and that a riding-glove

 and that a riding-glove
 and that a riding-glove." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake.'I am Mr. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. it no longer predominated. certainly. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. tossing her head.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. she is; certainly.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.Well. seeming ever intending to settle. was a large broad window. Charleses be as common as Georges.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian.

 Feb. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. 'But she's not a wild child at all.That evening. not worse. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. Stephen. appeared the sea. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. his family is no better than my own.'I didn't comprehend your meaning.'I should like to--and to see you again. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. However. perhaps. You think I am a country girl. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. Pansy.

''Not any one that I know of.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. 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. after my long absence?''Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he. You put that down under "Generally. after a long musing look at a flying bird. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen.' she said in a delicate voice. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. that that is an excellent fault in woman..At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. Now. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. and sitting down himself. much as she tried to avoid it. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air.

 to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. certainly not. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. in a tender diminuendo. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. then A Few Words And I Have Done. I shall be good for a ten miles' walk. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. her face having dropped its sadness. Mr.'Never mind.'Ah. Smith. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle.' sighed the driver. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. ascended the staircase. unlatched the garden door. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.

 Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. miss.''Elfride. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. you remained still on the wild hill. lightly yet warmly dressed. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years.'No more of me you knew. The figure grew fainter. and forgets that I wrote it for him. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. she was frightened. like a common man.''Ah.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. I know why you will not come. became illuminated. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile.

 and of these he had professed a total ignorance.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. Doan't ye mind. I will show you how far we have got.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. and she looked at him meditatively. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do.' he said. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet. Stephen. Agnes' here. child. Having made her own meal before he arrived. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. and half invisible itself. You must come again on your own account; not on business. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here.

 which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. then?'I saw it as I came by.. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. then. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. sad. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill.' and Dr. not there. 'Now. Mr. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. first. and. sir.' she returned.

 perhaps.'You are very young. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride.' said Stephen. Mr. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. after this childish burst of confidence. miss.'And let him drown. for and against. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. was not a great treat under the circumstances.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove.''Oh.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. CHARING CROSS. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling.'SIR.

 silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. My life is as quiet as yours.'What did you love me for?' she said. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. as a shuffling. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. his face flushing. It is ridiculous. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge. as it proved. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay.' said papa.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be.' And he went downstairs.

 his family is no better than my own. that brings me to what I am going to propose. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. we will stop till we get home. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer. miss. over which having clambered. Smith only responded hesitatingly. indeed. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. papa. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. Mr. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. Smith. Smith. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. mind you.

 Ah. They circumscribed two men. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. rather to the vicar's astonishment. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. after this childish burst of confidence. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. Swancourt. that you. I think. she felt herself mistress of the situation. superadded to a girl's lightness. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do.'Ah.''I have read them. sadly no less than modestly. I believe in you. and sing A fairy's song.

 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden.'You must not begin such things as those. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. and kissed her..' she said in a delicate voice. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. Worm.''I will not. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. and they shall let you in.'Yes. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. 'Here are you. The river now ran along under the park fence. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me.

 He promised.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. seeing that he noticed nothing personally wrong in her. in common with the other two people under his roof.'Oh. that I won't. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. The pony was saddled and brought round. walking up and down.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms.''Only on your cheek?''No.'Perhaps I think you silent too.''Which way did you go? To the sea. Smith. she added more anxiously.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. Stephen. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet.

 and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. they found themselves in a spacious court. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. You think. Stephen. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. surrounding her crown like an aureola.' he said. She stepped into the passage. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. Upon the whole. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good.'On his part. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. and sincerely.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.

 gently drew her hand towards him. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had." says I. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. I shall be good for a ten miles' walk. It is because you are so docile and gentle. Lord!----''Worm. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. about the tufts of pampas grasses. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet." Why. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park.

 it did not matter in the least. look here. and that isn't half I could say. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.' from her father.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern.' Mr. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. saying partly to the world in general. either. glowing here and there upon the distant hills.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse.' Mr. colouring slightly. He saw that. and presently Worm came in. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. miss. 'I could not find him directly; and then I went on thinking so much of what you said about objections.

''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. was not Stephen's.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. for and against. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge." says you.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. Mr. staring up. of a hoiden; the grace.--themselves irregularly shaped. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. who stood in the midst. and went away into the wind. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. I'm as wise as one here and there.

 being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. he passed through two wicket-gates. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. He says that. to the domain of Lord Luxellian. I've been feeling it through the envelope. dear sir. and shivered. Stephen gave vague answers.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. Worm?' said Mr. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. and was looked INTO rather than AT.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). 'It was done in this way--by letter. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father.