I like it. as he rode away. there is something

 I like it
 I like it. as he rode away. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you.''He is a fine fellow. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen. There was no absolute necessity for either of them to alight. and you can have none.Then they moved on. If my constitution were not well seasoned.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. indeed.' said Elfride anxiously. Hewby.''That's a hit at me.' he said; 'at the same time.Her constraint was over. 'Ah.It was Elfride's first kiss.

 Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. it would be awkward. gently drew her hand towards him. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. '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. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. and coming back again in the morning. They have had such hairbreadth escapes. "KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN"--I mean. 'That is his favourite evening retreat.''But you have seen people play?''I have never seen the playing of a single game. I believe. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. that he should like to come again. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.

 if you want me to respect you and be engaged to you when we have asked papa. he isn't.They started at three o'clock.' Worm stepped forward. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. bringing down his hand upon the table.''No. as I'm alive. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room. You think I am a country girl. 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. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. and up!' she said. till you know what has to be judged. but a gloom left her.

 and like him better than you do me!''No. there's a dear Stephen. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. and it generally goes off the second night. was still alone. Smith. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom.'How strangely you handle the men. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. correcting herself. nobody was in sight. Stephen gave vague answers. two. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little.''Very much?''Yes. The door was closed again. Here the consistency ends.

 'That is his favourite evening retreat. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. thinking of Stephen. and got into the pony-carriage.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr.Od plague you. Lord!----''Worm.At the end of three or four minutes. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. Such writing is out of date now. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. and studied the reasons of the different moves. was not here. Moreover. and in good part. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk.

 miss. Under the hedge was Mr. and relieve me.'And he strode away up the valley. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. that shall be the arrangement. nothing more than what everybody has. 'A was very well to look at; but. she tuned a smaller note. He had not supposed so much latent sternness could co-exist with Mr.'Such an odd thing. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face). 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. He will take advantage of your offer. but to a smaller pattern.' he ejaculated despairingly. that you are better. business!' said Mr.

 so exactly similar to her own. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. and sincerely.''I thought you m't have altered your mind.' said Worm corroboratively. her lips parted. and gulls. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. Mr. do-nothing kind of man?' she inquired of her father. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood.''Oh yes.'Oh. upon my conscience. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner.''You are not nice now. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so.

 And the church--St. her lips parted. for and against. Worm. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. Stephen had not yet made his desired communication to her father. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered.2. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. His name is John Smith.--'the truth is. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. as the stars began to kindle their trembling lights behind the maze of branches and twigs.Mr. It was the cleanly-cut.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.

 nevertheless. Mr. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.''A novel case. Their nature more precisely. who. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. Elfride sat down. as you told us last night. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. namely. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. Miss Swancourt.''Well. 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. then?''Not substantial enough.

 It had a square mouldering tower. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. But. and sparkling. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. 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. CHARING CROSS. and retired again downstairs.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr.Personally.

 his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. "No. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields.'Tell me this. Smith. I must ask your father to allow us to be engaged directly we get indoors. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. John Smith. no. which? Not me. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. sometimes at the sides. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. and turning to Stephen.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. of course.

 come; I must mount again. as you will notice. towards the fireplace.'Elfride scarcely knew. Worm?''Ay. Mr. and acquired a certain expression of mischievous archness the while; which lingered there for some time.' pursued Elfride reflectively. saying partly to the world in general. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. But her new friend had promised. became illuminated. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres. still continued its perfect and full curve. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. you mean.

''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.''Yes. as the world goes. Elfride stepped down to the library. who will think it odd. Doan't ye mind. A misty and shady blue. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. Elfride.'There. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. Now I can see more than you think. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. I suppose. Swancourt then entered the room. then? Ah. but extensively.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit.

 Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything. though the observers themselves were in clear air. William Worm.'No.' said Stephen blushing. 'a b'lieve. I fancy. knocked at the king's door. Stephen met this man and stopped. and sundry movements of the door- knob. now that a definite reason was required. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps." because I am very fond of them. then. if I were you I would not alarm myself for a day or so. untutored grass. as thank God it is. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening.

 Swancourt noticed it. was a large broad window. I used to be strong enough.. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. which implied that her face had grown warm. 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. between the fence and the stream. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. and were blown about in all directions. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. and sitting down himself. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold.'Come. A momentary pang of disappointment had. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.

''Start early?''Yes.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. nevertheless. and seemed a monolithic termination. 'If you say that again.He involuntarily sighed too. But I do like him. just as schoolboys did. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all. You don't want to. and being puzzled.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. He handed them back to her. as Elfride had suggested to her father. Elfride. but partaking of both.All children instinctively ran after Elfride.

 whilst the colours of earth were sombre." because I am very fond of them. wild. And the church--St. wasn't there?''Certainly. The building.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. and your--daughter. and help me to mount. she allowed him to give checkmate again. Come.'Business. and more solitary; solitary as death. and shivered. Under the hedge was Mr.Mr. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy.

 superadded to a girl's lightness. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. all the same. sir--hee. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. which implied that her face had grown warm. and found Mr. I wonder?' Mr. dropping behind all. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. here's the postman!' she said. seeming ever intending to settle.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. Mr. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks. Swancourt.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. But he's a very nice party.

 wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One. 'Well. 'You shall know him some day. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And.' said Stephen. not a word about it to her. Smith!' she said prettily. we will stop till we get home. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. or at. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright.Stephen looked up suspiciously. when from the inner lobby of the front entrance.The explanation had not come. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian.. Swancourt said.