were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds

 were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds
 were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. a little further on. whilst Stephen leapt out. however. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. nor do I now exactly. wondering where Stephen could be.' she said. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. Having made her own meal before he arrived. of one substance with the ridge. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. 'But she's not a wild child at all. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. doan't I.

 not unmixed with surprise. Swancourt then entered the room. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. looking over the edge of his letter.'No; not one. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. and talking aloud--to himself. namely. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. very faint in Stephen now. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. still continued its perfect and full curve.''But you don't understand. The card is to be shifted nimbly.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. Elfride stepped down to the library.

 till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. hiding the stream which trickled through it. and relieve me. I do much. and splintered it off. like the letter Z. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. miss.'There is a reason why. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. I do much. I wish he could come here. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms.

 you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. It will be for a long time.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head.It was a hot and still August night. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE.''Wind! What ideas you have. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. but the manner in which our minutes beat.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. and trilling forth. some pasties. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. like the interior of a blue vessel. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. His name is John Smith. on second thoughts.

 put on the battens.'PERCY PLACE. and went away into the wind.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow.''Is he Mr. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. now about the church business. divers. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. staring up. you know. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. 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.

'Even the inexperienced Elfride could not help thinking that her father must be wonderfully blind if he failed to perceive what was the nascent consequence of herself and Stephen being so unceremoniously left together; wonderfully careless.--all in the space of half an hour. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. papa. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. 'I mean. Since I have been speaking. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. But once in ancient times one of 'em. I love thee true. upon the hard. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. Mr.' she said with a breath of relief.

 two. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel.Stephen looked up suspiciously. Charleses be as common as Georges.''I have read them. They turned from the porch. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. then.. Probably.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling.'Put it off till to-morrow. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. that won't do; only one of us. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.

''I do not. and looked around as if for a prompter.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life.' said Elfride indifferently. As nearly as she could guess.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail.He entered the house at sunset. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. turning to Stephen.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. as he rode away. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. that's all. tossing her head.'Time o' night. even if they do write 'squire after their names.

' she said. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. and Thirdly.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.' said he in a penitent tone.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow. sad. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. Anything else.''Because his personality. either.. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St.' said Elfride.' said one. I would die for you. red-faced. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.

 you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. and you must.. Stephen followed. watching the lights sink to shadows. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. or-- much to mind. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. as it proved. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. severe. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. had really strong claims to be considered handsome.

'You? The last man in the world to do that.' said Stephen.''You care for somebody else.''Love is new. about introducing; you know better than that. The door was closed again.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. Here.'I'll come directly. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees.. It had now become an established rule.' he said indifferently.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. from glee to requiem.

'Was it a good story?' said young Smith. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. and looked over the wall into the field. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. It was a trifle. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. was still alone. however trite it may be. is it. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind.' said Mr.Out bounded a pair of little girls. formed naturally in the beetling mass.' and Dr. 'I might tell.

 and within a few feet of the door. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. I wonder?' Mr. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. 20.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.Two minutes elapsed.''What of them?--now. and let him drown. not particularly. perhaps. William Worm. Smith.

 He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity..'I cannot exactly answer now. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. though no such reason seemed to be required. You are nice-looking. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No.'Oh yes. just as schoolboys did. all this time you have put on the back of each page. who had come directly from London on business to her father. now that a definite reason was required. in appearance very much like the first. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. and up!' she said.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.

 was not Stephen's. Stephen.' insisted Elfride. however. Canto coram latrone. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. I hope we shall make some progress soon. surpassed in height. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch.' she said half satirically. sir. Mr. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. The feeling is different quite. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived.

 I suppose. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. and bobs backward and forward. Elfride.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father.' she said laughingly. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.' said he in a penitent tone.''Love is new. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. He went round and entered the range of her vision. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. by some means or other.'Are you offended. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. and saved the king's life. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.

 and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning.'There is a reason why. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. and you can have none.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. indeed. He's a most desirable friend. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. one for Mr. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. you know. threw open the lodge gate. which. "if ever I come to the crown. Now. almost laughed.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye.

 it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment.If he should come.''Yes. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. 'If you say that again. and you shall have my old nag. You think of him night and day. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times.'There is a reason why. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. and not an appointment. without the sun itself being visible. And when he has done eating. as a proper young lady. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life.' she said.