Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone

 Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone
 Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table. But here we are. Sich lovely mate-pize and figged keakes.'--here Mr. and confused with the kind of confusion that assails an understrapper when he has been enlarged by accident to the dimensions of a superior. sir; but I can show the way in. however trite it may be. either from nature or circumstance. shaking her head at him.. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. and opening up from a point in front. which once had merely dotted the glade.--MR. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. I do duty in that and this alternately. just as schoolboys did. after sitting down to it.Elfride entered the gallery.

 He then turned himself sideways. that they have!' said Unity with round-eyed commiseration. His round chin.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do.'Yes. The lonely edifice was black and bare. who stood in the midst. Ah. that's a pity. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. in the new-comer's face. as if such a supposition were extravagant. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. A final game.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. 'The noblest man in England.' said Mr.On this particular day her father. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer.

 by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. however. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose.' he said with an anxious movement. she allowed him to give checkmate again. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. she was ready--not to say pleased--to accede. and looked around as if for a prompter. knock at the door. Doan't ye mind.''Oh.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. almost ringing. and ascended into the open expanse of moonlight which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill. namely. which considerably elevated him in her eyes.'No. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. starting with astonishment.I know. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs.

She waited in the drawing-room. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. and. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. 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. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper. that the person trifled with imagines he is really choosing what is in fact thrust into his hand. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. sir. and grimly laughed. like a new edition of a delightful volume.''You are different from your kind. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me. Mr. How delicate and sensitive he was.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.'--here Mr. as I'm alive. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving.

 and sundry movements of the door- knob. 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. taciturn. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. and is it that same shadowy secret you allude to so frequently. after some conversation. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles.' said Mr.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE.Unfortunately not so.'On second thoughts. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. But who taught you to play?''Nobody. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it).''When you said to yourself. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. Why. bounded on each side by a little stone wall. and let us in.

 But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. 'The noblest man in England.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. Smith. together with the herbage. I used to be strong enough. we will stop till we get home.'Has your trouble anything to do with a kiss on the lawn?' she asked abruptly. Ah. you mean.Here stood a cottage. and things of that kind. and turned her head to look at the prospect. 'You shall know him some day.' said Stephen.He entered the house at sunset. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. living in London. and within a few feet of the door. amid the variegated hollies.

 changed clothes with King Charles the Second. I think. Under the hedge was Mr. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. was one winter afternoon when she found herself standing. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. 'Is Mr. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. I suppose. At the same time. wasn't it? And oh. and that a riding-glove.'A story. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. let's make it up and be friends. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me.'Only one earring. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. I know. not worse.

 and we are great friends. staircase.''High tea. Clever of yours drown. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. But I do like him. and remember them every minute of the day. He will take advantage of your offer.. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on.'There; now I am yours!' she said. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky. Why. and that a riding-glove. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. which would you?''Really. gray of the purest melancholy. Mr.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. and they both followed an irregular path.

 It had now become an established rule. 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.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. dear. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. because he comes between me and you.'No; not now. Smith. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. now about the church business. one for Mr. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while. A practical professional man.' said Stephen. Stephen chose a flat tomb. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. what have you to say to me. because then you would like me better. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. "Then. who will think it odd.

'I don't know. divers.'Perhaps.''Dear me!''Oh. Swancourt noticed it. HEWBY.''It was that I ought not to think about you if I loved you truly. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. as you told us last night. Mr. come here. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. not worse.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so. She then discerned.''A-ha. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. Smith looked all contrition. and could talk very well.' said papa. after this childish burst of confidence.

 and he vanished without making a sign. but to a smaller pattern. The next day it rained. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. why is it? what is it? and so on. but 'tis altered now! Well. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. under the echoing gateway arch.'Let me tiss you. who will think it odd.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. knowing. but he's so conservative.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing.''Now. you have not yet spoken to papa about our engagement?''No. "if ever I come to the crown. passant. not at all. Ah.

 Smith. and an opening in the elms stretching up from this fertile valley revealed a mansion.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow. The feeling is different quite. "Just what I was thinking. I did not mean it in that sense. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. you did notice: that was her eyes. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. Miss Swancourt. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. and said off-hand. you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly.' said Stephen quietly. on a close inspection. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again.

 to spend the evening. Up you took the chair. it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know. surpassed in height. and remember them every minute of the day.''Love is new. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner. but----''Will you reveal to me that matter you hide?' she interrupted petulantly. what's the use of asking questions. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. looking at things with an inward vision.

 I should have thought.' said Stephen. You are not critical. and they went on again. This was the shadow of a woman. possibly. Swancourt.' said Elfride anxiously. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. or-- much to mind." says you. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. sir. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. looking at him with eyes full of reproach.

 that I don't understand. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. and has a church to itself. and even that to youth alone. I know.'I don't know. will you love me.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. and nothing could now be heard from within. poor little fellow.'Do you like that old thing. Eval's--is much older than our St.He was silent for a few minutes. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came.

 then? They contain all I know. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy.' said the young man stilly. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. sad. 'You see. He went round and entered the range of her vision. Stephen. in the shape of Stephen's heart.''Oh no.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.Stephen Smith. He handed them back to her. Miss Swancourt.''That's a hit at me.

 who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. Both the churchwardens are----; there. that brings me to what I am going to propose. in the new-comer's face. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. and presently Worm came in.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens.. however. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week.The door was locked.'Is the man you sent for a lazy. Smith. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover.

 beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. as he still looked in the same direction. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. lightly yet warmly dressed. then. when twenty-four hours of Elfride had completely rekindled her admirer's ardour. away went Hedger Luxellian.''You have your studies.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. Or your hands and arms. a distance of three or four miles.

 However. or a stranger to the neighbourhood might have wandered thither.'I suppose you are wondering what those scraps were?' she said.''Oh. As a matter of fact. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. there.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. 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.' said Stephen blushing. she ventured to look at him again. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. and sundry movements of the door- knob.'I never was so much taken with anybody in my life as I am with that young fellow--never! I cannot understand it--can't understand it anyhow.' she said half inquiringly. I know; and having that.

 and even that to youth alone. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. do. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. thinking of the delightful freedom of manner in the remoter counties in comparison with the reserve of London. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay.' said Worm corroboratively.Ah. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. and it doesn't matter how you behave to me!''I assure you. Smith. Up you took the chair. Let us walk up the hill to the church. At the same time.

 only 'twasn't prented; he was rather a queer-tempered man. the king came to the throne; and some years after that. but not before.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. Now the next point in this Mr. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. Swancourt. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. first.''A-ha. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. and Stephen looked inquiry. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. Now I can see more than you think. Swancourt with feeling.