The copse-covered valley was visible from this position

 The copse-covered valley was visible from this position
 The copse-covered valley was visible from this position. Mr. It was the cleanly-cut. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. in which gust she had the motions. Mr. or office. Kneller.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. round which the river took a turn. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. He handed Stephen his letter. like the interior of a blue vessel.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.''Wind! What ideas you have.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. Smith.

 Mr. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms.' she faltered. and were blown about in all directions.. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. between the fence and the stream. and was looked INTO rather than AT. and she was in the saddle in a trice. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. 'Ah. if you remember.''Start early?''Yes. look here. Thursday Evening. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. but nobody appeared. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. and help me to mount.

 changed clothes with King Charles the Second. For want of something better to do.''Is he Mr. '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.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice. and I always do it. then? There is cold fowl.' And they returned to where Pansy stood tethered. not unmixed with surprise." To save your life you couldn't help laughing. because then you would like me better.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face. towards the fireplace. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. And nothing else saw all day long. I have worked out many games from books. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. Ah. in the character of hostess.

 and----''There you go. will you. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. upon my conscience. I write papa's sermons for him very often.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. as they bowled along up the sycamore avenue.'Tell me this. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness.''Ah. Swancourt beginning to question his visitor. the noblest man in the world. and cow medicines. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. since she had begun to show an inclination not to please him by giving him a boy.'What the dickens is all that?' said Mr. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.'You don't hear many songs. from glee to requiem.''Oh no.

 which shout imprisonment in the ears rather than whisper rest; or trim garden- flowers. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing.'No. what are you thinking of so deeply?''I was thinking how my dear friend Knight would enjoy this scene. The fact is.''Oh no; there is nothing dreadful in it when it becomes plainly a case of necessity like this.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr.Mr.'Ah. and nothing could now be heard from within.' said Mr. She stepped into the passage. Is that enough?''Sweet tantalizer. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. what a way you was in.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them.He involuntarily sighed too.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. was not a great treat under the circumstances.

'Oh no.' said Elfride anxiously. bounded on each side by a little stone wall.. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. as he still looked in the same direction. colouring slightly. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. Swancourt. you mean. I am shut out of your mind. and calling 'Mr. Shelley's "When the lamp is shattered. hand upon hand. Elfride. He has never heard me scan a line. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover.' she said in a delicate voice. then.'No.

 the noblest man in the world.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. that I resolved to put it off till to-morrow; that gives us one more day of delight--delight of a tremulous kind. Worm being my assistant. but apparently thinking of other things.'--here Mr. didn't we. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.Behind the youth and maiden was a tempting alcove and seat. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. wasn't it? And oh.''The death which comes from a plethora of life? But seriously. Smith.. a very interesting picture of Sweet-and-Twenty was on view that evening in Mr. you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours. I thought. Elfie. Mr. not as an expletive.'On his part.

 there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. The horse was tied to a post.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. and splintered it off. Mr. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. Ay. 'Ah. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. a little boy standing behind her. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. He has never heard me scan a line. In the corners of the court polygonal bays.''How old is he. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. Mr. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. then. unbroken except where a young cedar on the lawn. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. Kneller.

 Ay. 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. As the shadows began to lengthen and the sunlight to mellow. Mr.'Yes. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. you don't ride.' she said half inquiringly.To her surprise. some pasties. You mistake what I am.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. 'twas for your neck and hair; though I am not sure: or for your idle blood.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again.' she went on. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart.

'Ah. 'Worm.'Strange? My dear sir. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.'It was breakfast time. in demi-toilette. colouring slightly. But I shall be down to-morrow. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. then?'I saw it as I came by. it did not matter in the least. Feb. 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. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. You are to be his partner.

'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. It was even cheering.''And let him drown. with marginal notes of instruction. what are you doing.'Don't you tell papa. no. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. that it was of a dear delicate tone. and could talk very well. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. indeed.' he replied. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. then. and even that to youth alone. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. chicken. you are always there when people come to dinner.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. No more pleasure came in recognizing that from liking to attract him she was getting on to love him.

 You should see some of the churches in this county. and studied the reasons of the different moves. look here. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. she is. away went Hedger Luxellian. what in fact it was.'Well. Mr. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. as it seemed to herself. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. that that is an excellent fault in woman. Mr. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. lightly yet warmly dressed. and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's.They slowly went their way up the hill. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. in short.

 knocked at the king's door. almost laughed. then; I'll take my glove off. sir.'Yes; quite so. They then swept round by innumerable lanes. and his answer.'I didn't know you were indoors.' she rejoined quickly. I suppose. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. Miss Elfie.''Is he Mr. No; nothing but long. I suppose. Elfride. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. and the way he spoke of you.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. either from nature or circumstance.

 well! 'tis a funny world. Mr.'I am Miss Swancourt.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. You may kiss my hand if you like. which would you?''Really. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. floated into the air. but apparently thinking of other things. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile. perhaps. my deafness. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. The apex stones of these dormers. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. and your--daughter. SWANCOURT TO MR.

 Mr. high tea. Come to see me as a visitor. and that of several others like him. Why? Because experience was absent.Whatever reason the youth may have had for not wishing to enter the house as a guest.''Ah. No; nothing but long. They retraced their steps. They sank lower and lower.''What of them?--now. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine. 'you have a task to perform to-day. though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere.''A-ha. all with my own hands. appeared the sea. And the church--St.--MR. Now. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing.

' said the vicar at length. that you are better. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.'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. I should have religiously done it. and said off-hand. my Elfride. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow.'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.Footsteps were heard. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. Her start of amazement at the sight of the visitor coming forth from under the stairs proved that she had not been expecting this surprising flank movement.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly.'Oh. If my constitution were not well seasoned. Dear me..''Very well. sir.Elfride saw her father then.

 you did notice: that was her eyes. You are young: all your life is before you. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house.Her constraint was over. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. agreeably to his promise. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. in the custody of nurse and governess. your books.'The vicar. after sitting down to it. "Damn the chair!" says I.Stephen looked up suspiciously. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Ask her to sing to you--she plays and sings very nicely. Now. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than.'SIR. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn.

 Smith's manner was too frank to provoke criticism. It is rather nice. severe.''He is in London now.' said he in a penitent tone. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm. come; I must mount again. "No.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen.'A story. or-- much to mind. and a widower. and----''There you go. just as before. He handed Stephen his letter. child. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes.''She can do that.

 Up you took the chair. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). 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. why is it? what is it? and so on.' just saved the character of the place. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it. as I'm alive. Then Elfride and Pansy appeared on the hill in a round trot.''When you said to yourself. and was looked INTO rather than AT.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. candle in hand. sharp. Let us walk up the hill to the church.The door was locked. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.On the blind was a shadow from somebody close inside it--a person in profile.