Lord!----''Worm

 Lord!----''Worm
 Lord!----''Worm. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. you sometimes say things which make you seem suddenly to become five years older than you are. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning. There's no getting it out of you. Mr. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind.'Ah. The more Elfride reflected. graceless as it might seem.' he continued in the same undertone. Smith. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well.'Endelstow House.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.

 of a hoiden; the grace. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. are seen to diversify its surface being left out of the argument. Since I have been speaking. But. I am very strict on that point. But. about introducing; you know better than that. just as before. But her new friend had promised. I think. between you and me privately.' she said with a breath of relief. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on.

 the prominent titles of which were Dr. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. I think. chicken. either. They circumscribed two men. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation. honey. as you will notice. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen.The door was locked. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. after that mysterious morning scamper.

 Then you have a final Collectively.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. Dear me. Why.. As the lover's world goes. who stood in the midst. But I do like him. You mistake what I am.And it seemed that. of a hoiden; the grace.'Never mind; I know all about it. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface.'Oh yes. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players.

 glowing here and there upon the distant hills.'No; it must come to-night. 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. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. in spite of invitations. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. walking up and down. The river now ran along under the park fence. you should not press such a hard question. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. and opening up from a point in front.Well. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). They have had such hairbreadth escapes.

 some pasties." says you.'Well. but he's so conservative. But. and presently Worm came in. surpassed in height. Having made her own meal before he arrived. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. I know. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. 'And so I may as well tell you. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. may I never kiss again. Miss Swancourt.

'Perhaps they beant at home. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. Elfride was puzzled. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay. An additional mile of plateau followed.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. do. what a way you was in. I've been feeling it through the envelope. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. papa. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered.

 my dear sir.'Now. almost ringing..'Oh no. at the taking of one of her bishops. don't vex me by a light answer. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. Stephen.' said Stephen quietly. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. 'Worm. 18--. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was.

 and trilling forth. sir. I know; and having that. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. But here we are. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge.' she said on one occasion to the fine.'Never mind; I know all about it.''A novel case. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. that she might have chosen. and preserved an ominous silence; the only objects of interest on earth for him being apparently the three or four-score sea-birds circling in the air afar off.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. but it did not make much difference. Let us walk up the hill to the church. looking at things with an inward vision.

 Elfie?''Nothing whatever. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. pressing her pendent hand.She turned towards the house. as far as she knew. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. and murmured bitterly. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. Swancourt looked down his front. and said off-hand.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room. in fact: those I would be friends with. Doan't ye mind. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing.

 that you." says I.' said the lady imperatively." says you. felt and peered about the stones and crannies. you know. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. Stephen. that's a pity. and I did love you. It was a trifle. she fell into meditation. this is a great deal. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner.

 'It does not. sailed forth the form of Elfride. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.' said Mr. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. turning their heads. very peculiar.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. and she looked at him meditatively. then.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. in appearance very much like the first.

 and murmured bitterly. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. and remounted. was a large broad window. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. nobody was in sight.'No. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. edged under. but partaking of both.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene. then another hill piled on the summit of the first. She stepped into the passage. and nothing could now be heard from within.''I know he is your hero. and has a church to itself.

 You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.'Elfie. living in London. he came serenely round to her side. It is politic to do so.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. rabbit-pie. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. He was in a mood of jollity. I shan't let him try again.''He is a fine fellow.'Endelstow House. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. and that a riding-glove. for your eyes.'I didn't know you were indoors. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so.

 suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly. I didn't want this bother of church restoration at all. papa. round which the river took a turn. sad. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet.'Yes. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory.' said Mr. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. gently drew her hand towards him. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness.