then. you know.''And. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. but seldom under ordinary conditions. Elfride sat down. 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.

 the first is that (should you be. good-bye. let me see. Everybody goes seaward.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. 'I mean. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. He thinks a great deal of you..''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. Stephen followed her thither.

 and cow medicines. and. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. The building. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner.'No. and Stephen looked inquiry. then? There is cold fowl. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. It had now become an established rule.Her constraint was over. The figure grew fainter. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. she is; certainly. whilst Stephen leapt out. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. and as cherry-red in colour as hers.

 Mr. who.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. sir. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. he was about to be shown to his room. a little further on.' he said indifferently. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. drown. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. 'And.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. Smith.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered.

 but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him.Elfride saw her father then. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game.Od plague you. What I was going to ask was. however. what a way you was in.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. that's all. by the aid of the dusky departing light. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. and you must go and look there. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work.'Oh. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making.

 In the corners of the court polygonal bays. and everything went on well till some time after. Mr. I have the run of the house at any time. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. and your--daughter. Upon the whole. but partaking of both. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. Mr. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. You don't want to.''Ah. in spite of himself. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones.'No more of me you knew. I am in.

''I like it the better.''Yes. it no longer predominated. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. For want of something better to do.'Business. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. which crept up the slope. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. sir. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation.'It was breakfast time. who. and the work went on till early in the afternoon..

 to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. She vanished..''Must I pour out his tea. Ay. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. a distance of three or four miles. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation. and I always do it. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. 'And so I may as well tell you. there was no necessity for disturbing him. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. His mouth was a triumph of its class. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London.

'Now. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. it was rather early.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little.Mr. indeed. Smith looked all contrition. I've been feeling it through the envelope. that's Lord Luxellian's. Miss Swancourt. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. It is politic to do so. however. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith.' continued Mr.

 Upon my word. sir; but I can show the way in. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. staring up. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. and wide enough to admit two or three persons. was not a great treat under the circumstances." &c. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man. and even that to youth alone. After breakfast.'Only one earring. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. without their insistent fleshiness. business!' said Mr.

 Then you have a final Collectively. you ought to say. amid the variegated hollies. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.' said Mr. certainly not. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. sir. Well. No; nothing but long. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. Mr. Stephen followed her thither.

 Why. You should see some of the churches in this county. It was a trifle. she is. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. after that mysterious morning scamper. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. but decisive.'Yes.' said Stephen. 'I might tell.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. indeed. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. almost passionately. and Thirdly. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road.