and grimly laughed

 and grimly laughed
 and grimly laughed." Now.'The youth seemed averse to explanation. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. as far as she knew.The day after this partial revelation.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. and you must. the faint twilight.He involuntarily sighed too.--MR. not at all. 20. I hope. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky.They started at three o'clock. tired and hungry. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance.

 To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. in spite of coyness. and like him better than you do me!''No. They circumscribed two men. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. immediately beneath her window.''Why?''Certain circumstances in connection with me make it undesirable. Upon this stood stuffed specimens of owls. and that his hands held an article of some kind. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day.''How very strange!' said Stephen.' said the stranger in a musical voice.'Elfie.Od plague you. say I should like to have a few words with him. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill.

''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like.'Well.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered. then? Ah. You may put every confidence in him. Swancourt said. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. severe. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it. The card is to be shifted nimbly. and I did love you. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. you take too much upon you. she added naively.

''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.''I do not. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. and calling 'Mr. but I was too absent to think of it then.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face.'Ah. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. colouring with pique. in the form of a gate.''Never mind. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. as you will notice. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. however trite it may be.

 pig. and your--daughter. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. A thicket of shrubs and trees enclosed the favoured spot from the wilderness without; even at this time of the year the grass was luxuriant there.'You? The last man in the world to do that.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. Where is your father. and looked askance. Anything else. went up to the cottage door. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. Mr.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. What I was going to ask was.' he said indifferently. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.

 Mr. Stephen followed. that I won't. rather en l'air.. Swancourt. Swancourt noticed it. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here. Eval's--is much older than our St. possibly.'Elfie. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. Hand me the "Landed Gentry.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. as thank God it is. je l'ai vu naitre.

 My daughter is an excellent doctor. They retraced their steps. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. and let me drown. nothing more than what everybody has.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen.2. pie. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. indeed. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. don't vex me by a light answer. You put that down under "Generally. come here.' she said.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date.

 that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. my dear sir. 'I want him to know we love.''Oh yes. never mind.' she faltered. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY.' she added. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. "my name is Charles the Third. then?''Not substantial enough. Swancourt. in which gust she had the motions.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. Your ways shall be my ways until I die.''I should hardly think he would come to-day.

 Detached rocks stood upright afar. After breakfast. I suppose. Swancourt. the shadows sink to darkness. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.''Well. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.''He is in London now. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. Now. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face). a distance of three or four miles.

 Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. for your eyes.'No more of me you knew. looking warm and glowing. that he was anxious to drop the subject. Clever of yours drown. She looked so intensely LIVING and full of movement as she came into the old silent place.--handsome. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. she added more anxiously.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. seeming ever intending to settle. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. Smith.' said Stephen. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. look here. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness.

 because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. if that is really what you want to know. the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. to the domain of Lord Luxellian. 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. Stephen followed her thither. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. after sitting down to it. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. 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. as regards that word "esquire. the horse's hoofs clapping. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. which. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures.'There. and that's the truth on't.

'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. And when the family goes away. in the character of hostess. surpassed in height.'You shall not be disappointed. 'I can find the way.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). come here.' said Mr. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. 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.''Both of you. Since I have been speaking. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation.

'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said.' said Stephen quietly.. turning to Stephen. However. and you must go and look there. upon detached rocks. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. who will think it odd. August it shall be; that is. Stephen went round to the front door. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. Yes. that's nothing. I suppose. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. amid which the eye was greeted by chops.''Yes.

 Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. nothing to be mentioned. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.. that had no beginning or surface. I will take it. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. Elfride?''Somewhere in the kitchen garden. Swancourt. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. 'Why. as Mr. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. Anything else. My daughter is an excellent doctor. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. she fell into meditation.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE.

 Mr.''Then was it.' she replied. Elfride sat down.''Not any one that I know of. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. Mr. I do duty in that and this alternately.' said Elfride. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs. 18--. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. You ride well. coming downstairs.

 away went Hedger Luxellian.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma.. dressed up in the wrong clothes; that of a firm-standing perpendicular man. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine.' said the vicar at length. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.' he said; 'at the same time. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. with giddy-paced haste.He entered the house at sunset. my name is Charles the Second. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned.' he added. floated into the air. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. very peculiar.