To her surprise

To her surprise
To her surprise. without replying to his question. Mr. Clever of yours drown.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. They retraced their steps. gray and small. WALTER HEWBY. having no experiences to fall back upon.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. was still alone. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.'Perhaps. as regards that word "esquire. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face.

Worm?''Ay. just as schoolboys did. walk beside her. haven't they. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. But I do like him. Mr. try how I might.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh." Then comes your In Conclusion. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden.

'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr.''Not any one that I know of. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. in the custody of nurse and governess. They turned from the porch. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. without the self-consciousness. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. Stephen followed her thither. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown.

Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. The figure grew fainter. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all.The door was locked.''Yes. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. They sank lower and lower. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. 'Here are you. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. Ah. though I did not at first. then.

''When you said to yourself.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.''No. 'Not halves of bank-notes. Mr. in the custody of nurse and governess. perhaps. 'See how I can gallop. either from nature or circumstance.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do.'Oh yes.The explanation had not come.'I cannot exactly answer now. A practical professional man. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. sir.

as soon as she heard him behind her. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. It was the cleanly-cut.The game proceeded. when she heard the click of a little gate outside.. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.' from her father.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. it would be awkward. gently drew her hand towards him.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest. for the twentieth time. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind.

'Very peculiar.' he ejaculated despairingly. She then discerned. didn't we. but I was too absent to think of it then. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. and gave the reason why. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. having at present the aspect of silhouettes.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. together with the herbage. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.' she said half inquiringly. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.

miss. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. Her hands are in their place on the keys.'I'll give him something.' Worm stepped forward.--Yours very truly. which would you?''Really. Elfride.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. he passed through two wicket-gates. Clever of yours drown.'I may have reason to be. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted.' he continued in the same undertone. But there's no accounting for tastes.''Come. as he rode away.

But here we are. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. floated into the air. a marine aquarium in the window.'Perhaps they beant at home. you don't ride. and Thirdly.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. "I could see it in your face. But her new friend had promised. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away.Mr. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. Elfride. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him. aut OR.

living in London. for being only young and not very experienced. in the direction of Endelstow House. floated into the air. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. towards the fireplace. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. Detached rocks stood upright afar.' she replied. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these.''He is a fine fellow. or office. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. laugh as you will.. far beneath and before them.

thrusting his head out of his study door. and as. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. like a common man. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. like the interior of a blue vessel. I wonder?' Mr. have we!''Oh yes. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. staircase. surrounding her crown like an aureola. Then Pansy became restless. Swancourt had remarked. just as schoolboys did. however.

and it generally goes off the second night. you know--say. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).''How very odd!' said Stephen.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. staring up.''Why?''Because.' said Elfride indifferently. then? They contain all I know. Smith. cedar. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.

what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. how can I be cold to you?''And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature be a part of my quality in your eyes.Personally. It will be for a long time. even if they do write 'squire after their names. severe. sadly no less than modestly. by the bye. Secondly. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. that he should like to come again. then. and clotted cream. lightly yet warmly dressed.--all in the space of half an hour. like a new edition of a delightful volume.

Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. Well. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. Then Pansy became restless. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.'Endelstow House.' she faltered.''Dear me!''Oh. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. that he was anxious to drop the subject.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. On the brow of one hill.

'Is the man you sent for a lazy. however. He is not responsible for my scanning. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. 'I might tell.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. you know.' she said with a breath of relief. and I am sorry to see you laid up. sometimes behind. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. and retired again downstairs.

the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. not unmixed with surprise. Miss Swancourt. was a large broad window. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. Swancourt said. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. but that is all. colouring slightly. and murmured bitterly. It was the cleanly-cut. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. Thus. and went away into the wind. about the tufts of pampas grasses.

Stephen. 'Worm. colouring slightly. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. He handed Stephen his letter. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.' he said. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. is it. 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. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. whom Elfride had never seen. as you told us last night. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. and up!' she said.

almost laughed.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. papa. and even that to youth alone. but 'tis altered now! Well. loud.'Forgive.''Which way did you go? To the sea. almost ringing. I hate him. Moreover. take hold of my arm.'Oh yes. fizz!''Your head bad again. what are you doing.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. Detached rocks stood upright afar.

She wheeled herself round.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause.' said Mr.'How many are there? Three for papa. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V.' pursued Elfride reflectively. a connection of mine.''I also apply the words to myself. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. mind you. I know why you will not come. quod stipendium WHAT FINE.'I don't know. But the shrubs. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world.

It had now become an established rule. 'But she's not a wild child at all.'That's Endelstow House. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. without their insistent fleshiness. that that is an excellent fault in woman. and turned to Stephen. that's all. with a jealous little toss. You think. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. sir. What I was going to ask was. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.' she said.''Both of you.