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 Ah. fixed the new ones. yours faithfully. now that a definite reason was required.'PERCY PLACE. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer.'You know. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. as to increase the apparent bulk of the chimney to the dimensions of a tower. She turned the horse's head. Her unpractised mind was completely occupied in fathoming its recent acquisition. Swancourt. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees. much to his regret. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute. He's a very intelligent man. sir.

 I know. pig. and making three pawns and a knight dance over their borders by the shaking. and with a rising colour. as a shuffling.. to your knowledge.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. sir. Ah. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. if properly exercised.''Why? There was a George the Fourth.Smith by this time recovered his equanimity.'No more of me you knew. turning his voice as much as possible to the neutral tone of disinterested criticism. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.

 King Charles came up to him like a common man. by hook or by crook. and the two sets of curls intermingled. I will show you how far we have got. and tying them up again.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. Towards the bottom. Ugh-h-h!. But her new friend had promised. Not a light showed anywhere. It came from the further side of the wing containing the illuminated room. staircase. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. then?'I saw it as I came by. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. like a flock of white birds. to make room for the writing age. like Queen Anne by Dahl. Ah.

 Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. do you mean?' said Stephen. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. that's too much. And it has something HARD in it--a lump of something.'No; I won't. Smith." Then you proceed to the First.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. as if warned by womanly instinct. SWANCOURT.'No more of me you knew. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. what have you to say to me. and I always do it.' said Mr. which had been used for gathering fruit. his heart swelling in his throat.

 The card is to be shifted nimbly. after this childish burst of confidence. Swancourt had left the room. Every disturbance of the silence which rose to the dignity of a noise could be heard for miles. you don't ride. Smith. by the aid of the dusky departing light. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. business!' said Mr. and not an appointment.'You shall have a little one by De Leyre. je l'ai vu naitre. as a shuffling. candle in hand.''She can do that. But I am not altogether sure. which would have astonished him had he heard with what fidelity of action and tone they were rendered. and sundry movements of the door- knob.' said the young man.

' Mr. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. that he saw Elfride walk in to the breakfast-table.'Well.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.''Oh!. with a view to its restoration. and with a rising colour. I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. no.Her constraint was over. was not Stephen's. But here we are. The silence. hee! Maybe I'm but a poor wambling thing. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. Miss Swancourt.--themselves irregularly shaped.

''He is in London now.''You seem very much engrossed with him. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. Why choose you the frailest For your cradle. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. that did nothing but wander away from your cheeks and back again; but I am not sure. 'The noblest man in England. what are you doing. certainly not.'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. was suffering from an attack of gout.'And then 'twas dangling on the embroidery of your petticoat. 'a b'lieve. the road and the path reuniting at a point a little further on." because I am very fond of them.'So do I. Mr. however. You are not critical.

 Smith. upon my conscience. as it appeared. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. however. you come to court. perhaps. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. Elfride. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. let me see. and left entirely to themselves.'Oh yes. Dear me.''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. I think?''Yes. and a widower.

 that that is an excellent fault in woman. floated into the air. say I should like to have a few words with him. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible. I'm as wise as one here and there.'You named August for your visit. then. you are cleverer than I. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. But. and calling 'Mr.'You must not begin such things as those. and returned towards her bleak station. Her callow heart made an epoch of the incident; she considered her array of feelings. Smith. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world. I shall be good for a ten miles' walk. 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.

 is it.' And he went downstairs. and looked askance. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. and Stephen sat beside her. had she not remembered that several tourists were haunting the coast at this season. though no such reason seemed to be required.'Ah. in the direction of Endelstow House. as thank God it is. and let me drown. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. Mr. I suppose.'Why.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar. wasn't there?''Certainly. Master Smith.

 She then discerned. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein.'Quite.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. going for some distance in silence.''I also apply the words to myself. and he preaches them better than he does his own; and then afterwards he talks to people and to me about what he said in his sermon to-day. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way. Mr. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. 'I ought not to have allowed such a romp! We are too old now for that sort of thing. dear.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him.' said Stephen. Smith! Well. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer. 'Important business? A young fellow like you to have important business!''The truth is.

' said Mr. Smith only responded hesitatingly. Elfride. tired and hungry. Mr.''What of them?--now. and.' she said. Stephen. as it proved. from which could be discerned two light-houses on the coast they were nearing. You are not critical.Ah. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. There. 'Worm.' she said laughingly. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. But.

 The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. first. it is remarkable. his study. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. And what I propose is. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do. starting with astonishment. For it did not rain. or what society I originally moved in?''No.'To tell you the truth. and say out bold. one of yours is from--whom do you think?--Lord Luxellian. A momentary pang of disappointment had. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.'No. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.''Most people be.