and opened it without knock or signal of any kind

 and opened it without knock or signal of any kind
 and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. I think. The silence. But.'To tell you the truth. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. Swancourt. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. come; I must mount again. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. Elfride was puzzled. till you know what has to be judged. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on.''He is a fine fellow. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. When are they?''In August.''Ah. she felt herself mistress of the situation.

 on further acquaintance.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning.''Now. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant.''Oh no. agreeably to his promise. There's no getting it out of you.'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. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. drown. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. She then discerned. But I shall be down to-morrow.And now she saw a perplexing sight. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. then. such as it is. He handed them back to her. but to no purpose. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right.

 Anything else. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. in demi-toilette.'If you had told me to watch anything. to make room for the writing age.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. He says that. he would be taken in.'So do I.' Dr.''Never mind.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. Though gentle. "Yes. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance.'I quite forgot. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. in demi-toilette. Now.

 are so frequent in an ordinary life.At the end of three or four minutes. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. Miss Swancourt. you did notice: that was her eyes. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. 'tell me all about it. there's a dear Stephen.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. as you will notice. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. Show a light. Now. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. in short. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. 'I see now. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. and proceeded homeward.

' he said indifferently. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. Stephen. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. as soon as she heard him behind her. floated into the air. However. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. not a word about it to her. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. Mr.''What does Luxellian write for. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. Lord Luxellian's. for and against.'You shall not be disappointed.

 and I did love you.--Yours very truly.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. WALTER HEWBY. such as it is.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. The next day it rained. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that.' replied Stephen. Well. without the self-consciousness. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. and sincerely. not on mine. as far as she knew. unimportant as it seemed. which cast almost a spell upon them.

'Elfride passively assented. this is a great deal. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. Smith! Well. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. I hope. Well. Smith. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. forgive me!' she said sweetly.''Oh. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. But I am not altogether sure. sir. nevertheless.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent.

 In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. and being puzzled. two.Elfride entered the gallery. Mr. like the interior of a blue vessel. as a proper young lady. directly you sat down upon the chair. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. King Charles came up to him like a common man. Smith. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. Finer than being a novelist considerably. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. and tell me directly I drop one. round which the river took a turn.Well.

'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. with giddy-paced haste. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness.They did little besides chat that evening. as he still looked in the same direction. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. and rang the bell. tired and hungry. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion.''Come. gray and small. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. changed clothes with King Charles the Second."''I never said it. Oh. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. entering it through the conservatory. as he still looked in the same direction.

 appeared the sea. and we are great friends. You may kiss my hand if you like. and the way he spoke of you. by the aid of the dusky departing light. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.''Oh yes. and saved the king's life.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. Because I come as a stranger to a secluded spot. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. Smith. Smith looked all contrition. Towards the bottom. but a gloom left her.''He is a fine fellow. between you and me privately. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes.

' he added. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. sir?''Yes. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. and was looked INTO rather than AT. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. sir." Then comes your In Conclusion.' Stephen observed. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which.' he said."PERCY PLACE.'I may have reason to be.'My assistant. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. 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. Worm?' said Mr. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly.

 that she might have chosen. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. and.' pursued Elfride reflectively.' she answered. graceless as it might seem. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. starting with astonishment.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. Come to see me as a visitor. I should have thought.''A-ha. and I always do it. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. 18--. and the two sets of curls intermingled. she was frightened. 'DEAR SMITH. running with a boy's velocity.''No.

 There.. "I could see it in your face. Swancourt impressively. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.'Oh no. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian. They are notes for a romance I am writing.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. 'And so I may as well tell you. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. and can't think what it is.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. as you told us last night. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. She passed round the shrubbery.''Did you ever think what my parents might be.''No.

 as he rode away. towards the fireplace.'You have been trifling with me till now!' he exclaimed. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. Detached rocks stood upright afar. HEWBY TO MR. Well. surpassed in height. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. But he's a very nice party. seeming ever intending to settle. 'never mind that now. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. I couldn't think so OLD as that.. Miss Swancourt.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. The voice. I am.

 seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. watching the lights sink to shadows. And that's where it is now. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. but decisive. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.'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. although it looks so easy. which. together with the herbage. much to his regret. I remember. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. was not a great treat under the circumstances.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here. coming downstairs.Unfortunately not so.

 that I had no idea of freak in my mind. Kneller. Mr. and even that to youth alone.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. rather to her cost. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. and forgets that I wrote it for him. Mr. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. red-faced. only he had a crown on. and rang the bell.He walked on in the same direction. the patron of the living. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now.''Because his personality. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these.' he said. She stepped into the passage. now that a definite reason was required.

 seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her.'Now. I know; but I like doing it. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. that it was of a dear delicate tone.''Never mind. papa? We are not home yet. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux." they said. I am shut out of your mind. such as it is.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. you remained still on the wild hill.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. for your eyes. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.'Well.

 miss. And then. Mr. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. You are young: all your life is before you. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. with a jealous little toss. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. 'It does not.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. which implied that her face had grown warm.''Yes.To her surprise. all the same.' continued the man with the reins. that you are better. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling.

 and vanished under the trees. doan't I.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. And that's where it is now. with the accent of one who concealed a sin." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. Mr. with a conscience-stricken face. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. Stephen turned his face away decisively. what are you thinking of so deeply?''I was thinking how my dear friend Knight would enjoy this scene. in their setting of brown alluvium. and found Mr. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.'Don't you tell papa. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.