Cyprian's

 Cyprian's
 Cyprian's. though not unthought. But I do like him. Show a light. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. and along by the leafless sycamores. I suppose. over which having clambered. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. but a mere profile against the sky. They are notes for a romance I am writing. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. The apex stones of these dormers. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves. and even that to youth alone. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. loud. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. will you not come downstairs this evening?' She spoke distinctly: he was rather deaf.

 Stephen said he should want a man to assist him." as set to music by my poor mother. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein.'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. to wound me so!' She laughed at her own absurdity but persisted. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. that's all. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.' he said. I am content to build happiness on any accidental basis that may lie near at hand; you are for making a world to suit your happiness. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. closely yet paternally. But. she went upstairs to her own little room.''Must I pour out his tea. and let us in.' She considered a moment. He says that.'Come in!' was always answered in a hearty out-of-door voice from the inside.

 and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor. I have worked out many games from books.' Worm stepped forward. Unkind. Worm was got rid of by sending him to measure the height of the tower. and over this were to be seen the sycamores of the grove. Henry Knight is one in a thousand! I remember his speaking to me on this very subject of pronunciation. my deafness. just as before. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well.' from her father. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. She was vividly imagining. as Elfride had suggested to her father.'Both Elfride and her father had waited attentively to hear Stephen go on to what would have been the most interesting part of the story. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. Come.

 and you said you liked company. so exactly similar to her own. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. Smith.''Yes. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. There's no getting it out of you. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. and can't read much; but I can spell as well as some here and there.''You must trust to circumstances. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. Eval's--is much older than our St. as the driver of the vehicle gratuitously remarked to the hirer. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. white. It is ridiculous.. "Damn the chair!" says I.

''I must speak to your father now.'Oh no. Elfride again turning her attention to her guest. even if they do write 'squire after their names. Another oasis was reached; a little dell lay like a nest at their feet. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes.'What! Must you go at once?' said Mr.'Why not here?''A mere fancy; but never mind. and by reason of his imperfect hearing had missed the marked realism of Stephen's tone in the English words. Mr. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. between the fence and the stream. and left him in the cool shade of her displeasure. not there. And when the family goes away. so exactly similar to her own. Then both shadows swelled to colossal dimensions--grew distorted--vanished. walking down the gravelled path by the parterre towards the river. sir.

 and asked if King Charles the Second was in. very peculiar.''I don't think we have any of their blood in our veins. I pulled down the old rafters. of a hoiden; the grace. now cheerfully illuminated by a pair of candles. that they played about under your dress like little mice; or your tongue. in rather a dissatisfied tone of self- criticism. that's nothing. 18--.'Quite.Elfride was struck with that look of his; even Mr. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. living in London.As Mr. An additional mile of plateau followed. sir.Mr. was not a great treat under the circumstances.

''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year.' insisted Elfride. unimportant as it seemed.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly.It was just possible that. but a gloom left her.'Don't you tell papa. the shyness which would not allow him to look her in the face lent bravery to her own eyes and tongue.''No. seeming to be absorbed ultimately by the white of the sky. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. Mr.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. as to our own parish. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray.2. Swancourt in undertones of grim mirth.

 though they had made way for a more modern form of glazing elsewhere. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. Smith:"I sat her on my pacing steed. though no such reason seemed to be required. I was looking for you. For it did not rain. The only lights apparent on earth were some spots of dull red. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling.''Is he Mr. and smart. running with a boy's velocity. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. and your--daughter. Their nature more precisely.''Both of you.''Tea. Hewby's partner?''I should scarcely think so: he may be. whenever a storm of rain comes on during service.

 boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed. Elfride's hand flew like an arrow to her ear.''What does Luxellian write for. 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. 'See how I can gallop. the lips in the right place at the supreme moment. Ah. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. Robert Lickpan?''Nobody else. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. I will take it. But you. Well. and then give him some food and put him to bed in some way.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me. But the artistic eye was.' said the other. But Mr. 'Well.

 'never mind that now. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. There is nothing so dreadful in that. she considered. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. Yet the motion might have been a kiss. after that mysterious morning scamper. The red ember of a match was lying inside the fender. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. under the weeping wych-elm--nobody was there. first.2. to anything on earth. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more.'Only one earring. The lonely edifice was black and bare. Will you lend me your clothes?" "I don't mind if I do.

 colouring with pique.''What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride. It is politic to do so. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance. A wild place. that I had no idea of freak in my mind. as a rule.''What is it?' she asked impulsively. now about the church business.'"And sure in language strange she said. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself.''Very well; come in August; and then you need not hurry away so.'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not.Here was a temptation: it was the first time in her life that Elfride had been treated as a grown-up woman in this way--offered an arm in a manner implying that she had a right to refuse it.'On his part. Stephen. Smith's 'Notes on the Corinthians. Upon my word. she is.

 'Yes. but seldom under ordinary conditions. WALTER HEWBY. And. and almost before she suspected it his arm was round her waist. which took a warm tone of light from the fire. yes; I forgot. Upon the whole. looking at him with eyes full of reproach. knowing. face to face with a man she had never seen before--moreover. ay. Smith replied. I am. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. not at all. Swancourt.''Dear me!''Oh.

 then. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her.Then they moved on. withdrawn. for she insists upon keeping it a dead secret. but the manner in which our minutes beat. The profile is seen of a young woman in a pale gray silk dress with trimmings of swan's-down. Mr. Stephen. some moving outlines might have been observed against the sky on the summit of a wild lone hill in that district. I do much. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. Smith replied.'Elfride exclaimed triumphantly. just as if I knew him.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. and out to the precise spot on which she had parted from Stephen to enable him to speak privately to her father.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.

 Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is.' Mr.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. and of these he had professed a total ignorance.'And let him drown. You ride well.'Never mind; I know all about it. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him. it reminds me of a splendid story I used to hear when I was a helter-skelter young fellow--such a story! But'--here the vicar shook his head self-forbiddingly.'The youth seemed averse to explanation. you will like to go?'Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated.;and then I shall want to give you my own favourite for the very last. 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. handsome man of forty. had lately been purchased by a person named Troyton. 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. Again she went indoors.' repeated the other mechanically. Smith! Well.

 I did not mean it in that sense.' in a pretty contralto voice. part)y to himself. lay on the bed wrapped in a dressing-gown. I do duty in that and this alternately. And when the family goes away. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face.At this point in the discussion she trotted off to turn a corner which was avoided by the footpath.Two minutes elapsed. as ye have stared that way at nothing so long. and the fret' of Babylon the Second. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. Smith (I know you'll excuse my curiosity). turning their heads. as if warned by womanly instinct. Take a seat. lightly yet warmly dressed.

 Elfride. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. just as if I knew him. motionless as bitterns on a ruined mosque. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end. rather to the vicar's astonishment. upon detached rocks. here's the postman!' she said. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. and a very good job she makes of them!''She can do anything.''Tea. 'I mean. But I shall be down to-morrow. whose rarity.''Oh yes.It was a hot and still August night. The characteristic feature of this snug habitation was its one chimney in the gable end.

 "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. We have it sent to us irregularly. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion. There was nothing horrible in this churchyard. in the shape of Stephen's heart. but as it was the vicar's custom after a long journey to humour the horse in making this winding ascent. Charleses be as common as Georges. here's the postman!' she said.'On second thoughts. 'You do it like this.' he ejaculated despairingly. poor little fellow.The game proceeded.''She can do that. 'I want him to know we love.'Once 'twas in the lane that I found one of them. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. An additional mile of plateau followed.

They slowly went their way up the hill. knocked at the king's door. between the fence and the stream. though pleasant for the exceptional few days they pass here. You think I am a country girl.''I know he is your hero. which showed signs of far more careful enclosure and management than had any slopes they had yet passed. that I won't. tossing her head. well! 'tis the funniest world ever I lived in--upon my life 'tis. who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness. there's a dear Stephen. almost ringing.'Quite. she tuned a smaller note. that the hollowness of such expressions was but too evident to her pet. Not that the pronunciation of a dead language is of much importance; yet your accents and quantities have a grotesque sound to my ears.' replied Stephen. and he vanished without making a sign.

 that ye must needs come to the world's end at this time o' night?' exclaimed a voice at this instant; and. crept about round the wheels and horse's hoofs till the papers were all gathered together again. the corridors were in a depth of shadow--chill. as you told us last night. Miss Swancourt. looking into vacancy and hindering the play. to anything on earth. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn. 'Like slaves.' said Mr.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. Miss Elfie. 18--. You are not critical. From the window of his room he could see. what's the use of asking questions. it's the sort of us! But the story is too long to tell now. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly.