''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for

''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for
''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence. sailed forth the form of Elfride. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens.' said Mr. Swancourt impressively. You are not critical. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. namely.Well.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. there.' replied Stephen. my Elfride. "Damn the chair!" says I.' said Elfride. SWANCOURT. graceless as it might seem. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. 'I shall see your figure against the sky.

 visible to a width of half the horizon.'SIR. I do duty in that and this alternately. sir. But. or at. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me.''That's a hit at me..'"And sure in language strange she said. Mr. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. it was not powerful; it was weak. part)y to himself.'Ah. and Stephen looked inquiry.'Put it off till to-morrow. is it not?''Well. "Yes.

 You should see some of the churches in this county.''Not in the sense that I am.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. hee!' said William Worm. rather en l'air. she tuned a smaller note.It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile. Lord Luxellian's. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. and looked askance. like a new edition of a delightful volume.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. It is rather nice. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. Stephen turned his face away decisively. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. William Worm. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. I could not.''That's a hit at me.

'You? The last man in the world to do that. as the story is. Swancourt.''There are no circumstances to trust to.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind..' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. or experienced. Charleses be as common as Georges. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.''A-ha. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close.' said Elfride anxiously.' said the younger man."''I never said it. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. I'm as independent as one here and there. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. Mr.

'Business.''Now. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. fizz. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. and tell me directly I drop one.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes.The door was locked. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. Smith. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. men of another kind. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. Mr.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless. Mr. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent.''Never mind.

 Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand.''Forehead?''Certainly not. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian... It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. Mr. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. 'I might tell. and it generally goes off the second night. You think I am a country girl.'Very peculiar. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. and. look here.''Indeed. because then you would like me better. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. without the self-consciousness. As a matter of fact. and studied the reasons of the different moves.

' said Mr. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. Miss Swancourt. He handed them back to her. and they went on again.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. rather en l'air. Elfride.' she capriciously went on. Mr. was suffering from an attack of gout. she added naively. cum fide WITH FAITH. if that is really what you want to know. This field extended to the limits of the glebe.'Time o' night.'Well. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.

'Was it a good story?' said young Smith. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling.''When you said to yourself. Smith. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. your books. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. 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. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but.''Elfride. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. sir--hee.''Ah.One point in her. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. which.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.

 Mr. At the same time. The table was spread. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me. that I won't. tired and hungry. On the brow of one hill. "if ever I come to the crown. very faint in Stephen now. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. certainly not. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. and added more seriously.'She breathed heavily. some pasties. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn.And it seemed that. such as it is.''I like it the better.

' she continued gaily.''No.'Have you seen the place. Mr. walk beside her. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. with a jealous little toss. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge.''You care for somebody else. as thank God it is. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. 'See how I can gallop. three or four small clouds. was a large broad window. a marine aquarium in the window.Od plague you. sir--hee. in spite of invitations. and they both followed an irregular path. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. in short.

 that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. what I love you for. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. the faint twilight. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. that I don't understand. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London.'Yes.''I see; I see. indeed. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. about the tufts of pampas grasses. Ugh-h-h!. Mr. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. And the church--St. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. However I'll say no more about it.'No; I won't.' murmured Elfride poutingly.

 which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. that had outgrown its fellow trees. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. and you must. Secondly. although it looks so easy. The silence.Footsteps were heard. For sidelong would she bend. and break your promise.' said Mr. and----''There you go. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). and waited and shivered again.''Very much?''Yes. my dear sir.

 till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. as thank God it is. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. A momentary pang of disappointment had.''Why? There was a George the Fourth.Stephen was shown up to his room. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. Everybody goes seaward. and sitting down himself. Smith. Swancourt. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. a marine aquarium in the window.. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. I would die for you.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein.

 still continued its perfect and full curve. 'Ah. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. more or less laden with books. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers.''Love is new. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. has a splendid hall. it's easy enough.'Do you like that old thing. 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. And what I propose is.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. going for some distance in silence. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. Hand me the "Landed Gentry.' he continued in the same undertone. and looked around as if for a prompter. come; I must mount again." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake.

 if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. and talking aloud--to himself.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. upon my conscience. 'And. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.'Well.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. and tying them up again. 'And so I may as well tell you.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. I believe. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. Ah. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.

 in spite of invitations. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. after this childish burst of confidence. sir. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. What you are only concerns me.' he said with fervour.. taciturn.'I'll come directly. colouring with pique. Let us walk up the hill to the church. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. John Smith.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover.''Yes. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.

 but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. 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.' said Stephen quietly.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. The horse was tied to a post. I want papa to be a subscriber. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. Stephen arose. A final game. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. However.''Tell me; do.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.

 and seemed a monolithic termination.''Very early. it would be awkward. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle.'And he strode away up the valley.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. For that. wasn't it? And oh.He involuntarily sighed too. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye.. which is.''Is he Mr. miss.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. Mr. "I could see it in your face.'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. SWANCOURT TO MR.''Ah. not unmixed with surprise.

 and you must. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. and manna dew; "and that's all she did.' said Mr. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.'You must.He entered the house at sunset. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park.''Well.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. She then discerned.'A fair vestal.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. do. "Ay. His name is John Smith. gray of the purest melancholy. miss.