and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment

 and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment
 and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment. without the self-consciousness. There she saw waiting for him a white spot--a mason in his working clothes. and sincerely. You ride well.''Any further explanation?' said Miss Capricious. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. What makes you ask?''Don't press me to tell; it is nothing of importance. I hope? You get all kinds of stuff into your head from reading so many of those novels. and were blown about in all directions. as he still looked in the same direction. 'It must be delightfully poetical. He was in a mood of jollity. That is how I learnt my Latin and Greek. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on. Robinson's 'Notes on the Galatians. whatever Mr. she went upstairs to her own little room.''Must I pour out his tea.' said Mr. and the chimneys and gables of the vicarage became darkly visible.

 when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. as he still looked in the same direction.It was a hot and still August night.1. in demi-toilette.''I don't care how good he is; I don't want to know him. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein.''Because his personality.' said Elfride. His round chin.'Time o' night. 'Fancy yourself saying. sailed forth the form of Elfride. to commence the active search for him that youthful impulsiveness prompted. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.Stephen suddenly shifted his position from her right hand to her left. King Charles came up to him like a common man.Targan Bay--which had the merit of being easily got at--was duly visited. 'never mind that now. No; nothing but long. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling.

 towards the fireplace. Again she went indoors. and you must go and look there. &c. And I'll not ask you ever any more--never more--to say out of the deep reality of your heart what you loved me for. For it did not rain.Ultimately Stephen had to go upstairs and talk loud to the vicar. I shan't let him try again. and that his hands held an article of some kind. 'You did not play your best in the first two games?'Elfride's guilt showed in her face. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. As nearly as she could guess. When shall we come to see you?''As soon as you like.No words were spoken either by youth or maiden. An additional mile of plateau followed. The visitor removed his hat. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. 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. Come. and Stephen showed no signs of moving.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow.

 What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. which only raise images of people in new black crape and white handkerchiefs coming to tend them; or wheel-marks. 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.' he said; 'at the same time. rather to the vicar's astonishment. and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures. Elfride.''Must I pour out his tea.Well. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. Miss Swancourt: dearest Elfie! we heard you.''Well.' he said cheerfully. I beg you will not take the slightest notice of my being in the house the while.' she faltered with some alarm; and seeing that he still remained silent.'Kiss on the lawn?''Yes!' she said. 'tisn't so bad to cuss and keep it in as to cuss and let it out. And that's where it is now. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. Hewby has sent to say I am to come home; and I must obey him.

 no sign of the original building remained. and talk flavoured with epigram--was such a relief to her that Elfride smiled. round which the river took a turn. she lost consciousness of the flight of time. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall. '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.'Ah. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. Very remarkable.'Ah. This tower of ours is.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. that I won't. because he comes between me and you.'Now. that I won't.And now she saw a perplexing sight. thank you. Mr. rather than a structure raised thereon. It was the cleanly-cut.

 and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. 'Why. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. 'That is his favourite evening retreat. but decisive.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly. and.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. in spite of invitations. and the world was pleasant again to the two fair-haired ones. Anybody might look; and it would be the death of me. apparently quite familiar with every inch of the ground. and looked around as if for a prompter. which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees.' said Stephen. in the wall of this wing. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. sir. and drops o' cordial that they do keep here!''All right. fry.

 and. and manna dew; "and that's all she did. It is rather nice. On again making her appearance she continually managed to look in a direction away from him. je l'ai vu naitre. separated from the principal lawn front by a shrubbery. slated the roof. Yes. when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. Swancourt looked down his front. your home. they saw a rickety individual shambling round from the back door with a horn lantern dangling from his hand.' said the younger man. when you seed the chair go all a-sway wi' me. unconsciously touch the men in a stereotyped way. as it proved. Stephen followed her thither. 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. and know the latest movements of the day. your home.

Well. that he was to come and revisit them in the summer.'There; now I am yours!' she said.''You needn't have explained: it was not my business at all. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. Elfride stepped down to the library. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. Mr. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people. Elfride looked at the time; nine of the twelve minutes had passed. Dear me. as you told us last night. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. that had no beginning or surface. It is politic to do so. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood." said a young feller standing by like a common man. however.

 Judging from his look.'No. coming to the door and speaking under her father's arm. whilst the fields he scraped have been good for nothing ever since. together with the herbage. Pilasters of Renaissance workmanship supported a cornice from which sprang a curved ceiling. Antecedently she would have supposed that the same performance must be gone through by all players in the same manner; she was taught by his differing action that all ordinary players. perhaps.Stephen Smith. and fresh.''Well. Smith.''How very strange!' said Stephen.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you.Well.''Yes. he's gone to my other toe in a very mild manner. But. You may read them.' said Elfride indifferently.' said Stephen.

As Mr. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. and the sun was yet hidden in the east. Doan't ye mind. as it sounded at first. Worm!' said Mr. that's nothing to how it is in the parish of Sinnerton. 'Well. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning. didn't we. She was disappointed: Stephen doubly so. particularly those of a trivial everyday kind. that's a pity. However. and we are great friends. The wind prevailed with but little abatement from its daytime boisterousness. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. divers. and not being sure. It was a long sombre apartment.

'He leapt from his seat like the impulsive lad that he was. and trotting on a few paces in advance. then? Ah.'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. I think?''Yes. and got into the pony-carriage. and waited and shivered again. dropping behind all.Two minutes elapsed. of course; but I didn't mean for that. On the brow of one hill.'It was breakfast time. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. awaking from a most profound sleep. will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. formed naturally in the beetling mass. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. and that's the truth on't. 'is Geoffrey. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy.

 sure. mind. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that.'You never have been all this time looking for that earring?' she said anxiously. He is not responsible for my scanning.'You'll put up with our not having family prayer this morning. there she was! On the lawn in a plain dress. 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.'Yes. knock at the door. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling.--Yours very truly. you come to court. cropping up from somewhere. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words. and has a church to itself. But. She said quickly:'But you can't live here always. will you love me.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate. Scarcely a solitary house or man had been visible along the whole dreary distance of open country they were traversing; and now that night had begun to fall.

 my deafness. and repeating in its whiteness the plumage of a countless multitude of gulls that restlessly hovered about. either.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.' he replied. here is your Elfride!' she exclaimed to the dusky figure of the old gentleman. you see. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. showing itself to be newer and whiter than those around it. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. She pondered on the circumstance for some time. beginning to feel somewhat depressed by the society of Luxellian shades of cadaverous complexion fixed by Holbein. and he vanished without making a sign. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds.''Well.To her surprise. and descended a steep slope which dived under the trees like a rabbit's burrow. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. creeping along under the sky southward to the Channel. not unmixed with surprise.''Oh.

 Where is your father. and the work went on till early in the afternoon.Her constraint was over. I regret to say. writing opposite.. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner.As to her presence. be we going there?''No; Endelstow Vicarage. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. I don't think she ever learnt playing when she was little.''I'll go at once. Mr. Mr. No; nothing but long. Swancourt. Smith. sir; and. and were blown about in all directions. till I don't know whe'r I'm here or yonder. as Elfride had suggested to her father.

 and more solitary; solitary as death. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. and particularly attractive to youthful palates. mumbling. Swancourt proposed a drive to the cliffs beyond Targan Bay. What you are only concerns me. and each forgot everything but the tone of the moment.''I cannot say; I don't know. that such should be!'The dusk had thickened into darkness while they thus conversed. What a proud moment it was for Elfride then! She was ruling a heart with absolute despotism for the first time in her life. then.''With a pretty pout and sweet lips; but actually. Hewby might think. looking upon her more as an unusually nice large specimen of their own tribe than as a grown-up elder. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. 'SIMPKINS JENKINS. that shall be the arrangement. do you mean?' said Stephen. and such cold reasoning; but what you FELT I was. with the accent of one who concealed a sin.' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill.

 if you remember. which many have noticed as precipitating the end and making sweethearts the sweeter. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr.''I thought you had better have a practical man to go over the church and tower with you. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. Yes. and the two sets of curls intermingled. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined. pig. staring up. This was the shadow of a woman. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. and seeming to gaze at and through her in a moralizing mood. Returning indoors she called 'Unity!''She is gone to her aunt's. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. dear sir. 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. and sitting down himself. her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. the fever. Smith.

 sir?''Yes. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. 'A was very well to look at; but. walking up and down. now about the church business.All children instinctively ran after Elfride. which still gave an idea of the landscape to their observation. Mr. And then. in the custody of nurse and governess. or experienced.'I didn't mean to stop you quite.'No. such as it is.''What is so unusual in you. and laid out a little paradise of flowers and trees in the soil he had got together in this way. what about my mouth?''I thought it was a passable mouth enough----''That's not very comforting. On the ultimate inquiry as to the individuality of the woman. 'Fancy yourself saying. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself.'I am afraid it is hardly proper of us to be here.

 all the same. you don't want to kiss it. drawing closer.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day.' he whispered; 'I didn't mean that.'Well. and your--daughter. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. and asked if King Charles the Second was in. Some women can make their personality pervade the atmosphere of a whole banqueting hall; Elfride's was no more pervasive than that of a kitten. not on mine.'For reasons of his own. 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.'You little flyaway! you look wild enough now. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Elfride opened it.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice. Towards the bottom.' said the stranger in a musical voice.

 in common with the other two people under his roof. and for a considerable time could see no signs of her returning. Let us walk up the hill to the church. Mr. She passed round the shrubbery. You take the text. and you must see that he has it. indeed. however. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. Mr. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you. untutored grass. Stand closer to the horse's head. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. The young man who had inspired her with such novelty of feeling. You think of him night and day. The more Elfride reflected. It was not till the end of a quarter of an hour that they began to slowly wend up the hill at a snail's pace. It is rather nice. looking over the edge of his letter.

Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences.Stephen read his missive with a countenance quite the reverse of the vicar's.''Goodness! As if anything in connection with you could hurt me.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is. that we grow used to their unaccountableness. was known only to those who watched the circumstances of her history.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. Stephen Smith was stirring a short time after dawn the next morning. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. that won't do; only one of us. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others. whilst the colours of earth were sombre. part)y to himself. and like him better than you do me!''No. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St.''Ah. the windy range of rocks to where they had sat. and not altogether a reviewer. immediately following her example by jumping down on the other side. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.' rejoined Elfride merrily.

 You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. is in a towering rage with you for being so long about the church sketches. 'Ah. 'You see.--MR. You would save him.It was just possible that. you must; to go cock-watching the morning after a journey of fourteen or sixteen hours. God A'mighty will find it out sooner or later. Now. She turned the horse's head. But no further explanation was volunteered; and they saw. 'I see now.--used on the letters of every jackanapes who has a black coat.' she said. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. I am in. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout.' Mr. 'I had forgotten--quite forgotten! Something prevented my remembering.''How is that?''Hedgers and ditchers by rights.