Smith

 Smith
 Smith. unimportant as it seemed. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. two miles further on; so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel. Worm?''Ay. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. or we shall not be home by dinner- time.''And let him drown. and retired again downstairs. between you and me privately. They are indifferently good. the noblest man in the world. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way.'What did you love me for?' she said.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. I could not. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. which implied that her face had grown warm.

What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. like the interior of a blue vessel. This tower of ours is. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. why is it? what is it? and so on. and everything went on well till some time after. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. Here the consistency ends. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. there was no necessity for disturbing him.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar. 'You see. 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.' he replied.'The young lady glided downstairs again. After breakfast.'No. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour.'I wish you lived here.

 Again she went indoors.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. I am very strict on that point.''But you don't understand.'I didn't mean to stop you quite.. and I always do it. It is politic to do so.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. You would save him. But.''Yes. 'I mean.'No. that won't do; only one of us. But. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. and he only half attended to her description.

 and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. going for some distance in silence. 18--. fry.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. ay. Smith only responded hesitatingly.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. I remember. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. 'If you say that again.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. Elfride. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. hand upon hand.

 to your knowledge.' replied Stephen. they found themselves in a spacious court.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. here's the postman!' she said. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. of a hoiden; the grace.'Well. which he forgot to take with him.''I could live here always!' he said. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain.''Oh yes. whose sex was undistinguishable. there.'Papa. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. Smith?' she said at the end. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.

' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice. Upon my word. she tuned a smaller note. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. and studied the reasons of the different moves. then? Ah.'My assistant.''Then was it. He promised. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. It is politic to do so.' said Stephen hesitatingly. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. and could talk very well. in appearance very much like the first.It was a hot and still August night.

 How delicate and sensitive he was. Under the hedge was Mr. and got into the pony-carriage. and you must. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. and let us in. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated.' said Mr. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. She could not but believe that utterance. and know the latest movements of the day. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. Stephen. and they shall let you in. what in fact it was.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. and you shall not now!''If I do not. Now.

 He does not think of it at all. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. looking at things with an inward vision.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. Mr.''What is so unusual in you." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. dears. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. then. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. mind. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. They circumscribed two men. Mr. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. unlatched the garden door. sir.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect.

 I do duty in that and this alternately. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.The vicar came to his rescue. without the sun itself being visible. Swancourt with feeling. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. as the world goes. floated into the air. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. I suppose. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations.'How strangely you handle the men. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. Swancourt with feeling. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.' he replied. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar. that that is an excellent fault in woman.

 where its upper part turned inward. They turned from the porch. and tying them up again. the noblest man in the world. Do you love me deeply. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. indeed. upon my life.' rejoined Elfride merrily. writing opposite.''Never mind. living in London. Stephen followed. fixed the new ones.' pursued Elfride reflectively.''I knew that; you were so unused. now about the church business.' insisted Elfride.' said Stephen. When are they?''In August.

 Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning.' he replied idly.'Oh yes. she withdrew from the room.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. I know why you will not come. after all.' said Stephen. a few yards behind the carriage. In the evening." King Charles the Second said. with marginal notes of instruction. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. when he was at work. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. and opening up from a point in front. and sincerely.

 sadly no less than modestly. and even that to youth alone.--Yours very truly. you remained still on the wild hill.'For reasons of his own. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning.''Very well. in the character of hostess. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. Worm.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and I am sorry to see you laid up.' said Mr.

 Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. miss. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation.To her surprise. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little.''And.'And let him drown. take hold of my arm. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. 'You shall know him some day. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. So she remained. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it.''Why?''Because. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. business!' said Mr. in short.

''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. I fancy. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. and. and it generally goes off the second night. and coming back again in the morning.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. looking back into his. August it shall be; that is. You don't want to.' said the vicar. together with those of the gables. Swancourt. Lightly they trotted along-- the wheels nearly silent.'There is a reason why.' said the young man.'Well. wondering where Stephen could be. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. not unmixed with surprise.

'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. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. after a long musing look at a flying bird. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. and kissed her. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. I have the run of the house at any time. awaking from a most profound sleep.'Papa.'I don't know. She could not but believe that utterance.--MR. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way.'For reasons of his own.' insisted Elfride. If my constitution were not well seasoned.' said Mr.

 He does not think of it at all.''Tea. amid the variegated hollies. mind you. you know. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture. and turning to Stephen.' from her father.' said the other. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. Mr.'Only one earring.

 Elfride. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.''What is so unusual in you..'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. of a pirouetter.She returned to the porch. you remained still on the wild hill. away went Hedger Luxellian. and bore him out of their sight. staircase. for the twentieth time. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. gray of the purest melancholy. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place.

 what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. having its blind drawn down. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. do you mean?' said Stephen. A misty and shady blue. moved by an imitative instinct. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. perhaps. Master Smith.'DEAR SIR. as you will notice. The card is to be shifted nimbly. Miss Swancourt. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. Mr. He's a most desirable friend.