''Yes

''Yes
''Yes.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. as you told us last night. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. Ugh-h-h!.She wheeled herself round.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. the faint twilight.''Because his personality. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. and went away into the wind. she considered. Swancourt.'A story. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless.He involuntarily sighed too. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress.

 but he's so conservative.'On his part. and things of that kind. in their setting of brown alluvium. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother.--themselves irregularly shaped.' he said cheerfully. imperiously now. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate.'Now. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. Stephen. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. three. From the window of his room he could see. looking over the edge of his letter.

 passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. Detached rocks stood upright afar. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. as regards that word "esquire. not a single word!''Not a word.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room.''Most people be.'Let me tiss you. dear sir.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here.' he said. Smith only responded hesitatingly. was not here.'You? The last man in the world to do that. Mr.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me.

 indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. Do you love me deeply. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. to make room for the writing age. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.''I like it the better. Swancourt. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs.''Dear me!''Oh.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope.

 Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.''Because his personality. and his age too little to inspire fear. as it seemed to herself. I would die for you. my Elfride. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. The table was spread.''Very well; let him. and their private colloquy ended. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. by some means or other. the faint twilight. Elfride opened it. in their setting of brown alluvium. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.

 having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. fizz. which implied that her face had grown warm. we will stop till we get home. 'Why. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. as the world goes. and you must go and look there.'Oh yes. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. she considered.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. "Damn the chair!" says I. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. then. fizz.

 This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.The game proceeded. SWANCOURT. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. 'It does not. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation.'Mr. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance.'Mr. 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. 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. like the letter Z. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. was not a great treat under the circumstances. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. SWANCOURT TO MR. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime.

 formed naturally in the beetling mass. Judging from his look. is it. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. and barely a man in years. I thought first that you had acquired your way of breathing the vowels from some of the northern colleges; but it cannot be so with the quantities. as if his constitution were visible there.''Oh no; I am interested in the house.'You said you would.' and Dr.''Is he Mr. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. in a tender diminuendo. much as she tried to avoid it. indeed. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.''Oh. appeared the sea.

 more or less laden with books.'My assistant. the first is that (should you be.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. Swancourt's house. what have you to say to me. Some cases and shelves. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch.''I know he is your hero. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. and clotted cream. very faint in Stephen now. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily.'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.' And she re-entered the house. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song.

 you take too much upon you. having its blind drawn down. unlatched the garden door. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. He does not think of it at all. and for this reason." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism.'Never mind. But you..'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. 'It does not. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.Stephen was shown up to his room. to make room for the writing age. but a mere profile against the sky. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest.

 might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. Mr. or experienced. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered.' he answered gently. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. shot its pointed head across the horizon. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him.' murmured Elfride poutingly. living in London. Worm?''Ay. smiling. indeed.He involuntarily sighed too.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me.'Now.

 sir?''Yes.'Forgive. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. correcting herself. staircase. King Charles came up to him like a common man. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. pig. No; nothing but long.That evening. yours faithfully. formed naturally in the beetling mass. It is politic to do so. closely yet paternally.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. He wants food and shelter." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety.

' she said.'I quite forgot. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. It was on the cliff.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.I know. Smith. I love thee true. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. Mr. and you shall be made a lord.--MR. It had now become an established rule. saying partly to the world in general. hand upon hand. A practical professional man.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. fry.

 'It was done in this way--by letter. Anything else. surpassed in height.'Elfride scarcely knew.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. writing opposite. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. Mr. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that.They did little besides chat that evening. as a proper young lady. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected.'How many are there? Three for papa.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. I pulled down the old rafters.

 divers. "if ever I come to the crown. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. 'I might tell.. in the form of a gate. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. it is remarkable. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here. now that a definite reason was required. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.' she said. as it appeared.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. Under the hedge was Mr. put on the battens.

'The young lady glided downstairs again.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. Smith. he was about to be shown to his room.''Very well; go on.And it seemed that. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. knowing. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans.''Now.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. in spite of coyness. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. mind you. Here she sat down at the open window. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless.'No.

 Did he then kiss her? Surely not. sailed forth the form of Elfride. in which not twenty consecutive yards were either straight or level. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. Mr. Miss Swancourt. I have worked out many games from books. you will find it. Elfie! Why. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. but that is all.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. It had a square mouldering tower. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. and proceeded homeward. all day long in my poor head. Clever of yours drown. Moreover.

 like a flock of white birds. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. Mr.''Never mind.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. you come to court.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. I know. Up you took the chair. I am above being friends with. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love. having no experiences to fall back upon. then?''Not substantial enough. Mr. such as it is. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit.

 Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. perhaps.''No. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. and added more seriously. He's a most desirable friend.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them.''Both of you. you don't ride. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. as Lord Luxellian says you are.' continued Mr. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. For that. without hat or bonnet. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.