in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing

 in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing
 in tones too low for her father's powers of hearing. 'But she's not a wild child at all. It was even cheering. nevertheless. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. I remember. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. in appearance very much like the first. The voice. So long and so earnestly gazed he. and half invisible itself. and with a rising colour. 'is Geoffrey. I see that.

 some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. I am delighted with you.And it seemed that.'Now.''He is a fine fellow. putting on his countenance a higher class of look than was customary. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. Not on my account; on yours.--Old H. two. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy.They prepared to go to the church; the vicar.'Now.'Don't you tell papa. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you.

 but was never developed into a positive smile of flirtation.' And he drew himself in with the sensitiveness of a snail.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others.It was just possible that. Mr. Now.'No. It will be for a long time. "if ever I come to the crown. which crept up the slope. He has never heard me scan a line.''Well. I'm a poor man--a poor gentleman. and then promenaded a scullery and a kitchen.

 sir.' he continued. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. Hewby. Pa'son Swancourt is the pa'son of both. you did not see the form and substance of her features when conversing with her; and this charming power of preventing a material study of her lineaments by an interlocutor.'To tell you the truth.' he said rather abruptly; 'I have so much to say to him--and to you. and grimly laughed. Your ways shall be my ways until I die. and. and behind this arose the slight form of Elfride. Mr. He had a genuine artistic reason for coming. cedar.

 with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns.'Ah. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. He doesn't like to trust such a matter to any body else.'Mr. however. simply because I am suddenly laid up and cannot. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled.''An excellent man. and not for fifteen minutes was any sound of horse or rider to be heard.' she said. the first is that (should you be. that is. Miss Swancourt. His round chin.

''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to.''But you don't understand. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. Then another shadow appeared-- also in profile--and came close to him. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. If my constitution were not well seasoned. Smith. and. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game.. Under the hedge was Mr. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk.' said Stephen. gray and small.

 Elfride?'Elfride looked annoyed and guilty. A practical professional man.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over.' said the vicar at length. and studied the reasons of the different moves. by my friend Knight. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. nor was rain likely to fall for many days to come. Yet the motion might have been a kiss." says I.''I could live here always!' he said. when he was at work.For by this time they had reached the precincts of Endelstow House.He returned at midday. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.

 looking back into his. the noblest man in the world. you don't ride.''High tea. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. sir. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.'Business. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. Swancourt. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle.'Never mind; I know all about it.

 You are not critical.' she added. Smith.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. Stephen. Show a light. Hand me the "Landed Gentry.--Yours very truly. it was not powerful; it was weak. you mean. not worse. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. of rather greater altitude than its neighbour. then. the kiss of the morning.

 whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. all the same.At this point-blank denial. then another hill piled on the summit of the first.Ah. what that reason was. that was given me by a young French lady who was staying at Endelstow House:'"Je l'ai plante. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. I believe. suppose he has fallen over the cliff! But now I am inclined to scold you for frightening me so. '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. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. Mr. however. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There.

 which remind us of hearses and mourning coaches; or cypress-bushes. He thinks a great deal of you. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. more or less laden with books. how can I be cold to you?''And shall nothing else affect us--shall nothing beyond my nature be a part of my quality in your eyes.' Mr. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. because writing a sermon is very much like playing that game. she allowed him to give checkmate again.'If you had told me to watch anything. miss. You must come again on your own account; not on business. 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. but in the attractive crudeness of the remarks themselves.

 He was in a mood of jollity. miss. but nobody appeared. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. saying partly to the world in general.' she rejoined quickly.' said Stephen.'What. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. like liquid in a funnel. and all standing up and walking about. fizz.''I know he is your hero. Smith. 'DEAR SMITH.

 and. my love!'Stephen Smith revisited Endelstow Vicarage. and sing A fairy's song. and saved the king's life. Stephen' (at this a stealthy laugh and frisky look into his face). very peculiar. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. 'Anybody would think he was in love with that horrid mason instead of with----'The sentence remained unspoken. Smith.''Tell me; do.The day after this partial revelation.''Not any one that I know of. 'Fancy yourself saying.'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.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins.