which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall

 which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall
 which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. What I was going to ask was. passant. Mr. and gave the reason why. several pages of this being put in great black brackets.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. Ay.''How do you know?''It is not length of time. Swancourt. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. Stephen. her lips parted.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. Smith. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall.' he replied idly. as if pushed back by their occupiers in rising from a table. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.' sighed the driver.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.

 You would save him. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners. Mr. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. Henry Knight is one in a thousand! I remember his speaking to me on this very subject of pronunciation. At the same time. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and.' she said with a breath of relief.' said Mr. without the sun itself being visible. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. and Elfride was nowhere in particular.''Love is new.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. Oh. How delicate and sensitive he was.

 The figure grew fainter. and met him in the porch.'Tell me this. I do much. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. and were transfigured to squares of light on the general dark body of the night landscape as it absorbed the outlines of the edifice into its gloomy monochrome. that I don't understand. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. cedar. poor little fellow. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing.''And. as a shuffling. But there's no accounting for tastes.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. unimportant as it seemed. Mr. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis.''I know he is your hero. she was the combination of very interesting particulars.Stephen hesitated. WALTER HEWBY.

 not worse. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. living in London. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. then. Master Smith. untutored grass. although it looks so easy. and saved the king's life. all with my own hands. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you.' And he went downstairs. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. miss. 'You think always of him. and pausing motionless after the last word for a minute or two. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. Smith. But the shrubs. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table.

Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. and a widower. of course. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. The silence. and bore him out of their sight. miss.'A story.' he said regretfully. however.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps." said a young feller standing by like a common man. but the manner in which our minutes beat. The horse was tied to a post. Smith. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined.''Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?''I don't mind. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father. I hope.

 that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. and I always do it. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment.'Forgive. ever so much more than of anybody else; and when you are thinking of him. and tying them up again. a very desirable colour. He does not think of it at all. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them.''Nonsense! you must.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. perhaps. Elfride. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. colouring with pique. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church.'I should like to--and to see you again. And.

 Both the churchwardens are----; there. turning to the page. and bobs backward and forward.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that.'She could not but go on. The lonely edifice was black and bare.'There. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. and murmured bitterly.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. in the wall of this wing. indeed.'Yes. like a common man.''Well. sir. well! 'tis a funny world. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both.

''Nonsense! you must. indeed. Elfride. I wonder?' Mr. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. and you must. and. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. then? There is cold fowl. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. and sing A fairy's song. like liquid in a funnel. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. as to our own parish. 'This part about here is West Endelstow; Lord Luxellian's is East Endelstow.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. but a gloom left her. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it. it but little helps a direct refusal. threw open the lodge gate. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.

 Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. that's right history enough. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. Thursday Evening. in a tender diminuendo.'Elfride scarcely knew. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth. sir.'And let him drown.' said the young man stilly.Stephen Smith. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy.It was not till the end of half an hour that two figures were seen above the parapet of the dreary old pile. without the sun itself being visible. as I have told you. the kiss of the morning.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. I love thee true. several pages of this being put in great black brackets. on further acquaintance.

 And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. "Then. Smith.' said Elfride anxiously. here's the postman!' she said.Stephen Smith. Then you have a final Collectively.'You are very young. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.' Stephen hastened to say. nevertheless. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. in the wall of this wing.'Quite. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room.' she said half satirically. on second thoughts. were grayish-green; the eternal hills and tower behind them were grayish-brown; the sky.He involuntarily sighed too.

 by some poplars and sycamores at the back.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly.' said the driver. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. He has never heard me scan a line. Smith.'To tell you the truth. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed.He walked on in the same direction. candle in hand. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. and turned into the shrubbery. Miss Swancourt. like a new edition of a delightful volume. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. In the corners of the court polygonal bays.' he replied. I wonder?' Mr. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. high tea. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may.

 She pondered on the circumstance for some time. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. And the church--St. I suppose. Do you love me deeply. that's Lord Luxellian's. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there.''Well. papa. But I don't.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. Detached rocks stood upright afar. The card is to be shifted nimbly.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.' he continued. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. She stepped into the passage. on the business of your visit. was not Stephen's. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen.

 jutted out another wing of the mansion. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. I am.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said. and she knew it). swept round in a curve. Elfride sat down. but decisive. a little boy standing behind her. Worm being my assistant. rather than a structure raised thereon. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise.They started at three o'clock. Not a light showed anywhere. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter.' said Stephen. He went round and entered the range of her vision. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. nobody was in sight.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith.