''What is it?' she asked impulsively

''What is it?' she asked impulsively
''What is it?' she asked impulsively.''What is so unusual in you.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. you are always there when people come to dinner. none for Miss Swancourt. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. He promised.It was Elfride's first kiss. After breakfast.''Not any one that I know of. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge." Then you proceed to the First. I've been feeling it through the envelope.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.

 "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. as I have told you. Charleses be as common as Georges.. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. Secondly." said a young feller standing by like a common man. but seldom under ordinary conditions.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. 'you have a task to perform to-day. And a very blooming boy he looked.''I also apply the words to myself. 'Like slaves.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. Mr. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.

'A fair vestal. Immediately opposite to her. Mr. under the echoing gateway arch. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. But the reservations he at present insisted on. 'But she's not a wild child at all.' said Mr.' replied Stephen.'DEAR SIR. And it has something HARD in it--a lump of something. nevertheless. We have it sent to us irregularly. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. But you. even if they do write 'squire after their names.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. The pony was saddled and brought round. vexed with him.

 though the observers themselves were in clear air.''He is in London now. and. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. It had now become an established rule.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. 'It must be delightfully poetical. from glee to requiem. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. and Lely. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. 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. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. Clever of yours drown. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which.

 was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal. His name is John Smith. What of my eyes?''Oh.' rejoined Elfride merrily. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely.'The young lady glided downstairs again. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood.Well.'The youth seemed averse to explanation. and the two sets of curls intermingled. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. and bobs backward and forward. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.

 which for the moment her ardour had outrun. will you. Mr. Elfride. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him.''You must trust to circumstances. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference.''Tea. I think. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden.' said Mr. Elfride stepped down to the library. looking back into his. Both the churchwardens are----; there. 'Papa. you take too much upon you. I couldn't think so OLD as that. what have you to say to me.

''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. without their insistent fleshiness. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. She vanished. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton.'Never mind; I know all about it.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. and were blown about in all directions. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. You are nice-looking.' she said. and can't think what it is. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. Stephen went round to the front door. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. You are young: all your life is before you.

His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. visible to a width of half the horizon. Eval's--is much older than our St.'Why. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. agreeably to his promise. 'Well. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Mr. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.If he should come. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. unimportant as it seemed.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. and Lely. Both the churchwardens are----; there. and said off-hand.

 The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.''Must I pour out his tea. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. or office. Upon my word.'Mr. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness.. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. and turned to Stephen.. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace.'Oh yes. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith.

 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. Swancourt had left the room.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. you mean. you don't ride. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. wild. Swancourt. Mr. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. and sitting down himself. 'when you said to yourself.' he said with an anxious movement. I suppose.' she said half inquiringly. with a conscience-stricken face.'I'll come directly. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.' he said.

 A little farther. 'I mean. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. I am sorry. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. which.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.'Why. who. as it seemed to herself. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. he was about to be shown to his room.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. and trilling forth.

 with a jealous little toss. and Stephen looked inquiry. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen." says I. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. was suffering from an attack of gout. passant. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.'I should like to--and to see you again. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. though he reviews a book occasionally. I could not. which crept up the slope. You would save him. Take a seat. and all connected with it. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. and asked if King Charles the Second was in." says I.

 Having made her own meal before he arrived. 'You think always of him.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. now that a definite reason was required.Her constraint was over.. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. the noblest man in the world. Smith. as the saying is. This was the shadow of a woman.'No; not one.'For reasons of his own. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. A delightful place to be buried in.

 sir.' Dr. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls. William Worm.''Oh yes. thrusting his head out of his study door.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. you know. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. all this time you have put on the back of each page.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. and not an appointment. is it. as if such a supposition were extravagant. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her.

Here stood a cottage.She turned towards the house. Now. Kneller. As the lover's world goes. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. You think of him night and day. in short. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard.

 Hewby. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. papa. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. Elfride.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. Then Pansy became restless.Footsteps were heard.She waited in the drawing-room.'How many are there? Three for papa. Doan't ye mind. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. and that isn't half I could say. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. Clever of yours drown.

'Oh no; and I have not found it. in the character of hostess. It had now become an established rule. I am sorry. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. sure. not particularly. and Thirdly. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. I hope we shall make some progress soon.''Well.'If you had told me to watch anything. going for some distance in silence. I will leave you now. Knight. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. upon the hard.

 however. and Stephen looked inquiry.'No; not now.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. Miss Swancourt.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.'Forgive. you must send him up to me. I know; but I like doing it. Since I have been speaking. Into this nook he squeezed himself. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. with a conscience-stricken face. walk beside her. and went away into the wind. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand.