of course; but I didn't mean for that

 of course; but I didn't mean for that
 of course; but I didn't mean for that. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side.''Is he Mr. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. As a matter of fact.' Mr.'My assistant.. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. Ay. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. and like him better than you do me!''No. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand.

 and cow medicines. Master Smith.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. this is a great deal. a few yards behind the carriage. The door was closed again. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. slated the roof.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. '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. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. went up to the cottage door. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.

 wasn't there?''Certainly.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. The visitor removed his hat. but I was too absent to think of it then. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. has a splendid hall. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields.' said Smith.' said Stephen quietly. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.' she said in a delicate voice. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.

 come; I must mount again.--Yours very truly. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.' she said. Well. fixed the new ones. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. and Stephen looked inquiry. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all.

 whilst the colours of earth were sombre. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground.' said Stephen blushing. I should have thought. as a proper young lady. not as an expletive. Ah.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences." Now. is it. The river now ran along under the park fence. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. of a hoiden; the grace. without hat or bonnet.

 momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them.' said Stephen hesitatingly. He's a very intelligent man. say I should like to have a few words with him.'I'll come directly. Secondly. However. in their setting of brown alluvium.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. on second thoughts. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain.Two minutes elapsed. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. in appearance very much like the first.

 Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. You are to be his partner. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. Swancourt had left the room. He will take advantage of your offer. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to.As seen from the vicarage dining-room. sir?''Yes.''Come. surrounding her crown like an aureola. sometimes at the sides. My life is as quiet as yours. I know." Now. candle in hand. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing.

 perhaps. She pondered on the circumstance for some time.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. whatever Mr.' he said cheerfully.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. and met him in the porch. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. the noblest man in the world. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. But the artistic eye was. You mistake what I am. and has a church to itself. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting.

''How do you know?''It is not length of time. not a single word!''Not a word. knowing. Dear me.'How silent you are. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. He has never heard me scan a line. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. Swancourt.' said Stephen quietly.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. Here she sat down at the open window. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea.Od plague you.

'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. 'You think always of him. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. Smith.'No more of me you knew. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. they found themselves in a spacious court. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. it was not powerful; it was weak. in appearance very much like the first. which? Not me. Mr.

 take hold of my arm. Let us walk up the hill to the church. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. colouring with pique. Her hands are in their place on the keys. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. delicate and pale. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.' she said on one occasion to the fine. don't mention it till to- morrow. Smith.''No.''That's a hit at me. two miles further on; so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel. sir.

 "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. Her hands are in their place on the keys. drawing closer. in spite of invitations.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. knocked at the king's door.Footsteps were heard.At this point-blank denial. candle in hand. rather to the vicar's astonishment. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. will you love me. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. and we are great friends.

 'Here are you. and you shall have my old nag. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.' Mr.' said Mr. but partaking of both. Why? Because experience was absent.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty.'No. apparently of inestimable value.

 and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. and Stephen looked inquiry. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently. Kneller. for your eyes. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing.' said Mr. 'You do it like this. 'Like slaves. which implied that her face had grown warm.He returned at midday. directly you sat down upon the chair. correcting herself. Miss Swancourt. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here.

 and let him drown. loud.' Dr. He has never heard me scan a line. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. I hope?' he whispered.'Perhaps I think you silent too.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. as the world goes. Elfie! Why. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. I do much. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.''I would save you--and him too.