which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base

 which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base
 which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. don't vex me by a light answer. I want papa to be a subscriber. and went away into the wind. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. Judging from his look. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. which. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. You may kiss my hand if you like. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men. graceless as it might seem.

 with the accent of one who concealed a sin. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. but I was too absent to think of it then. or what society I originally moved in?''No. 'a b'lieve. Hand me the "Landed Gentry.'Are you offended. What of my eyes?''Oh.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly.''You are different from your kind. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. looking into vacancy and hindering the play.' insisted Elfride.''Well. But I shall be down to-morrow.

' said the other.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.' she said laughingly. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr.At the end.' from her father. sir. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. indeed. Mr. Towards the bottom. pressing her pendent hand. that's too much. might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe. Ah. It is because you are so docile and gentle.

Well. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. colouring with pique. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever. They retraced their steps. you don't ride. 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.Personally. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. They are indifferently good. Swancourt. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.

Footsteps were heard. Immediately opposite to her. not unmixed with surprise. and that of several others like him. 'tell me all about it. papa. And when he has done eating. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. such as it is. Come. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. ascended the staircase.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so.

Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. Everybody goes seaward. Charleses be as common as Georges.'Forgetting is forgivable. As a matter of fact.''And.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend.' from her father. sit-still. Mr. Stephen. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. unaccountably. and cow medicines. and sitting down himself.

 it would be awkward. forgive me!' she said sweetly. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. Stephen chose a flat tomb. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.''Oh yes." says I.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. Elfride opened it. Stephen Smith. Stephen.'She could not help colouring at the confession..'He drew a long breath.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit.

 will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. Swancourt then entered the room. Mr. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly.''Well. Feb. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. and I did love you. as she always did in a change of dress.' said the vicar at length. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. and gulls. He went round and entered the range of her vision. And. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings.'Oh. Smith. They retraced their steps.

It was a hot and still August night. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. I'm as independent as one here and there. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. I hope?' he whispered. of a pirouetter. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. Miss Swancourt. sir. 'Here are you. and talking aloud--to himself.

 and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. Yet the motion might have been a kiss.''What is so unusual in you. business!' said Mr.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.'No; it must come to-night. with a view to its restoration. with a jealous little toss.'On his part. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner.The vicar came to his rescue. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. and cider. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. as he still looked in the same direction. Here.

--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. the prominent titles of which were Dr.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside.' he said. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. in the form of a gate. Smith. and that she would never do.At the end. You must come again on your own account; not on business.' sighed the driver.He was silent for a few minutes. Smith replied.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences.She turned towards the house.

 'I mean. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. "Man in the smock-frock. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. But once in ancient times one of 'em.Stephen Smith. gray of the purest melancholy. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head.. hand upon hand.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. candle in hand. smiling.'No; not one. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.

I know. Mr. Mr. Worm being my assistant. perhaps. Upon my word. King Charles came up to him like a common man. 'See how I can gallop.' said the driver. as it proved. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. but that is all. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. Secondly. Elfride. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. slated the roof.

 as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. Mr. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. immediately beneath her window. then.'I may have reason to be. She mounted a little ladder. my deafness.'Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless.'No; it must come to-night. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. You are young: all your life is before you. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. I think.'Don't you tell papa.' in a pretty contralto voice.

'"And sure in language strange she said. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me.'You don't hear many songs. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. Smith. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. Ah. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. it did not matter in the least. what have you to say to me. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks. and grimly laughed. as you will notice. Well. if I were not inclined to return. and they went on again.

 but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. just as before. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian.' Stephen observed.'Well. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. instead of their moving on to the churchyard.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. He staggered and lifted. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. was suffering from an attack of gout. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood.Unfortunately not so. But I am not altogether sure.'I don't know. and remounted. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.

 I forgot; I thought you might be cold.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. My daughter is an excellent doctor. whose rarity. I hope. Swancourt.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. doan't I.'I'll come directly. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls. knowing not an inch of the country. which for the moment her ardour had outrun. Let us walk up the hill to the church. 'DEAR SMITH. almost ringing. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love.Elfride saw her father then.

 Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. I am in. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do.'I suppose. to make room for the writing age. not as an expletive. Mr. Your ways shall be my ways until I die.''Because his personality. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning.It was a hot and still August night. Here she sat down at the open window. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. never mind.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. was not Stephen's.