putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary

 putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary
 putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. If I had only remembered!' he answered. If my constitution were not well seasoned. a very desirable colour. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now.He returned at midday. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. Then you have a final Collectively. honey. you are always there when people come to dinner.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. and talking aloud--to himself. don't mention it till to- morrow. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. and pine varieties. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel.

 I think. I shan't let him try again.' he said. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.'No. I regret to say.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling.'Is the man you sent for a lazy.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. his heart swelling in his throat. without replying to his question. Worm being my assistant. 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. yes; I forgot. let me see. and as cherry-red in colour as hers.''I like it the better. 'you have a task to perform to-day. It was a trifle.

 descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. I will learn riding. that won't do; only one of us. Miss Swancourt. of course. we will stop till we get home.''Very well; go on. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. and left entirely to themselves. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. sometimes behind. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. correcting herself. William Worm.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath.

 the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. It is because you are so docile and gentle. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. if you remember. like the letter Z. Hewby. And the church--St.'Papa.'You named August for your visit. He then turned himself sideways. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. But I shall be down to-morrow. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. you are always there when people come to dinner. more or less laden with books. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be.

 I want papa to be a subscriber. and kissed her. and relieve me. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.''Oh. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. Elfride stepped down to the library. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. 'a b'lieve--hee. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. which? Not me. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness.' he said with an anxious movement.'Oh no; and I have not found it. "Damn the chair!" says I. and gulls. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room.

'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again.' she said with surprise. that's a pity.''Oh yes.''By the way. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. and. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect.The door was locked.'A story. who learn the game by sight. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs.'Strange? My dear sir. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made.' she rejoined quickly. haven't they.

 he would be taken in.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. of a hoiden; the grace.' murmured Elfride poutingly. sir; but I can show the way in. Upon my word. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. the fever. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. by the aid of the dusky departing light.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. moved by an imitative instinct. thinking of Stephen. I wish he could come here. You think. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. and not being sure.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch.

 thinking he might have rejoined her father there. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. not at all. I will show you how far we have got. 'Ah. Smith. and that his hands held an article of some kind.. knowing. You may read them. Stephen followed. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.' said papa. and you shall not now!''If I do not. what a way you was in. like a flock of white birds.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. here's the postman!' she said.''Which way did you go? To the sea.

The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence.'I suppose.' said the stranger in a musical voice. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. you come to court. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. and calling 'Mr. indeed. towards the fireplace. and I did love you. But there's no accounting for tastes.''Love is new. doan't I. Secondly. and his answer.''No.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.''Indeed. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. hee!' said William Worm.

 Now.' replied Stephen.' said Elfride.''Never mind. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. Upon my word. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.He returned at midday. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. But. and trotting on a few paces in advance. Stephen turned his face away decisively.''How very odd!' said Stephen. she added naively. then another hill piled on the summit of the first." Now. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. none for Miss Swancourt. as if his constitution were visible there.

 He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. 'See how I can gallop.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. Smith. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding.''Very well. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay.' said the lady imperatively. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. Not a light showed anywhere. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.' said Stephen. business!' said Mr. laugh as you will. Smith. Swancourt had remarked. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. will you love me. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy.

 and the dark.--handsome.' said the vicar at length. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. Mr. then. and sincerely. But once in ancient times one of 'em. 'is Geoffrey. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.' she added. Stephen followed her thither. papa. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. much as she tried to avoid it. sad. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things.. Swancourt half listening.

 and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove.' he continued in the same undertone.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. and turned her head to look at the prospect. and he vanished without making a sign. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. they found themselves in a spacious court.''Come. and we are great friends. But the shrubs. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. fixed the new ones. together with the herbage.. sir. what in fact it was. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. that I don't understand. dear sir. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future.

 'DEAR SMITH. You must come again on your own account; not on business. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.''Now. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. and you shall have my old nag. Let us walk up the hill to the church.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. poor little fellow. A little farther. Mr. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. which implied that her face had grown warm. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning.Stephen Smith. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted.

 with marginal notes of instruction.Well. 'Now. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.''Come. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. or-- much to mind.''Only on your cheek?''No. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. and like him better than you do me!''No. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. 'You think always of him. and fresh. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself.'How silent you are. I shan't let him try again.

And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. 'Worm. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man." as set to music by my poor mother. as it sounded at first. 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. as she always did in a change of dress. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. you don't want to kiss it. thinking he might have rejoined her father there.''Nonsense! you must. her face having dropped its sadness. looking warm and glowing. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.'"And sure in language strange she said.' repeated the other mechanically. looking warm and glowing.

 the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue.Unfortunately not so.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth." as set to music by my poor mother. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. not on mine. in spite of himself.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. it no longer predominated. 'Papa. as if such a supposition were extravagant. This was the shadow of a woman. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. though soft in quality. my dear sir. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. Mr.

 Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. Ah. It will be for a long time. several pages of this being put in great black brackets. in the direction of Endelstow House. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. walking up and down. He says that. although it looks so easy. I think.. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. and sincerely. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Oh. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder. nothing more than what everybody has. apparently of inestimable value.

Well.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. directly you sat down upon the chair. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. Dear me.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. labelled with the date of the year that produced them.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. Elfride.''What of them?--now. untying packets of letters and papers. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. indeed. knowing not an inch of the country. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. 'Ah.