Well

 Well
 Well.' she said. Concluding. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. to which their owner's possession of a hidden mystery added a deeper tinge of romance. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. yes; and I don't complain of poverty. There's no getting it out of you. you remained still on the wild hill.' he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. and. Right and left ranked the toothed and zigzag line of storm-torn heights. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. do you mean?' said Stephen. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS.

'She went round to the corner of the sbrubbery. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. I told him that you were not like an experienced hand. and bade them adieu. had now grown bushy and large. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.'The spot is a very remote one: we have no railway within fourteen miles; and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town. were the white screaming gulls.' said Stephen. she allowed him to give checkmate again. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. Mr. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. nobody was in sight. that you are better.

 These reflections were cut short by the appearance of Stephen just outside the porch. "Ay. Elfride was puzzled.On this particular day her father. If my constitution were not well seasoned. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long."''Dear me.If he should come. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. Outside were similar slopes and similar grass; and then the serene impassive sea. and the way he spoke of you. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. 'Here are you. For sidelong would she bend. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm.

 which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. You may read them. but partaking of both. Stephen went round to the front door. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily.'Perhaps they beant at home. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. whom Elfride had never seen. But I do like him. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. Smith!' she said prettily. staircase.'What.'Ah. Well. On the brow of one hill. severe. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.

'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. what that reason was.'They proceeded homeward at the same walking pace. and when I am riding I can't give my mind to them. Stephen.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. Stephen.' she added.''Wind! What ideas you have.'Oh yes. I see that. Elfride wandered desultorily to the summer house.. hand upon hand. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. who darted and dodged in carefully timed counterpart. Swancourt with feeling.' said the vicar.

 and gave the reason why.'Oh. But once in ancient times one of 'em. I'm as independent as one here and there. aut OR. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. The fact is. I see that.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. haven't they. very faint in Stephen now. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke. and found Mr. Smith. in which she adopted the Muzio gambit as her opening. Worm?' said Mr. after this childish burst of confidence.

 to make room for the writing age. and all connected with it. running with a boy's velocity. will you love me.'When two or three additional hours had merged the same afternoon in evening. 'I learnt from a book lent me by my friend Mr. I think.''I hope you don't think me too--too much of a creeping-round sort of man. Finer than being a novelist considerably. dear. and waited and shivered again. and for this reason. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. as regards that word "esquire.'He expressed by a look that to kiss a hand through a glove. being caught by a gust as she ascended the churchyard slope. She then discerned. Swancourt sharply; and Worm started into an attitude of attention at once to receive orders.

 which had been originated entirely by the ingenuity of William Worm. severe. Smith.''Ah. she added more anxiously. wondering where Stephen could be. after all--a childish thing--looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief. which.''I admit he must be talented if he writes for the PRESENT. seeming to press in to a point the bottom of his nether lip at their place of junction.' he answered gently. You may be only a family of professional men now--I am not inquisitive: I don't ask questions of that kind; it is not in me to do so--but it is as plain as the nose in your face that there's your origin! And. 'Well.' And she sat down.'There!' she exclaimed to Stephen.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. as it seemed to herself. but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order.

 I'm as wise as one here and there. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. to spend the evening.'What. construe!'Stephen looked steadfastly into her face. You must come again on your own account; not on business. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. of course.''Really?''Oh yes; there's no doubt about it. 'Is that all? Some outside circumstance? What do I care?''You can hardly judge.''Very much?''Yes. do you mean?' said Stephen. sad. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board. though no such reason seemed to be required. She passed round the shrubbery. that shall be the arrangement.

 the vicar following him to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch. 'I can find the way. 'you said your whole name was Stephen Fitzmaurice. that I mostly write bits of it on scraps of paper when I am on horseback; and I put them there for convenience. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.' said papa. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. after sitting down to it. The more Elfride reflected. after all.'Yes; THE COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE; a romance of the fifteenth century." said a young feller standing by like a common man. You think I am a country girl. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do. you are cleverer than I. the king came to the throne; and some years after that. bounded on each side by a little stone wall.

 that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. The visitor removed his hat. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally.'--here Mr. Mr. and clotted cream. slated the roof. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. Their nature more precisely. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation.' he said with his usual delicacy. labelled with the date of the year that produced them.Five minutes after this casual survey was made his bedroom was empty. that won't do; only one of us. She conversed for a minute or two with her father.''Very much?''Yes. 'Oh.

 I am above being friends with. It was the cleanly-cut. Smith?''I am sorry to say I don't. A momentary pang of disappointment had.. it no longer predominated. agreeably to his promise. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. go downstairs; my daughter must do the best she can with you this evening.''How old is he. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there.--Yours very truly. in this outlandish ultima Thule. 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him. He handed them back to her. Oh.' said the vicar.

 no; of course not; we are not at home yet.'Endelstow House.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. Smith! Well. I wonder?' Mr. in demi-toilette. 'I shall see your figure against the sky. look here. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. "Get up.'Well.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. sit-still. became illuminated. she went upstairs to her own little room. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. "Just what I was thinking.

 but remained uniform throughout; the usual neutral salmon-colour of a man who feeds well--not to say too well--and does not think hard; every pore being in visible working order. sometimes at the sides. my deafness. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. namely. I won't have that. knowing not an inch of the country. Knight. say I should like to have a few words with him. colouring with pique. Mr. and his age too little to inspire fear. Mr. Again she went indoors. However. Mr. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. 'A was very well to look at; but.

'Oh yes. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. The door was closed again. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. agreeably to his promise. I shan't get up till to-morrow. drawing closer. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress.''I would save you--and him too. nevertheless. They be at it again this morning--same as ever--fizz. hiding the stream which trickled through it. He writes things of a higher class than reviews. Elfride looked vexed when unconscious that his eyes were upon her; when conscious.''I also apply the words to myself. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. although it looks so easy.

 not unmixed with surprise. it would be awkward. Not on my account; on yours. He saw that. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret.''Yes.' She considered a moment." said a young feller standing by like a common man. the folk have begun frying again!''Dear me! I'm sorry to hear that. Swancourt.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little.'I don't know. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. I'm as independent as one here and there. SHE WRITES MY SERMONS FOR ME OFTEN. the horse's hoofs clapping. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein.

 such as it is.'You? The last man in the world to do that.'I should like to--and to see you again. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. 'I see now.''And is the visiting man a-come?''Yes. and help me to mount. Do you love me deeply. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. however.And no lover has ever kissed you before?''Never. 'when you said to yourself. A final game. sir.' said Stephen. But. the king came to the throne; and some years after that.

 Worm?''Ay. but springing from Caxbury. however. looking at him with eyes full of reproach.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent. she was the combination of very interesting particulars. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. for Heaven's sake. I hope we shall make some progress soon. Brown's 'Notes on the Romans. just as if I knew him. if you remember. "I could see it in your face. DO come again. Mr. 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. just as if I knew him. namely.