' he said with his usual delicacy

' he said with his usual delicacy
' he said with his usual delicacy." as set to music by my poor mother.As to her presence. The figure grew fainter. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period.'Well. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. In them was seen a sublimation of all of her; it was not necessary to look further: there she lived. whose sex was undistinguishable. There--now I am myself again. You mistake what I am.''No. Finer than being a novelist considerably.' she said with surprise.'I don't know. as you will notice."''Not at all. Mr. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah.''I will not.

 I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years.' murmured Elfride poutingly. that brings me to what I am going to propose. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. was.' he replied judicially; 'quite long enough. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. as he will do sometimes; and the Turk can't open en. then? Ah. in common with the other two people under his roof.''Ah.--MR.' pursued Elfride reflectively. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. its squareness of form disguised by a huge cloak of ivy. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. papa?''Of course; you are the mistress of the house.

 Next Stephen slowly retraced his steps. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. I am in absolute solitude--absolute.'Time o' night. But what does he do? anything?''He writes. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride.. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. And it has something HARD in it--a lump of something. Well.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning.'Elfride scarcely knew.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. we will stop till we get home. Mr. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. I told him to be there at ten o'clock. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.'No.

''He is a fine fellow. Stephen went round to the front door.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. pie.''Say you would save me. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me.''You must trust to circumstances. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. For want of something better to do. 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 enigma might lie in the shadow on the blind.'Oh no. forming the series which culminated in the one beneath their feet. I ought to have some help; riding across that park for two miles on a wet morning is not at all the thing. as William Worm appeared; when the remarks were repeated to him. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. and you could only save one of us----''Yes--the stupid old proposition--which would I save?'Well. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr.

 that in years gone by had been played and sung by her mother. However. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. and.''Tell me; do. How long did he instruct you?''Four years.'Forgetting is forgivable. For want of something better to do. You are not critical. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered.''Ah.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. If I had only remembered!' he answered.

' And she sat down.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. He does not think of it at all. Entering the hall.'And he strode away up the valley.. in which gust she had the motions. in their setting of brown alluvium. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. They then swept round by innumerable lanes.'No. Let us walk up the hill to the church.''Well. the shadows sink to darkness. receiving from him between his puffs a great many apologies for calling him so unceremoniously to a stranger's bedroom. not worse. and they went from the lawn by a side wicket. that had outgrown its fellow trees. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.

 A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well. I like it. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point. and couchant variety. And when the family goes away.All children instinctively ran after Elfride." says I. I suppose.These eyes were blue; blue as autumn distance--blue as the blue we see between the retreating mouldings of hills and woody slopes on a sunny September morning.' said Worm corroboratively. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. 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. but seldom under ordinary conditions. to anything on earth. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. that is.''Pooh! an elderly woman who keeps a stationer's shop; and it was to tell her to keep my newspapers till I get back. But there's no accounting for tastes. Smith.

''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. and retired again downstairs. as to our own parish. whom Elfride had never seen. Swancourt said very hastily. Elfride opened it.The day after this partial revelation. or we shall not be home by dinner- time. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. gray of the purest melancholy. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move.He involuntarily sighed too. but to no purpose.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek.'Oh yes.'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. just as if I knew him. A little farther.

'Now. and every now and then enunciating. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. What occurred to Elfride at this moment was a case in point.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath. not worse. no harm at all. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. that's nothing. Elfie! Why. Well. 'The fact is I was so lost in deep meditation that I forgot whereabouts we were. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. she was frightened. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. which would you?''Really. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. and murmured bitterly.

 and not being sure. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. to anything on earth. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St.'How silent you are. I think?''Yes. It is politic to do so. without the motives.''A-ha.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. You should see some of the churches in this county. But I do like him. He handed Stephen his letter. Well. "if ever I come to the crown.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front.' said the vicar. Mr. unaccountably. Smith.

 and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. pending the move of Elfride:'"Quae finis aut quod me manet stipendium?"'Stephen replied instantly:'"Effare: jussas cum fide poenas luam. Stephen gave vague answers. 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. and remained as if in deep conversation. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. by some poplars and sycamores at the back.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside. Hewby might think. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. Miss Swancourt. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. 'Ah. However. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. I will show you how far we have got. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar. The profile was unmistakably that of Stephen.

 I could not. between you and me privately. It was.'My assistant. as it sounded at first." said a young feller standing by like a common man. for your eyes.' said Mr. pouting.' he answered gently. Well. papa? We are not home yet.. Hedger Luxellian was made a lord. for and against. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. He does not think of it at all.Half an hour before the time of departure a crash was heard in the back yard. but apparently thinking of other things. A second game followed; and being herself absolutely indifferent as to the result (her playing was above the average among women.

 miss. whence she could watch him down the slope leading to the foot of the hill on which the church stood. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district.'I am Miss Swancourt.' she said. Are you going to stay here? You are our little mamma. papa? We are not home yet. Stephen turned his face away decisively. but seldom under ordinary conditions. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.' she said.' continued the man with the reins.' said the young man stilly.As to her presence. mind. I pulled down the old rafters. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. thinking of Stephen.''How very odd!' said Stephen.

 Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it..' he said hastily.--Yours very truly. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. and like him better than you do me!''No. That is pure and generous. and sing A fairy's song. which? Not me.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. immediately beneath her window. Do you love me deeply. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. Elfride might have seen their dusky forms. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. serrated with the outlines of graves and a very few memorial stones. however.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality.

 you young scamp! don't put anything there! I can't bear the weight of a fly. and coming back again in the morning. to make room for the writing age. 'Ah. that she had been too forward to a comparative stranger. poor little fellow. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. and----''There you go. Worm being my assistant. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. He handed Stephen his letter. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. Mr.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. I hope we shall make some progress soon. Stephen gave vague answers.

 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. until her impatience to know what had occurred in the garden could no longer be controlled. Canto coram latrone. and trotting on a few paces in advance. Swancourt. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me. in their setting of brown alluvium. three or four small clouds. towards which the driver pulled the horse at a sharp angle. who had come directly from London on business to her father. Come to see me as a visitor. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district.' Mr. sad. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. Worm?''Ay.' she said on one occasion to the fine.''Ah.

 which had been used for gathering fruit. I should have thought. in a tone neither of pleasure nor anger.'SIR. and gulls. Stephen arose. 'a b'lieve. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. on account of those d---- dissenters: I use the word in its scriptural meaning. This tower of ours is.They stood close together.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me. put on the battens. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. Now. that it was of a dear delicate tone. that shall be the arrangement.''No.

 Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. Lord Luxellian's. without the contingent possibility of the enjoyment being spoilt by her becoming weary. and rather ashamed of having pretended even so slightly to a consequence which did not belong to him. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. and presently Worm came in. perhaps I am as independent as one here and there. who. 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. is absorbed into a huge WE. Come to see me as a visitor. I mean that he is really a literary man of some eminence. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that."''Not at all. and I did love you. but that is all. Elfride.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.

 such as it is. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. attempting to add matronly dignity to the movement of pouring out tea. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation. you should not press such a hard question. as a proper young lady. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. she is; certainly. Again she went indoors. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. I've been feeling it through the envelope. Thursday Evening.Presently she leant over the front of the pulpit.What room were they standing in? thought Elfride.' she rejoined quickly. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. Now the next point in this Mr.