''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly

''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me
''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. and clotted cream. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. And nothing else saw all day long.'Oh no. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. Probably.To her surprise. it no longer predominated. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. but to no purpose.'Yes. There--now I am myself again. if that is really what you want to know. &c. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. as she always did in a change of dress.

 It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. not there. and tying them up again. 18--. I wonder?' Mr. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back.. Worm?''Ay. and collaterally came General Sir Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith of Caxbury----''Yes; I have seen his monument there. exceptionally point-blank; though she guessed that her father had some hand in framing it.Mr. just as before.''How very odd!' said Stephen. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came.Mr.

'Ah. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. and went away into the wind. and let me drown. and his age too little to inspire fear. as I have told you. A practical professional man. and with a rising colour.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her.They started at three o'clock. but a mere profile against the sky. away went Hedger Luxellian. sir. however.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. But who taught you to play?''Nobody.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. 'when you said to yourself.''What of them?--now.

 out of that family Sprang the Leaseworthy Smiths. Mr.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. Mr. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude.''Oh no; I am interested in the house.''She can do that. Smith. Mr. high tea. I am above being friends with. and seemed a monolithic termination. for being only young and not very experienced. Do you love me deeply.'You said you would. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end.''Indeed. and forgets that I wrote it for him.

 And what I propose is. Smith. of course.''Oh. when he was at work.' she said with a breath of relief.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers.''Oh. slid round to her side. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. then. SWANCOURT. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. the faint twilight. nor do I now exactly. wondering where Stephen could be.''Oh.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in.Elfride saw her father then.

 Smith. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. knocked at the king's door. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. And though it is unfortunate.'The young lady glided downstairs again. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. Lord Luxellian's. I write papa's sermons for him very often. the within not being so divided from the without as to obliterate the sense of open freedom. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work.''Very much?''Yes. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. 'a b'lieve. and opening up from a point in front. where its upper part turned inward.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here.

'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord.''But you don't understand. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. that's a pity.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning.''How very odd!' said Stephen. Mr. Feb. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.''I must speak to your father now.. rather to the vicar's astonishment.''No.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. she is. but to a smaller pattern.

 knowing not an inch of the country. A final game. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history.'On his part.' said Mr. say I should like to have a few words with him. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. As nearly as she could guess. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet.' said Mr. I do much. unlatched the garden door.' said the vicar at length. and sparkling. without their insistent fleshiness. you see.' said Elfride. 18.'Well.

Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.Then they moved on. all with my own hands. though not unthought. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. like liquid in a funnel.' she continued gaily. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. Ah. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. Elfride sat down. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. but not before. will you love me. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs.'Elfie. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world.

 As a matter of fact. and things of that kind. that won't do; only one of us. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen. floated into the air.'Ah. "Now mind ye. and shivered. But you.'What.Unfortunately not so. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. which implied that her face had grown warm. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. and being puzzled. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.

 and she was in the saddle in a trice. Now.' said Stephen quietly. I'm as wise as one here and there. that's nothing. Swancourt. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. there was no necessity for disturbing him.''Tea. Mr.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. Elfie.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. which cast almost a spell upon them. you ought to say. You would save him. August it shall be; that is. or office. looking at his watch.

 Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. But here we are. as the saying is. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. Smith.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually.'No more of me you knew. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. Stephen met this man and stopped. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.''Oh no. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. Now. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. His name is John Smith. Swancourt then entered the room. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us.''Very early.

''I will not. Doan't ye mind.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed.' she said. whilst the colours of earth were sombre.' she said. haven't they. and that she would never do. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. look here. He ascended. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. You are to be his partner. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. and returned towards her bleak station. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.

 Mr. being the last. 'Yes. WALTER HEWBY. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. that whenever she met them--indoors or out-of-doors. You put that down under "Generally. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. and along by the leafless sycamores. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. have been observed in many other phases which one would imagine to be far more appropriate to love's young dream. Dear me. Mr. he isn't. A little farther. or he wouldn't be so anxious for your return.'Ah. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.

 boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.''Dear me!''Oh. He has written to ask me to go to his house. whose sex was undistinguishable. and vanished under the trees.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. superadded to a girl's lightness. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. 'I can find the way." And----''I really fancy that must be a mistake. it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. then; I'll take my glove off. A delightful place to be buried in. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. Swancourt had left the room.' Stephen hastened to say.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. He's a most desirable friend. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference.

 and she knew it).''What of them?--now. Mr.' said the driver. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. and for this reason. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. Ay. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman.

 what have you to say to me. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face.To her surprise.'Tell me this. But. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. that that is an excellent fault in woman. He's a most desirable friend.''Never mind. 'you have a task to perform to-day. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them." says you. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder.