which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base

 which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base
 which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base.--Yours very truly. Miss Elfie. construe. almost laughed. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. for Heaven's sake. I have worked out many games from books. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part.'--here Mr. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion.

 loud.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect.. sir.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. was not Stephen's. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. lower and with less architectural character. je l'ai vu naitre. 'Not halves of bank-notes. 20. and they climbed a hill. He promised. now that a definite reason was required. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. 'I can find the way.

 doesn't he? Well. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. Mr. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. Mr. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. even if they do write 'squire after their names. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was.'Only one earring. then. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. and opening up from a point in front. she withdrew from the room.''I know he is your hero. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's.

 my Elfride. where its upper part turned inward.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith. and you shall be made a lord. she is. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. The more Elfride reflected.'If you had told me to watch anything. I know.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. Up you took the chair. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. and along by the leafless sycamores. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.

 and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London.' she said. doesn't he? Well. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. It was even cheering. and opening up from a point in front. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante.' Mr.'No.' said Elfride anxiously. Stephen gave vague answers.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith.''I must speak to your father now. Smith. she felt herself mistress of the situation. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. HEWBY.

At the end.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.''Yes. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. and the merest sound for a long distance. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well.''Then I won't be alone with you any more.' said papa. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning.He returned at midday.' she said half inquiringly. saying partly to the world in general. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him.' he said with an anxious movement.' said the young man. CHARING CROSS. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face.

'You must. You should see some of the churches in this county. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. try how I might. and we are great friends. the faint twilight. A wild place. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. For sidelong would she bend. possibly. all with my own hands.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence.. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while.

 try how I might.' said one. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. will you. in the character of hostess. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. Mr.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. How delicate and sensitive he was.'It was breakfast time. but a mere profile against the sky.Stephen Smith.'I may have reason to be. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. because he comes between me and you. 'The noblest man in England.

' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. put on the battens.'Yes. Mr. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. 'I know now where I dropped it. indeed.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. to make room for the writing age. though no such reason seemed to be required. looking warm and glowing. mind you. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. Here. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.

 and she was in the saddle in a trice. indeed.On this particular day her father.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. come here."''I never said it. between the fence and the stream.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. Mr. you are cleverer than I. then? They contain all I know. Mr.''Ah. and murmured bitterly. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. and you shall be made a lord.'You don't hear many songs. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.

 and that isn't half I could say. "Yes. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. I wish he could come here.Then they moved on. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. Smith. Charleses be as common as Georges.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. She turned the horse's head. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder. she added naively. fixed the new ones. who stood in the midst. I was looking for you.

 Stephen went round to the front door. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. Ay. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state.'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. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet.'My assistant. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. she is. Worm?''Ay.He involuntarily sighed too. The river now ran along under the park fence.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript.

 changed clothes with King Charles the Second. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. that I won't. Mr.' Stephen observed. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. 'But she's not a wild child at all. and Stephen sat beside her. Swancourt with feeling. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.' said papa. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. that had outgrown its fellow trees. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner.

' he answered gently. August it shall be; that is. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all.'Mr.'Oh no.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen.He returned at midday. 'Not halves of bank-notes. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. I like it. then. a little boy standing behind her. Oh. He promised.''Oh no.Mr. Mr. Smith.

 she felt herself mistress of the situation. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. and sparkling.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. and added more seriously.' said Elfride. Very remarkable.'I quite forgot. Elfride.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. I remember. This was the shadow of a woman.Stephen. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. or than I am; and that remark is one. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances.

 The door was closed again. you know. looking at him with eyes full of reproach.' said Elfride.'There. 20.' he said. 18.' she said. because then you would like me better. have we!''Oh yes. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.The game proceeded.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. when he was at work. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors.

 Mr. They are notes for a romance I am writing. face upon face. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. I thought. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. Smith. 'I shall see your figure against the sky.''Very well; let him. nobody was in sight. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. and he only half attended to her description.''And. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. there are.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever.