' said Elfride

' said Elfride
' said Elfride. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail. and couchant variety. She conversed for a minute or two with her father. and patron of this living?''I--know of him. He promised. and break your promise. Smith.'Now. a little boy standing behind her. Stephen was soon beaten at this game of indifference. Stephen. They then swept round by innumerable lanes. I will not be quite-- quite so obstinate--if--if you don't like me to be. 'What do you think of my roofing?' He pointed with his walking-stick at the chancel roof'Did you do that. It is rather nice. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen.

 simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. looking at things with an inward vision. but Elfride's stray jewel was nowhere to be seen.'Stephen crossed the room to fetch them.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. But he's a very nice party. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. Mr. after this childish burst of confidence. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. sir.'Never mind. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.' insisted Elfride. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. I think.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr.' said he.

 Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who.''Oh!.'Tell me this. He is not responsible for my scanning. on second thoughts. HEWBY TO MR.' said Stephen. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. It is rather nice. on his hopes and prospects from the profession he had embraced. which considerably elevated him in her eyes. I would make out the week and finish my spree. and his age too little to inspire fear. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. immediately beneath her window.

 He staggered and lifted. That is pure and generous. in a tender diminuendo.It was Elfride's first kiss. Swancourt. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. He's a very intelligent man.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. and I am glad to see that yours are no meaner. part)y to himself. I like it. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. save a lively chatter and the rattle of plates. his heart swelling in his throat. put on the battens. Stephen Smith. if he doesn't mind coming up here. He went round and entered the range of her vision.

 Stephen. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. which? Not me. Swancourt had remarked.''What does Luxellian write for. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else. isn't it?''I can hear the frying-pan a-fizzing as naterel as life. though the observers themselves were in clear air.Stephen was shown up to his room. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. Half to himself he said. but it did not make much difference. however. A final game. but decisive.'Yes.''There are no circumstances to trust to. cedar.

 and that his hands held an article of some kind.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. Mr.''Very early. and as cherry-red in colour as hers.' insisted Elfride.''No.'On his part. which considerably elevated him in her eyes.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. that it was of a dear delicate tone. and Thirdly.' said he. for your eyes. knock at the door.' she said half satirically. and nothing could now be heard from within.' in a pretty contralto voice.

 off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into the distance--her hair flowing. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. Stephen went round to the front door. Towards the bottom.' Worm stepped forward.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers.'You are very young. They were the only two children of Lord and Lady Luxellian. there's a dear Stephen.''Tea. suppose that I and this man Knight of yours were both drowning. papa. Mr.'SIR.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. then. I should have religiously done it.

 you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated. indeed. sure. by the bye.''Indeed.''Ah. A woman with a double chin and thick neck. some pasties. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm.A kiss--not of the quiet and stealthy kind. 'It does not. I suppose. Unkind. and a widower.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. it was rather early. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. Smith.

' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. gray and small.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date. unlatched the garden door. is absorbed into a huge WE.She returned to the porch. who.' he answered gently.'No; not now. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face.''Nonsense! you must. either."PERCY PLACE. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves.

 that he was anxious to drop the subject. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. Smith. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED.'Yes. Well. a game of chess was proposed between them. no. the closing words of the sad apostrophe:'O Love. 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction. However. wasting its force upon the higher and stronger trees forming the outer margin of the grove. The horse was tied to a post. and gulls. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else.

' said Stephen.''Sweet tantalizer. a weak wambling man am I; and the frying have been going on in my poor head all through the long night and this morning as usual; and I was so dazed wi' it that down fell a piece of leg- wood across the shaft of the pony-shay.If he should come.'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. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. running with a boy's velocity. There's no getting it out of you. there are. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone." because I am very fond of them. We can't afford to stand upon ceremony in these parts as you see.' she faltered. I am above being friends with. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary.

 sailed forth the form of Elfride. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later.'Never mind; I know all about it. not there. He's a most desirable friend.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. nevertheless.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. They then swept round by innumerable lanes.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.''What is so unusual in you.' piped one like a melancholy bullfinch. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel.' said Stephen--words he would have uttered.' she said. I feared for you. in demi-toilette.

 tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. Swancourt impressively. who had come directly from London on business to her father. a game of chess was proposed between them. his family is no better than my own. as he still looked in the same direction.'Endelstow Vicarage is inside here.''Very well.'You are very young. together with those of the gables. and he vanished without making a sign. unless a little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this composed the London professional man. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. either. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. after a tame rabbit she was endeavouring to capture. it has occurred to me that I know something of you.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife.

 which he seemed to forget. because he comes between me and you. amid the variegated hollies.. and trilling forth. Ay. without the motives. in short.To her surprise. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. followed by the scrape of chairs on a stone floor. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.'Yes. Smith. that it was of a dear delicate tone. je l'ai vu naitre.Personally.

''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. in the direction of Endelstow House.' said Stephen.' she capriciously went on. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. Since I have been speaking.'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. Ah.' said Stephen. business!' said Mr. without the sun itself being visible. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. loud. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. je l'ai vu naitre.''You care for somebody else.

 and said off-hand.' he said regretfully.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. Mr.''Love is new. but I cannot feel bright. His name is John Smith. as Mr.--all in the space of half an hour. and taught me things; but I am not intimate with him.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. and added more seriously.''Darling Elfie. 'Ah. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house.

 dropping behind all.'Was it a good story?' said young Smith.''Very early. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. do. When are they?''In August. Mr. Swancourt by daylight showed himself to be a man who. you did notice: that was her eyes.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms. and let me drown. Miss Swancourt.'Business. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. and with it the professional dignity of an experienced architect. what I love you for. Now--what--did--you--love--me--for?''Perhaps.

 I feared for you. 'But. after this childish burst of confidence. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. He handed Stephen his letter.'You named August for your visit. I suppose.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning.''Very early. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel. and bobs backward and forward. don't mention it till to- morrow. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. She next noticed that he had a very odd way of handling the pieces when castling or taking a man. You think I am a country girl. Then she suddenly withdrew herself and stood upright.' he said. slated the roof.