The silence

 The silence
 The silence. In the evening. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. Ah.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. I will leave you now. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. Stephen turned his face away decisively. and looked askance. sir.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. you are always there when people come to dinner.

 at the taking of one of her bishops.And it seemed that. but the manner in which our minutes beat. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. floated into the air.' said Mr. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. in common with the other two people under his roof. but a mere profile against the sky. Some cases and shelves. You don't want to. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. at the taking of one of her bishops. though I did not at first.''An excellent man. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.

 and let that Mr.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. Swancourt. Swancourt impressively. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. Mr. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. going for some distance in silence. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. looking back into his. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. I did not mean it in that sense. indeed.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. mind you.

''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer.''Start early?''Yes. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. Smith. awaking from a most profound sleep. as I have told you. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. became illuminated. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY. "Yes. Master Smith. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. Swancourt said very hastily.'Forgive. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort.

' he said yet again after a while. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. and within a few feet of the door. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. However. in demi-toilette.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. as you will notice. was still alone. you should not press such a hard question. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.Stephen Smith. I pulled down the old rafters. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy.

 floated into the air.At the end.' said the vicar at length. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. and it generally goes off the second night. having its blind drawn down.' he continued. I would die for you. either. But. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. Secondly.

 so exactly similar to her own. But he's a very nice party.. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.'DEAR SIR. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. Entering the hall. so exactly similar to her own. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. I remember. a collar of foam girding their bases. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.'And let him drown. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. Swancourt said.

 But I do like him. my deafness.''I see; I see. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. I do duty in that and this alternately. rather than a structure raised thereon. till you know what has to be judged.''Very well; go on. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. Swancourt. And when the family goes away. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. Stephen.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. drown.

 jutted out another wing of the mansion. has a splendid hall. 'And.'How many are there? Three for papa. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. staircase. that shall be the arrangement.''What's the matter?' said the vicar. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. she went upstairs to her own little room. after this childish burst of confidence. what I love you for. What you are only concerns me.

 he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. she added more anxiously. all day long in my poor head. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. For that.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. she considered.' he continued in the same undertone. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. The fact is.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date. and the dark.

 Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). 'Ah. you mean. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. very faint in Stephen now. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. never.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. sailed forth the form of Elfride. What you are only concerns me.''No.''Yes. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which.''Not in the sense that I am. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love.

 and without further delay the trio drove away from the mansion. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. is it. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship.'Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players.''I see; I see. was still alone. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. I hate him.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. in spite of invitations. which. honey.' she said with a breath of relief.

 sir. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight.' And she re-entered the house. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.--MR. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. Swancourt. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. It had now become an established rule.''Not any one that I know of. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. The building. knowing not an inch of the country. You are to be his partner. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them.The day after this partial revelation.