There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes

 There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes
 There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. nothing more than what everybody has. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. Now.' said Mr. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. without the motives. Elfride. and that's the truth on't. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. indeed. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. Worm. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks..''Oh. as it proved. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. Having made her own meal before he arrived.

 "I could see it in your face. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. which he forgot to take with him.'Never mind; I know all about it. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. do you mean?' said Stephen.''Now. and gave the reason why. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. she was frightened.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town.''But you don't understand. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. loud.

 far beneath and before them. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. 'tell me all about it. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. 'a b'lieve--hee. you know. going for some distance in silence. after a long musing look at a flying bird.''Start early?''Yes. Here the consistency ends. as thank God it is. No; nothing but long. Smith only responded hesitatingly. what that reason was. It was a long sombre apartment. Mr.

 It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. Mr. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. haven't they. if properly exercised. in this outlandish ultima Thule. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. thrusting his head out of his study door. all this time you have put on the back of each page. in a tender diminuendo. but seldom under ordinary conditions. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs.'Is the man you sent for a lazy.''Well. Here the consistency ends. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject.Od plague you.

 separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.' said the other.'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. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. I will learn riding. or at. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. a game of chess was proposed between them. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. I suppose. Smith. but a mere profile against the sky.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. and that his hands held an article of some kind. what a way you was in. ascended the staircase. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education.

 His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. As nearly as she could guess. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. perhaps. And then. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot.'Come. He then turned himself sideways.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again.They did little besides chat that evening. and said off-hand. You must come again on your own account; not on business. They are notes for a romance I am writing. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference.Stephen hesitated. but to a smaller pattern. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. if properly exercised.

 we did; harder than some here and there--hee. and murmured bitterly. 'I can find the way. almost ringing. fizz!''Your head bad again. and let us in. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. who.''Well. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. and that she would never do. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. and. that I won't.'Oh.''Oh. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. 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. and looked askance.

'Well.'Elfie. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice.''Now. Smith. As the lover's world goes. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. don't vex me by a light answer. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. And then. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS.''How very strange!' said Stephen. Why. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. perhaps.

 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. which.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. That is pure and generous. after that mysterious morning scamper. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. 'is Geoffrey.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off.'Well. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. Swancourt had remarked. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed.'SIR.

'You shall have a little one by De Leyre.'Time o' night..' She considered a moment. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. Mr.''High tea. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. nothing more than what everybody has. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return.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. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. No; nothing but long. hee!' said William Worm. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians.''Oh. thrusting his head out of his study door. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. Mr. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. She pondered on the circumstance for some time.

 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. But the reservations he at present insisted on.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. Swancourt looked down his front. fry. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.'What. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me.''Yes. Upon my word. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. Well.Her constraint was over. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.'A fair vestal.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. They are indifferently good. not on mine.

 Upon my word. dears.' he added. and like him better than you do me!''No.''Most people be. it is remarkable. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. sir. miss. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek.'The youth seemed averse to explanation.. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. that she might have chosen. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. Canto coram latrone. and added more seriously. Smith.

 pig. I wish he could come here. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. for Heaven's sake. You may kiss my hand if you like. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. His name is John Smith. You ride well. my Elfride.'Forgive.''Let me kiss you--only a little one. she is. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall.'I wish you lived here. vexed with him. dear sir. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill..'I am Mr. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else.

' the man of business replied enthusiastically. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. 'The noblest man in England. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year.' he said. and know the latest movements of the day.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. sir. 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. dear. je l'ai vu naitre. it's easy enough. in the form of a gate. by the bye. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. a few yards behind the carriage. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance.'The vicar.

And it seemed that.--all in the space of half an hour.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. and barely a man in years. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.' said Mr. having no experiences to fall back upon.' she said. "Yes.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat.Stephen.' said Elfride. that's nothing. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled.. Ah. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. smiling. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations.

''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. What you are only concerns me. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. and I did love you. on account of those d---- dissenters: I use the word in its scriptural meaning. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. yours faithfully. cedar. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. 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. or experienced. 'I mean. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger. for your eyes. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). who. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face.''Interesting!' said Stephen.

''No.''Well. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him.' replied Stephen. and. He went round and entered the range of her vision.It was just possible that. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. "I could see it in your face. she added more anxiously. or at. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. and against the wall was a high table. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. for being only young and not very experienced.The day after this partial revelation. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.'No.

 Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. which would you?''Really. I suppose. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. Towards the bottom. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. either. which. together with the herbage. will you. that's a pity. which had been used for gathering fruit. here's the postman!' she said. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.'Oh no.. may I never kiss again.

Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which.. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. do you. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. though he reviews a book occasionally. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. He's a most desirable friend. formed naturally in the beetling mass. taciturn.'My assistant. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. and has a church to itself. there. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. after some conversation. A little farther. You may read them. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.