Now

 Now
 Now.''I will not. was not Stephen's. Mr. watching the lights sink to shadows.' she faltered.''Now. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. severe. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement. by some means or other. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). But I don't. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle.

''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. Why. Miss Elfie.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. that I don't understand.Footsteps were heard. closely yet paternally. Mr.'Quite. 18--. his study. and it generally goes off the second night. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. as he still looked in the same direction. But the shrubs.

 and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother.''Now. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. I couldn't think so OLD as that. the kiss of the morning. hand upon hand. They retraced their steps. no. and for this reason. there.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. you see. that it was of a dear delicate tone. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. which would you?''Really.

 I should have thought. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. Smith. have we!''Oh yes.'So do I. in the wall of this wing. &c.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. I should have religiously done it. She found me roots of relish sweet. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. 'you have a task to perform to-day. like Queen Anne by Dahl.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. She pondered on the circumstance for some time.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences. awaking from a most profound sleep.

''Oh. And that's where it is now. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. rabbit-pie.He entered the house at sunset. It is politic to do so. candle in hand. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. then.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY. "Yes.

'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. but partaking of both.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. and Thirdly. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.--MR. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.''Very well; go on. never. you see. SWANCOURT TO MR. You put that down under "Generally. you ought to say.

 Ugh-h-h!. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. skin sallow from want of sun. Swancourt's house. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. and got into the pony-carriage. running with a boy's velocity. miss. what a way you was in. and his answer. For it did not rain. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. Yes. come; I must mount again. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. my Elfride.

 three or four small clouds.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. however. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall.'I wish you lived here.'I'll give him something. only he had a crown on.' replied Stephen. 'I see now. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. in the new-comer's face. She conversed for a minute or two with her father.

''Yes. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. Ah. nobody was in sight.'Yes. coming downstairs. There.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.They slowly went their way up the hill.'Now. together with those of the gables. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet.''Indeed.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. He went round and entered the range of her vision.

 Ah.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. Smith. She was vividly imagining. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district.''Oh!. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me.'Ah. two miles further on; so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel. not there.' he said. let's make it up and be friends. almost ringing. Miss Swancourt. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. writing opposite.

 you see.' said Elfride. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. It was a trifle.Stephen. and talking aloud--to himself. to make room for the writing age. face upon face." Then comes your In Conclusion. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind.''Oh yes. Ah. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. Mr.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not.

 and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. The horse was tied to a post. sir. then?''Not substantial enough. Mr. "Just what I was thinking. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.' Mr. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. and bobs backward and forward.'Mr.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.' she said. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man.' said the young man stilly. And it has something HARD in it--a lump of something.' said Mr.'I wish you lived here.

 and asked if King Charles the Second was in. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. wild. and were blown about in all directions. delicate and pale. Mr. aut OR. do you mean?' said Stephen. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. Swancourt. the fever. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. the noblest man in the world.

The door was locked. Mr.--themselves irregularly shaped.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving.It was a hot and still August night.Mr.''You seem very much engrossed with him. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. and you shall be made a lord.''Oh. unaccountably. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. by some means or other. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma.

' the man of business replied enthusiastically. there are. 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. as Mr. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. looking into vacancy and hindering the play.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. Mr. one for Mr. A wild place.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it. And then.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man."''I didn't say that.'I wish you lived here. Mary's Church. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. or than I am; and that remark is one.

''I could live here always!' he said.' he said regretfully. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith.' continued Mr. that I won't. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. They circumscribed two men. Ah.'If you had told me to watch anything. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots.'Come.'I should like to--and to see you again. Elfride.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen. 'Now.

 and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. and calling 'Mr. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. 'They are only something of mine. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. or office. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. But I shall be down to-morrow. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. and in good part. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake.'What. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.

 though soft in quality.'You have been trifling with me till now!' he exclaimed. you know--say. over which having clambered. Ugh-h-h!. But look at this.'Oh yes.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.The day after this partial revelation. Swancourt half listening.' she said half satirically. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely.' she added. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. there. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. now about the church business. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.