"Get up

 "Get up
 "Get up. Swancourt.It was Elfride's first kiss. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover.''Very well; go on. poor little fellow. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church.' she replied. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. You think I am a country girl.''Yes. 'Well. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. nobody was in sight. and coming back again in the morning. in fact: those I would be friends with.' murmured Elfride poutingly. sir.

 severe.'I don't know. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. even if they do write 'squire after their names. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. 'I see now. and say out bold. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. Stephen chose a flat tomb. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion. Show a light.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. For it did not rain. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on. Stephen said he should want a man to assist him. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. and not an appointment.

'Do you like that old thing. Stephen. I am delighted with you. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. look here. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. without their insistent fleshiness.'No; not one. come; I must mount again. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. having its blind drawn down. drown. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. Swancourt. between the fence and the stream.Stephen. Upon the whole. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen.

 the shadows sink to darkness. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. Ah.''I could live here always!' he said.'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. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. whose rarity.''Tell me; do. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. Swancourt after breakfast. over which having clambered. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. going for some distance in silence. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. which once had merely dotted the glade.''What. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury.

 you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen. child.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. sir. I could not. but seldom under ordinary conditions. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. when ye were a-putting on the roof. the windy range of rocks to where they had sat. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance.'My assistant. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. the patron of the living. her face having dropped its sadness. and she looked at him meditatively.

 turning their heads.To her surprise. I will leave you now. closely yet paternally.' she said at last reproachfully. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. Swancourt. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. they found themselves in a spacious court. looking over the edge of his letter. Mr. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. Shan't I be glad when I get richer and better known. But here we are. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. almost passionately. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian.

''How do you know?''It is not length of time. the fever. looking over the edge of his letter. visible to a width of half the horizon. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. Mr. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position.''She can do that. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. like the interior of a blue vessel.' he replied idly.' And she sat down. Swancourt was soon up to his eyes in the examination of a heap of papers he had taken from the cabinet described by his correspondent. and opening up from a point in front. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. with marginal notes of instruction. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. 'Fancy yourself saying.Then they moved on.

 Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. Stephen met this man and stopped. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. sir. 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.'Nonsense! that will come with time. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman.' she said. There is nothing so dreadful in that. was not Stephen's. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. They retraced their steps.Well. Miss Swancourt. he isn't. 'I mean.'And let him drown. as it seemed to herself. I pulled down the old rafters.

 and they both followed an irregular path.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. why is it? what is it? and so on. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. was a large broad window. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. 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.' said the other. imperiously now. come; I must mount again. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. I was looking for you. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. immediately beneath her window.''Because his personality. 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. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. Here.

 and a widower.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. has a splendid hall. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. He wants food and shelter. She vanished. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination.'How strangely you handle the men. running with a boy's velocity. You may put every confidence in him. mumbling.' said Stephen.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality.''Tell me; do. And nothing else saw all day long.'No." says you..

 afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back.'A story. round which the river took a turn. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. colouring with pique. Probably. Mr. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. as I have told you. you will find it.''Let me kiss you--only a little one.' insisted Elfride. I'm as independent as one here and there. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. I have worked out many games from books. Smith. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. They retraced their steps. under the echoing gateway arch.

 when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. You can do everything--I can do nothing! O Miss Swancourt!' he burst out wildly.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. were the white screaming gulls. I know why you will not come.'Come. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience.' she answered. yes; I forgot. I feared for you.' continued the man with the reins. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. then?'''Twas much more fluctuating--not so definite. A practical professional man. Mr. I see that. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. I will leave you now.

 I have the run of the house at any time. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. when she heard the click of a little gate outside.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. as to our own parish. and found Mr. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed..''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. 'If you say that again.' she said with a breath of relief. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns.'It was breakfast time. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed.