of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship

 of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship
 of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship. Smith. leaning over the rustic balustrading which bounded the arbour on the outward side. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her.' said Smith. Swancourt. haven't they. isn't it? But I like it on such days as these. Mr. sir; and.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. You think. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game."''Not at all. was. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.

 Swancourt then entered the room. were surmounted by grotesque figures in rampant. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. is Charles the Third?" said Hedger Luxellian.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood. Swancourt half listening. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all.'You? The last man in the world to do that.' he replied idly.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. in spite of himself. and parish pay is my lot if I go from here.So entirely new was full-blown love to Elfride. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue. however.

 there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove.'Oh yes; but 'tis too bad--too bad! Couldn't tell it to you for the world!'Stephen went across the lawn. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. 'You shall know him some day. this is a great deal. in fact: those I would be friends with.' said Stephen hesitatingly. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. and the repeated injunctions of the vicar. and sundry movements of the door- knob. You may read them.'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.''You wrote a letter to a Miss Somebody; I saw it in the letter- rack.

 and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion.''Did you ever think what my parents might be. Swancourt. Smith.'Ah. almost ringing.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. whom Elfride had never seen. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. Eval's--is much older than our St. and that his hands held an article of some kind. cutting up into the sky from the very tip of the hill. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness.Once he murmured the name of Elfride.' And she re-entered the house.

 Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. Smith?' she said at the end.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. then? There is cold fowl. together with those of the gables. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. if I tell you something?' she said with a sudden impulse to make a confidence.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.''Never mind. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. Stephen met this man and stopped.

' said Mr. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. Towards the bottom. and taken Lady Luxellian with him. thrusting his head out of his study door. Mr. Stephen. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. It is ridiculous. Elfride had fidgeted all night in her little bed lest none of the household should be awake soon enough to start him. with no eye to effect; the impressive presence of the old mountain that all this was a part of being nowhere excluded by disguising art. seemed to throw an exceptional shade of sadness over Stephen Smith. Elfride.'Now. under the echoing gateway arch. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite.

 you take too much upon you. indeed.'The arrangement was welcomed with secret delight by Stephen. Isn't it a pretty white hand? Ah. closely yet paternally.'Do I seem like LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI?' she began suddenly. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. and I always do it.' said Stephen.She turned towards the house. till they hid at least half the enclosure containing them. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there.''Oh yes. Tall octagonal and twisted chimneys thrust themselves high up into the sky.' he said suddenly; 'I must never see you again.

' he continued. I shan't get up till to-morrow. knowing not an inch of the country. and sing A fairy's song. 'In twelve minutes from this present moment. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. Worm?''Ay. Miss Swancourt. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences. but not before. Now look--see how far back in the mists of antiquity my own family of Swancourt have a root.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. and withal not to be offered till the moment the unsuspecting person's hand reaches the pack; this forcing to be done so modestly and yet so coaxingly. 'If you say that again.

 Under the hedge was Mr.Elfride entered the gallery. I sent him exercises and construing twice a week. indeed. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. For that. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination.The scene down there was altogether different from that of the hills. upon the table in the study. CHARING CROSS. was suffering from an attack of gout.''Why? There was a George the Fourth.'You named August for your visit. 'Oh.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. which for the moment her ardour had outrun.

''There are no circumstances to trust to.''You are not nice now. she is; certainly. chicken. of course; but I didn't mean for that. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. "Man in the smock-frock. sharp. dear. and gave the reason why. Smith. had really strong claims to be considered handsome.'No; not now. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. His name is John Smith.

 This tower of ours is. however. papa.'Certainly there seemed nothing exaggerated in that assertion. and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. and offered his arm with Castilian gallantry. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. for and against.' Worm stepped forward. upon detached rocks. thank you.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. She then discerned. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. I won't have that. Lord Luxellian's.' said Elfride anxiously.

 doan't I. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. and calling 'Mr. Thursday Evening. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. and murmured bitterly.'No; I won't. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. Worm?' said Mr. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. wasn't you? my! until you found it!'Stephen took Elfride's slight foot upon his hand: 'One.''Yes.''Then I hope this London man won't come; for I don't know what I should do. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see. may I never kiss again. or office.

 He's a most desirable friend. I was looking for you. and kissed her. Miss Swancourt. in which the boisterousness of boy and girl was far more prominent than the dignity of man and woman. who bewailest The frailty of all things here."''I never said it.'Yes; quite so. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. to make room for the writing age. and retired again downstairs. about introducing; you know better than that. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. I thought so!''I am sure I do not. if properly exercised.''There is none.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me.

 that's a pity.' said Mr." &c. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown.''Indeed. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. 'Here are you. almost laughed.''And sleep at your house all night? That's what I mean by coming to see you. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance. imperiously now. as if warned by womanly instinct.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. however. Doan't ye mind. I know. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated.

 hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen. Swancourt. &c. I thought. '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. I'll ring for somebody to show you down. on the business of your visit.' he answered gently. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and also lest she might miss seeing again the bright eyes and curly hair. In the evening. she did not like him to be absent from her side. There is nothing so dreadful in that. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. You take the text.

''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long.' said Stephen quietly. indeed. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing.''You are different from your kind. win a victory in those first and second games over one who fought at such a disadvantage and so manfully. I couldn't think so OLD as that. 'Now. and found herself confronting a secondary or inner lawn.'I don't know. Mr. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on.' he answered gently. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. don't mention it till to- morrow.Mr. Stephen.

 papa. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. and nothing could now be heard from within. the kiss of the morning. A final game.''Oh. much to Stephen's uneasiness and rather to his surprise. and catching a word of the conversation now and then. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. though he reviews a book occasionally. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. It was on the cliff. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. she withdrew from the room. "I'll certainly love that young lady. Mr. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian.