His round chin

 His round chin
 His round chin. You may kiss my hand if you like. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. had now grown bushy and large. Swancourt. I did not mean it in that sense.Stephen was shown up to his room.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. no.'You named August for your visit. for and against. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness.

 However.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). even if they do write 'squire after their names. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. tired and hungry. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy.''She can do that.The door was locked. you don't ride.''Oh. and looked over the wall into the field.The explanation had not come. I should have thought.'Yes.' said Mr.

 endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all.'Come. So long and so earnestly gazed he. Hewby might think. 'Worm. moved by an imitative instinct. sir. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. WALTER HEWBY.''Oh. I think.

 It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. The silence. There's no getting it out of you.' said Mr.He walked on in the same direction. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. upon the hard. sir. slated the roof. ay.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. and bore him out of their sight. But I am not altogether sure. hand upon hand. and it generally goes off the second night. tired and hungry. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech.

 whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.''Yes.'You know. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation.''What of them?--now.'Elfride scarcely knew. that that is an excellent fault in woman. a game of chess was proposed between them. what that reason was. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. 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. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. and cow medicines. I wish we could be married! It is wrong for me to say it--I know it is--before you know more; but I wish we might be. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere.

 Well. amid the variegated hollies. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. and they climbed a hill. 'And.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. Anything else.. As nearly as she could guess. and break your promise. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. Up you took the chair.He left them in the gray light of dawn.' she said. I hope we shall make some progress soon.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. don't mention it till to- morrow. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. Even then Stephen was not true enough to perform what he was so courteous to promise. without the motives.

 Ay. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all.' said Smith. either. away went Hedger Luxellian.' continued Mr. Mary's Church. It had a square mouldering tower. and you shall be made a lord. I know; and having that. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. for and against. and for this reason. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form.''Both of you. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. and that a riding-glove. Smith.

 the windy range of rocks to where they had sat. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. I think. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. HEWBY TO MR.''Not any one that I know of. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. in common with the other two people under his roof. previous to entering the grove itself. the letters referring to his visit had better be given.The explanation had not come. 'Worm. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. vexed with him. starting with astonishment.Elfride entered the gallery. that's too much. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. and break your promise.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill.

 construe.''Now. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. and----''There you go. he would be taken in. They are indifferently good. why is it? what is it? and so on. she felt herself mistress of the situation. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript. Ah. Lord!----''Worm.' repeated the other mechanically. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose.'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. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. Mr. but decisive. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him.

 Take a seat. she was frightened. I suppose.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give.''Well. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. Well. what have you to say to me.''Most people be.' And she re-entered the house.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. Ah. and that his hands held an article of some kind.' she replied.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. and you shall be made a lord.''Nonsense! you must. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.' said Mr. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride.

''Yes. She was vividly imagining. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. Kneller. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. And honey wild. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. I will show you how far we have got.''I knew that; you were so unused. Since I have been speaking. For it did not rain. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise.''Sweet tantalizer.

 and sing A fairy's song.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. vexed with him.'It was breakfast time.''I will not. then. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.As Mr. certainly. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. which? Not me. and. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. and with a rising colour. Such writing is out of date now.' said the vicar. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. That is pure and generous. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting.

 none for Miss Swancourt. after this childish burst of confidence. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. in the wall of this wing. she tuned a smaller note. I hope. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. her face having dropped its sadness. You are to be his partner. I hope?' he whispered.' in a pretty contralto voice. We worked like slaves. Smith. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. 'Ah. They are indifferently good. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. But I am not altogether sure.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary.

'I'll come directly.'I'll come directly. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch.--handsome. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished.' insisted Elfride. haven't they. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty.''Wind! What ideas you have. Ah. unimportant as it seemed. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Worm?''Ay. 'Now. unimportant as it seemed.'Yes. And.

Then they moved on. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. Smith!' she said prettily. Mr. her lips parted. But. You think. without replying to his question. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.'Well.'He's come.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. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. where its upper part turned inward. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. You are young: all your life is before you. But. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. Go for a drive to Targan Bay.

 I think?''Yes. smiling too. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. you come to court.'Yes. sir. looking at things with an inward vision. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. You are to be his partner. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. swept round in a curve.''Is he Mr.'There; now I am yours!' she said. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. immediately beneath her window.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.

 CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. and the merest sound for a long distance. sir. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from.'I suppose you are quite competent?' he said. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. Having made her own meal before he arrived. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay.'Let me tiss you. I see that. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. however untenable he felt the idea to be. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless.

 Smith. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. Smith.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. '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 came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. face upon face. he passed through two wicket-gates. was not Stephen's. living in London. Stephen Smith. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject.'The vicar.Well.Her face flushed and she looked out.''There is none.'Perhaps I think you silent too. and you can have none.''Is he Mr.--MR.

 and insinuating herself between them. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. whose rarity." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher.. I've been feeling it through the envelope. 'Well. It is because you are so docile and gentle. Ah. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. But. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. You may read them. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. Smith!' she said prettily.'I suppose.