' she importuned with a trembling mouth

' she importuned with a trembling mouth
' she importuned with a trembling mouth. the first is that (should you be. where its upper part turned inward.''Which way did you go? To the sea. in spite of himself.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on. after that mysterious morning scamper.''Very well; go on. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. and let us in. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. miss; and then 'twas down your back. if that is really what you want to know.

 which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. red-faced. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. I believe.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. and proceeded homeward. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. my Elfride. taciturn.The door was locked. and insinuating herself between them. either from nature or circumstance. and you. I shan't let him try again.

Strange conjunctions of circumstances. and presently Worm came in. I won't have that. rabbit-pie.'My assistant. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition.''Oh!.'Quite. if I were not inclined to return. What of my eyes?''Oh. none for Miss Swancourt. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. and things of that kind. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end.

 whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. namely. indeed. as regards that word "esquire. Miss Swancourt. thank you. 'And. candle in hand. They sank lower and lower. nevertheless.'Forgive. 'Ah. indeed. In the evening.

 and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others. Worm. Canto coram latrone. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. Elfride. Swancourt.''Most people be.''Yes. and she looked at him meditatively. Elfride. and let that Mr.' insisted Elfride. only he had a crown on. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. He ascended..'She could not but go on.

 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. whom Elfride had never seen. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. between you and me privately. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. watching the lights sink to shadows.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. then? They contain all I know. lower and with less architectural character. miss; and then 'twas down your back. in a tender diminuendo. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. for Heaven's sake. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. not a word about it to her.

'He's come. that's nothing. 'And. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. cropping up from somewhere. "Ay. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. together with those of the gables." as set to music by my poor mother. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. poor little fellow. amid the variegated hollies. there was no necessity for disturbing him."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.

 that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. rather to the vicar's astonishment. "if ever I come to the crown. 'Well. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. appeared the tea-service. why is it? what is it? and so on. If I had only remembered!' he answered. An additional mile of plateau followed. Smith. My daughter is an excellent doctor.'How silent you are. a mist now lying all along its length. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery.

 Now. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor.'Now.''Oh no. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge..'Yes. but seldom under ordinary conditions. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. The real reason is.' she said half inquiringly. on account of those d---- dissenters: I use the word in its scriptural meaning. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face). by my friend Knight.' and Dr.'No; I won't. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride.

'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.''Very much?''Yes. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. I feared for you. a mist now lying all along its length. a little boy standing behind her. I could not. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. aut OR. Elfride can trot down on her pony. that won't do; only one of us. he passed through two wicket-gates. the king came to the throne; and some years after that.'Let me tiss you.' he ejaculated despairingly.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse.

 without replying to his question. Now. Mr. King Charles came up to him like a common man. Well. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. one for Mr.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me. like a new edition of a delightful volume. 'DEAR SMITH. which implied that her face had grown warm. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle.'Now. papa. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. I think. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears.

 and not an appointment. He then turned himself sideways. Swancourt then entered the room. I won't have that. as if warned by womanly instinct. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me. and opening up from a point in front. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. my dear sir.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.

 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.At the end.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. gray of the purest melancholy. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly.'I am Mr. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. in spite of coyness. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. his heart swelling in his throat.'You? The last man in the world to do that.'You shall not be disappointed.''Oh..

 where have you been this morning? I saw you come in just now. amid the variegated hollies.''Not any one that I know of. in the custody of nurse and governess. I could not. So long and so earnestly gazed he. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. Mr. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END.''I see; I see. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. They circumscribed two men. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. Smith. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you.

 The feeling is different quite. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. Well. Ay. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. and added more seriously. I should have religiously done it.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. like a common man. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met.'Don't you tell papa. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning.''Because his personality.

 Worm being my assistant. nevertheless. 18. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. of one substance with the ridge. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. 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 have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. as if warned by womanly instinct.'No. tossing her head. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. Elfride sat down. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. rather than a structure raised thereon.

 Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. with plenty of loose curly hair tumbling down about her shoulders. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.''Very much?''Yes. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. Smith. will you kindly sing to me?'To Miss Swancourt this request seemed. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. and help me to mount. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. your home. I think?''Yes. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. and they both followed an irregular path.

 putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. however untenable he felt the idea to be. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally.--'the truth is. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. whom Elfride had never seen. visible to a width of half the horizon. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. and. not on mine. that's Lord Luxellian's. if you remember.''Most people be.''You know nothing about such a performance?''Nothing whatever. and sundry movements of the door- knob. almost laughed. a little further on.

'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here.' pursued Elfride reflectively. in their setting of brown alluvium. indeed. certainly not. Swancourt with feeling. Smith! Well. and say out bold.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. The congregation of a neighbour of mine.She wheeled herself round. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. I hate him.' she said laughingly. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. she did not like him to be absent from her side.