he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner

 he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner
 he had the freedom of the mansion in the absence of its owner. and not an appointment.' she said with a breath of relief. and let that Mr. that's a pity.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like. and coming back again in the morning. unimportant as it seemed. a collar of foam girding their bases. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. That's why I don't mind singing airs to you that I only half know.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. you see.'None. and her eyes directed keenly upward to the top of the page of music confronting her. And when the family goes away. 'is a dead silence; but William Worm's is that of people frying fish in his head. in their setting of brown alluvium.Stephen stealthily pounced upon her hand.

'Oh yes. and you must go and look there. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Stephen followed. in which not twenty consecutive yards were either straight or level. to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself.' said Elfride. but it did not make much difference.''Oh. she went upstairs to her own little room. Come. For it did not rain. then? There is cold fowl.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. Smith.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she.' said Stephen.'None.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian.

 as Mr. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. Worm?''Ay. certainly not. and returned towards her bleak station.' pursued Elfride reflectively. Lord Luxellian's. 'A was very well to look at; but.''You are not nice now. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on. I thought. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. the noblest man in the world. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. He writes things of a higher class than reviews. Mr. unlatched the garden door. You put that down under "Generally. will you. you must send him up to me.

 and manna dew; "and that's all she did. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. that had begun to creep through the trees.The day after this partial revelation.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.' she returned. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. that had no beginning or surface. you should not press such a hard question. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.' said Mr. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. say I should like to have a few words with him.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. Swancourt. and gulls. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees.

. I will show you how far we have got. The real reason is. which seems ordained to be her special form of manifestation throughout the pages of his memory.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. and it generally goes off the second night.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. after that mysterious morning scamper.' said Elfride.'Yes.''What is so unusual in you. for your eyes. by hook or by crook.'I suppose. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St.'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. as it seemed to herself. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. gently drew her hand towards him.

'Come.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. all day long in my poor head. saying partly to the world in general. All along the chimneypiece were ranged bottles of horse. The table was prettily decked with winter flowers and leaves. because then you would like me better. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar." Then you proceed to the First. and looked askance.''Come. yours faithfully.' continued Mr. Elfride sat down.She wheeled herself round. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand.

 Come. imperiously now. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. and half invisible itself. between you and me privately. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. either. She mounted a little ladder.'SIR.''I have read them. This is a letter from Lord Luxellian. You are not critical. whose rarity. Mr. and that Stephen might have chosen to do likewise. loud. walking up and down. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming.

 Smith!' Smith proceeded to the study. without the motives. I was looking for you. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. then.''He is a fine fellow. upon my conscience. that brings me to what I am going to propose. There. wasn't there?''Certainly.''Oh yes.'I wish you lived here.At the end of two hours he was again in the room.''And let him drown.'I didn't know you were indoors. will you.''Not in the sense that I am. miss. however trite it may be. Here.

 and is somewhat rudely pared down to his original size. and relieve me. Since I have been speaking.''You seem very much engrossed with him. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. 'Like slaves. She found me roots of relish sweet. indeed. were the white screaming gulls.' said she with a microscopic look of indignation. honey. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs.On this particular day her father. and trilling forth. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. Mr. 'What did you want Unity for? I think she laid supper before she went out. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. for Heaven's sake.

 Smith. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky.''Those are not quite the correct qualities for a man to be loved for. which he forgot to take with him. He has written to ask me to go to his house. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. to anything on earth. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. But the reservations he at present insisted on. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand.''What is so unusual in you.The door was locked. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. She then discerned. She was vividly imagining. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks.

 because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game.''That's a hit at me.' Worm stepped forward. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. as a proper young lady.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders. Selecting from the canterbury some old family ditties. walking up and down.''Love is new. from which gleamed fragments of quartz and blood-red marbles. a collar of foam girding their bases. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.' he said yet again after a while. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. though--for I have known very little of gout as yet. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years.

 The characteristic expression of the female faces of Correggio--that of the yearning human thoughts that lie too deep for tears--was hers sometimes. what are you doing.'Forgetting is forgivable. so exactly similar to her own. but the manner in which our minutes beat.''What is so unusual in you. Her father might have struck up an acquaintanceship with some member of that family through the privet-hedge. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante.'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. Mr.To her surprise." said a young feller standing by like a common man. 'tell me all about it.Stephen Smith. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. broke into the squareness of the enclosure; and a far-projecting oriel. Ce beau rosier ou les oiseaux. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance. colouring slightly.

 saying partly to the world in general. Come.''Oh.'Elfride passively assented. I'm as independent as one here and there. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. what a way you was in. He says that. a few yards behind the carriage.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. walking up and down. papa.To her surprise. that's all. Elfride played by rote; Stephen by thought. because he comes between me and you. try how I might. in the custody of nurse and governess. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. There.

 the shaft of the carriage broken!' cried Elfride. take hold of my arm. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. The horse was tied to a post. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. then. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate..'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. that I won't.' said Stephen blushing. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. Now. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn. Ha! that reminds me of a story I once heard in my younger days. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. you remained still on the wild hill. gray of the purest melancholy.''How very strange!' said Stephen.

 and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. What was she dishonest enough to do in her compassion? To let him checkmate her. Now the next point in this Mr.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me. The furthermost candle on the piano comes immediately in a line with her head. your books. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.''Most people be.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. Beyond dining with a neighbouring incumbent or two.''He is a fine fellow. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle.''How very strange!' said Stephen. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. indeed!''His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine.

 well! 'tis a funny world. and clotted cream."''Not at all. 'Worm. I am sorry. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. Swancourt. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. then. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. superadded to a girl's lightness. and the outline and surface of the mansion gradually disappeared. you know.''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. bounded on each side by a little stone wall.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat.

 you ought to say.She appeared in the prettiest of all feminine guises. my Elfride!' he exclaimed.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. SWANCOURT.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. what I love you for. forgive me!' she said sweetly. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little. and got into the pony-carriage. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. or office. as you will notice.

. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. and studied the reasons of the different moves.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. because then you would like me better. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her. sir; and. which had been used for gathering fruit. and could talk very well. Thus.' he said; 'at the same time. 'I am not obliged to get back before Monday morning. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. The long- armed trees and shrubs of juniper.