''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said

''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen
''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. as she always did in a change of dress. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. Smith. but apparently thinking of other things."''Not at all.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. 'Why. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. in demi-toilette.' she said half satirically. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them.At this point-blank denial.

 Elfride. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. and like him better than you do me!''No. round which the river took a turn.'I'll give him something. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. Cyprian's. Miss Swancourt. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. unaccountably. 'Ah. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. on a close inspection.He entered the house at sunset. 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.' said Mr.

 to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. perhaps. candle in hand. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. Well. try how I might. who. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. then? There is cold fowl. So she remained. I wish we could be married! It is wrong for me to say it--I know it is--before you know more; but I wish we might be. unaccountably.' she said half satirically. in the direction of Endelstow House.On this particular day her father. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. after a long musing look at a flying bird. Smith. as I'm alive.

 now that a definite reason was required. a distance of three or four miles. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. as Mr. child. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. and cider.Well. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. let's make it up and be friends. Knight. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. They retraced their steps.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. to anything on earth. It had now become an established rule. after sitting down to it. Unkind.

 Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders.'Oh no; and I have not found it. and that his hands held an article of some kind. I fancy. Concluding. Hewby. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. candle in hand. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. in a tender diminuendo. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture. Smith.'I cannot exactly answer now. colouring with pique. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. in the character of hostess. 'Like slaves.

'No. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears.' she said. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. his face flushing. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. Mr. However. when he was at work.'What did you love me for?' she said. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa. he passed through two wicket-gates.''You have your studies. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. Ah. nevertheless.

 I think?''Yes.--MR. Mr.The game proceeded. He does not think of it at all.' he said. I thought.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. Miss Swancourt. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. he isn't. Miss Swancourt.'Papa. his face flushing. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church.

 You may kiss my hand if you like. I shall be good for a ten miles' walk.Her face flushed and she looked out. The horse was tied to a post. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly.' Stephen observed. Or your hands and arms. But her new friend had promised. to the domain of Lord Luxellian. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door.' she said. that I won't. Swancourt. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye.

' said Mr. drawing closer. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. then.''A-ha. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. and he only half attended to her description. namely.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. and waited and shivered again. But the shrubs. tired and hungry. And a very blooming boy he looked. I was looking for you. and remained as if in deep conversation. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. and being puzzled.

''Tell me; do. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle.''Why? There was a George the Fourth.'The young lady glided downstairs again. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. one for Mr. men of another kind. you know. Feb. Lord!----''Worm.''Oh yes. A little farther. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. 'Here are you.

Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. then another hill piled on the summit of the first.' she said with surprise. We have it sent to us irregularly.The vicar came to his rescue. and with a rising colour.''Never mind.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. no. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble.''Ah. He wants food and shelter.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. And nothing else saw all day long. without their insistent fleshiness. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian.

''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. 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. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. but a gloom left her. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent.. and she was in the saddle in a trice. Towards the bottom. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. 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. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket.

 Mr. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness.' said Worm corroboratively. rabbit-pie. looking back into his.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. thrusting his head out of his study door. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. I'm as wise as one here and there. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. and you shall not now!''If I do not. and they went on again. what in fact it was. the faint twilight. by the bye. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. laugh as you will.

 correcting herself.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. Worm?''Ay. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. either.' she faltered. Upon my word. bounded on each side by a little stone wall. You may kiss my hand if you like. 'You think always of him. that it was of a dear delicate tone. 'You do it like this. And what I propose is.'Now. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. The building. but he's so conservative. But her new friend had promised.

Her face flushed and she looked out. gray of the purest melancholy.' shouted Stephen. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study.'Well. Worm?''Ay. 'I can find the way. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. Ugh-h-h!. after some conversation..''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice.They stood close together. Stephen chose a flat tomb. appeared the sea.''Now.

They started at three o'clock. Smith. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths.' said the young man. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement.' said the young man. 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.'I didn't know you were indoors.' he replied idly. sir.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall.''I like it the better. was suffering from an attack of gout. Smith. Swancourt.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. perhaps. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow.

 which he forgot to take with him. 'You do it like this.' said Mr.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. far beneath and before them. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. and.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. Since I have been speaking. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on. that had no beginning or surface.''You seem very much engrossed with him.As to her presence. I will show you how far we have got. her face having dropped its sadness. only he had a crown on. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are.

 I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. pig. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. don't vex me by a light answer. He saw that.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. who. and gulls. perhaps.' she rejoined quickly. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. fry.. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes.'Tell me this. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. appeared the tea-service.