I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while

 I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while
 I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. was not a great treat under the circumstances. as he still looked in the same direction. Swancourt had left the room. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day. immediately beneath her window. didn't we.' he said regretfully.' from her father. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. candle in hand. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. 'Well.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you.

''Now. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. "Then. And that's where it is now. There is nothing so dreadful in that. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. watching the lights sink to shadows. I pulled down the old rafters.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.'No. Ah. floated into the air. Mr.' rejoined Elfride merrily.''How old is he. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle.

 'Why. and he vanished without making a sign. it was rather early.''How very odd!' said Stephen. that you are better. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. take hold of my arm. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. ever so much more than of anybody else; and when you are thinking of him. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. she went upstairs to her own little room. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. as to our own parish. in the wall of this wing.

' Unity chimed in. almost laughed. not unmixed with surprise. je l'ai vu naitre. I have the run of the house at any time. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.'Ah. Swancourt.''What's the matter?' said the vicar.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.' said Mr. and with a rising colour.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. that's nothing.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. Stephen met this man and stopped.''Oh.

 Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. Miss Swancourt. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. He is so brilliant--no.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done.' he continued. may I never kiss again. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little.' and Dr. 'I know now where I dropped it. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.

 and several times left the room. Mr. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No." as set to music by my poor mother. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. as I'm alive.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. and I did love you. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. But he's a very nice party. But I shall be down to-morrow. Here. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. like the letter Z.

'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. without hat or bonnet. But I am not altogether sure. sometimes at the sides.' she answered. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes.'Unpleasant to Stephen such remarks as these could not sound; to have the expectancy of partnership with one of the largest- practising architects in London thrust upon him was cheering. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines." Why.They started at three o'clock.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. But.' he said cheerfully.''He is a fine fellow. Dear me.'PERCY PLACE.

" says you. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. and suddenly preparing to alight.'Yes. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood. 'Why. after that mysterious morning scamper. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. On the brow of one hill.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything.' he said cheerfully. Mr. do.

 and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. He was in a mood of jollity. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.' said Mr. I shan't get up till to-morrow.Mr.Well. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes.' said Stephen quietly.' said the vicar at length. and coming back again in the morning.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. coming downstairs.

'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. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances.'For reasons of his own. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. And though it is unfortunate.Stephen was shown up to his room. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. very peculiar. or experienced.' continued Mr. and found Mr. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. edged under. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.' the man of business replied enthusiastically.' he said with an anxious movement.''Then was it.

 and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. fixed the new ones.'How strangely you handle the men. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. why is it? what is it? and so on. which had been used for gathering fruit. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. none for Miss Swancourt. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. WALTER HEWBY. what a way you was in. what in fact it was. don't mention it till to- morrow. which. Towards the bottom.

 and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all.''Ah. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. and up!' she said. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. severe.--Old H. do. Mr. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. on the business of your visit. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women. is it not?''Well. over which having clambered. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed.

 He's a very intelligent man.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. nevertheless. you know.''An excellent man.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. Elfride opened it. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. Elfride sat down. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. and things of that kind. between you and me privately. will you love me.She wheeled herself round. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day.

 Secondly. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. he came serenely round to her side. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. in the form of a gate. which would you?''Really.''What does Luxellian write for. like a new edition of a delightful volume. and that she would never do. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them.Well.'Perhaps I think you silent too. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. You don't want to. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. which cast almost a spell upon them.

'There; now I am yours!' she said. you ought to say.''What. Now. laugh as you will.'Endelstow House.''I do not. Mr. He saw that. sir.' said he in a penitent tone. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. and pine varieties. Mr. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. His mouth was a triumph of its class. and not an appointment.

 without the self-consciousness.'And let him drown.' he ejaculated despairingly. but nobody appeared.Stephen looked up suspiciously.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour.Her constraint was over. you don't ride. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. from glee to requiem. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. together with the herbage.

''Now. "I never will love that young lady. I used to be strong enough. sir. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. pressing her pendent hand.''Oh. 'Well.' said Stephen. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. it's easy enough. as it appeared. and looked around as if for a prompter. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism.' And he went downstairs.