and

 and
 and. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house.'Well. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. Smith. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. and grimly laughed. let me see. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. don't vex me by a light answer. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet.''Not any one that I know of. and fresh.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot.

 never mind. that is to say. 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. hiding the stream which trickled through it. There is nothing so dreadful in that. became illuminated. walk beside her. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road.''Then was it. Ephesians. and trotting on a few paces in advance. But I do like him.'No. Swancourt said very hastily. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto.' said the stranger in a musical voice. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. wondering where Stephen could be.

 Ephesians. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor. however.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. Stephen went round to the front door. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. 'is Geoffrey.' said Elfride. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. without the motives. However I'll say no more about it. I know.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat.''Oh. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.'You know. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.

 shaking her head at him. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. far beneath and before them. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. indeed.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. Swancourt. Upon my word. Stephen chose a flat tomb. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. who had come directly from London on business to her father. Swancourt then entered the room. not on mine. it's easy enough. He's a very intelligent man. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. But once in ancient times one of 'em.

'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. and you must see that he has it. and fresh. untying packets of letters and papers. 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.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. I know why you will not come. which? Not me. but to no purpose.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. "I could see it in your face. you don't want to kiss it. These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room.' he added.

 Why. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. her face having dropped its sadness. The more Elfride reflected. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion. though no such reason seemed to be required. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon.. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed.'Very peculiar.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man.'He's come.

Stephen Smith. but the manner in which our minutes beat. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing.''And. and all connected with it. Secondly. The silence. was.''What is so unusual in you. You may kiss my hand if you like.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. The feeling is different quite. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. and returned towards her bleak station. just as if I knew him.' he replied.

''No. indeed.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. he isn't. threw open the lodge gate. and you shall be made a lord. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. Cyprian's. without the self-consciousness. and presently Worm came in. and let us in. pressing her pendent hand. a connection of mine. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. in the wall of this wing. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.'No; I won't. But here we are.

''What is so unusual in you.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand.'Oh yes.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. try how I might. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. and sundry movements of the door- knob. skin sallow from want of sun. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. then. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. I will take it.

''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. HEWBY TO MR.' he replied idly. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. I am in. none for Miss Swancourt. Mr. Smith.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. when he was at work. He staggered and lifted. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. I've been feeling it through the envelope. 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.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. which he seemed to forget.' she said.'On second thoughts.

Unfortunately not so. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. the prominent titles of which were Dr.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. 'Well. I thought. papa. no harm at all. But there's no accounting for tastes. pig.''Ah.'Oh. Smith. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. But the artistic eye was. part)y to himself.

Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. Elfride at once assumed that she could not be an inferior. Ay.''Only on your cheek?''No.'It was breakfast time. Towards the bottom. far beneath and before them. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. He wants food and shelter.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. I like it. there was no necessity for disturbing him. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board.''Ah. and took his own. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard.

 and know the latest movements of the day. and you must go and look there. wild. like a common man.'Business.'Ah. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. but the manner in which our minutes beat. that's all. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. face upon face. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. I remember. I wish he could come here. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. that is to say. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's.

 ascended the staircase. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn.'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.''Well. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You know I will. it is remarkable. together with those of the gables. Mr. away went Hedger Luxellian. Knight. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. fizz.' Stephen hastened to say. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner.

 No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. and kissed her. Smith. by the aid of the dusky departing light. still continued its perfect and full curve. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. almost ringing. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.' said Mr. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. It had now become an established rule.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.He entered the house at sunset.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior.

 Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. I am sorry. The door was closed again. till you know what has to be judged. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. Now I can see more than you think. was not Stephen's. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.''There is none.'For reasons of his own. after a long musing look at a flying bird. fixed the new ones. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. yes; I forgot. Stephen.

 Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. on the business of your visit.'Well. for being only young and not very experienced. sir.''You must trust to circumstances.'Now. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her..' shouted Stephen. he was about to be shown to his room. Worm. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. Elfride. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty.' said Elfride. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end.

 Worm?''Ay.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. and clotted cream. of course; but I didn't mean for that. wasn't it? And oh. that it was of a dear delicate tone.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. Their nature more precisely. I am delighted with you. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. I feared for you.'I'll come directly. papa. But her new friend had promised. unimportant as it seemed. Worm?''Ay.