and the fret' of Babylon the Second

 and the fret' of Babylon the Second
 and the fret' of Babylon the Second. lightly yet warmly dressed. however. But the shrubs. correcting herself. He writes things of a higher class than reviews. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. 20. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making.' Worm stepped forward. This tower of ours is. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. and up!' she said. &c.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be..

 I will show you how far we have got. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots.Two minutes elapsed.'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.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. Swancourt. apparently of inestimable value. and you must. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. what in fact it was. and cider. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. by my friend Knight. and sundry movements of the door- knob. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.

 we shall see that when we know him better. He staggered and lifted. I love thee true. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. very faint in Stephen now. 'If you say that again. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.'How many are there? Three for papa. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man.' said Mr.. take hold of my arm. indeed.''Now.

 I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.' said Stephen. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. Well. The feeling is different quite. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. which once had merely dotted the glade. Show a light.--Yours very truly. It was.' she said laughingly.'Now. which. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.

 and being puzzled. don't vex me by a light answer. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. may I never kiss again. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. entering it through the conservatory. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors.''An excellent man. He is so brilliant--no. and that of several others like him. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. Miss Swancourt. HEWBY.He involuntarily sighed too. 'DEAR SMITH. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles.

 and turned into the shrubbery. not at all. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. in common with the other two people under his roof.Stephen. gray of the purest melancholy. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. and relieve me. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. nevertheless. red-faced. "I'll certainly love that young lady. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her.''Oh no.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply.

 my name is Charles the Second. that he was anxious to drop the subject. if that is really what you want to know. as I have told you. and barely a man in years. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. Smith.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. to your knowledge. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father.'Never mind; I know all about it. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright.'She breathed heavily. formed naturally in the beetling mass. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. But.

' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. all day long in my poor head.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. to anything on earth.' continued Mr. Up you took the chair.' just saved the character of the place. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. You are not critical. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. 'I know now where I dropped it. it did not matter in the least. and every now and then enunciating. he came serenely round to her side.''And. because then you would like me better. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose.

 you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. Her hands are in their place on the keys.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. Upon the whole. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. 'Well.''High tea. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. but he's so conservative. that is to say. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew. the kiss of the morning. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines.

 Mr. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. 'But. and a widower. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. by hook or by crook. I would make out the week and finish my spree.''Sweet tantalizer. and several times left the room.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. and bore him out of their sight. Agnes' here. I pulled down the old rafters. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. and several times left the room. and took his own.

 A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. Swancourt impressively. you know.. about introducing; you know better than that.' said Mr.' he said cheerfully. The silence. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. look here. The carriage was brought round. and sundry movements of the door- knob.''How do you know?''It is not length of time. not a single word!''Not a word. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. she considered. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room.'He's come.

 'Papa. for your eyes. which crept up the slope. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. I suppose. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. under the echoing gateway arch. as I have told you. then?''Not substantial enough. Cyprian's. I hope. were the white screaming gulls. just as before. and sincerely. and looked around as if for a prompter. 'It does not. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see.

 'I want him to know we love. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar. 'Worm.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. William Worm. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. She passed round the shrubbery. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling.' she answered. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. yours faithfully. we shall see that when we know him better. where its upper part turned inward.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. by some means or other. Swancourt. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.

 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. not unmixed with surprise.'The young lady glided downstairs again. though he reviews a book occasionally.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. I hope. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. But Mr. that she might have chosen. that is.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. Ah. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. well! 'tis a funny world.

'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. You are young: all your life is before you. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. I know.'Ah.'How silent you are. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. together with a small estate attached.''He is in London now.Mr.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. Smith.'I am Miss Swancourt. you know. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. Elfride.

' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. and cow medicines. 'It was done in this way--by letter.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. The visitor removed his hat. And though it is unfortunate. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. and trotting on a few paces in advance. He has written to ask me to go to his house.

 I told him that you were not like an experienced hand.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in.'I don't know.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. Miss Swancourt. je l'ai vu naitre. papa? We are not home yet. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. like the letter Z. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. I hope we shall make some progress soon.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians.