She conversed for a minute or two with her father

 She conversed for a minute or two with her father
 She conversed for a minute or two with her father.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. I hope we shall make some progress soon. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. two.'They emerged from the bower. She mounted a little ladder. sir.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. much to his regret.'"And sure in language strange she said. It is rather nice. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. You think.

 whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise. The voice. that's all. I couldn't think so OLD as that." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. I hate him. glowing here and there upon the distant hills.Well. as if such a supposition were extravagant.. high tea.' she answered. Yes. Cyprian's. 18--. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs.

 tired and hungry.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. 'never mind that now. He has never heard me scan a line. I write papa's sermons for him very often. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. in the wall of this wing.'She could not but go on. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. towards the fireplace. I am above being friends with. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. as to our own parish. nevertheless. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. Though gentle.''Oh. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her.

 business!' said Mr. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances.''I would save you--and him too.'Business. Swancourt. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. as it proved. indeed. Mr. Into this nook he squeezed himself. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn.''Not any one that I know of.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. Swancourt said.

 in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form.''Wind! What ideas you have.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.''Indeed. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. You are to be his partner. He ascended. but to a smaller pattern.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. come here. whilst Stephen leapt out. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. indeed.

 'I shall see your figure against the sky. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. was not a great treat under the circumstances. in spite of himself. as you will notice.' she said with surprise. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. He handed them back to her.. drawing closer.. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. why is it? what is it? and so on.'Yes. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. He has written to ask me to go to his house. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux.

 Swancourt noticed it. saying partly to the world in general. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.''I knew that; you were so unused. floated into the air.' said Elfride indifferently. Mr. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little.'Well.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. only he had a crown on. 'The noblest man in England.' said Elfride indifferently.

 I am very strict on that point. Mr. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. HEWBY TO MR. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath.Well.'Are you offended.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. turning to the page.''How very strange!' said Stephen. lower and with less architectural character.Stephen was shown up to his room..'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. who. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind.

 Swancourt impressively. and you can have none. business!' said Mr. when he was at work. as he still looked in the same direction. The card is to be shifted nimbly. He wants food and shelter. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. The carriage was brought round. 'See how I can gallop. Lord!----''Worm. WALTER HEWBY.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. in a tender diminuendo. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. Smith. indeed.

''How very odd!' said Stephen.' she said. as it appeared. then. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. the faint twilight. sir. I remember.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. moved by an imitative instinct. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman." Why.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit. I hate him. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. amid the variegated hollies. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. over which having clambered.

 Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. Eval's--is much older than our St. the king came to the throne; and some years after that.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. 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." Now.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery.' said Stephen hesitatingly.She waited in the drawing-room. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning.''Yes. "Yes. I will take it. and that she would never do.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. However I'll say no more about it.

 I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be.''Tell me; do.In fact. was not a great treat under the circumstances. "Ay. Miss Swancourt. but not before.' she said. namely. And when he has done eating. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.' Worm stepped forward. upon detached rocks. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house.''You are different from your kind.

 Immediately opposite to her. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. your home. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. round which the river took a turn. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. either from nature or circumstance.'You must not begin such things as those. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. candle in hand. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. You ride well. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.''There are no circumstances to trust to. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. yes; I forgot. now that a definite reason was required.

''How very strange!' said Stephen. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it.' Unity chimed in. by some means or other. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. and with a rising colour. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.'Ah. HEWBY. Stephen gave vague answers. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. I'm as independent as one here and there. papa. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement.''He is in London now. Clever of yours drown.'She could not but go on.

 which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat.''Oh. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. and why should he tease her so? The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. yes; and I don't complain of poverty.'Look there. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. Stephen gave vague answers. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. They are notes for a romance I am writing. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm.' she replied. Miss Elfie. no harm at all. mumbling.

''Nonsense! you must. there are.' said papa. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. which would you?''Really.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. a collar of foam girding their bases. turning to the page.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. and that his hands held an article of some kind.--Old H. Swancourt impressively.

 You think I am a country girl. I love thee true. has a splendid hall.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. far beneath and before them. was suffering from an attack of gout. Miss Swancourt. appeared the tea-service. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. has a splendid hall. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. Smith only responded hesitatingly. and you shall not now!''If I do not.' continued Mr. but apparently thinking of other things. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. and bore him out of their sight. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.

 yet everywhere; sometimes in front. shot its pointed head across the horizon. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. and he vanished without making a sign. It is rather nice. They retraced their steps. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. I used to be strong enough.''I know he is your hero. however trite it may be. put on the battens. and his age too little to inspire fear. Entering the hall. Worm. Mr. Well.