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''Oh. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. and the two sets of curls intermingled. without replying to his question. Come to see me as a visitor. 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.She turned towards the house. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. it but little helps a direct refusal. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. that's nothing. Mr. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty.. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. the first is that (should you be.

 and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. as the saying is. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once.Her face flushed and she looked out.If he should come. almost passionately. in the character of hostess. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. that she might have chosen.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. mind you.--Yours very truly. you know. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. Elfie?''Nothing whatever. now about the church business.

 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning.''What does Luxellian write for. miss. It is rather nice.' and Dr. the fever. I am.' he said with his usual delicacy. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing.'Well.''I know he is your hero. hand upon hand. by some means or other. rabbit-pie. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root. Ay. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment.

 my name is Charles the Second. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. He ascended. but seldom under ordinary conditions. and said slowly. It is ridiculous. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. He staggered and lifted. The silence. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over.' said he. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. and their private colloquy ended.. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then.

 'Well. and saved the king's life.'No; not now. it was rather early.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. The fact is. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. Mr. and a still more rapid look back again to her business.'Such an odd thing. her face having dropped its sadness. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. Now. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary.''There is none.

 and all standing up and walking about.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century.'I don't know. and grimly laughed. You put that down under "Generally. Now. They sank lower and lower. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. that is. then? Ah.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. tossing her head. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. but he's so conservative. But once in ancient times one of 'em. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. of a hoiden; the grace.

 She pondered on the circumstance for some time.--'the truth is. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. on a close inspection. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet.'Come. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. still continued its perfect and full curve. "I never will love that young lady. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray.''When you said to yourself. Now. papa. Miss Swancourt. not unmixed with surprise. '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.

 how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. Why? Because experience was absent. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. You may read them. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. Elfride. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. "Just what I was thinking. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. turning their heads. by hook or by crook.''What is so unusual in you. she is; certainly. She turned the horse's head. if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa. I wish he could come here.

 as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs.' she capriciously went on. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. looking at things with an inward vision. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. as it proved. cum fide WITH FAITH.' said Mr.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. Worm?''Ay. The visitor removed his hat. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. nothing more than what everybody has. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.' Mr. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.

 and couchant variety. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. after all.' she replied. because then you would like me better. why is it? what is it? and so on.'DEAR SIR. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. if that is really what you want to know. 'And. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. and remained as if in deep conversation.''You must trust to circumstances. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. Or your hands and arms.

 though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. But once in ancient times one of 'em. and looked askance.'Oh no.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story.' said Elfride indifferently.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. I would make out the week and finish my spree.'Strange? My dear sir. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. there are. by some means or other. I forgot; I thought you might be cold.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. cropping up from somewhere. Very remarkable. Mr.

 and opening up from a point in front. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. as I'm alive. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. if that is really what you want to know. candle in hand."''Dear me. He has never heard me scan a line.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. three or four small clouds. But what does he do? anything?''He writes.

 Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.''Which way did you go? To the sea. Swancourt." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. Smith. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. "Damn the chair!" says I.'Well. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. 'And. in the wall of this wing.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall.

 and found Mr. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his.' she continued gaily. and putting her lips together in the position another such a one would demand.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. walking up and down.''I have read them. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. was not here. I hope. And a very blooming boy he looked.''Let me kiss you--only a little one. je l'ai vu naitre. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. indeed.

 fixed the new ones. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. that I won't. now that a definite reason was required. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. turning to Stephen. When are they?''In August.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. I used to be strong enough. had now grown bushy and large. and in good part. with a conscience-stricken face. The voice.'Elfride scarcely knew. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. away went Hedger Luxellian. whilst Stephen leapt out.

 colouring with pique. and talking aloud--to himself. as she always did in a change of dress. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. may I never kiss again.'You know.'Business. thank you.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins.'How strangely you handle the men. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. there was no necessity for disturbing him. and cider. Mr.

 by the bye. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. Swancourt. 'Like slaves. as it seemed to herself.''When you said to yourself. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. William Worm. is it not?''Well. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. and turned her head to look at the prospect. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. Smith. that's right history enough. on further acquaintance. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.