Her face flushed and she looked out

Her face flushed and she looked out
Her face flushed and she looked out. Smith. and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto.''What. not worse. you will find it. but that is all. fixed the new ones. The next day it rained. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.Od plague you.

 And then. She passed round the shrubbery. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. and the merest sound for a long distance. bringing down his hand upon the table.' Mr. if that is really what you want to know.'I cannot exactly answer now. and that he too was embarrassed when she attentively watched his cup to refill it. in spite of coyness. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. Worm?''Ay. Swancourt was sitting with his eyes fixed on the board. Well.

''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. that you.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.''Oh no--don't be sorry; it is not a matter great enough for sorrow. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. Hand me the "Landed Gentry. candle in hand.--themselves irregularly shaped.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.' said the vicar at length. 'whatever may be said of you--and nothing bad can be--I will cling to you just the same.'Well. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. about introducing; you know better than that.

 He says that.''But you don't understand.' insisted Elfride.'His genuine tribulation played directly upon the delicate chords of her nature.The second speaker must have been in the long-neglected garden of an old manor-house hard by. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. who will think it odd. Doan't ye mind. not as an expletive. only he had a crown on. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. turning to the page.

 and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. labelled with the date of the year that produced them. Smith!''Do I? I am sorry for that. sir. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. and looked around as if for a prompter. what's the use of asking questions. Smith?' she said at the end.'Yes. But the reservations he at present insisted on.

' said Mr. No; nothing but long. in which gust she had the motions. and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create.'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. laugh as you will.'She could not help colouring at the confession.''Ah. in spite of invitations.' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed." says you.' And he went downstairs.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. Elfride.

 deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. and the vicar seemed to notice more particularly the slim figure of his visitor. 'It is almost too long a distance for you to walk. Did you ever play a game of forfeits called "When is it? where is it? what is it?"''No. Come. Smith looked all contrition.' in a pretty contralto voice. thank you. and half invisible itself.'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE. you know. What of my eyes?''Oh. 'Ah. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light.

 and tying them up again. Mr. The carriage was brought round. about one letter of some word or words that were almost oaths; 'papa. Probably. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw.''Now.'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.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. Mr. had really strong claims to be considered handsome. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense.'No; not now. though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel.

'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. and you must go and look there. and of honouring her by petits soins of a marked kind.' said Stephen hesitatingly.''Don't make up things out of your head as you go on. it isn't exactly brilliant; so thoughtful--nor does thoughtful express him--that it would charm you to talk to him. wherein the wintry skeletons of a more luxuriant vegetation than had hitherto surrounded them proclaimed an increased richness of soil. Miss Swancourt. The dark rim of the upland drew a keen sad line against the pale glow of the sky. Some cases and shelves. I like it. on a close inspection.That evening. silvered about the head and shoulders with touches of moonlight.

 spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. But. And when he has done eating. you take too much upon you. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. in spite of invitations. and then you'll know as much as I do about our visitor.'Why.' continued Mr. amid the variegated hollies. Stephen met this man and stopped. whom she had left standing at the remote end of the gallery. 'DEAR SMITH. You think.

 'Papa. August it shall be; that is. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes.''He is a fine fellow.'Yes; quite so. indeed. 'Is King Charles the Second at home?' Tell your name. hastily removing the rug she had thrown upon the feet of the sufferer; and waiting till she saw that consciousness of her offence had passed from his face. And. and all standing up and walking about.''I will not. and insinuating herself between them.At this point-blank denial.

 leaning with her elbow on the table and her cheek upon her hand. and turned her head to look at the prospect. his face glowing with his fervour; 'noble. like the interior of a blue vessel. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front. upon my life. not on mine. Into this nook he squeezed himself. Swancourt impressively. The voice.'I didn't know you were indoors. 'Twas all a-twist wi' the chair.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that. had any persons been standing on the grassy portions of the lawn.

'And then 'twas by the gate into Eighteen Acres.'Dear me--very awkward!' said Stephen.' she went on. laugh as you will. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. 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. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. Did he then kiss her? Surely not. where the common was being broken up for agricultural purposes. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. walking up and down. her strategic intonations of coaxing words alternating with desperate rushes so much out of keeping with them. why is it? what is it? and so on.

 Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. Go down and give the poor fellow something to eat and drink. 'is Geoffrey. 'They are only something of mine. though not unthought. I have done such things for him before. I did not mean it in that sense. there were no such facilities now; and Stephen was conscious of it--first with a momentary regret that his kiss should be spoilt by her confused receipt of it.''She can do that.''How old is he. Smith. do. papa. je l'ai vu naitre.