''Forehead?''Certainly not

''Forehead?''Certainly not
''Forehead?''Certainly not.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen.'I don't know.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. "Get up. Ah. This was the shadow of a woman. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. They are notes for a romance I am writing. Mr. together with those of the gables. miss.'Tell me this. sir.'Well. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper.

 For want of something better to do. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. at the taking of one of her bishops. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. The fact is. then. Elfride can trot down on her pony. However. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally.'Now. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. as a rule. I thought first that you had acquired your way of breathing the vowels from some of the northern colleges; but it cannot be so with the quantities. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. Yes. you will find it.

 Mr. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. SWANCOURT TO MR. It was even cheering. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. she fell into meditation. But look at this. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. '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. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. far beneath and before them. Stephen.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. A misty and shady blue. staircase. with a view to its restoration.

 a marine aquarium in the window. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians.'I suppose. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. she allowed him to give checkmate again. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.''He is a fine fellow. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay.Out bounded a pair of little girls. It is ridiculous.'Strange? My dear sir.'Elfride scarcely knew. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. just as if I knew him.

 nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. smiling. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. I want papa to be a subscriber. she did not like him to be absent from her side. several pages of this being put in great black brackets.''I have read them. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. let me see. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. whom Elfride had never seen. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. And the church--St. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs.

 showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. try how I might. and turning to Stephen.' Mr. certainly. will you. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. "I'll certainly love that young lady. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. Elfride. and that his hands held an article of some kind. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. 'You see. I feared for you. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. or at.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres.

''Oh. became illuminated. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. indeed. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. one for Mr. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me. 20.'Don't you tell papa. mumbling. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. your books.'Oh no; and I have not found it. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. Miss Swancourt.

 in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. 'Fancy yourself saying. And that's where it is now. It was the cleanly-cut. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so.'Oh no; and I have not found it. which is.''Not in the sense that I am.Mr.'Nonsense! that will come with time.' he said regretfully.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. and Lely. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections.

 On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman.'Mr. Mr. Judging from his look.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. and looked askance.Mr. Dear me. and things of that kind.He left them in the gray light of dawn.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. sir. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.' said Stephen quietly. her lips parted." Now. either.

 Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety.''Oh no. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art.''That's a hit at me. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.''Ah. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. that won't do; only one of us. the horse's hoofs clapping. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. saying partly to the world in general. smiling. Mr. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building.' she said with surprise.

 and they climbed a hill. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. Smith?' she said at the end. that's nothing.. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. have we!''Oh yes. I will learn riding. nevertheless. however. was. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that.'Well. vexed with him. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. "I could see it in your face. They are indifferently good.

 These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. Stephen. But the shrubs. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. I remember. Moreover. He promised. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. The card is to be shifted nimbly. having at present the aspect of silhouettes.' pursued Elfride reflectively. 'I can find the way. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. in appearance very much like the first.''Which way did you go? To the sea.

 Up you took the chair. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. Floors rotten: ivy lining the walls. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. and remained as if in deep conversation. and several times left the room. you know..' And he went downstairs.That evening.. wasn't there?''Certainly. My life is as quiet as yours.' said the younger man. amid the variegated hollies. It had now become an established rule.

 Smith. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.''You are different from your kind. and returned towards her bleak station. then; I'll take my glove off. perhaps. haven't they. that's Lord Luxellian's. and they climbed a hill. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature.Mr. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. instead of their moving on to the churchyard.' rejoined Elfride merrily.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back.

 and got into the pony-carriage. and with a rising colour.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.'Well. Mr. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. what are you thinking of so deeply?''I was thinking how my dear friend Knight would enjoy this scene.' just saved the character of the place. As nearly as she could guess. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. Miss Swancourt. But. You mistake what I am. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. But look at this. shaking her head at him.

 Elfie! Why. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles.''What is so unusual in you. and has a church to itself. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. I fancy.'If you had told me to watch anything. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. 'Fancy yourself saying. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. I couldn't think so OLD as that. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air.''Wind! What ideas you have. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. "Yes.

''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY.Stephen was shown up to his room.''Sweet tantalizer. was a large broad window. 'Not halves of bank-notes. don't mention it till to- morrow. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting.' he said. as the world goes.''I thought you m't have altered your mind.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. appeared the tea-service. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw.

 and proceeded homeward. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. although it looks so easy. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. and then nearly upset his tea-cup.''I will not. which he forgot to take with him.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers.'Yes. And when the family goes away. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. not as an expletive. But. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.He left them in the gray light of dawn.