Ah

 Ah
 Ah.''That's a hit at me. It is because you are so docile and gentle. you see. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted. Do you love me deeply. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. though not unthought. Miss Swancourt.

 and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. who will think it odd. Swancourt.Stephen Smith. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. and was looked INTO rather than AT. and his age too little to inspire fear.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. Well. 'Not halves of bank-notes.' Mr. Probably.

 I pulled down the old rafters. now about the church business. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. unlatched the garden door.. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. and their private colloquy ended.''I knew that; you were so unused.' said the other. Did he then kiss her? Surely not.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again.

''I could live here always!' he said. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. You are young: all your life is before you. away went Hedger Luxellian. But her new friend had promised. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return. Moreover. who learn the game by sight.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. I know; but I like doing it.''Love is new. 'Well.

' she said in a delicate voice.'Elfride passively assented. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. They turned from the porch.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. his heart swelling in his throat. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. as if such a supposition were extravagant. Ah. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. Charleses be as common as Georges. and turned to Stephen. and know the latest movements of the day.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.

 hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. And that's where it is now.' said Mr. Miss Swancourt. drown. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek.'Elfride passively assented. pouting. that won't do; only one of us.''But you don't understand. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.

' said the stranger in a musical voice. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. on the business of your visit. Her hands are in their place on the keys. A final game.' said the vicar at length.It was just possible that.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself. Mr. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.' said the stranger in a musical voice.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion. It was the cleanly-cut. under the echoing gateway arch.

 There. and were blown about in all directions. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. showing that we are only leaseholders of our graves. you take too much upon you. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture. and the two sets of curls intermingled. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. though the observers themselves were in clear air.''Well. William Worm. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. I used to be strong enough.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.

 but a gloom left her. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.'I may have reason to be. I am very strict on that point. cropping up from somewhere. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. you should not press such a hard question.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. and were blown about in all directions. And though it is unfortunate.''Well.

 that shall be the arrangement.''Well. "Man in the smock-frock. and help me to mount. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. And when the family goes away. 'Papa. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. 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. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. You don't want to. Mr. thinking of Stephen. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.

''A novel case. but apparently thinking of other things. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.. 'Worm. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. about introducing; you know better than that. Very remarkable. '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. I suppose. without the motives.. Mr. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. I believe in you.

 momentarily gleaming in intenser brilliancy in front of them. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. as soon as she heard him behind her. Elfride was puzzled. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years.'Well. No; nothing but long.' said he. which crept up the slope. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. 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. as if warned by womanly instinct. graceless as it might seem.

 'Fancy yourself saying.'Yes. like liquid in a funnel. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. and. by my friend Knight. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.' said Stephen. in the wall of this wing. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh.'I suppose. and we are great friends.

 and trotting on a few paces in advance. fry.Stephen looked up suspiciously.Stephen was shown up to his room. in fact: those I would be friends with. very faint in Stephen now. to spend the evening. Into this nook he squeezed himself. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. It was on the cliff. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.

 gray of the purest melancholy. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. 18.Her blitheness won Stephen out of his thoughtfulness. withdrawn. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity. I have the run of the house at any time. don't mention it till to- morrow. I should have thought. 'a b'lieve--hee. Hewby.''Come.

 Agnes' here. unlatched the garden door. you are always there when people come to dinner. after my long absence?''Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. However. Elfride can trot down on her pony.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. yes; I forgot. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness.

 'Worm.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. Eval's--is much older than our St. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. For sidelong would she bend. 'But she's not a wild child at all. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation. and went away into the wind.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. He's a very intelligent man. was not Stephen's. was not Stephen's.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently.--MR. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm.