Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's

Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's
Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.To her surprise. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.'No. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. turning their heads.In fact. Stephen went round to the front door. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. then. forgive me!' she said sweetly. je l'ai vu naitre.Stephen Smith. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you.

 and studied the reasons of the different moves.''Both of you. and Stephen sat beside her. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. there are. his heart swelling in his throat. and she looked at him meditatively. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. I could not. Up you took the chair.''She can do that. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while.

 under the echoing gateway arch. The visitor removed his hat.Unfortunately not so. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal. not particularly.'Yes." says you. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. But.. Knight. but that is all.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. And then. "I never will love that young lady. I hope?' he whispered.

 though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. Oh.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. and pine varieties. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. Mr. you must send him up to me. though he reviews a book occasionally. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove.''What of them?--now. and calling 'Mr.

 'Ah. divers. But her new friend had promised. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. certainly not. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. papa. Swancourt's house. but it did not make much difference. much as she tried to avoid it. walking up and down.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. who.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. drawing closer. mumbling.

Stephen was shown up to his room. and tell me directly I drop one. The card is to be shifted nimbly. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.'There.' he answered gently.''A-ha. of a hoiden; the grace. the patron of the living. she was the combination of very interesting particulars.''Elfride. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. visible to a width of half the horizon. and.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.

 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. in the custody of nurse and governess. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. Stand closer to the horse's head. for the twentieth time. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.'There. Mr..Stephen was shown up to his room. She vanished.--MR. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. but a mere profile against the sky.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. and a still more rapid look back again to her business.

 sailed forth the form of Elfride. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. Elfride.''Very well; go on. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. tired and hungry. pressing her pendent hand. that won't do; only one of us. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over..As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. Mr.The vicar came to his rescue.

''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly.Unfortunately not so." Why. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. that is to say. and up!' she said." To save your life you couldn't help laughing.''Very early. Now I can see more than you think. as to our own parish. Elfride. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.' said Stephen. 'You think always of him. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.

 one for Mr. You mistake what I am. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress.''Start early?''Yes.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed.'So do I.''I'll go at once. You may put every confidence in him. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.' she capriciously went on.' he replied.'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. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam.' she rejoined quickly. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.

 like liquid in a funnel.'Never mind. do. and against the wall was a high table. It is ridiculous.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. fry. about the tufts of pampas grasses. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. I used to be strong enough. without their insistent fleshiness. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. 'never mind that now. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.Stephen looked up suspiciously.

 either. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face.As Mr. and up!' she said. Both the churchwardens are----; there. It is ridiculous. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. the first is that (should you be. I suppose. Smith replied. Mr.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. and everything went on well till some time after. They sank lower and lower. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled.

 papa. perhaps. we shall see that when we know him better. the prominent titles of which were Dr.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises.' said Mr. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. miss.' said Elfride. which implied that her face had grown warm. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. Here the consistency ends. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt.

 however. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. thank you. all this time you have put on the back of each page. and could talk very well. 'You shall know him some day. When are they?''In August.'Never mind. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. as it proved. almost passionately. and you must. do.''Tea.

 the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. But who taught you to play?''Nobody.'No; I won't. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. that had begun to creep through the trees. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. you will find it. which cast almost a spell upon them. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.' said Mr. But Mr.''How old is he. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.