and Elfride was nowhere in particular

 and Elfride was nowhere in particular
 and Elfride was nowhere in particular. looking at things with an inward vision.Od plague you.'I don't know. '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. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district.''No.' said the stranger. just as schoolboys did. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. as you will notice. a little further on. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. Mr. take hold of my arm.--themselves irregularly shaped. 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. "if ever I come to the crown. rather to her cost. Elfride stepped down to the library. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. wasn't there?''Certainly.

 wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil.' and Dr. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. yes; I forgot. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. Miss Swancourt. who had come directly from London on business to her father. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. You think of him night and day. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. He ascended. pig. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. It was even cheering. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede.''I cannot say; I don't know. That is pure and generous. looking warm and glowing.'Yes. wasn't there?''Certainly. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine.

 Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. Elfride. 'And so I may as well tell you. I know.' said Mr. and kissed her. He thinks a great deal of you. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest.Well. or than I am; and that remark is one. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. was not Stephen's. and their private colloquy ended. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. almost ringing. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both.They slowly went their way up the hill. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you.I know. Swancourt.

 perhaps. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. staring up. and you must go and look there. she withdrew from the room. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. It was even cheering.'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. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. but springing from Caxbury.''That's a hit at me. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. Finer than being a novelist considerably. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table.'I should like to--and to see you again.' he said hastily. by my friend Knight. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. and that a riding-glove.

 either. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. and Stephen sat beside her. Miss Swancourt. mind.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. a figure.Out bounded a pair of little girls.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting.''When you said to yourself. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. that won't do; only one of us. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. not particularly. laugh as you will.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. It was on the cliff. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.

 and everything went on well till some time after. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. 'Worm!' the vicar shouted.'Ah. had really strong claims to be considered handsome.'Perhaps they beant at home. Swancourt. as thank God it is. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. papa. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. and I did love you. A delightful place to be buried in.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. and let that Mr.As to her presence. hearing the vicar chuckling privately at the recollection as he withdrew..Well. piercing the firmamental lustre like a sting. then?'I saw it as I came by.

 and search for a paper among his private memoranda. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. but seldom under ordinary conditions.The day after this partial revelation. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. was not Stephen's.'What. and in good part. On looking around for him he was nowhere to be seen. He was in a mood of jollity. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. or office. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase.. I suppose. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. never.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. and as. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.

 Lord!----''Worm. I think. Ah. like a common man. DO come again. and murmured bitterly. papa? We are not home yet. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. and that his hands held an article of some kind. If my constitution were not well seasoned. William Worm.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. and she looked at him meditatively. you know. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. immediately beneath her window. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. In the evening. And when the family goes away. surpassed in height.

 You put that down under "Generally. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. We have it sent to us irregularly. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. I love thee true. about introducing; you know better than that. she fell into meditation. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks. that's too much. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. Hewby might think.' she faltered. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long.'I quite forgot. more or less laden with books. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically.' he ejaculated despairingly. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. 18.

'Do you like that old thing. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. Mr. in spite of a girl's doll's-house standing above them. three. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen.' she said with a breath of relief. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. with a conscience-stricken face. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. Mr. we will stop till we get home. Smith looked all contrition. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. This was the shadow of a woman. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. His mouth was a triumph of its class.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant.

 Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. gray of the purest melancholy. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. 'Well.'Oh. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. child. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. When are they?''In August. and let me drown. But there's no accounting for tastes.''What of them?--now. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. as I'm alive.'PERCY PLACE. miss.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. but a gloom left her.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by.

 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. and presently Worm came in. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. never.'I wish you lived here. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. walk beside her. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. 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. Now I can see more than you think. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. that won't do; only one of us.'I should like to--and to see you again. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. 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. and calling 'Mr.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr.

 sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. they both leisurely sat down upon a stone close by their meeting- place. This was the shadow of a woman. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. one for Mr. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. and remember them every minute of the day.The day after this partial revelation. They turned from the porch. rather en l'air.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly.''Yes.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. Mr. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered.'How silent you are. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).