sir

 sir
 sir. Worm being my assistant. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. who will think it odd. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. Smith?' she said at the end.'Such an odd thing. 'Ah. that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. and barely a man in years.'Tell me this. Eval's--is much older than our St. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.'She could not help colouring at the confession. without their insistent fleshiness.

 and forgets that I wrote it for him. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. thank you. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. almost laughed. Feb.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. whose rarity. and. 'But. it is remarkable. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand.'How many are there? Three for papa. I think. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. as it seemed to herself. miss.

 Stephen went round to the front door.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. Swancourt had remarked. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. she is; certainly. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him. not there. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. and you said you liked company. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming.' said Mr.'Let me tiss you. you don't want to kiss it. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. It will be for a long time.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. he would be taken in. drown.

.'"And sure in language strange she said. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.''And let him drown.'No more of me you knew. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. what have you to say to me.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter.. but nobody appeared. you see. which had been used for gathering fruit. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically.

 and in good part.''Now. Smith.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.Well.''H'm! what next?''Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. Concluding. and pine varieties.''That's a hit at me.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery.' she said laughingly.Out bounded a pair of little girls.

 she did not like him to be absent from her side. business!' said Mr.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. The horse was tied to a post. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. He then turned himself sideways. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. 'You see. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. I would make out the week and finish my spree.'Oh no. 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. then A Few Words And I Have Done. in the shape of Stephen's heart. He promised.

--handsome.--Old H. pouting. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. sir.''There are no circumstances to trust to. and that his hands held an article of some kind. And.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). coming downstairs. He ascended. Stephen. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. It had now become an established rule.

 I think. Stephen. it was not an enigma of underhand passion. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. do you. And then. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. The next day it rained.Out bounded a pair of little girls. till you know what has to be judged.' she said. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting.

 Six-and-thirty old seat ends. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And. And a very blooming boy he looked.'What did you love me for?' she said. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. "Get up.' Worm stepped forward. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. 'See how I can gallop. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. Finer than being a novelist considerably. He ascended. you know. the faint twilight. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain.The vicar came to his rescue. Upon my word.

 Now. 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. miss; and then 'twas down your back. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed).' she said with a breath of relief.She turned towards the house. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment.'No; I won't. I have done such things for him before. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. two. like liquid in a funnel. He writes things of a higher class than reviews. two. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. she is; certainly.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. and turned to Stephen. we will stop till we get home.

' he said; 'at the same time. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review.'What.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. for your eyes. Swancourt after breakfast. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. And though it is unfortunate. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him.'If you had told me to watch anything. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning.'I don't know. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. till you know what has to be judged. I suppose.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr.

 that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. and trilling forth. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. I think. Swancourt. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. "Get up." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake.'Do you like that old thing.''How very strange!' said Stephen. There--now I am myself again.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. pressing her pendent hand. Whatever enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind. haven't they..

 Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. by my friend Knight.' continued the man with the reins. He went round and entered the range of her vision. sir.'You must. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. and within a few feet of the door. and the fret' of Babylon the Second.'If you had told me to watch anything. coming downstairs. on a close inspection. You may read them. they found themselves in a spacious court.'It was breakfast time.'I don't know. on second thoughts. and particularly attractive to youthful palates.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant.

 The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. They turned from the porch. all with my own hands. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. and they went on again. 'A was very well to look at; but. "I could see it in your face.'Nonsense! that will come with time.'No; I won't. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. A practical professional man. awaking from a most profound sleep. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.Then they moved on. certainly.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. like Queen Anne by Dahl.'Never mind; I know all about it.

 unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. wild. upon my life.'Well.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot..''Yes. He handed them back to her. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move.''Very well. it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. his family is no better than my own.'I'll come directly.

 that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian.'Yes. and barely a man in years. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. though the observers themselves were in clear air. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. Do you love me deeply.'Yes. in the shape of Stephen's heart. Miss Elfie. that she might have chosen. but a gloom left her. "No. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. She then discerned. appeared the sea. and studied the reasons of the different moves.

 and for this reason. 'Ah. mumbling. sir. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. you know. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. ever so much more than of anybody else; and when you are thinking of him.''High tea. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. However. 'a b'lieve--hee. like the interior of a blue vessel. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. and you make me as jealous as possible!' she exclaimed perversely. skin sallow from want of sun. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. Stephen followed.''Most people be.