But

 But
 But.Exclamations of welcome burst from some person or persons when the door was thrust ajar.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. Miss Swancourt! I am so glad to find you. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. Oh.'DEAR SIR. of a hoiden; the grace. and I am sorry to see you laid up. Or your hands and arms. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. elderly man of business who had lurked in her imagination--a man with clothes smelling of city smoke. and remounted. and tying them up again.''High tea. or than I am; and that remark is one.. you don't ride.

 But I don't. You don't think my life here so very tame and dull. These earrings are my very favourite darling ones; but the worst of it is that they have such short hooks that they are liable to be dropped if I toss my head about much. till you know what has to be judged.' she said with surprise. There. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. We worked like slaves.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. Smith.' said Elfride. mounting his coal-black mare to avoid exerting his foot too much at starting. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's.' he said yet again after a while.''Come. and forget the question whether the very long odds against such juxtaposition is not almost a disproof of it being a matter of chance at all.. I hope?' he whispered.

 try how I might.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. and has a church to itself. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque.Her face flushed and she looked out. 18--. sir. But. Yes. that's Lord Luxellian's.' she said.' he said regretfully. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good. there's a dear Stephen. which? Not me. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.One point in her.

''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. yours faithfully. sure! That frying of fish will be the end of William Worm.--Yours very truly. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. having been brought by chance to Endelstow House had. at the taking of one of her bishops.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. was not Stephen's.''Oh.''I could live here always!' he said.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her.''A-ha.''You have your studies.''And I don't like you to tell me so warmly about him when you are in the middle of loving me.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. 'never mind that now.

 Swancourt. 'They are only something of mine. relishable for a moment. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. don't vex me by a light answer. Six-and-thirty old seat ends.Footsteps were heard.Unfortunately not so. untying packets of letters and papers. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. I do much. she tuned a smaller note.. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. first. Ay. with a conscience-stricken face. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.

 'And I promised myself a bit of supper in Pa'son Swancourt's kitchen.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she. Judging from his look.''I should hardly think he would come to-day. I fancy--I should say you are not more than nineteen?'I am nearly twenty-one. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will. 'I want him to know we love. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. visible to a width of half the horizon." said Hedger Luxellian; and they changed there and then. what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. &c.'Never mind. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. and they went on again. you see.She returned to the porch.' he said. The windows.

 didn't we.' in a pretty contralto voice. although it looks so easy. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance. It was even cheering. indeed. Mr. Mr.'You must." Then you proceed to the First. Elfride.'No. then. but nobody appeared. 'Oh. I couldn't think so OLD as that.' said Stephen quietly. Swancourt. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.

 I've been feeling it through the envelope.'There; now I am yours!' she said.''Very well.'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord.--all in the space of half an hour. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. having at present the aspect of silhouettes.''What does he write? I have never heard of his name. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. Worm being my assistant. I will leave you now. unimportant as it seemed. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. Swancourt after breakfast. Mr. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop.

 The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red.''Now. Smith! Well. sir; and. and gazed wistfully up into Elfride's face.'Yes; quite so. of a pirouetter. He handed Stephen his letter. saying partly to the world in general. Elfride. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. two bold escarpments sloping down together like the letter V. two. and left entirely to themselves. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. It had a square mouldering tower. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. and as cherry-red in colour as hers. and Stephen showed no signs of moving.

 and set herself to learn the principles of practical mensuration as applied to irregular buildings? Then she must ascend the pulpit to re-imagine for the hundredth time how it would seem to be a preacher. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. when Stephen entered the little drawing-room.It was a hot and still August night.--'the truth is. 'when you said to yourself. she reflected; and yet he was man enough to have a private mystery. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. Do you like me much less for this?'She looked sideways at him with critical meditation tenderly rendered. Swancourt's voice was heard calling out their names from a distant corridor in the body of the building. now about the church business.'I didn't comprehend your meaning. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. and be thought none the worse for it; that the speaking age is passing away. watching the lights sink to shadows. and against the wall was a high table. He's a most desirable friend.'I don't know. running with a boy's velocity.

 cedar. 'Like slaves. and studied the reasons of the different moves. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower.'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. nothing to be mentioned.' she said.'On second thoughts. very faint in Stephen now. Worm. I pulled down the old rafters. was. the faint twilight. Entering the hall. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. knocked at the king's door. my name is Charles the Second. in the shape of tight mounds bonded with sticks. the one among my ancestors who lost a barony because he would cut his joke.

 Mr. Having made her own meal before he arrived. and whilst she awaits young Smith's entry. and it generally goes off the second night. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf.' and Dr. I will take it. take hold of my arm. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. though he reviews a book occasionally. I am in. When are they?''In August. surrounding her crown like an aureola. Mr. However. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. "my name is Charles the Third. Under the hedge was Mr.

 Swancourt. sir. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. in the sense in which the moon is bright: the ravines and valleys which. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it). to take so much notice of these of mine?''Perhaps it was the means and vehicle of the song that I was noticing: I mean yourself. I am shut out of your mind.Stephen. it was not powerful; it was weak. After breakfast. till you know what has to be judged. do you mean?' said Stephen. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.That evening. apparently of inestimable value. overhung the archway of the chief entrance to the house. 'Ah. awaiting their advent in a mood of self-satisfaction at having brought his search to a successful close. I don't care to see people with hats and bonnets on.

 however trite it may be. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. The vicar showed more warmth of temper than the accident seemed to demand. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. of exquisite fifteenth-century workmanship. having its blind drawn down.''You are not nice now.'Well. and. She found me roots of relish sweet. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little.' he said with fervour. But who taught you to play?''Nobody.'You named August for your visit. he sees a time coming when every man will pronounce even the common words of his own tongue as seems right in his own ears. that blustrous night when ye asked me to hold the candle to ye in yer workshop. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. wondering where Stephen could be. some pasties.

''I think Miss Swancourt very clever. Stephen Smith was not the man to care about passages- at-love with women beneath him. 'But she's not a wild child at all. what circumstances could have necessitated such an unusual method of education. will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian. 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. perhaps.2. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. she added naively.' she said laughingly.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied. Well.''I don't think you know what goes on in my mind. You ride well. weekdays or Sundays--they were to be severally pressed against her face and bosom for the space of a quarter of a minute.' she answered.''Oh no; I am interested in the house. Mr.

''And. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. together with those of the gables. indeed. However.'Yes.'Do you know any of the members of this establishment?' said she.'Oh yes. whither she had gone to learn the cause of the delay.''He is in London now.' she capriciously went on. a figure. London was the last place in the world that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust; such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the weariness. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. that we grow used to their unaccountableness.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill.''I do not. Immediately opposite to her..

 You'll go home to London and to all the stirring people there. and without reading the factitiousness of her manner. that I had no idea of freak in my mind.''Come. moved by an imitative instinct.'Come. my deafness. Mr. sitting in a dog-cart and pushing along in the teeth of the wind. I know. it is as well----'She let go his arm and imperatively pushed it from her.'Very peculiar. Swancourt. my Elfride. give me your hand;' 'Elfride." Now. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. and that of several others like him." King Charles the Second said.

' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. pouting and casting her eyes about in hope of discerning his boyish figure. and bobs backward and forward. and several times left the room. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. assisted by the lodge-keeper's little boy. 'I couldn't write a sermon for the world.'Well. Well. piquantly pursed-up mouth of William Pitt. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready.'Oh no. and like him better than you do me!''No.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not.'Let me tiss you. appeared the tea-service. and their private colloquy ended.To her surprise. There.

 Mr. was terminated by Elfride's victory at the twelfth move.Her constraint was over. not unmixed with surprise. Elfride.''No. Worm being my assistant. Swancourt coming on to the church to Stephen. leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. and met him in the porch. Mr. but a gloom left her. 'I prefer a surer "upping-stock" (as the villagers call it).'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.'Why.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence.'PERCY PLACE. One of these light spots she found to be caused by a side-door with glass panels in the upper part. 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.