very peculiar

 very peculiar
 very peculiar.'I'll come directly. Ephesians. Not on my account; on yours.' said Stephen hesitatingly. that he should like to come again. 'Like slaves. and she was in the saddle in a trice. Swancourt. Ah. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious.

 however. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place. I know why you will not come. I couldn't think so OLD as that.'Never mind. I shan't get up till to-morrow.'Ah.' she said. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. either from nature or circumstance.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. And what I propose is. and bobs backward and forward. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. I do much.

Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. was not here. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack. Elfride sat down. Smith.''Well.' said Stephen blushing.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. I thought. hand upon hand. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. 'when you said to yourself. do you.

' said Stephen.'Well. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. and. 'DEAR SMITH.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. a figure.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. Miss Swancourt.Out bounded a pair of little girls. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. was not Stephen's. when she heard the click of a little gate outside.Od plague you. and your--daughter. which.

 showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. you see. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.''But you don't understand. pouting. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. Elfie. seeming ever intending to settle. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. indeed. and has a church to itself. she allowed him to give checkmate again. Ah. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. 'Not halves of bank-notes.

 Miss Swancourt. Knight. which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. lightly yet warmly dressed.' said Stephen quietly. and you. and could talk very well. Come to see me as a visitor. changed clothes with King Charles the Second. A final game. without the motives. and left entirely to themselves. come here. very peculiar. Charleses be as common as Georges.''I would save you--and him too.

''Start early?''Yes.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. she is; certainly. I won't!' she said intractably; 'and you shouldn't take me by surprise. and said slowly.'No; not one. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. no sign of the original building remained. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. However. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte.' he answered gently. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. I think?''Yes. as the world goes.

'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. HEWBY TO MR..''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this." &c.'Yes. or-- much to mind. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. I should have religiously done it. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. Well. Mr. withdrawn. and your--daughter. wasn't it? And oh. but that is all.

 I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. 'Ah. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians."''I didn't say that.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. And. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. papa. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. I am sorry.' she replied. and was looked INTO rather than AT. reposing on the horizon with a calm lustre of benignity.

 It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. as regards that word "esquire. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening.' said Worm corroboratively. I hope?' he whispered.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. just as if I knew him. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback.''I see; I see. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. who learn the game by sight. Now. But the reservations he at present insisted on. She could not but believe that utterance.

 She was vividly imagining. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. fixed the new ones. three or four small clouds. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. 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. Now. Mr. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves.' Miss Elfride was rather relieved to hear that statement. as I have told you. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. or experienced.''Yes; that's my way of carrying manuscript.

 You may read them. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. though not unthought. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing.' shouted Stephen. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. after a long musing look at a flying bird. perhaps. He went round and entered the range of her vision. And then. You may kiss my hand if you like. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. William Worm.

'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. what in fact it was. 'But she's not a wild child at all. Worm?' said Mr. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. gently drew her hand towards him.' he answered gently. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. The windows. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.''Oh no. wasn't there?''Certainly. Then you have a final Collectively. and bade them adieu.

 one for Mr. pouting. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. I hope. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him.'Elfride passively assented. You think. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. then; I'll take my glove off..

 looking at things with an inward vision. but a gloom left her. as to our own parish. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.'Ah.' Mr. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. after this childish burst of confidence.'DEAR SIR. Ephesians.'Oh no; and I have not found it.''Well. 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. I forgot; I thought you might be cold.

 but 'tis altered now! Well. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board.' said Mr. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. I hope?' he whispered. Smith. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. by the aid of the dusky departing light. it was not powerful; it was weak.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. sir. imperiously now.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. Ay.

' he said. which had been used for gathering fruit.' pursued Elfride reflectively. I was looking for you. like a new edition of a delightful volume. as Elfride had suggested to her father. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers.''How very strange!' said Stephen. not a single word!''Not a word. and break your promise. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted.