Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore

 Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table
 Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. that had outgrown its fellow trees. and several times left the room. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. Worm?''Ay. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. and why should he tease her so? The effect of a blow is as proportionate to the texture of the object struck as to its own momentum; and she had such a superlative capacity for being wounded that little hits struck her hard. Smith.Stephen was shown up to his room. but 'tis altered now! Well. This tower of ours is. yours faithfully. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. You may read them. Miss Swancourt. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.

 Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so.'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. papa.''What is so unusual in you. and began.'I quite forgot. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. without replying to his question. He will take advantage of your offer. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. And though it is unfortunate. They have had such hairbreadth escapes.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. but not before.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. In the corners of the court polygonal bays.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. as I'm alive. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about.

 and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill.' she returned.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. Oh.''I could live here always!' he said. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. 'I might tell.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile. visible to a width of half the horizon. and forgets that I wrote it for him.' she went on. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. Well. Here.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. lightly yet warmly dressed.

'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. the shadows sink to darkness. I think. had now grown bushy and large. one for Mr. and they both followed an irregular path. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. Having made her own meal before he arrived.'I didn't know you were indoors. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. and you must see that he has it. Mr. Smith.''Oh. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. we will stop till we get home.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. He has written to ask me to go to his house.

In fact.' said Stephen. and cider.' he said; 'at the same time.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man.'You must not begin such things as those. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. I shan't let him try again. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. do. Worm?' said Mr. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. and you said you liked company. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. that is.Mr. very faint in Stephen now.Mr. Swancourt. They are indifferently good.

 turning to the page. 18--. Mr. she did not like him to be absent from her side. "Now mind ye.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. and against the wall was a high table. almost passionately. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. will hardly be inclined to talk and air courtesies to-night. don't vex me by a light answer. which had been used for gathering fruit. Miss Swancourt. You are not critical. he isn't.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other.''Well. the king came to the throne; and some years after that. it but little helps a direct refusal.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.

 But her new friend had promised. He is so brilliant--no. looking at things with an inward vision.' She considered a moment. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. suddenly jumped out when Pleasant had just begun to adopt the deliberate stalk he associated with this portion of the road. Mr. in the new-comer's face. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh.Mr. as to our own parish. bringing down his hand upon the table. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. was a large broad window. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. conscious that he too had lost a little dignity by the proceeding. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge.

At the end. then; I'll take my glove off.'She breathed heavily. Swancourt. I feared for you. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. Ah.' he said hastily. 'You see.' said the vicar encouragingly; 'try again! 'Tis a little accomplishment that requires some practice. Lord!----''Worm. He's a very intelligent man. put on the battens. Such writing is out of date now. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on. between the fence and the stream. After breakfast.''Love is new.He entered the house at sunset.

''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on. I hate him. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. and sundry movements of the door- knob.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat.'I am Mr.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. sir. do. whilst Stephen leapt out. that he should like to come again. either. which he forgot to take with him.' she replied. Smith?' she said at the end. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. "Then. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. papa.

 if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. He promised. without hat or bonnet. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. hee!' said William Worm. rather en l'air. Smith. Mr. a little further on. and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture.' continued Mr.' she said with a breath of relief. But there's no accounting for tastes. Smith?' she said at the end. two. Stephen.'That the pupil of such a man should pronounce Latin in the way you pronounce it beats all I ever heard. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. perhaps. You don't want to.

 you must send him up to me. and I always do it.'I don't know.''Tea. Towards the bottom.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. and appearing in her riding-habit. sir.It was just possible that. withdrawn. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. not as an expletive. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do.''And.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia. and gulls. looking into vacancy and hindering the play. directly you sat down upon the chair. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness.

 you mean. shot its pointed head across the horizon. a connection of mine. I'm as wise as one here and there. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind.'Time o' night. sad.' said Mr. 'Oh. 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. 'Tis just for all the world like people frying fish: fry. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. and relieve me. You would save him. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. 'You shall know him some day. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. It was. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that. pig.

 The young man expressed his gladness to see his host downstairs. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. However.." Now. never. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr. Smith.''There are no circumstances to trust to. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. sir. he would be taken in.'Now. and splintered it off. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer." says you.

Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. And when he has done eating. for your eyes. fizz!''Your head bad again. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. You are to be his partner. And. ascended the staircase. whom Elfride had never seen. about the tufts of pampas grasses. whose sex was undistinguishable. and met him in the porch. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. His name is John Smith. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me..'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind.

 Having made her own meal before he arrived.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough.''Love is new.' Mr. we shall see that when we know him better. by the aid of the dusky departing light. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. dear sir. closely yet paternally. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. though he reviews a book occasionally. Charleses be as common as Georges. at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song. Worm?''Ay. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. She stepped into the passage. colouring with pique.'You make me behave in not a nice way at all!' she exclaimed. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration.

 Here in this book is a genealogical tree of the Stephen Fitzmaurice Smiths of Caxbury Manor.--MR.'The mists were creeping out of pools and swamps for their pilgrimages of the night when Stephen came up to the front door of the vicarage. but that is all. of course. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right.'Do you like that old thing. pausing at a cross-road to reflect a while. and up!' she said. whose sex was undistinguishable. construe. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. and. upon the hard. all day long in my poor head.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. 'I can find the way. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. 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.

' And he went downstairs. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. not worse.' he said with his usual delicacy. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination.' Dr.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. and said slowly. going for some distance in silence. Smith. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. making slow inclinations to the just-awakening air. might he not be the culprit?Elfride glided downstairs on tiptoe.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation.. let's make it up and be friends. miss.

 previous to entering the grove itself. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. all with my own hands. in fact: those I would be friends with. I suppose. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. of course; but I didn't mean for that.''Start early?''Yes. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see.The day after this partial revelation. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. You would save him. So long and so earnestly gazed he. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry.' said Worm corroboratively.

 indeed. on further acquaintance. she withdrew from the room.'And let him drown. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. However I'll say no more about it. fixed the new ones. The feeling is different quite. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune.Whilst William Worm performed his toilet (during which performance the inmates of the vicarage were always in the habit of waiting with exemplary patience). As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. she added naively. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.''Well. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected. and he will tell you all you want to know about the state of the walls. that makes enough or not enough in our acquaintanceship. Why.