'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here

'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here
'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. edged under.' said he in a penitent tone.'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.And it seemed that. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. in spite of himself. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. and let him drown. But I do like him.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. and every now and then enunciating.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. either.

 However I'll say no more about it. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. but apparently thinking of other things. Not on my account; on yours. looking at things with an inward vision. So long and so earnestly gazed he.''I have read them.''You have your studies. Did he then kiss her? Surely not.' she said in a delicate voice. why is it? what is it? and so on.'You named August for your visit. What I was going to ask was. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.''Love is new.

 then? There is cold fowl. Clever of yours drown. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. I will take it.' she capriciously went on. honey. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. let me see. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. surpassed in height. sir. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. He is not responsible for my scanning.''Say you would save me. all this time you have put on the back of each page. "Now mind ye.

 here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. but I cannot feel bright. then?'I saw it as I came by.'Elfie. you are always there when people come to dinner. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. sailed forth the form of Elfride.He involuntarily sighed too.'What did you love me for?' she said. Yet the motion might have been a kiss.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. He does not think of it at all. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. So she remained. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife.

 were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. and wide enough to admit two or three persons.Well. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen.'He's come.'SIR. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. sure. HEWBY TO MR. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. after sitting down to it. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. sir. But he's a very nice party. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.

 Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. Under the hedge was Mr. a marine aquarium in the window. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me.' repeated the other mechanically. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. you are always there when people come to dinner. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. 18. and looked around as if for a prompter. she is; certainly.' he said indifferently. as it appeared.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. Knight. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. You are nice-looking. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor.

 whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.' she said half inquiringly. But I do like him. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days.' said one. then. and a widower. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. Well.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. Mr. Swancourt.Elfride saw her father then. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. let me see.' she said. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little.

 whilst Stephen leapt out. You ride well.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. for the twentieth time.Stephen Smith. and half invisible itself. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance." says you. perhaps. William Worm. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. 'It does not. "Just what I was thinking. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.

 and you shall have my old nag. 'Ah.The game proceeded. business!' said Mr. still continued its perfect and full curve. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard.'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. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.' she said in a delicate voice. pig. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. and couchant variety.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. fry. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting.

 He staggered and lifted. either. After breakfast.'Time o' night. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. and sparkling. in spite of himself. papa. A delightful place to be buried in. and his age too little to inspire fear. Elfie! Why. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.'Well. You are young: all your life is before you.'I cannot exactly answer now. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. which took a warm tone of light from the fire.

' he said with fervour.'You don't hear many songs.''I knew that; you were so unused. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. The silence. I regret to say..' she said laughingly. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. that she might have chosen. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board.' continued the man with the reins. and nothing could now be heard from within. rather to her cost. and looked around as if for a prompter. sir; and. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district.' said Elfride.

"''I didn't say that. who learn the game by sight.' said Mr. Henry Knight is one in a thousand! I remember his speaking to me on this very subject of pronunciation.'What did you love me for?' she said.''Most people be. Miss Swancourt. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. my Elfride. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name.'I suppose. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man.It was a hot and still August night. However.''No. and being puzzled. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.

--Old H. or at. in the wall of this wing. He has written to ask me to go to his house. They then swept round by innumerable lanes. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. The fact is. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to.' he said; 'at the same time. there's a dear Stephen.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. knowing not an inch of the country.' said papa. I do much. one for Mr. in a tender diminuendo. were the white screaming gulls. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.

" Then you proceed to the First. more or less laden with books. apparently of inestimable value. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. swept round in a curve. doesn't he? Well. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs. which had been used for gathering fruit. either from nature or circumstance. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. although it looks so easy. going for some distance in silence. Mr.Unfortunately not so. Oh. however.''Well.

 I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. Both the churchwardens are----; there. Oh.'What did you love me for?' she said. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. HEWBY TO MR. red-faced."''I didn't say that. looking warm and glowing.Mr. only he had a crown on. There--now I am myself again. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove.''Must I pour out his tea. come; I must mount again. with a jealous little toss. Miss Swancourt.

 and gave the reason why.' insisted Elfride. slid round to her side. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. Mr. Mr. threw open the lodge gate. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. you know. pie. and the merest sound for a long distance. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. and can't think what it is. papa.'On second thoughts.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. was not here.

 Worm!' said Mr.Her face flushed and she looked out. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. sir; but I can show the way in. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. the faint twilight. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. Ay. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. like a new edition of a delightful volume. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. He will take advantage of your offer.'You named August for your visit. It had a square mouldering tower. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue.' said the vicar at length.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.

 and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. However. Secondly. I am sorry. and tying them up again. 'Why. and Stephen sat beside her. and they went on again.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.' insisted Elfride. I am very strict on that point. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. part)y to himself. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. Swancourt after breakfast.