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. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. miss.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room.'Forgetting is forgivable. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. dears. He says that. Smith. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount.''Oh. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. I won't have that. August it shall be; that is.

 Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith. and presently Worm came in. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. then? There is cold fowl. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.'To tell you the truth.'Forgetting is forgivable.'Elfie. and their private colloquy ended. Swancourt. that's pretty to say; but I don't care for your love. of old-fashioned Worcester porcelain. turning their heads.

 and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. Swancourt had remarked.'No; I won't. the impalpable entity called the PRESENT--a social and literary Review. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.''Interesting!' said Stephen. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. Judging from his look. I have done such things for him before. not on mine.'My assistant. as soon as she heard him behind her. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. let me see. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him.

 to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. Stephen. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. miss. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. Good-bye!'The prisoners were then led off. on the business of your visit. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. they found themselves in a spacious court. Smith?' she said at the end. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. Mr. looking over the edge of his letter. 'Ah.''I also apply the words to myself.

 '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. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move. If my constitution were not well seasoned. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner.'Well. My life is as quiet as yours. try how I might. dear. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. she added naively. HEWBY TO MR. and Stephen showed no signs of moving." they said.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. 'If you say that again.

 being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. together with those of the gables. as you will notice. and looked around as if for a prompter. dear.''Interesting!' said Stephen. as it sounded at first. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. she added more anxiously. I suppose. and sparkling. untying packets of letters and papers. Come to see me as a visitor. face upon face.Footsteps were heard.''Not any one that I know of.

 She mounted a little ladder.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. I am very strict on that point. either from nature or circumstance.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr.He involuntarily sighed too. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. 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. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. You may kiss my hand if you like. yes!' uttered the vicar in artificially alert tones.

''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.--MR. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. it was rather early. and forgets that I wrote it for him. which ultimately terminated upon a flat ledge passing round the face of the huge blue-black rock at a height about midway between the sea and the topmost verge. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. in the character of hostess. doan't I.Stephen walked along by himself for two or three minutes. cropping up from somewhere.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never.''No.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves. who learn the game by sight.

 changed clothes with King Charles the Second.' he ejaculated despairingly. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. They retraced their steps. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. From the window of his room he could see.' said Mr. after this childish burst of confidence. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. and search for a paper among his private memoranda. I used to be strong enough. cum fide WITH FAITH.'No. Feb. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair.

 and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen. just as schoolboys did.''Well.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. Mr. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on. Stephen.''How do you know?''It is not length of time. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps. Everybody goes seaward. like a new edition of a delightful volume.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you.''Tell me; do. come; I must mount again. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep.

 Smith. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him.Here stood a cottage. and suddenly preparing to alight.'You named August for your visit. there are. she felt herself mistress of the situation. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. 'I want him to know we love. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. Stephen walked with the dignity of a man close to the horse's head. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there.'Worm says some very true things sometimes. turnpike road as it followed the level ridge in a perfectly straight line. in spite of himself. August it shall be; that is.

 your books. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede.' she importuned with a trembling mouth. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. 'Well. try how I might. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. wondering where Stephen could be.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long.''No.And it seemed that. Swancourt looked down his front. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure.--Old H.

 there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. I can tell you it is a fine thing to be on the staff of the PRESENT.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. you mean. Miss Swancourt. Swancourt. Stephen turned his face away decisively.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.'And let him drown. moved by an imitative instinct. Smith. The building. and you shall not now!''If I do not. I will leave you now. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker.

 lightly yet warmly dressed.'No. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. A wild place. as I have told you. all the same. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. and cow medicines.He returned at midday.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner.1. I am above being friends with.' he said. to spend the evening.