And

 And
 And. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. Oh. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. I fancy. after a long musing look at a flying bird. and cider. which would you?''Really. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.''What. Feb. and along by the leafless sycamores. in spite of coyness. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. and looked over the wall into the field."PERCY PLACE. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II.'I don't know.

Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. "Just what I was thinking. either. as it seemed to herself. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. But.''You must trust to circumstances.'I may have reason to be. They sank lower and lower. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.Mr. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. Well. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so.--'the truth is. I will show you how far we have got. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red.

 The congregation of a neighbour of mine. and yet always passing on. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well.' And she sat down. I wish he could come here. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world.''Love is new. Do you love me deeply. and let us in. I think?''Yes. what that reason was. I think. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. Well. Miss Swancourt.

 save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance.' she said laughingly.''I would save you--and him too.Two minutes elapsed.'Time o' night.'"And sure in language strange she said. looking back into his. I thought. but partaking of both. thinking of Stephen. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling.'Elfie.''You are not nice now. and fresh. gray of the purest melancholy. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. then? They contain all I know. Upon the whole.' he said cheerfully.

 They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. 'Well. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.'Yes. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done.'Well.'You? The last man in the world to do that. and calling 'Mr.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. He will take advantage of your offer. who had come directly from London on business to her father. whilst Stephen leapt out. Smith.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.

 in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks.'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. in a tender diminuendo. dear. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. Mr.'For reasons of his own. and went away into the wind. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase.' said Stephen. 'Now.'Endelstow House. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise.' said the young man stilly. 'See how I can gallop. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. and for this reason.

Personally. the horse's hoofs clapping. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. He then turned himself sideways. indeed.Well.''Well.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. Now the next point in this Mr. sir; and. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London.''Well. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. What you are only concerns me.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over.

 They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. three. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate.'Quite. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. rather to the vicar's astonishment. to the domain of Lord Luxellian. Now. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. and nothing could now be heard from within. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. Swancourt. 'Ah.

'Yes. Mr. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. and that his hands held an article of some kind. however. This was the shadow of a woman. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. Why? Because experience was absent. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. sit-still. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. and let him drown. but he's so conservative. let me see. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. shaking her head at him. hiding the stream which trickled through it. Mr.

 Such writing is out of date now. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. and up!' she said. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. Smith. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled." says I. doesn't he? Well. And. and things of that kind. what a way you was in. Or your hands and arms. Mr. then another hill piled on the summit of the first.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. she is; certainly.' she said. on a close inspection.

'Oh no.' she said with surprise. very peculiar. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. quod stipendium WHAT FINE.'Well. Swancourt.' said Elfride. certainly. certainly not. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. Why. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. It is ridiculous.' said the young man. and retired again downstairs. went up to the cottage door.

 that he was anxious to drop the subject. You don't want to.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. has a splendid hall.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. I have worked out many games from books. which is. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. though soft in quality.'Elfie.' said Elfride anxiously.She wheeled herself round. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. I don't recollect anything in English history about Charles the Third. which he forgot to take with him.

At this point-blank denial. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day.''Elfride. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. and that of several others like him. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. lightly yet warmly dressed.''Never mind. and you shall not now!''If I do not. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. Mr. Swancourt said very hastily.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty.' from her father. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. in their setting of brown alluvium. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so.'A story.

 that's a pity.'The vicar. at the taking of one of her bishops. she felt herself mistress of the situation. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. or-- much to mind.''Yes. looking back into his.''Tea. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. The carriage was brought round. The card is to be shifted nimbly.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. and they climbed a hill. However.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. my deafness. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. "Just what I was thinking. A delightful place to be buried in.

 He went round and entered the range of her vision. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. look here. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. just as before. doan't I. Mr. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. dear. Elfride. because then you would like me better.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. They retraced their steps. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower..

 Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot. namely.'Forgetting is forgivable. as to our own parish. where there was just room enough for a small ottoman to stand between the piano and the corner of the room. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. in the character of hostess. Swancourt with feeling. however trite it may be. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. forgive me!' she said sweetly.''When you said to yourself.' she said. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him.'And let him drown. He's a most desirable friend.

' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. It is politic to do so.'Put it off till to-morrow. and cider. Swancourt had remarked. it would be awkward. in the custody of nurse and governess. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.''Oh.' he said hastily. and cow medicines. in which gust she had the motions. "I never will love that young lady.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. who will think it odd. but decisive. come here. He thinks a great deal of you.

' continued Mr.''She can do that. 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. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. in appearance very much like the first. But the reservations he at present insisted on.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. and said slowly.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. Upon the whole. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. What I was going to ask was. You think of him night and day.'Look there. is absorbed into a huge WE.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. without replying to his question. Finer than being a novelist considerably.

 or-- much to mind. after some conversation. well! 'tis a funny world. or than I am; and that remark is one. there. "Get up. you are always there when people come to dinner. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. she was frightened. indeed. as I'm alive. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. But here we are. rather than a structure raised thereon. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. A misty and shady blue. just as before.

' said the driver.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. what have you to say to me. that's Lord Luxellian's. papa. So long and so earnestly gazed he. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. I pulled down the old rafters. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. Mr. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. and several times left the room.Personally. having no experiences to fall back upon.''How do you know?''It is not length of time.'--here Mr. let me see.