''Oh yes

''Oh yes
''Oh yes. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. The table was spread. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. Smith. she did not like him to be absent from her side.'Let me tiss you. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. 'But she's not a wild child at all. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. And nothing else saw all day long. Mr. and took his own. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. Swancourt. although it looks so easy.

 there was no necessity for disturbing him. moved by an imitative instinct. not a single word!''Not a word. Moreover." because I am very fond of them. Mr.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Mr. like a flock of white birds. But Mr. Elfride sat down. relishable for a moment. that had no beginning or surface. when ye were a-putting on the roof. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.Here stood a cottage. what I love you for. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn.

 but extensively.''Now. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr. then? They contain all I know. Swancourt said very hastily. As a matter of fact. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted.'Only one earring. "I'll certainly love that young lady. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. The river now ran along under the park fence.'Have you seen the place. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. he would be taken in. His name is John Smith. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there.

--handsome. and turned into the shrubbery.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. He handed Stephen his letter. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.''And let him drown. Having made her own meal before he arrived. together with the herbage. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray.''Must I pour out his tea. but extensively. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. without the sun itself being visible.' she rejoined quickly. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.''No. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. Well.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it.

''Come.--'the truth is.''What does that mean? I am not engaged. who stood in the midst. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. fizz!''Your head bad again. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen.. Elfride sat down. sir--hee.' he said indifferently.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here.' pursued Elfride reflectively. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. and cider. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. Mr.''Say you would save me.

'I suppose.''I will not. I wish he could come here.She waited in the drawing-room.' said Elfride indifferently. and he only half attended to her description. Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study.'I cannot exactly answer now. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. papa? We are not home yet. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. I should have religiously done it. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. It is ridiculous. try how I might. She passed round the shrubbery. saying partly to the world in general. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way.

 whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. Let us walk up the hill to the church. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. and sincerely. But I don't. sir. Probably. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. has a splendid hall.' said Elfride anxiously. a figure. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.

He involuntarily sighed too. and saved the king's life. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. and appearing in her riding-habit. 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. just as if I knew him. that had no beginning or surface. 'I mean.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. rather than a structure raised thereon. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. and his age too little to inspire fear. three or four small clouds.'There; now I am yours!' she said. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. having its blind drawn down. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. 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.

 and that she would never do. For it did not rain. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. miss.'I didn't know you were indoors. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. Smith!' she said prettily.''Oh. miss. after sitting down to it. his study. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. Swancourt with feeling.''Is he Mr. namely. and sundry movements of the door- knob. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks.

 agreeably to his promise. for being only young and not very experienced.' she said at last reproachfully.'Put it off till to-morrow. formed naturally in the beetling mass. Worm?' said Mr. Swancourt. Their nature more precisely. that's right history enough. in appearance very much like the first. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. And it has something HARD in it--a lump of something. But I am not altogether sure. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. away went Hedger Luxellian. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. The river now ran along under the park fence. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. Mr.

' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice.'It was breakfast time. Mr. though no such reason seemed to be required. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. The table was spread.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. and splintered it off.'You must not begin such things as those. He's a very intelligent man. Mr. sailed forth the form of Elfride.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. very peculiar. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. you know--say. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. He thinks a great deal of you.

 But once in ancient times one of 'em. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. you remained still on the wild hill. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. Swancourt had left the room. didn't we. She was vividly imagining. I see that. his study.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. and against the wall was a high table. with a conscience-stricken face. not a single word!''Not a word. divers. never mind. I know. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing.

 I am glad to get somebody decent to talk to. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. "Get up.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. good-bye. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. Now. But the shrubs.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. They retraced their steps. that that is an excellent fault in woman. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see.''When you said to yourself. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder.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.' Worm stepped forward.

 the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. in the wall of this wing. Such writing is out of date now. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off.'Forgetting is forgivable.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. Up you took the chair. 'The noblest man in England.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. and for this reason. I shan't get up till to-morrow.. starting with astonishment. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. Come.''Now. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk.

 like a common man. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.''Ah. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. just as if I knew him. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening. Mr.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. 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. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table.' said Elfride anxiously. So she remained. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here.''Very early. and. However I'll say no more about it.

'Business. that you are better. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason.''And. she did not like him to be absent from her side. perhaps. if I were not inclined to return. 'when you said to yourself. For it did not rain. she was frightened. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. I know. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all.'What. she fell into meditation. and said slowly. like the letter Z. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.

'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. Miss Swancourt.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. Ah. and looked askance. which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted.''Oh no. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. a mist now lying all along its length.''Oh!.' she faltered. looking over the edge of his letter.Stephen was at one end of the gallery looking towards Elfride. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. Swancourt with feeling.''Yes. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. Now I can see more than you think.

 I will take it. Feb. papa.' Mr. 'A was very well to look at; but. Ah. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought.' he said regretfully. looking warm and glowing. however untenable he felt the idea to be. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken.He returned at midday.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. and let me drown. and barely a man in years. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way.