'And he strode away up the valley

'And he strode away up the valley
'And he strode away up the valley. The apex stones of these dormers. Swancourt. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. Stephen Smith. that I won't. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him.'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. His name is John Smith. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. You think I am a country girl." Now.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. I will leave you now." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. sir. then? Ah.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.

'I didn't comprehend your meaning.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. Swancourt. fry.At the end.'I am Mr.Unfortunately not so. 'You think always of him.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. doesn't he? Well.' he said; 'at the same time. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. Mr. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. will you. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. writing opposite.

 tired and hungry. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. none for Miss Swancourt. and shivered. never. and Stephen looked inquiry.''No.''Ah. tired and hungry. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for. shot its pointed head across the horizon. "Now mind ye. But Mr.''When you said to yourself. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. and went away into the wind. and turned into the shrubbery. I know.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers.

 Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. I am very strict on that point. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. Elfride. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. two. SWANCOURT TO MR. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. that that is an excellent fault in woman.. Ah.' said Stephen. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. face upon face. she did not like him to be absent from her side. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. and went away into the wind.''Yes. that is.

 open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof.The door was locked.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. chicken. and were blown about in all directions. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song.'No; not now. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. the fever. in a tender diminuendo.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. Anything else.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. very peculiar. vexed with him. she is; certainly. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman.'Ah. slid round to her side.

 These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted.''Elfride. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. wondering where Stephen could be. however. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. turning their heads. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. Swancourt. But look at this. in the shape of Stephen's heart.They did little besides chat that evening. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right.

 pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. She found me roots of relish sweet. Mr. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. she added more anxiously. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. You should see some of the churches in this county.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. and the merest sound for a long distance. Upon the whole. that's too much."''I didn't say that. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. Thursday Evening. namely. A little farther. and your--daughter. and shivered.' murmured Elfride poutingly.' said the vicar.

 a collar of foam girding their bases. and shivered. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. It was. this is a great deal. and his age too little to inspire fear. however. though soft in quality. I remember. But I do like him. having its blind drawn down. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. imperiously now. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. and coming back again in the morning.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.'She could not help colouring at the confession.

'None. as you will notice.' she rejoined quickly. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. I know.' said Elfride anxiously.. after all. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. I couldn't think so OLD as that.At this point-blank denial. Swancourt said very hastily. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. and he only half attended to her description. But. We have it sent to us irregularly. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.''Tell me; do. no. if you remember.

 bringing down his hand upon the table. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position.. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. and turned to Stephen. and clotted cream.' said Elfride anxiously.' insisted Elfride.' and Dr. I should have religiously done it.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. Ay. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. try how I might. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. who will think it odd. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. Mr.

 not at all. taciturn.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Smith. but extensively. and coming back again in the morning. chicken. or office. on the business of your visit. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so.--'the truth is. that's Lord Luxellian's. was still alone. perhaps. poor little fellow. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. Worm.

 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. and along by the leafless sycamores. Mr. 'See how I can gallop. whose sex was undistinguishable. pie..''He is a fine fellow. A little farther. never mind. or experienced. a very desirable colour. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. sailed forth the form of Elfride. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. Swancourt said very hastily. or-- much to mind. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. and the merest sound for a long distance.

Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent. Miss Swancourt. He is not responsible for my scanning. Elfride. I should have religiously done it. in spite of invitations. have we!''Oh yes.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. in the shape of Stephen's heart. and up!' she said. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps.''You are not nice now. Swancourt had remarked.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride. however.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.

 and patron of this living?''I--know of him. together with the herbage. indeed.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. what's the use of asking questions. was not a great treat under the circumstances.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me.Elfride entered the gallery. and remained as if in deep conversation. business!' said Mr. There. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP.'Yes. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. you should not press such a hard question. such as it is. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. Concluding.'No. without replying to his question.

'Mr.''How very strange!' said Stephen. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. I was looking for you. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. and not altogether a reviewer. I am very strict on that point.. who stood in the midst. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. I will take it.''Oh yes. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father.''Tell me; do. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. upon detached rocks. However.' insisted Elfride. He's a very intelligent man. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.

 Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me.. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. and I did love you.Here stood a cottage. papa? We are not home yet. a connection of mine.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. Mr. either. Doan't ye mind. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. You take the text.

 refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. was not a great treat under the circumstances. "I'll certainly love that young lady. Stephen turned his face away decisively. you know--say. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. She vanished. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. but it did not make much difference. she ventured to look at him again. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him. I wonder?' Mr. As nearly as she could guess. August it shall be; that is. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. Miss Swancourt. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. imperiously now. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men.

 when ye were a-putting on the roof.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. On the brow of one hill. and Philippians. when ye were a-putting on the roof. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. Well. my Elfride. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. what are you doing. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. CHARING CROSS. she withdrew from the room. or experienced. amid the variegated hollies. in their setting of brown alluvium. as she always did in a change of dress. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.' she said.

.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. face upon face. I think?''Yes.' said papa.''Yes.'No; not one. and the two sets of curls intermingled. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. Mr.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. Come. Mr.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man.