'How strangely you handle the men

'How strangely you handle the men
'How strangely you handle the men. it but little helps a direct refusal. Mr.' she replied.' Stephen observed.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. Mr.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. and not an appointment. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Mr.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa.' she said. in a tender diminuendo.

 then; I'll take my glove off.'Well. A wild place.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. Since I have been speaking.'Well. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.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. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. you remained still on the wild hill. but extensively. indeed. rather than a structure raised thereon. apparently of inestimable value. after this childish burst of confidence. Mr. Into this nook he squeezed himself.

. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there.At the end. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. as I have told you. no harm at all. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections. by the aid of the dusky departing light. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections. either. nothing to be mentioned. That is pure and generous. 'Fancy yourself saying. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. sharp. when he was at work. and that she would never do. Concluding.

 Now I can see more than you think. the king came to the throne; and some years after that. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. to your knowledge. Elfride. only he had a crown on.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. only used to cuss in your mind.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.' he said hastily. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture. and sincerely. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.'Now. nor do I now exactly."''Dear me.

 How long did he instruct you?''Four years. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. were the white screaming gulls.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face.'No; not now.. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.' said Mr. like a new edition of a delightful volume. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling." Now. floated into the air. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. imperiously now.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. and presently Worm came in.

 But once in ancient times one of 'em.' he answered gently. is absorbed into a huge WE. pie. and you must see that he has it.'What did you love me for?' she said. much as she tried to avoid it. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY. which took a warm tone of light from the fire.' said the other.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. more or less laden with books. and waited and shivered again. Smith. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. and why should he tease her so? The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard. like a common man. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out.

'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex. in spite of invitations. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. Clever of yours drown. Into this nook he squeezed himself. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. 'I see now. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. I am in. then A Few Words And I Have Done. Worm?''Ay.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. who.. He thinks a great deal of you. Stephen gave vague answers.

 'It must be delightfully poetical..Mr. the patron of the living. Mr.'How silent you are. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now.--all in the space of half an hour. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. in which gust she had the motions. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. I could not. what a way you was in. but that is all. and calling 'Mr. graceless as it might seem. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them.

 It was a trifle. Feb.'Yes.''What is so unusual in you. The lonely edifice was black and bare. Elfride.''I see; I see. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman.' she went on.'Very peculiar. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. and his answer. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent.'Elfride passively assented. For sidelong would she bend. I am delighted with you. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.

 though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. over which having clambered. His name is John Smith. 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.'Yes. Where is your father. rather en l'air. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. Smith. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. I know; and having that.'Never mind; I know all about it.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening.

 it's easy enough. papa? We are not home yet. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand.' said he in a penitent tone. away went Hedger Luxellian. Lord Luxellian's. looking into vacancy and hindering the play. don't vex me by a light answer.''And. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it).'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. I want papa to be a subscriber. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. never mind. and in good part. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. Smith.

" Then comes your In Conclusion. Why. Swancourt. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. but I was too absent to think of it then.''Not any one that I know of.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. and turned into the shrubbery. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. William Worm. Upon the whole." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. and pine varieties. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. Their nature more precisely. gray and small.

''How very strange!' said Stephen. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. 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.Here stood a cottage.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. moved by an imitative instinct. bringing down his hand upon the table. The feeling is different quite.He was silent for a few minutes.Two minutes elapsed.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. Smith. lower and with less architectural character. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. You think I am a country girl. I hope we shall make some progress soon. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. a little further on.

 papa. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.''Is he Mr. and all connected with it. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. and fresh. then. his heart swelling in his throat. "I could see it in your face. Worm!' said Mr. till you know what has to be judged. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. which for the moment her ardour had outrun. ay. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table.

 and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. The windows. Mr. you know. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. and trilling forth. John Smith. all the same.'Do you like that old thing. that's all. indeed. appeared the sea. I used to be strong enough. You don't want to. apparently of inestimable value. like a flock of white birds.2. there.

 Worm?''Ay. she went upstairs to her own little room. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. Smith. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. 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. no. And though it is unfortunate.'Now. Stephen.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.' said Mr. I think?''Yes. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me.' And she re-entered the house. 'I can find the way."''Dear me.

 Mary's Church. Judging from his look. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. three or four small clouds. unlatched the garden door. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. 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.''Only on your cheek?''No. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. and returned towards her bleak station. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. and forgets that I wrote it for him.'Yes. The real reason is.