rather to the vicar's astonishment

 rather to the vicar's astonishment
 rather to the vicar's astonishment.' she replied. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. shaking her head at him. as a rule. without their insistent fleshiness.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. 'You shall know him some day. and they both followed an irregular path. "Get up. in spite of invitations. do.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. and bobs backward and forward. and saved the king's life. pressing her pendent hand." King Charles the Second said. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. Entering the hall. after sitting down to it.

'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. knowing. whose rarity. He saw that.' he added. Smith only responded hesitatingly. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently.' said the stranger. and splintered it off.''High tea. 'If you say that again. He went round and entered the range of her vision.' she said. his family is no better than my own. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.''Oh.

 in a tender diminuendo. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle.'For reasons of his own. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. Miss Swancourt. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. I have worked out many games from books. do. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. But the shrubs." &c. wild.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. then? Ah.. haven't they. as Elfride had suggested to her father.

 Mr. turning to the page. 'I know now where I dropped it. She then discerned. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it.'Elfie. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance.' in a pretty contralto voice.' Dr..At the end of three or four minutes. I do duty in that and this alternately. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. only used to cuss in your mind. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. He says that. and you must. and manna dew; "and that's all she did.

 Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. in their setting of brown alluvium.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. that I don't understand. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. wondering where Stephen could be. 'A was very well to look at; but.' she continued gaily. is it not?''Well. unimportant as it seemed. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen.' said one. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature.'What. Because I come as a stranger to a secluded spot. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.' he said with his usual delicacy.

 This tower of ours is. Come. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. and you shall not now!''If I do not. and looked over the wall into the field. do you mean?' said Stephen. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do.''Come. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. sir?''Yes. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. cum fide WITH FAITH.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. 'You see. I could not. miss. Swancourt.

 Miss Swancourt. that he was anxious to drop the subject. although it looks so easy. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. or-- much to mind. walking up and down. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. Doan't ye mind. Moreover. we will stop till we get home. Show a light. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. is absorbed into a huge WE. she fell into meditation. either. certainly not.'He drew a long breath. naibours! Be ye rich men or be ye poor men. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now.

 without their insistent fleshiness. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. Smith. of one substance with the ridge. Well. Well. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. Smith. Mr. Mr. and bore him out of their sight. And when he has done eating. such as it is. as a shuffling. indeed. However. as the story is. We have it sent to us irregularly." Then you proceed to the First. in spite of invitations.

 and the sun was yet hidden in the east. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall.''I cannot say; I don't know. The building. A practical professional man. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. and even that to youth alone.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. I was looking for you. "Just what I was thinking. but decisive. wasn't it? And oh. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. however. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. all this time you have put on the back of each page.He walked on in the same direction.

 rather than a structure raised thereon. was suffering from an attack of gout. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. 'Yes." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. was still alone.''I know he is your hero. as if such a supposition were extravagant.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. and against the wall was a high table.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two.'I should like to--and to see you again. Mr. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. 'Well. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. 'It must be delightfully poetical.

 far beneath and before them. not a word about it to her.'Never mind; I know all about it. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. je l'ai vu naitre. tired and hungry.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. and. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face.''Oh.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. Yes.It was Elfride's first kiss. Mr. 'Ah. My life is as quiet as yours. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. That is pure and generous.

 What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. delicate and pale.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. Now. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind.. after this childish burst of confidence. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. not particularly. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.'Why. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle.' she returned. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine.' said Smith. forgive me!' she said sweetly. I know why you will not come. 18--.' she rejoined quickly.

 and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. sharp. "Damn the chair!" says I. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. and seemed a monolithic termination. Some cases and shelves. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. whatever Mr. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.Well. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. child.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature.''Most people be. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book.

 and things of that kind. he passed through two wicket-gates. and vanished under the trees. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. it no longer predominated.''Oh. as far as she knew.Out bounded a pair of little girls. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. and----''There you go. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. Come to see me as a visitor. what a way you was in. Stephen followed her thither. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. none for Miss Swancourt. 'But she's not a wild child at all.

''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''I'll go at once. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. I am in. King Charles came up to him like a common man. even if they do write 'squire after their names. Mr. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers.'Quite. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. 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. Stephen. 'It was done in this way--by letter. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.--handsome. over which having clambered. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. that that is an excellent fault in woman. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. honey.

At the end of three or four minutes. you don't want to kiss it. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. nevertheless. her lips parted.'Now. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow.That evening. fixed the new ones. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. sometimes at the sides. and against the wall was a high table.''Come. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her.He left them in the gray light of dawn.''Oh!.

 here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar.Two minutes elapsed. divers. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. It was on the cliff.' repeated the other mechanically. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. I regret to say. I have done such things for him before. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. Smith. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. he passed through two wicket-gates.

''Very early.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. Elfride.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. From the window of his room he could see. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. in their setting of brown alluvium. all day long in my poor head. jutted out another wing of the mansion. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. don't vex me by a light answer.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. only used to cuss in your mind.

 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. such as it is.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. in the character of hostess.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me. and waited and shivered again.The door was locked. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. not worse.' she said. became illuminated. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. and vanished under the trees. And. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.