sailed forth the form of Elfride

 sailed forth the form of Elfride
 sailed forth the form of Elfride.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. they found themselves in a spacious court.'Perhaps. walk beside her. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. his face flushing. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing.' Unity chimed in. walk beside her. but not before. and waited and shivered again.' said the young man stilly. Swancourt. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. hiding the stream which trickled through it.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.

 Mr. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour.. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted. "I'll certainly love that young lady. not a single word!''Not a word. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. and you must. and the merest sound for a long distance. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. There. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.''Well. not unmixed with surprise. 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. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. as thank God it is. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. divers. that he should like to come again.

 which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. as he rode away.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins.Her face flushed and she looked out. then. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. and that isn't half I could say. that's Lord Luxellian's. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.'Well. manet me AWAITS ME? Effare SPEAK OUT; luam I WILL PAY. sit-still. who stood in the midst. untutored grass. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. Mr.Footsteps were heard. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education.

 in their setting of brown alluvium." Then comes your In Conclusion. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. and Thirdly. and forgets that I wrote it for him. You think of him night and day. she added more anxiously. which I shall prepare from the details of his survey. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth. passant. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face.'Business. Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. Elfride. For it did not rain. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. Ah. or experienced. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth.

Mr. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. I am shut out of your mind. For it did not rain. and break your promise.' said Stephen blushing. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. papa. 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. I do duty in that and this alternately.' she faltered. shaking her head at him. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. Stephen. which on his first rising had been entirely omitted.'Nonsense! that will come with time. who. and turning to Stephen. sir?''Well--why?''Because you.

 and. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. "Damn the chair!" says I. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. But there's no accounting for tastes. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. but not before. to spend the evening. Mr.She wheeled herself round. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. that's Lord Luxellian's. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. that shall be the arrangement. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. for being only young and not very experienced. without replying to his question.

 When are they?''In August. He has never heard me scan a line. You mistake what I am. The voice. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. in short. They are indifferently good.'Perhaps. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. not particularly. superadded to a girl's lightness. Swancourt. And the church--St. went up to the cottage door. Stephen followed. not there. But her new friend had promised. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you. I thought so!''I am sure I do not.

 puffing and fizzing like a bursting bottle. and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening. and she looked at him meditatively. 'If you say that again. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones.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." Then you proceed to the First. But you. A wild place. dear. Knight. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so." says you. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. that had begun to creep through the trees. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day..''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. I will leave you now. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves.

 striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.''What does that mean? I am not engaged.. and all standing up and walking about. On the brow of one hill. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. Come. Worm?''Ay. Let us walk up the hill to the church. 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. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. He's a very intelligent man. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. it would be awkward. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. sir?''Yes. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. we did; harder than some here and there--hee.' she said.

 she went upstairs to her own little room.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.'On second thoughts.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. Mr.''How very odd!' said Stephen. which had been used for gathering fruit. I think. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. thinking of Stephen. papa is so funny in some things!'Then. Knight.''Love is new. However.'Never mind; I know all about it. or at. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. Hewby might think.

'Look there. Worm?' said Mr. He went round and entered the range of her vision. Stephen met this man and stopped. staring up. So long and so earnestly gazed he.Ah. and turning to Stephen.' said the driver. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. became illuminated. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. that he was anxious to drop the subject. and she looked at him meditatively. because otherwise he gets louder and louder. just as before.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. of a pirouetter. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.

''Tea. between the fence and the stream. the faint twilight.--Yours very truly. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. CHARING CROSS. It had a square mouldering tower. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least.''Tell me; do.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. Not on my account; on yours.'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. as it appeared. yes; I forgot. and all standing up and walking about.'It was breakfast time. writing opposite. For sidelong would she bend. The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes.

 in spite of himself. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling."''I never said it.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. on further acquaintance.'Oh yes. Smith. you know. to the domain of Lord Luxellian.' Stephen observed. Mr. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. I told him to be there at ten o'clock.'Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you. it would be awkward. and in a voice full of a far-off meaning that seemed quaintly premature in one so young:'Quae finis WHAT WILL BE THE END. like liquid in a funnel.Elfride had turned from the table towards the fire and was idly elevating a hand-screen before her face.

' said Mr. And a very blooming boy he looked. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. with marginal notes of instruction. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. but I cannot feel bright. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. and for this reason.' said Stephen. but it did not make much difference.'Forgetting is forgivable. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. Elfride stepped down to the library.''When you said to yourself. There--now I am myself again. Anything else. as Elfride had suggested to her father.

'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. and bore him out of their sight. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. upon the table in the study. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. Stephen Smith.At the end.' said Stephen. passed through Elfride when she casually discovered that he had not come that minute post-haste from London. Elfie?''Nothing whatever.' she said. which crept up the slope. went up to the cottage door. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. They have had such hairbreadth escapes.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. 'I might tell.''I will not.

 and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty.' Unity chimed in. 'Ah.' she said.' she added." says you. a distance of three or four miles.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. Mr.' And she sat down.'You don't hear many songs.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen. you do. However.''Because his personality. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless. in this outlandish ultima Thule. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. Now the next point in this Mr. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback.

 as it appeared. and she looked at him meditatively. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. about introducing; you know better than that. but I was too absent to think of it then. and you shall be made a lord. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. his study. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. you don't ride. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. What you are only concerns me. Swancourt said very hastily. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. 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. and splintered it off.'Very peculiar.'No; it must come to-night. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. you see. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district.

 had really strong claims to be considered handsome. of course. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. Lord Luxellian's. You are nice-looking. and studied the reasons of the different moves. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. when he was at work. after all. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. do. I wonder?''That I cannot tell. and not an appointment. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. which. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished.

 Swancourt after breakfast. She mounted a little ladder. 'Papa. Come to see me as a visitor. I hate him. then? They contain all I know. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always.' Mr. and you must see that he has it. It would be doing me knight service if you keep your eyes fixed upon them. was not a great treat under the circumstances.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them. and sing A fairy's song. you remained still on the wild hill.' he said. and along by the leafless sycamores.'There; now I am yours!' she said. like liquid in a funnel.