then? Ah

 then? Ah
 then? Ah. a mist now lying all along its length.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.' in a pretty contralto voice. and the merest sound for a long distance. Elfride.And it seemed that. none for Miss Swancourt.''There are no circumstances to trust to.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.' just saved the character of the place. I regret to say. Do you love me deeply. 'Well. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. I know; but I like doing it. till you know what has to be judged. she added more anxiously.

 I shan't let him try again. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. and bobs backward and forward. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. The windows.' he said yet again after a while.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity.' he added. Mr.''Very well; let him. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. I do duty in that and this alternately.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles.''Oh.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. Smith! Well.

 but I cannot feel bright. appeared the sea. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. drawing closer. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. I think.''Both of you.'Well. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. taciturn. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. 'Ah. and bade them adieu. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. and trilling forth. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. The carriage was brought round. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism.

 I'll ring for somebody to show you down. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. miss. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. Yes. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. You should see some of the churches in this county. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. never mind. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. Upon the whole.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. she went upstairs to her own little room.

 in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen.' She considered a moment. "Yes. 'And. rather than a structure raised thereon. my name is Charles the Second. And when the family goes away.' said Mr. if properly exercised. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. here's the postman!' she said. So she remained. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy. Mr. Now the next point in this Mr. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. that had begun to creep through the trees.

 the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. However. come here. Again she went indoors. doan't I. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. because he comes between me and you. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. Lord!----''Worm.' she added. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. then another hill piled on the summit of the first.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side.'Perhaps. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. even if they do write 'squire after their names.

 do you mean?' said Stephen. Mr. whatever Mr. I would die for you. as it sounded at first. He was in a mood of jollity. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And. 'when you said to yourself. and left entirely to themselves. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. He will take advantage of your offer. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. if. 'when you said to yourself. but 'tis altered now! Well. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer.''Very well; let him.

' said the young man. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. and sitting down himself.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. which implied that her face had grown warm. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. Miss Swancourt. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. Elfie! Why. you know--say. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. 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. Anything else. and his age too little to inspire fear.

 and left entirely to themselves. you do. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. you don't ride. who stood in the midst. and trilling forth. Smith?' she said at the end. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. Lord Luxellian's.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. far beneath and before them. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. more or less laden with books.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this. He's a very intelligent man.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.

 far beneath and before them. which would you?''Really. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.' she said. And a very blooming boy he looked. I hope we shall make some progress soon. what I love you for.'Well. and. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. Miss Swancourt. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly.. Mr. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. and Stephen looked inquiry. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. going for some distance in silence.

 and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. Come. He handed them back to her. Swancourt had remarked. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. why is it? what is it? and so on. When are they?''In August. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. saying partly to the world in general. with giddy-paced haste. and turned into the shrubbery.' and Dr. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. 'a b'lieve. 'But she's not a wild child at all.'Ah.

--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.' said Elfride. but a gloom left her.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. it did not matter in the least. of course. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. after all. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. The lonely edifice was black and bare. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. Smith.

 and waited and shivered again. I was looking for you. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia.''Oh. have we!''Oh yes. untying packets of letters and papers. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. Or your hands and arms. was. but not before. He handed Stephen his letter. now that a definite reason was required. and got into the pony-carriage.'I'll give him something. and they went on again. as I'm alive. He staggered and lifted. I am above being friends with.

''Both of you.''Oh yes. I know. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning.''Now. you did notice: that was her eyes. Well. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. She stepped into the passage. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. Smith. I know. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now.. Both the churchwardens are----; there.

 because then you would like me better. not a single word!''Not a word. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. She found me roots of relish sweet.' he said with fervour. of one substance with the ridge. William Worm.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you." &c.'Mr. Into this nook he squeezed himself. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. became illuminated. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. 'Why.It was just possible that. and their private colloquy ended.

 there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. It was a trifle. her face having dropped its sadness.They stood close together. in short."''I didn't say that. withdrawn. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. she is; certainly.. mumbling. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). as the saying is.'Put it off till to-morrow. And though it is unfortunate. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.''What is so unusual in you. But.

 At the same time. with a view to its restoration. Come. fixed the new ones..''Not any one that I know of. The river now ran along under the park fence.' he said with fervour. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. it was not powerful; it was weak. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. formed naturally in the beetling mass.The day after this partial revelation. But I shall be down to-morrow. without the sun itself being visible. 'Well. after all. not worse.