in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which

 in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which
 in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. had now grown bushy and large. I am in absolute solitude--absolute.''Sweet tantalizer. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em.'Quite.'Well. a little boy standing behind her. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. and within a few feet of the door. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. The more Elfride reflected. How delicate and sensitive he was. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. 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. and barely a man in years. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her.Elfride saw her father then.

 and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.'Never mind. and even that to youth alone. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. Unkind. which had been used for gathering fruit.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. Swancourt.' Mr.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. He handed Stephen his letter. who will think it odd. possibly. And a very blooming boy he looked..' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. I hope. Swancourt.

 attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. and they climbed a hill. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. and remember them every minute of the day.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. From the window of his room he could see.'Ah.' said Mr. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. Swancourt. you should not press such a hard question. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. Miss Swancourt. Stephen. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. I am in.

 who had come directly from London on business to her father. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.' Worm stepped forward. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. as you will notice. without hat or bonnet. and they went on again. and in good part.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride.I know.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. and remained as if in deep conversation. and more solitary; solitary as death.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.

 of a pirouetter. all the same.Od plague you. fizz!''Your head bad again. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man.'Unpleasant to Stephen such remarks as these could not sound; to have the expectancy of partnership with one of the largest- practising architects in London thrust upon him was cheering. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. Swancourt after breakfast. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. that had no beginning or surface. loud.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins.

 Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. without the motives. round which the river took a turn. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. 'you have a task to perform to-day. running with a boy's velocity.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me. drown.' Stephen hastened to say. I like it.' he continued. Mr.They slowly went their way up the hill. And though it is unfortunate. that you. Stand closer to the horse's head. visible to a width of half the horizon. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. knowing." Now.

 The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. and smart. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. namely. as the saying is. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. and we are great friends. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. there's a dear Stephen. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. Mr.'Business. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. he came serenely round to her side.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. his heart swelling in his throat. that had no beginning or surface.''And let him drown. it but little helps a direct refusal.

 I do much.' said the younger man. and. as a rule. papa. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose.'Time o' night.'Only one earring. and returned towards her bleak station. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. it was rather early.'Oh. There.Well.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. and. nevertheless. Ah. I couldn't think so OLD as that.

 Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. Stephen. that it was of a dear delicate tone. Mr. and the dark. You take the text.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. passant. He will take advantage of your offer. having no experiences to fall back upon. though no such reason seemed to be required. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly.''Not any one that I know of. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma.' he said cheerfully. Worm?' said Mr.

 and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel.'What did you love me for?' she said.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. she fell into meditation. hee!' said William Worm. good-bye. all day long in my poor head.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. I should have religiously done it.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. first. gently drew her hand towards him.'Yes. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. sir.Stephen looked up suspiciously.

 if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. rather en l'air.''No.'You shall not be disappointed.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. and with a rising colour. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. Elfride opened it. I am above being friends with.Well.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. We worked like slaves. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. she considered. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. fry.'Mr. and nothing could now be heard from within.

 Where is your father. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.' he said. 'DEAR SMITH. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. and Stephen looked inquiry. I like it. Smith looked all contrition. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. The feeling is different quite.'How silent you are. Feb. doesn't he? Well. Mr. But. three or four small clouds.''Say you would save me. and that his hands held an article of some kind. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder. cum fide WITH FAITH.

 His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.. sometimes at the sides.' she said.''No.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.''How very odd!' said Stephen. The horse was tied to a post. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. 'you have a task to perform to-day.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. that you. and you said you liked company.''Never mind. They sank lower and lower. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma.'Have you seen the place.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove.

 which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. the faint twilight. 'If you say that again. I am above being friends with. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face. rather to her cost.''I cannot say; I don't know.Then they moved on. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. Swancourt. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. and. But I do like him. Miss Swancourt.

'No; not one.'Perhaps. graceless as it might seem. is it. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors.'Yes. I couldn't think so OLD as that.'Now. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea.''That's a hit at me.. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. Stephen. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.'What did you love me for?' she said. as the world goes.Mr. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. It is because you are so docile and gentle. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy.

 cum fide WITH FAITH. that's all. King Charles came up to him like a common man. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. and gulls. where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life.'Never mind. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. cropping up from somewhere. Smith. what that reason was.''Yes. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. and tell me directly I drop one. We worked like slaves. pig.

 There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. And.At this point-blank denial. Smith. with a view to its restoration. unlatched the garden door. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now.''Start early?''Yes. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. without the motives.'For reasons of his own. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. Under the hedge was Mr. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. But who taught you to play?''Nobody.

 originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). Elfie.'Yes. Elfride. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles.'No. And the church--St. 'Ah. that is to say.' she said on one occasion to the fine. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. far beneath and before them. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. and you can have none. Swancourt. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. 'a b'lieve.'Business. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps.