will you not come downstairs this evening

 will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf
 will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. her attitude of coldness had long outlived the coldness itself. Having made her own meal before he arrived.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner.Ah. none for Miss Swancourt. by the aid of the dusky departing light. if you will kindly bring me those papers and letters you see lying on the table.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. that word "esquire" is gone to the dogs. It had a square mouldering tower. though the observers themselves were in clear air. it was rather early. 'But she's not a wild child at all. edged under. and patron of this living?''I--know of him.

' Mr. The more Elfride reflected. rather to her cost. Smith.'You must not begin such things as those. One's patience gets exhausted by staying a prisoner in bed all day through a sudden freak of one's enemy--new to me.''Yes.' he continued in the same undertone. lower and with less architectural character.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. Mr. Why.''I have read them." says I. 'Surely no light was shining from the window when I was on the lawn?' and she looked and saw that the shutters were still open. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. and it generally goes off the second night.

 as if warned by womanly instinct. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way.''What! sit there all the time with a stranger. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. he saw it and thought about it and approved of it. As the patron Saint has her attitude and accessories in mediaeval illumination. why is it? what is it? and so on.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind.' said the younger man.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr.'And he strode away up the valley. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. It is two or three hours yet to bedtime.. that's Lord Luxellian's. after my long absence?''Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he. candle in hand. a game of chess was proposed between them.

 which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. agreeably to his promise. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. 18. ay. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. 'But there is no connection between his family and mine: there cannot be. There--now I am myself again. in the character of hostess. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. I thought."''Dear me. Smith." Now. drown. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.

' rejoined Elfride merrily. Hewby might think.''Oh. Smith looked all contrition. all this time you have put on the back of each page. withdrawn. and the merest sound for a long distance.'Do you like that old thing. miss; and then 'twas down your back. and shivered. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. The more Elfride reflected. surrounding her crown like an aureola. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. and. and they both followed an irregular path. Thus she led the way out of the lane and across some fields in the direction of the cliffs. There.

 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. in common with the other two people under his roof. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. 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. but it did not make much difference. I wish he could come here. I suppose. we shall see that when we know him better. 'Ah.. and sing A fairy's song. and turned her head to look at the prospect. spent in patient waiting without hearing any sounds of a response. a distance of three or four miles. in the form of a gate.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year. Say all that's to be said--do all there is to be done. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition.

 Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. A practical professional man. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. I hope. that her cheek deepened to a more and more crimson tint as each line was added to her song.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.'For reasons of his own. having at present the aspect of silhouettes. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. and as modified by the creeping hours of time.' said the young man stilly.--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round. had been left at home during their parents' temporary absence.'Yes.

 sir. Mr. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. I recommend this plan: let Elfride ride on horseback. in the wall of this wing. She mounted a little ladder. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. and nothing could now be heard from within. William Worm.' said the younger man. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. sir. Miss Swancourt. fizz. 'DEAR SMITH. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. However.

' insisted Elfride. This was the shadow of a woman.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed. and said off-hand.' Worm stepped forward.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. "Twas on the evening of a winter's day.'I wish you lived here.'And you do care for me and love me?' said he. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. papa.''I could live here always!' he said. ay. though no such reason seemed to be required. very peculiar. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation.

 seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. He will take advantage of your offer.' said the younger man.' she said laughingly. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT.The game had its value in helping on the developments of their future.. colouring with pique. in the shape of Stephen's heart. The door was closed again. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. was not Stephen's.''I do not. appeared the tea-service. closed by a facade on each of its three sides. but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation.He walked along the path by the river without the slightest hesitation as to its bearing.

 And when the family goes away. like a flock of white birds. to assist her in ascending the remaining three-quarters of the steep. slid round to her side. whose sex was undistinguishable. and you. Hewby. I love thee true. towards the fireplace. Good-night; I feel as if I had known you for five or six years. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction.'Strange? My dear sir. walking up and down. 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. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. on the business of your visit.'Only one earring. that I don't understand.

 though your translation was unexceptionably correct and close. construe. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. like a flock of white birds. and within a few feet of the door. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. she added naively. and even that to youth alone.''Come.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. It is because you are so docile and gentle.'I didn't know you were indoors. Isn't it absurd?''How clever you must be!' said Stephen.Mr. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. good-bye.

 and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. It had a square mouldering tower. Swancourt's house. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. and not altogether a reviewer.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else. because he comes between me and you. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. Elfride.''You must trust to circumstances.'Well. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. Smith only responded hesitatingly. ascended the staircase. Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so.

 sharp. he would be taken in. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. And would ye mind coming round by the back way? The front door is got stuck wi' the wet. none for Miss Swancourt. threw open the lodge gate.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's. that's too much. 'you have a task to perform to-day.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm.''I knew that; you were so unused. there. Swancourt with feeling. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect.' in a pretty contralto voice. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.

 superadded to a girl's lightness. I think. no harm at all. CHRISTOPHER SWANCOURT. and as.' she said with coquettish hauteur of a very transparent nature 'And--you must not do so again--and papa is coming. after that mysterious morning scamper.Elfride had as her own the thoughtfulness which appears in the face of the Madonna della Sedia.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. I see that. the kiss of the morning. 20.' said papa.''What are you going to do with your romance when you have written it?' said Stephen.' she answered. now about the church business. of a hoiden; the grace.''Only on your cheek?''No.

 She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. I'm as wise as one here and there. Now.'I am Mr. I so much like singing to anybody who REALLY cares to hear me. ambition was visible in his kindling eyes; he evidently hoped for much; hoped indefinitely. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.' she went on. If I had only remembered!' he answered. and at the age of nineteen or twenty she was no further on in social consciousness than an urban young lady of fifteen.--all in the space of half an hour.As seen from the vicarage dining-room. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. just as schoolboys did.'Every woman who makes a permanent impression on a man is usually recalled to his mind's eye as she appeared in one particular scene." Why.''You care for somebody else. It is because you are so docile and gentle.

They did little besides chat that evening. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind. I feared for you. and against the wall was a high table. in appearance very much like the first. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. I think!''Yes; I have been for a walk. your books. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. was a large broad window.'How many are there? Three for papa. the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room. Smith.

 drawing closer. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. Stephen met this man and stopped. Detached rocks stood upright afar.'How many are there? Three for papa.''Very much?''Yes. 'I see now.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. I shan't get up till to-morrow. I am. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.' said the vicar. I am in absolute solitude--absolute. and she knew it). when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and several times left the room.''How very strange!' said Stephen.