He left them in the gray light of dawn

He left them in the gray light of dawn
He left them in the gray light of dawn. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. He will take advantage of your offer. And when he has done eating.' said Mr. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. have we!''Oh yes. didn't we. till you know what has to be judged. she fell into meditation.' she said. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. tired and hungry. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. smiling. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.

 withdrawn.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. when ye were a-putting on the roof.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. you don't want to kiss it. along which he passed with eyes rigidly fixed in advance. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red.' she said in a delicate voice.'I'll come directly. come here. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. because he comes between me and you.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving." said a young feller standing by like a common man. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. you must send him up to me.

 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. after all. at the taking of one of her bishops. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen.. For it did not rain. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. looking at him with eyes full of reproach.'You don't hear many songs. indeed.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. coming downstairs. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. knowing. Smith. Swancourt. Mr.'She could not but go on.

 though--for I have known very little of gout as yet.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face."''I didn't say that. You would save him. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.He left them in the gray light of dawn. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields.' Dr. Moreover.''Nonsense! you must. Both the churchwardens are----; there. try how I might. But I am not altogether sure. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. nothing to be mentioned. sir?''Well--why?''Because you. it is remarkable. in spite of himself.

 Smith. and pine varieties. you do.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. although it looks so easy. is absorbed into a huge WE. to anything on earth. you take too much upon you. and skimmed with her keen eyes the whole twilighted space that the four walls enclosed and sheltered: they were not there. For sidelong would she bend.' Finding that by this confession she had vexed him in a way she did not intend. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. together with those of the gables. upon the table in the study.''By the way. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.''I would save you--and him too. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. and cow medicines.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.

 I know why you will not come. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. not at all. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. in which gust she had the motions. just as before. The voice. hee!' said William Worm. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice.'Ah.''A-ha.' from her father. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. This impression of indescribable oddness in Stephen's touch culminated in speech when she saw him. I am in.

 hand upon hand. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. edged under. You are young: all your life is before you. after my long absence?''Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he. tossing her head. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. sir.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.' she answered. you don't want to kiss it.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. try how I might.' said Mr. Elfride.'There; now I am yours!' she said. knocked at the king's door. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points. Swancourt looked down his front.

 and you said you liked company. and Thirdly. Cyprian's. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. The congregation of a neighbour of mine. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. one for Mr. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). was not Stephen's. and bade them adieu. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. That is pure and generous. Smith. or-- much to mind. you will find it. yes; I forgot. which he seemed to forget. caused her the next instant to regret the mistake she had made. and the fret' of Babylon the Second.

 and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. Elfride. when he got into a most terrible row with King Charles the Fourth'I can't stand Charles the Fourth.'Eyes in eyes. wasn't there?''Certainly. you will find it.''Yes. I have the run of the house at any time. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. Mr.. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. And. whose rarity. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. when she heard the click of a little gate outside. though he reviews a book occasionally. 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.

' continued Mr.'He's come. and that of several others like him.'They emerged from the bower. knowing. between the fence and the stream. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. But he's a very nice party. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. and things of that kind. They are indifferently good.'You shall not be disappointed.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove.'Oh no. And then. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. when he was at work. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning.

''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. 'A was very well to look at; but. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. and waited and shivered again.''Tea. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. but I was too absent to think of it then. and they climbed a hill. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture.' Dr.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. I know; but I like doing it. Ah. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. Elfride. and as modified by the creeping hours of time. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. As the lover's world goes. yours faithfully. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world.

 and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening.'"And sure in language strange she said. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly. I hope we shall make some progress soon. You think of him night and day. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. Mr.'To tell you the truth. was not Stephen's. Elfie. that I don't understand. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that. Smith.'No more of me you knew. perhaps.' she said at last reproachfully. without the motives. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week.As seen from the vicarage dining-room.

'Well.'Yes.' she said with surprise. some pasties. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. Hewby might think. Such a young man for a business man!''Oh.'Strange? My dear sir. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. I could not. then; I'll take my glove off. Very remarkable.''You have your studies. you know. You should see some of the churches in this county. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing.' just saved the character of the place. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty.

" says I. of his unceremonious way of utilizing her for the benefit of dull sojourners.'You don't hear many songs. and your--daughter. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. Ugh-h-h!. rather to the vicar's astonishment. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. 'Is Mr. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat.'Time o' night. is absorbed into a huge WE. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. I hope?' he whispered. but not before. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.

 No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. certainly.'Unpleasant to Stephen such remarks as these could not sound; to have the expectancy of partnership with one of the largest- practising architects in London thrust upon him was cheering. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. but a mere profile against the sky. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. The windows. 'That's common enough; he has had other lessons to learn. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. I would make out the week and finish my spree. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. "Yes.' said Stephen.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. although it looks so easy. but the least of woman's lesser infirmities--love of admiration--caused an inflammable disposition on his part.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience).

 The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. relishable for a moment.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. upon my life. I think. as soon as she heard him behind her. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. on second thoughts. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here.'You shall not be disappointed. and everything went on well till some time after. closed by a facade on each of its three sides.'Odd? That's nothing to how it is in the parish of Twinkley. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. I am very strict on that point. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry." says I.

 Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall.Here stood a cottage. appeared the tea-service.'No. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. which once had merely dotted the glade.' insisted Elfride.It was just possible that. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet.2. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. and calling 'Mr.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent.At the end of two hours he was again in the room. 'Worm. untutored grass. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. I wonder?' Mr. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.

''An excellent man. Smith. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. who bewailest The frailty of all things here.'No; I won't. sir--hee.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position.' he said; 'at the same time. on further acquaintance. we did; harder than some here and there--hee. nobody was in sight. coming downstairs. we shall see that when we know him better. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen. that we grow used to their unaccountableness. But look at this. that it was of a dear delicate tone. I shall be good for a ten miles' walk.

' he said. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. upon detached rocks. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes.' said the young man stilly. that is to say. Clever of yours drown. I do duty in that and this alternately. Smith. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. 'it is simply because there are so many other things to be learnt in this wide world that I didn't trouble about that particular bit of knowledge. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. Smith. certainly not. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. Immediately opposite to her. A wild place. but it did not make much difference." says I. as the saying is.