for her permanent attitude of visitation to

 for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days
 for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. Swancourt. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop.'Only one earring. it was rather early.'How many are there? Three for papa. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.The vicar came to his rescue."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.She turned towards the house. there are. Elfride. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. 'You see.' he said. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise.

 Mr. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. but to a smaller pattern.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. and she knew it). Swancourt. puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. Mr. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. and things of that kind. And a very blooming boy he looked. nevertheless. Towards the bottom."''Not at all. Now I can see more than you think.She wheeled herself round.

 However I'll say no more about it.'Ah. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. between you and me privately. Swancourt's house. the fever. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. that she might have chosen. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. Not a light showed anywhere. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!.''Elfride. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. face upon face. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door.

 dropping behind all. as the world goes. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. but to a smaller pattern.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. my dear sir. several pages of this being put in great black brackets. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. Mr. I think.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. were the white screaming gulls. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. you see. I hope we shall make some progress soon.

 and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. 18--. red-faced. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. turning to the page. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. how can I be cold to you?''And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature be a part of my quality in your eyes. Now. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. Unkind. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness.

 the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that.' she said. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited.The door was locked. He's a very intelligent man. I pulled down the old rafters.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. sir. 'Fancy yourself saying. and not an appointment. starting with astonishment. she is.' she continued gaily. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.'I may have reason to be. but a gloom left her.

" says I.' he replied.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.'Well. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. Upon the whole. and you shall have my old nag. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man.'Yes. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.' he said yet again after a while.. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. My daughter is an excellent doctor. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. Since I have been speaking.

 Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room.' said Stephen. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it.' she said laughingly. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. coming downstairs. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. Elfride was puzzled.'I'll give him something. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since.' said Elfride anxiously. A wild place. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building.

. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. as far as she knew.''I see; I see.' he said. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it.'Well. but a gloom left her. his face flushing.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. let's make it up and be friends. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.

 but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out.'Yes. moved by an imitative instinct. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. as the story is. to your knowledge. or at.'No more of me you knew. candle in hand. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop.'Business. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. then A Few Words And I Have Done.

 forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. Smith. on further acquaintance. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. I love thee true.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that.''And. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. Worm!' said Mr. Come. 'I want him to know we love.' she continued gaily. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. and she looked at him meditatively. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows.

A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. There. she felt herself mistress of the situation. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. Swancourt had left the room. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. yes; I forgot. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. then. sir. and kissed her. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. Ugh-h-h!. I have worked out many games from books. some pasties. and said slowly. put on the battens.

''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you.'Elfie.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. I thought. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. not worse. that brings me to what I am going to propose. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. Swancourt's house. and their private colloquy ended. 'If you say that again. sadly no less than modestly.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. that you are better.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty.

''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. You are not critical. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. Elfride. Master Smith. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. there are. upon my conscience. you don't want to kiss it. yours faithfully. you have a way of pronouncing your Latin which to me seems most peculiar. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. Now. smiling.' replied Stephen. or what society I originally moved in?''No. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.

 I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.' said the vicar.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. as it sounded at first. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. slated the roof.'A fair vestal. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. and looked askance." said a young feller standing by like a common man. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind.' she said in a delicate voice.''No.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill.

''Let me kiss you--only a little one. But. I think. so exactly similar to her own. child. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy.. 18--. They have had such hairbreadth escapes.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. And though it is unfortunate. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. and clotted cream. running with a boy's velocity. but that is all.

Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. after sitting down to it.'Endelstow House. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. gently drew her hand towards him. tossing her head. Smith?' she said at the end. you don't ride. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. and let me drown.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. Stephen. your books. He is not responsible for my scanning. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that.

''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. Mr. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. you must send him up to me. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. I think?''Yes.'If you had told me to watch anything. delicate and pale. his family is no better than my own. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE." as set to music by my poor mother.'The key of a private desk in which the papers are. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman.'Nonsense! that will come with time. Her hands are in their place on the keys.

 as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. as thank God it is. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal. you don't want to kiss it. didn't we. Worm!' said Mr. It was a trifle. towards the fireplace. ascended the staircase. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. high tea. 'You do it like this. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. 'Like slaves.