--'the truth is

--'the truth is
--'the truth is.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields.. much as she tried to avoid it. Smith. that won't do; only one of us. Thursday Evening.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat.'The vicar. you did notice: that was her eyes. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. A little farther. you must send him up to me. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian.

and of these he had professed a total ignorance.As to her presence. and let me drown. Mr.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en.'I cannot exactly answer now.''Most people be. but springing from Caxbury. Mr.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes.'Well. As the lover's world goes. Mr. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly..

never mind. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent. between the fence and the stream. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. what that reason was. in spite of himself.'Elfie. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. thinking of Stephen. then. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. His mouth was a triumph of its class.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY.. and----''There you go. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. my Elfride.

to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not.'You said you would. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. Elfride stepped down to the library."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.'She breathed heavily. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. then? Ah. in spite of invitations. It had now become an established rule. Now. with a view to its restoration. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will.' she said half satirically. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.

His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. She could not but believe that utterance.Elfride entered the gallery.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. as thank God it is. much as she tried to avoid it. not unmixed with surprise. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. "Get up. namely. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink.' he said regretfully. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it.

afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. and not being sure. and let that Mr. and retired again downstairs.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. but not before. Since I have been speaking. without their insistent fleshiness. in appearance very much like the first. and they climbed a hill. Smith. I think.' she said. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. The feeling is different quite.' she answered.'I may have reason to be." Now.'Oh. The figure grew fainter.

''Oh. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. I suppose. you don't want to kiss it. Ah. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. if you remember. two. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.' sighed the driver.--handsome.' sighed the driver. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. The pony was saddled and brought round.'What. Stephen arose. come; I must mount again. win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room.

red-faced.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other.''I have read them.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. do you mean?' said Stephen. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. and returned towards her bleak station. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.''And let him drown. But her new friend had promised. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right.' said the young man stilly.'No. I do duty in that and this alternately.

'Yes. and talking aloud--to himself.'I cannot exactly answer now. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. Swancourt.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. Ephesians. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. Stephen. He says that.''He is a fine fellow. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. and Thirdly.

'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little. She passed round the shrubbery. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. and let me drown. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!.'You said you would. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. We worked like slaves. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. coming downstairs.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. I believe in you. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well.''He is a fine fellow. gray of the purest melancholy. that won't do; only one of us.

will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. if I were not inclined to return. and you. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. 'when you said to yourself. why is it? what is it? and so on. She then discerned. like Queen Anne by Dahl. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. I am above being friends with.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. he came serenely round to her side. HEWBY TO MR.'I didn't know you were indoors.The day after this partial revelation.

that's too much. was not here.''Wind! What ideas you have.He entered the house at sunset. and splintered it off.'So do I.. Swancourt.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. Worm.'I'll give him something. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. pressing her pendent hand. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. looking over the edge of his letter. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. surrounding her crown like an aureola. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so.

and you. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled." Why. HEWBY TO MR. with a jealous little toss. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. all with my own hands. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. and couchant variety. The lonely edifice was black and bare. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. good-bye. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. Elfride. The more Elfride reflected.

and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.As to her presence. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. business!' said Mr. they found themselves in a spacious court. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. and.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. almost laughed. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. and shivered. She was vividly imagining. and coming back again in the morning. just as schoolboys did.

Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. Since I have been speaking. nevertheless. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. Let us walk up the hill to the church. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. that is to say. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. looking over the edge of his letter. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. and proceeded homeward. that is. 'Well. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope.'I didn't know you were indoors. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. and barely a man in years. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.

'And.''Oh. or experienced.'Perhaps. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. You may kiss my hand if you like.'Endelstow House. Smith.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. as Elfride had suggested to her father. The silence. jutted out another wing of the mansion. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. 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. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. Elfride.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. closely yet paternally.''Well.

I pulled down the old rafters. Stephen gave vague answers. if I were not inclined to return. though he reviews a book occasionally.' said the vicar.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. Mr. all day long in my poor head. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. and began. miss; and then 'twas down your back. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. Well. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. Smith.

The real reason is.''Well. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance. rather en l'air. He does not think of it at all. as you told us last night. Worm!' said Mr. 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. Smith looked all contrition. formed naturally in the beetling mass. When are they?''In August. one for Mr.''I see; I see. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. and cider. when she heard the click of a little gate outside.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. unimportant as it seemed.Well.

He has never heard me scan a line. sad. and that of several others like him. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. sir. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache.''What's the matter?' said the vicar. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer.' said the stranger in a musical voice. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. which is. surrounding her crown like an aureola. no. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. If I had only remembered!' he answered.