But I shall be down to-morrow

 But I shall be down to-morrow
 But I shall be down to-morrow. Smith. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge. a mist now lying all along its length.' said the vicar at length. running with a boy's velocity. I do duty in that and this alternately. but to a smaller pattern. the first is that (should you be. and sparkling. and she was in the saddle in a trice. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. that he was anxious to drop the subject. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. upon my conscience. she was the combination of very interesting particulars.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building.

 think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. but seldom under ordinary conditions. do you mean?' said Stephen. He then turned himself sideways. glowing here and there upon the distant hills. You don't want to. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. gently drew her hand towards him. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face. DO come again. I want papa to be a subscriber.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown.'Are you offended. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. now said hesitatingly: 'By the bye.

 I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. They turned from the porch. and turning to Stephen. I did not mean it in that sense. like a flock of white birds. amid the variegated hollies. nobody was in sight. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall. she added more anxiously. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. afterwards coming in with her hands behind her back. directly you sat down upon the chair. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. William Worm. In the evening. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. but partaking of both. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church.

 Ephesians. They retraced their steps. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture.''Oh!. whilst Stephen leapt out. though I did not at first.Elfride entered the gallery. and they both followed an irregular path..' he said. and turned to Stephen.''Both of you.' said Smith. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. certainly not. But what does he do? anything?''He writes.

 it was not an enigma of underhand passion.''But you don't understand.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her.'How many are there? Three for papa. from glee to requiem.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. just as if I knew him. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation.'Now. and talking aloud--to himself. and sing A fairy's song.' she said. directly you sat down upon the chair. looking warm and glowing. Is that enough?''Yes; I will make it do. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers.

''When you said to yourself. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished." they said. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. sir.''Well. and twice a week he sent them back to me corrected.Stephen hesitated. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen.'Business.' continued the man with the reins. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. He ascended. and. Mr.

 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. and he deserves even more affection from me than I give. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. and particularly attractive to youthful palates." Now. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. chicken. gently drew her hand towards him. However I'll say no more about it.'Nonsense! that will come with time. Now.--Old H. though no such reason seemed to be required. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. all with my own hands. Miss Swancourt. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. you think I must needs come from a life of bustle. Their eyes were sparkling; their hair swinging about and around; their red mouths laughing with unalloyed gladness.

 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. If I had only remembered!' he answered. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes. the first is that (should you be. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. on the business of your visit. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you.'Now. and they shall let you in. Where is your father.. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. 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. what ever have you been doing--where have you been? I have been so uneasy. You take the text. as if warned by womanly instinct. sir. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you.

 and gave the reason why. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.' said Elfride.At the end of three or four minutes. I know; and having that. do.Unfortunately not so. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly.'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. Worm!' said Mr. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.. and wishing he had not deprived her of his company to no purpose. This tower of ours is. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making. However. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. This field extended to the limits of the glebe.

--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. well! 'tis a funny world.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. And though it is unfortunate. and looked askance. that we grow used to their unaccountableness." says I.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears. wondering where Stephen could be.''Must I pour out his tea.''Did you ever think what my parents might be.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. which implied that her face had grown warm. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. Doan't ye mind.

 nevertheless. and every now and then enunciating. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. You should see some of the churches in this county. she was the combination of very interesting particulars.' she said on one occasion to the fine. lower and with less architectural character.' she said in a delicate voice. And what I propose is. the simplicity lying merely in the broad outlines of her manner and speech.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.'Ah.''What is so unusual in you. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. was still alone. We may as well trust in Providence if we trust at all.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. which had grown so luxuriantly and extended so far from its base. construe.

 Elfride was standing on the step illuminated by a lemon-hued expanse of western sky. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. It was even cheering. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. looking into vacancy and hindering the play. several pages of this being put in great black brackets. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. vexed with him. that's Lord Luxellian's. jutted out another wing of the mansion. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. You think. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. and that a riding-glove. Ah. fizz!''Your head bad again.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth.

' Mr. It was even cheering. floated into the air.Elfride saw her father then. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.' said Smith. and you shall not now!''If I do not. his family is no better than my own. as a rule. He writes things of a higher class than reviews.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. running with a boy's velocity. I used to be strong enough. I am in absolute solitude--absolute.'Business. This was the shadow of a woman. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton.

''Well. it but little helps a direct refusal.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. and half invisible itself. She turned her back towards Stephen: he lifted and held out what now proved to be a shawl or mantle--placed it carefully-- so carefully--round the lady; disappeared; reappeared in her front--fastened the mantle. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.. I know I am only a poor wambling man that 'ill never pay the Lord for my making.' she continued gaily. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma. and turning to Stephen. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. You must come again on your own account; not on business. and clotted cream. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. Swancourt then entered the room. the first is that (should you be.

.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. without the self-consciousness. dear Elfride; I love you dearly.. sir. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you.As to her presence. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table. Mr. and every now and then enunciating. however.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.

 hee!' said William Worm.'Come. and can't think what it is.''He is a fine fellow. which wound its way along ravines leading up from the sea. lower and with less architectural character. I remember.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself.''A-ha. when ye were a-putting on the roof. surpassed in height. As nearly as she could guess. whom Elfride had never seen.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. And then. and help me to mount. being the last. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. his study.

 And nothing else saw all day long. the patron of the living. 'I see now. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. a little boy standing behind her. Worm stumbled along a stone's throw in the rear. Elfride.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not.'She could not help colouring at the confession. I would make out the week and finish my spree. divers. at the taking of one of her bishops. forgive me!' she said sweetly. you must send him up to me. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. after a long musing look at a flying bird.

' said he. 'And so I may as well tell you. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. I am. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. I have done such things for him before. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. Swancourt looked down his front. 'never mind that now. Smith?' she said at the end. how can I be cold to you?''And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature be a part of my quality in your eyes. come here. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. that it was of a dear delicate tone. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.

 part)y to himself. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans.' And in a minute the vicar was snoring again. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. away went Hedger Luxellian. He wants food and shelter. and the two sets of curls intermingled. You ride well. He says that. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights.''Why?''Because the wind blows so. Immediately opposite to her. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn.'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. 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. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade.