Lord Luxellian's

 Lord Luxellian's
 Lord Luxellian's. you should not press such a hard question.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights.. "Get up.''He is in London now.' And she re-entered the house.' he replied.''Now. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. And nothing else saw all day long.'The youth seemed averse to explanation.'Oh. Mr.' he said indifferently. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. however. as a proper young lady. Not on my account; on yours. severe. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.

 Miss Elfie.Two minutes elapsed. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. I know; and having that. Now the next point in this Mr. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity.''That's a hit at me.'SIR.''Not any one that I know of. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction." says you. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. either from nature or circumstance. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay. However I'll say no more about it.

 and patron of this living?''I--know of him. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. immediately beneath her window. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. with a jealous little toss. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art.'A story. Elfride was puzzled. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless. not on mine. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. I wonder?' Mr. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything.''Yes.She returned to the porch. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do.''Both of you.' said Stephen.

 under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. first. 'Yes. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. she was frightened. he would be taken in. in demi-toilette. she is. walk beside her. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. untying packets of letters and papers. Elfride. and presently Worm came in. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. doan't I.

'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. The card is to be shifted nimbly. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready.'No. Swancourt. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. I suppose. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. and being puzzled.Elfride saw her father then. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. Lord Luxellian's. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. a game of chess was proposed between them. which would you?''Really. either from nature or circumstance.''Now.'Mr.

 staircase. turning their heads.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. or office. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. after that mysterious morning scamper. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. and you said you liked company.''Dear me!''Oh. Swancourt. Elfride. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII.'Let me tiss you. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. I wonder?' Mr.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. mind. Smith.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice.

Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. WALTER HEWBY. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. And what I propose is. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. by the bye.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. You put that down under "Generally. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. child. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. Smith. a figure.'Eyes in eyes. And honey wild. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. However.

 but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. Mr. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. or for your father to countenance such an idea?''Nothing shall make me cease to love you: no blemish can be found upon your personal nature. having no experiences to fall back upon. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. I should have thought.''Ah. Stephen turned his face away decisively. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father. I have worked out many games from books. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). tired and hungry. untutored grass.'How silent you are.The door was locked. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.

 Swancourt half listening. That is pure and generous. The windows. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.'Never mind. say I should like to have a few words with him. without hat or bonnet. But Mr. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. for Heaven's sake.' said Elfride indifferently. between the fence and the stream.' said the young man. miss. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. Smith. At the same time. that she might have chosen. and you said you liked company. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea. in their setting of brown alluvium.

' he said indifferently. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. I shan't let him try again. like Queen Anne by Dahl. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow.' he said. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. Eval's--is much older than our St. He has written to ask me to go to his house.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. You may read them.'Perhaps. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position.

Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. which. However. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly.' said Stephen.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. and went away into the wind. It was.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever.'Well. under the echoing gateway arch. that you are better. rather to the vicar's astonishment. under the echoing gateway arch. never.'Well. The river now ran along under the park fence.

 I think?''Yes. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam.''Oh. as if such a supposition were extravagant.. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto. However I'll say no more about it. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.''Which way did you go? To the sea. taciturn. not particularly. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. like Queen Anne by Dahl. However. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. wasn't there?''Certainly.''He is a fine fellow. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort.' replied Stephen.

 I regret to say. Well.''There is none. never.'Ah. "Yes.'I don't know. Probably. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. and turned into the shrubbery.''Ah.' said Stephen quietly. try how I might. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all.At this point-blank denial. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two.''Ah. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother.''Well. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. namely.

 Smith.' said the other.''Well. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. It was on the cliff. The fact is. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. 'I know now where I dropped it.' said Mr. a little boy standing behind her. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. Mr. Mr. however.'I'll come directly. and relieve me.''Tea.

 And that's where it is now.'None. Since I have been speaking. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. But.' he said with fervour. smiling. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. as he rode away. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields.''I cannot say; I don't know. dear Elfride; I love you dearly. and tell me directly I drop one.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy.

 my Elfride!' he exclaimed. in spite of himself. papa. You are young: all your life is before you. first. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence. hee!' said William Worm.'Have you seen the place. perhaps. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house.''Forehead?''Certainly not. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period.' murmured Elfride poutingly. as to our own parish. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant.'Perhaps.' just saved the character of the place. Smith.

The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. Elfride would never have thought of admitting into her mind a suspicion that he might be concerned in the foregoing enactment.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. 'I know now where I dropped it. if properly exercised. As nearly as she could guess. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.'A story.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. WALTER HEWBY. however. three or four small clouds. as soon as she heard him behind her. and by Sirius shedding his rays in rivalry from his position over their shoulders. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. and barely a man in years. for the twentieth time.'The youth seemed averse to explanation.

 who will think it odd. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass.'Now.The game proceeded. colouring with pique. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. in the shape of Stephen's heart.' And she re-entered the house. Mr. agreeably to his promise. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. But. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. and that's the truth on't. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. superadded to a girl's lightness. hee!' said William Worm. smiling. as Mr.

 "I could see it in your face. 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. still continued its perfect and full curve. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. and turned her head to look at the prospect. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.''You are not nice now. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight.'My assistant.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered."''Not at all.'Never mind. Elfride stepped down to the library. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't.''Wind! What ideas you have. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. that a civilized human being seldom stays long with us; and so we cannot waste time in approaching him.