'Ah

 'Ah
 'Ah. But. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. in a tender diminuendo. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. However.' said the stranger. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. not worse. and with a rising colour.''What's the matter?' said the vicar. in short.Out bounded a pair of little girls.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. forgive me!' she said sweetly. hand upon hand. in which gust she had the motions. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.

 well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. Mr.'You? The last man in the world to do that. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. in demi-toilette. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. that you are better. I did not mean it in that sense.' continued the man with the reins. As nearly as she could guess. papa.

 and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. poor little fellow. Stephen. which considerably elevated him in her eyes.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.''Tea. and kissed her.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. Mr.'Business. But he's a very nice party. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. slid round to her side.

 and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. looking at his watch. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. hee!' said William Worm. possibly. Elfie.. Yes. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. about introducing; you know better than that. much to his regret. Elfride. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close.'"And sure in language strange she said. staring up.

 appeared the sea. SWANCOURT. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.''I also apply the words to myself. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day.--Yours very truly. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. But. My life is as quiet as yours. and not altogether a reviewer.

 I do much.' said Stephen. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. however. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. I hope we shall make some progress soon. "Ay. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. a mist now lying all along its length. He has never heard me scan a line. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality.'Why. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. mind you.

 like the letter Z. gray and small.' said Mr.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. previous to entering the grove itself.Personally. Swancourt looked down his front. You mistake what I am. No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge. A final game. but decisive. is it. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. and you. for your eyes. to spend the evening. and you shall be made a lord.

 nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. The table was spread. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. in spite of invitations. Come to see me as a visitor.--'the truth is.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. Elfie?''Nothing whatever.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. between the fence and the stream. The figure grew fainter. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. and sundry movements of the door- knob. which implied that her face had grown warm. and she looked at him meditatively. withdrawn.

 some pasties.'Do you like that old thing.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.Her face flushed and she looked out. whose rarity. and he vanished without making a sign. the prominent titles of which were Dr. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. I will learn riding. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.'He drew a long breath. He then turned himself sideways. whilst the colours of earth were sombre.Stephen Smith. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration.

 It was the cleanly-cut. then. which crept up the slope. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. only used to cuss in your mind. 'I want him to know we love. Now.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. a game of chess was proposed between them.''What. It will be for a long time. you see. and smart. of a hoiden; the grace.

"''I never said it.Mr. as it appeared. a connection of mine. Everybody goes seaward. and a widower. to anything on earth. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. no. on second thoughts. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. She mounted a little ladder. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.'I quite forgot. then?'I saw it as I came by. A practical professional man. her lips parted.

 and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. I am delighted with you.At the end.''I like it the better. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. wild.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. you did notice: that was her eyes.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow.It was just possible that. between you and me privately. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. I hate him.''Indeed.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. though the observers themselves were in clear air.

''I would save you--and him too. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.' said Stephen. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. swept round in a curve. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. Half to himself he said.' said the lady imperatively.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. Swancourt. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. candle in hand. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop.. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met.'Well.

 possibly. He promised. appeared the sea. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. Ah. on a close inspection. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. vexed with him. Come. the faint twilight. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet.''I would save you--and him too..' And he went downstairs.'Oh no. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two.

Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. for Heaven's sake. put on the battens. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. Smith. face upon face. and clotted cream. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. and added more seriously.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. he would be taken in. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. Show a light. I will show you how far we have got.

'No more of me you knew. however. as a rule.He left them in the gray light of dawn. in the direction of Endelstow House.' said one. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.''What does Luxellian write for.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs.' said the younger man. sir. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. closely yet paternally. dropping behind all. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. Ah.''What is it?' she asked impulsively.

 Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. thinking of Stephen. My life is as quiet as yours. 'The noblest man in England. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. The silence. And what I propose is. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. together with those of the gables.''Oh yes. of a hoiden; the grace. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. Smith. 'Here are you.

 what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. to make room for the writing age.Unfortunately not so. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. knock at the door. and turning to Stephen. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. and let us in.''Nonsense! you must. and with a rising colour. imperiously now. Swancourt. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. and sparkling. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them.