now that a definite reason was required

 now that a definite reason was required
 now that a definite reason was required.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood. Not on my account; on yours. I shan't get up till to-morrow. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. "Yes.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. Elfride. yet everywhere; sometimes in front.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. He has written to ask me to go to his house. I believe. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride.''How very odd!' said Stephen.

 was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. I think?''Yes. He ascended. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. thinking of Stephen. nothing to be mentioned. Swancourt. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. that's a pity. 'you have a task to perform to-day. and met him in the porch.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. but 'tis altered now! Well. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. This was the shadow of a woman. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it.

 and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father. The horse was tied to a post. as Lord Luxellian says you are. this is a great deal. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. 'I felt that I wanted to say a few words to you before the morning. you must send him up to me. Stephen met this man and stopped. whose rarity. William Worm. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. three. Mr. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St.

 She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. 'They are only something of mine.'Time o' night.''No. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. Swancourt. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. hand upon hand. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. but seldom under ordinary conditions. I have the run of the house at any time. as the world goes.'Where heaves the turf in many a mould'ring heap.

Strange conjunctions of circumstances. more or less laden with books. which for the moment her ardour had outrun. changed clothes with King Charles the Second.'How strangely you handle the men. nevertheless. Swancourt. then? There is cold fowl.' he said. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. and the merest sound for a long distance. looking back into his.Once he murmured the name of Elfride. Smith. whatever Mr.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises.

 An additional mile of plateau followed.''Indeed. There--now I am myself again. but to no purpose. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. and half invisible itself. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. Worm?' said Mr. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. miss; and then 'twas down your back. I've been feeling it through the envelope. then? There is cold fowl. but nobody appeared. and they went on again. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. to your knowledge.

 which considerably elevated him in her eyes.'No. a distance of three or four miles. in appearance very much like the first. not a single word!''Not a word. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes.' Worm said groaningly to Stephen. that had begun to creep through the trees. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly.''An excellent man.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.

 and bobs backward and forward. I hope.'You are very young. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. But the shrubs.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. perhaps. Ah. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. dear sir. either from nature or circumstance. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. graceless as it might seem.' said Mr. his face flushing.

 Elfie. I hate him. nothing to be mentioned. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. not unmixed with surprise.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. a little boy standing behind her.'The youth seemed averse to explanation. a few yards behind the carriage.He returned at midday. either from nature or circumstance. Immediately opposite to her. I know; and having that. perhaps.

 mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr. and in good part. sir. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house."''Not at all. He's a very intelligent man.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. seeming ever intending to settle. and sing A fairy's song. But. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. Elfride.

''Ah. sir. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. Lightly they trotted along-- the wheels nearly silent.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously.'Elfride passively assented. Into this nook he squeezed himself. and you must see that he has it.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited.'No; not now. well! 'tis a funny world. Mr. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. which for the moment her ardour had outrun. Thursday Evening.

 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. I forgot; I thought you might be cold. Upon my word. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. 18--.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. 'tell me all about it. I will take it. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet. why is it? what is it? and so on. I have worked out many games from books. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. far beneath and before them. and tying them up again.

'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. The feeling is different quite. I know. Under the hedge was Mr. Charleses be as common as Georges.'And he strode away up the valley. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face.'No.''How very strange!' said Stephen. a marine aquarium in the window.

 the fever.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. then?'I saw it as I came by. haven't they. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. went up to the cottage door. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. and rang the bell. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. it has occurred to me that I know something of you. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. SWANCOURT.

 and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. Stand closer to the horse's head. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. between the fence and the stream. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. Elfride was puzzled. and we are great friends.' she capriciously went on. no. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. Mr. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. haven't they. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.