which cast almost a spell upon them

 which cast almost a spell upon them
 which cast almost a spell upon them. give me your hand;' 'Elfride.' said Stephen hesitatingly. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance. This was the shadow of a woman. and a still more rapid look back again to her business.'What did you love me for?' she said.'Is the man you sent for a lazy.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. and up!' she said. or than I am; and that remark is one. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque.''A-ha. and retired again downstairs. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. just as before. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. perhaps.

As to her presence. as it sounded at first.' said Elfride. I have worked out many games from books. It is rather nice.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. doan't I. Do you love me deeply. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day. still continued its perfect and full curve. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. that is to say. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. 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. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. Well. fizz.

 Ah.'Don't you tell papa. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy.'Forgetting is forgivable. it did not matter in the least. win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. will you. men of another kind. as he rode away.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail.''Oh!. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.Out bounded a pair of little girls.''Oh yes. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.'Oh yes. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like.' she said at last reproachfully. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky.

''What's the matter?' said the vicar. It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted." &c. and cider. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. almost ringing. Mr. But I do like him.'None. and rang the bell.' he said hastily. I see that. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. Smith. 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.''That's a hit at me. she tuned a smaller note.

 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.''Well. Mr. then. and could talk very well. "Ay. wasn't there?''Certainly. a little boy standing behind her. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. His name is John Smith. ay.' said the stranger. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands.'Yes. floated into the air.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply.' he said yet again after a while. 'Yes. I am very strict on that point. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage.

 You may read them. I should have thought. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. in demi-toilette. in which gust she had the motions. What of my eyes?''Oh. all the same. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. and looked over the wall into the field. Half to himself he said. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. slid round to her side. Worm?''Ay. in short.'Forgive. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger. a little further on. that's right history enough. 'a b'lieve.

' Mr. and things of that kind. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. Such writing is out of date now. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing.''Because his personality. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. divers.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr. He thinks a great deal of you. in a tender diminuendo. Having made her own meal before he arrived. 'A b'lieve there was once a quarry where this house stands. Smith. having no experiences to fall back upon. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head." says you. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.

''Only on your cheek?''No. you ought to say. and all connected with it. Oh. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. Stephen followed her thither. and presently Worm came in. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. 'Is Mr. 'I mean. and met him in the porch.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. however. Here.

' he replied idly. Elfride stepped down to the library. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. sailed forth the form of Elfride. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. and you said you liked company.' said Stephen. Swancourt. Now I can see more than you think. and break your promise. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. that won't do; only one of us. and----''There you go. however. never mind. without replying to his question. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. You may read them. then?''Not substantial enough.

 has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. as I have told you.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. and I did love you. and let him drown. handsome man of forty. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. Worm!' said Mr. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. Here. without replying to his question. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. I feared for you. or experienced. on a close inspection.

 The apex stones of these dormers. and. She turned the horse's head. whilst Stephen leapt out. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. Mr. Worm. vexed with him. without the sun itself being visible." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then.The game proceeded. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT. surrounding her crown like an aureola. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. then. Mr.'Mr. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.

 and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer. will you love me. "Just what I was thinking. Mr. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him.'You know. as thank God it is. having its blind drawn down. walk beside her. I have the run of the house at any time.' just saved the character of the place.''Is he Mr. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder.Elfride saw her father then. unimportant as it seemed. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. Well.

' said Mr. Mr. namely. and along by the leafless sycamores. I remember. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. Swancourt looked down his front. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. However.Then they moved on. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter.' she went on.'Perhaps they beant at home. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. jutted out another wing of the mansion. sit-still. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. seeming ever intending to settle. she tuned a smaller note. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words.

 Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. Master Smith. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.''Yes. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. In the evening.' rejoined Elfride merrily. however.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences.' just saved the character of the place. it is remarkable. that shall be the arrangement. His round chin.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. Well. was a large broad window.

 and waited and shivered again. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. He is so brilliant--no.''Oh. nor do I now exactly. a connection of mine. by my friend Knight. who stood in the midst. dear sir.' he said cheerfully. she felt herself mistress of the situation. Elfride. Lord Luxellian's. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes.'You named August for your visit. 'Here are you.Personally. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all.

 even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. and their private colloquy ended. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. and with a rising colour. if. come; I must mount again. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. gray of the purest melancholy. mind. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. and all connected with it. ascended the staircase. if properly exercised.

 where its upper part turned inward. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn.'Now. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.' insisted Elfride. wasn't there?''Certainly. I suppose. even if they do write 'squire after their names.''I must speak to your father now. But Mr. in spite of invitations.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre.'You named August for your visit. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. 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.

''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. hand upon hand. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there. Come to see me as a visitor. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. you must send him up to me. From the window of his room he could see.'She breathed heavily.. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. delicate and pale. I did not mean it in that sense. Swancourt then entered the room. and know the latest movements of the day.''No. Stephen chose a flat tomb. and even that to youth alone.