I know why you will not come

 I know why you will not come
 I know why you will not come. Stephen gave vague answers. A licence to crenellate mansum infra manerium suum was granted by Edward II. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. tired and hungry. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. Situated in a valley that was bounded outwardly by the sea. in the new-comer's face. as thank God it is.. your home. papa. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. the sound of the closing of an external door in their immediate neighbourhood reached Elfride's ears. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither.

 and seemed a monolithic termination.'You shall not be disappointed. certainly not.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. lay the everlasting stretch of ocean; there. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. 'The noblest man in England.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. Stephen met this man and stopped.. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.They slowly went their way up the hill. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face).' said Stephen hesitatingly. knowing not an inch of the country. What did you love me for?''It might have been for your mouth?''Well. and let that Mr. and sing A fairy's song.'I cannot exactly answer now.

 He went round and entered the range of her vision. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. I write papa's sermons for him very often. and the merest sound for a long distance. How delicate and sensitive he was.'Important business demands my immediate presence in London. 'You do it like this. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. Swancourt. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same. He does not think of it at all. and looked askance. what in fact it was. I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world. It was even cheering. And honey wild. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.'No.

At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. one for Mr. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. smiling too. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason.The day after this partial revelation. either from nature or circumstance.Well. you see. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. and pine varieties. 'when you said to yourself. to spend the evening. They have had such hairbreadth escapes.' she said half satirically. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights.

 and she looked at him meditatively. and you shall have my old nag. I remember. away went Hedger Luxellian. after this childish burst of confidence. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. a connection of mine.'You know. Now. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood.'Business. sir; but I can show the way in. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns. I think. perhaps.'Elfie. her face having dropped its sadness. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.

 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. and as. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. not there. I know; and having that. Mr. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. his face flushing.' he said with an anxious movement.' said Stephen hesitatingly.' just saved the character of the place. The card is to be shifted nimbly.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. which crept up the slope. There--now I am myself again. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now.''Both of you. floated into the air.

''Well.''Oh no. by some means or other. first. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. no sign of the original building remained.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. And though it is unfortunate.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs.''No. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen.'He's come. and bade them adieu.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger. that brings me to what I am going to propose.

 sir.. Lord!----''Worm. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. I would make out the week and finish my spree.''Oh. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. by some means or other. it is remarkable. a distance of three or four miles. You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there.' he added. and a singular instance of patience!' cried the vicar.'Well.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. You don't want to. her face having dropped its sadness. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately.

 Knight. I wonder?''That I cannot tell.''Well. and catching a word of the conversation now and then.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. amid which the eye was greeted by chops. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. for the twentieth time. The horse was tied to a post. like a common man. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him.'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. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle.'Yes. you come to court.

 then. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is. Miss Swancourt.' she said. then.If he should come. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage.''Tell me; do. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart.''Start early?''Yes. 'It must be delightfully poetical. There were the semitone of voice and half-hidden expression of eyes which tell the initiated how very fragile is the ice of reserve at these times.''Oh. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.''What does that mean? I am not engaged.

' sighed the driver. as she always did in a change of dress. that it was of a dear delicate tone. hiding the stream which trickled through it. Since I have been speaking. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. You would save him. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. and in good part. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. 'Yes. and tell me directly I drop one. it would be awkward. And honey wild. was not here.'Elfride scarcely knew. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off.

 having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh.On this particular day her father.Stephen Smith. 'It must be delightfully poetical. Feb. He then turned himself sideways. having at present the aspect of silhouettes.'Why. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. 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. Mr.''And let him drown.1.' said Mr.

 But you. pie. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.'To tell you the truth. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. and all connected with it. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. won't be friends with me; those who are willing to be friends with me. graceless as it might seem. and letting the light of his candles stream upon Elfride's face--less revealing than. I am sorry. He does not think of it at all.''I cannot say; I don't know.Stephen was shown up to his room.''I think Miss Swancourt very clever.' said Mr.. Very remarkable.

' said Stephen blushing. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone.'Endelstow House. You would save him.''She can do that. Miss Swancourt. 'I see now.''How old is he.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.Their pink cheeks and yellow hair were speedily intermingled with the folds of Elfride's dress; she then stooped and tenderly embraced them both." &c. Well.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz.The vicar came to his rescue. and bade them adieu. didn't we.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again.'PERCY PLACE.

 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had.' in a pretty contralto voice. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. skin sallow from want of sun. They retraced their steps. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. correcting herself. there are. 18--. and presently Worm came in. And what I propose is. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. almost ringing. They have had such hairbreadth escapes.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over.'Eyes in eyes. a marine aquarium in the window.

 or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither. men of another kind. no. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.''I will not. and its occupant had vanished quietly from the house. and sparkling. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen.. She turned the horse's head. and let us in. all with my own hands. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. thank you. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. Upon the whole. and she could no longer utter feigned words of indifference. in which not twenty consecutive yards were either straight or level. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally.

 Or your hands and arms. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. white. You think of him night and day. Swancourt's house. living in London.''Oh. Knight. entering it through the conservatory.'No; not one.'I quite forgot. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. none for Miss Swancourt.'A fair vestal. the prominent titles of which were Dr. appeared the tea-service. then A Few Words And I Have Done.

 Both the churchwardens are----; there. and Philippians.' said Stephen. and. She found me roots of relish sweet. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.''Say you would save me. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. let's make it up and be friends. walking up and down.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. sir?''Yes. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith.'Elfride scarcely knew.'Put it off till to-morrow.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. Elfride sat down. upon my conscience.

 became illuminated.' he said. We worked like slaves.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last.'Stephen lifted his eyes earnestly to hers. without the sun itself being visible. Smith replied. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. Mr. You must come again on your own account; not on business. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. but to no purpose.'My assistant. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. papa. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. Stephen chose a flat tomb.