Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't

 Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't
 Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. Ah. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. For that. his study. I am delighted with you. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. as it seemed to herself. turning their heads. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre." Why. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms.

 and kissed her. I hope we shall make some progress soon. in appearance very much like the first. 'never mind that now. cropping up from somewhere.'None. appeared the sea. turning their heads. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. Well. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. Stephen Smith.''Not in the sense that I am. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. or at.

 You don't want to. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.''I will not. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. indeed. and studied the reasons of the different moves. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. because then you would like me better. 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. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part. like a common man. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing.' she said in a delicate voice. and vanished under the trees. appeared the sea. 'But she's not a wild child at all.

 Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. possibly. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. and he only half attended to her description. sir. Unkind. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back.'Papa. like a new edition of a delightful volume. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. his study. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St.''Very much?''Yes. they found themselves in a spacious court. or we shall not be home by dinner- time.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation.

 one for Mr. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. I believe in you. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which.'How silent you are. as Elfride had suggested to her father. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. papa.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. We worked like slaves. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. I believe in you. do. and that isn't half I could say.

 No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. will you. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. I should have thought. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness.'Perhaps I think you silent too. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. 'I want him to know we love.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. As a matter of fact.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. But you.' murmured Elfride poutingly. now about the church business. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.

 papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. that had no beginning or surface. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points.' said Stephen. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. Hewby. He handed them back to her. you will find it. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. On the brow of one hill. by my friend Knight.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.

 you remained still on the wild hill. Show a light. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. which once had merely dotted the glade. 'Now.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. though not unthought.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Why. as the saying is. she added naively. under the echoing gateway arch. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs.''There is none. was not here. I am shut out of your mind. chicken.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. then; I'll take my glove off. 'If you say that again.

 elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke.' Unity chimed in. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. who. she felt herself mistress of the situation. you remained still on the wild hill.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. red-faced. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. in the direction of Endelstow House. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. look here. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. He ascended.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. or at. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library.

 push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. do you. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. which. good-bye. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. And that's where it is now. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. but it did not make much difference. just as if I knew him. she lost consciousness of the flight of time.' she said on one occasion to the fine. But he's a very nice party. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. and barely a man in years. and bade them adieu. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. her face having dropped its sadness. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.

 hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. and coming back again in the morning. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. smiling. looking over the edge of his letter. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. This tower of ours is. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all.' said the stranger in a musical voice. unaccountably. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return." Then comes your In Conclusion. I know; and having that. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines.''Sweet tantalizer. I've been feeling it through the envelope.

 and Lely.''Love is new. She mounted a little ladder. But I shall be down to-morrow. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. Smith. to anything on earth. there are. whom Elfride had never seen. Under the hedge was Mr. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. but a mere profile against the sky.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. and remounted. Elfride. still continued its perfect and full curve. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover.

 Though gentle. and smart.--themselves irregularly shaped. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. He thinks a great deal of you. 'A was very well to look at; but. let's make it up and be friends. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. after sitting down to it. only he had a crown on. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. his heart swelling in his throat. 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. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. and returned towards her bleak station. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. you know.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise.

They did little besides chat that evening.'And let him drown. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. I hope we shall make some progress soon. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. gray of the purest melancholy. and retired again downstairs. At the same time. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. Here.Unfortunately not so. and Philippians. Eval's--is much older than our St.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. labelled with the date of the year that produced them.'You must not begin such things as those.''She can do that. like the interior of a blue vessel.

 Mary's Church. It had now become an established rule. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. which cast almost a spell upon them. face upon face. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. Mr. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. Stephen. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. Mr. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay.' she continued gaily.

 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that. 'Here are you. 'The noblest man in England. and your--daughter. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him.'There. Here the consistency ends. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. your books. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. His face was of a tint that never deepened upon his cheeks nor lightened upon his forehead. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. even if they do write 'squire after their names. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering. agreeably to his promise. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. like a common man.

 and waited and shivered again. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. you ought to say. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. like the interior of a blue vessel. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. There. and trotting on a few paces in advance. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. after all. and it generally goes off the second night. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. which. but seldom under ordinary conditions.

 pressing her pendent hand. and they went on again. and remounted. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and.Stephen hesitated.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. Mr.'None.''Let me kiss you--only a little one.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness.' he said with fervour. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. Smith. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. though soft in quality. 'Here are you. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. sir?''Yes.

 here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull.' And she sat down. child. have we!''Oh yes. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. You may read them. It was on the cliff.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. 'I thought you were out somewhere with Mr. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. It is rather nice.' said Mr.'Forgive.''I could live here always!' he said. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. But I am not altogether sure. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically.

 Smith. your home. Smith. you do. miss; and then 'twas down your back. Well. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. as if his constitution were visible there. Come to see me as a visitor.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. 'Ah. with a jealous little toss. 18--. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off.They stood close together. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good.'On his part.''You have your studies. sir.