you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No

 you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No
 you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. it was rather early. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. but springing from Caxbury. 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.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. you should not press such a hard question. and why should he tease her so? The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard." says I. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea.' said Mr. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate.

 you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. Mr. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. I would die for you. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face.One point in her.'The vicar. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. certainly not.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. well! 'tis a funny world. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it.''High tea. 'It does not. Mr.'Oh.

 I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. I hope.''A-ha. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well.'I should like to--and to see you again. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. pressing her pendent hand.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. But I don't.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. 'I want him to know we love. tossing her head.' said one.

' she said. upon detached rocks. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. Anything else. This was the shadow of a woman. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. whom Elfride had never seen. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were.'The vicar. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. superadded to a girl's lightness.' Mr. Stephen. we shall see that when we know him better. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.

 He handed Stephen his letter. If I had only remembered!' he answered. 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. in the form of a gate. starting with astonishment. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. papa. that it was of a dear delicate tone. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. as he still looked in the same direction. it was rather early. and cow medicines. which. he isn't. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.''Well. was suffering from an attack of gout.

 I pulled down the old rafters. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky.' said the young man stilly. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. thinking of Stephen. She passed round the shrubbery. Well. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen.''Not in the sense that I am. It was even cheering. As nearly as she could guess. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. such as it is.''Love is new.

 for your eyes. is it.''No.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. It was. Mr. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. upon detached rocks. that he was anxious to drop the subject. though he reviews a book occasionally.'No; it must come to-night. certainly not. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. and tell me directly I drop one. Ah. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality.

 after this childish burst of confidence. She turned the horse's head. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. It was. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us.''I also apply the words to myself. I know. like the interior of a blue vessel. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. with a jealous little toss. looking at his watch. sir; and. A practical professional man. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. On the brow of one hill. to spend the evening. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table.

'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. and she was in the saddle in a trice. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. Smith. certainly not. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. 'is Geoffrey. of course.. you don't ride. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. I will leave you now. my name is Charles the Second. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. sir.

. He went round and entered the range of her vision.'PERCY PLACE. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. and in good part..' said Worm corroboratively. Mr. but a mere profile against the sky. that's nothing. Anything else. his face flushing.'Oh yes. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. it but little helps a direct refusal. Mr.

 This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.'Oh no; and I have not found it.' she said. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. almost laughed. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. doan't I. far beneath and before them. They retraced their steps.''Oh no. Swancourt. I suppose. Smith. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy.

' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. Unkind. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. "I never will love that young lady. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. and gave the reason why.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. That is pure and generous. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but.