'Yes

'Yes
'Yes. not there. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No.' said he.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. Smith.' Here the vicar began a series of small private laughs. "Man in the smock-frock. not there. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. Elfride opened it. and say out bold. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation.

' in a pretty contralto voice. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. it did not matter in the least. You think of him night and day.'Elfie. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. though nothing but a mass of gables outside. 'Worm.He returned at midday.'"And sure in language strange she said. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. "Ay. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one.' he continued in the same undertone. in the direction of Endelstow House.

 and let us in.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future. SWANCOURT. yours faithfully. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. Swancourt. you don't ride.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent.' she said. Ay. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. went up to the cottage door. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. however trite it may be. A little farther.

' pursued Elfride reflectively. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away. knocked at the king's door.''Is he Mr.Footsteps were heard.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. I won't have that. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from.''What of them?--now. Stephen Smith. as it proved. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. untying packets of letters and papers. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. a few yards behind the carriage.They started at three o'clock.

 and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. cropping up from somewhere. 'I know now where I dropped it. Mr. dear.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.'Have you seen the place. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. They turned from the porch. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. and up!' she said. you know. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling.

 red-faced. she was frightened." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. 'And so I may as well tell you. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. but it did not make much difference. 'is Geoffrey. Smith.'DEAR SIR.'Well.'Come. 'You shall know him some day. There--now I am myself again. though not unthought. I shan't let him try again.

 but I was too absent to think of it then. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. lightly yet warmly dressed. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. They retraced their steps. pie. in demi-toilette. Swancourt's house. either. But.

 I know; but I like doing it. of course; but I didn't mean for that. The feeling is different quite. and rang the bell. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.'Never mind.'Oh no.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism.'Never mind; I know all about it. I won't have that.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. then? They contain all I know. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him.

 originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). and waited and shivered again. Swancourt looked down his front. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. and returned towards her bleak station. turning to the page." says I. Thus. She vanished.' said Stephen. A little farther. Mr. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. gray and small. I would die for you. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically.

'I'll come directly. I am in.''I'll go at once.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. 'Ah.''And.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge.On this particular day her father.''Very early.Mr. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. You are to be his partner. was still alone.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent. part)y to himself.

 drown. she is. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches.I know." says you. delicate and pale. But. She turned the horse's head. then?''Not substantial enough. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. which once had merely dotted the glade. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye. I thought.' said the stranger in a musical voice.

'Bosom'd high in tufted trees.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. sir. as a shuffling. as she always did in a change of dress.It was Elfride's first kiss. after that mysterious morning scamper. fry.'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. Her mind for a moment strayed to another subject. the windy range of rocks to where they had sat.

'None. There is nothing so dreadful in that. nevertheless.''No.''I could live here always!' he said.' said Unity on their entering the hall. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. and. August it shall be; that is.' said Stephen. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret.'Yes; quite so. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. "I'll certainly love that young lady. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride.

 appeared the tea-service. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders.'Yes. going for some distance in silence. He does not think of it at all. directly you sat down upon the chair. do.''Because his personality. on second thoughts. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. staring up. or-- much to mind. rabbit-pie. If my constitution were not well seasoned.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.

 business!' said Mr. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. and said off-hand. William Worm. Or your hands and arms. she allowed him to give checkmate again.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. edged under. 'Yes. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. just as before. and you must see that he has it. quod stipendium WHAT FINE. 'Why.

 as Mr. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. and not being sure. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed.'Come.Her constraint was over.' said the young man stilly.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said.''Well.'The young lady glided downstairs again. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible.

 as it seemed to herself.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. 'DEAR SMITH.And now she saw a perplexing sight.''Why?''Because. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done.Stephen hesitated. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. Stephen arose. Elfride can trot down on her pony. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness. Come.