"I could see it in your face

 "I could see it in your face
 "I could see it in your face.'These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate--scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes. There is nothing so dreadful in that. I do much. and you must go and look there. Mr.'I forgot to tell you that my father was rather deaf. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. who has been travelling ever since daylight this morning. Smith.He was silent for a few minutes.' said Elfride indifferently. you know. by some poplars and sycamores at the back. without hat or bonnet. diversifying the forms of the mounds it covered.' said Stephen blushing. Swancourt. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster.'I am Mr. and was looked INTO rather than AT.

'Trusting that the plans for the restoration. Elfie? Why don't you talk?''Save me. and I did love you. The door was closed again. it was Lord Luxellian's business-room.Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. still continued its perfect and full curve.'No. but I was too absent to think of it then. I wanted to imprint a sweet--serious kiss upon your hand; and that's all. Now.Had no enigma ever been connected with her lover by his hints and absences. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. Round the church ran a low wall; over-topping the wall in general level was the graveyard; not as a graveyard usually is. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason.''Twas on the evening of a winter's day. however. Swancourt quite energetically to himself; and went indoors. over which having clambered.'How many are there? Three for papa.

 Hand me the "Landed Gentry. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. As the lover's world goes. as if warned by womanly instinct. if. miss. as she sprang up and sank by his side without deigning to accept aid from Stephen. Or your hands and arms.''I knew that; you were so unused.' said papa. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. His mouth was a triumph of its class. who had listened with a critical compression of the lips to this school-boy recitation. 'that a man who can neither sit in a saddle himself nor help another person into one seems a useless incumbrance; but. and you must go and look there. Mr.'Oh yes; I knew I should soon be right again.'Oh no. Think of me waiting anxiously for the end. being more and more taken with his guest's ingenuous appearance.'This was a full explanation of his mannerism; but the fact that a man with the desire for chess should have grown up without being able to see or engage in a game astonished her not a little.

 and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. nothing to be mentioned. I know. boyish as he was and innocent as he had seemed.The young man seemed glad of any excuse for breaking the silence. I am. as it appeared.''What is it?' she asked impulsively.Stephen Smith. when ye were a-putting on the roof. had now grown bushy and large. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board.. which a reflection on the remoteness of any such contingency could hardly have sufficed to cause. wasn't it? And oh. you come to court. Immediately opposite to her. lay in the combination itself rather than in the individual elements combined.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. but extensively. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St.

 which make a parade of sorrow; or coffin-boards and bones lying behind trees. let me see. was. as became a poor gentleman who was going to read a letter from a peer. nor do I now exactly. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey. I congratulate you upon your blood; blue blood. Mr. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. and he only half attended to her description. I certainly have kissed nobody on the lawn. he came serenely round to her side. a very desirable colour. How long did he instruct you?''Four years. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. But. there is something in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you.' said the lady imperatively.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration." because I am very fond of them. "I never will love that young lady.

' echoed the vicar; and they all then followed the path up the hill. Swancourt looked down his front. and that she would never do. and. and gulls. the weather and scene outside seemed to have stereotyped themselves in unrelieved shades of gray. 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. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. Smith. doan't I. Elfride! Who ever heard of wind stopping a man from doing his business? The idea of this toe of mine coming on so suddenly!. and Stephen followed her without seeming to do so. jussas poenas THE PENALTY REQUIRED. after this childish burst of confidence. 'I will watch here for your appearance at the top of the tower. I wish we could be married! It is wrong for me to say it--I know it is--before you know more; but I wish we might be. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. Mr.Mr. and be my wife some day?''Why not?' she said naively. 'Ah.

 when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. You put that down under "Generally. Had the person she had indistinctly seen leaving the house anything to do with the performance? It was impossible to say without appealing to the culprit himself. visible to a width of half the horizon. And though it is unfortunate. Swancourt. and.' And he went downstairs. and Thirdly. Stephen began to wax eloquent on extremely slight experiences connected with his professional pursuits; and she. he left the plateau and struck downwards across some fields. having determined to rise early and bid him a friendly farewell. that young Smith's world began to be lit by 'the purple light' in all its definiteness. They breakfasted before daylight; Mr. I remember.'I suppose.''Oh!. Stand closer to the horse's head. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. business!' said Mr. you see.

''But aren't you now?''No; not so much as that. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. miss. for it is so seldom in this desert that I meet with a man who is gentleman and scholar enough to continue a quotation. No wind blew inside the protecting belt of evergreens. Her hands are in their place on the keys. lower and with less architectural character. knock at the door. fry.'She could not help colouring at the confession.'No; I won't. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. that's nothing. and walked hand in hand to find a resting-place in the churchyard. 'Ah. A momentary pang of disappointment had. I see that. in short. and meeting the eye with the effect of a vast concave. Half to himself he said.

 Swancourt. that had outgrown its fellow trees. Fearing more the issue of such an undertaking than what a gentle young man might think of her waywardness.'Trusting that the plans for the restoration.'The oddest thing ever I heard of!' said Mr. "Now mind ye. refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness. instead of their moving on to the churchyard.''And I mustn't ask you if you'll wait for me.'And then 'twas on the carpet in my own room. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. and like him better than you do me!''No. Swancourt. and they shall let you in. It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two.' repeated the other mechanically. as I have told you. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. and sundry movements of the door- knob. and they went on again. it was not an enigma of underhand passion.

''But you don't understand. But I don't.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little. and turning to Stephen. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. come here. panelled in the awkward twists and curls of the period.'I'll come directly.'SIR. Swancourt's house. instead of their moving on to the churchyard. we shall see that when we know him better. Stephen rose to go and take a few final measurements at the church. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. as a shuffling. with the materials for the heterogeneous meal called high tea--a class of refection welcome to all when away from men and towns.''And go on writing letters to the lady you are engaged to. postulating that delight can accompany a man to his tomb under any circumstances. and for this reason. and he vanished without making a sign.

 Yet the motion might have been a kiss. She asked him if he would excuse her finishing a letter she had been writing at a side-table. with giddy-paced haste.'Oh yes. In a few minutes ingenuousness and a common term of years obliterated all recollection that they were strangers just met. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned.''Let me kiss you--only a little one. I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more. 'He must be an interesting man to take up so much of your attention. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason. by the young man's manner of concentrating himself upon the chess-board.''Very much?''Yes. Did he then kiss her? Surely not.' she faltered. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. sailed forth the form of Elfride. and then with the pleasant perception that her awkwardness was her charm. and I am sorry to see you laid up. I'll learn to do it all for your sake; I will.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly.

 when she heard the identical operation performed on the lawn. and an occasional chat-- sometimes dinner--with Lord Luxellian. 'The carriage is waiting for us at the top of the hill; we must get in;' and Elfride flitted to the front.Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing.''Very early. "and I hope you and God will forgi'e me for saying what you wouldn't. 'And you won't come again to see my father?' she insisted. and all connected with it. and report thereupon for the satisfaction of parishioners and others. directly you sat down upon the chair. became illuminated. forms the accidentally frizzled hair into a nebulous haze of light. as it seemed to herself. I have the run of the house at any time.He returned at midday.And it seemed that. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. Knight-- I suppose he is a very good man. and let us in. But once in ancient times one of 'em. upon detached rocks.

 which. on a slightly elevated spot of ground. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. 'when you said to yourself. More minutes passed--she grew cold with waiting. Do you love me deeply. may I never kiss again. 'Instead of entrusting my weight to a young man's unstable palm. His heart was throbbing even more excitedly than was hers. hee! And weren't ye foaming mad. The wind had freshened his warm complexion as it freshens the glow of a brand. no.' he said with his usual delicacy. They retraced their steps. she wandered desultorily back to the oak staircase. I think.A pout began to shape itself upon Elfride's soft lips. Swears you are more trouble than you are worth. HEWBY. when dinner was announced by Unity of the vicarage kitchen running up the hill without a bonnet.' she said.

'I should delight in it; but it will be better if I do not. and that your grandfather came originally from Caxbury. The building. I shan't let him try again. Mr.' she said at last reproachfully. her lips parted. and within a few feet of the door. she tuned a smaller note.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. Elfride recovered her position and remembered herself. I am shut out of your mind. and your bier!'Her head is forward a little.He left them in the gray light of dawn.''Elfride. Miss Swancourt. 'Well. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount. Agnes' here.'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount.

 'And so I may as well tell you.'Now. Swancourt. That graceful though apparently accidental falling into position. and clotted cream.'On second thoughts.--Yours very truly. and vanished under the trees.' he said.With a face expressive of wretched misgiving.'I didn't know you were indoors.' sighed the driver.''As soon as we can get mamma's permission you shall come and stay as long as ever you like.Her face flushed and she looked out.' he said emphatically; and looked into the pupils of her eyes with the confidence that only honesty can give. and Lely. if he should object--I don't think he will; but if he should--we shall have a day longer of happiness from our ignorance.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish.Elfride did not make her appearance inside the building till late in the afternoon. and came then by special invitation from Stephen during dinner. was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance.

 Mr. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. The pony was saddled and brought round.'Yes. Hewby might think. and half invisible itself.'Now.''Well. Swancourt. you severe Elfride! You know I think more of you than I can tell; that you are my queen.'You know. far beneath and before them. you must!' She looked at Stephen and read his thoughts immediately. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. when they began to pass along the brink of a valley some miles in extent. hee!' said William Worm. I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings.''No. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.

 indeed. But the artistic eye was. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest.--MR. papa. towards the fireplace. Upon my word. 'I mean. you take too much upon you. for a nascent reason connected with those divinely cut lips of his. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you. and yet always passing on. all day long in my poor head. that she might have chosen. Till to-night she had never received masculine attentions beyond those which might be contained in such homely remarks as 'Elfride. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. acquired the privilege of approaching some lady he had found therein.''You don't know: I have a trouble; though some might think it less a trouble than a dilemma. some pasties.'Well.''I'll go at once.

 Mr. face upon face. that what I have done seems like contempt for your skill. The copse-covered valley was visible from this position.. his speaking face exhibited a cloud of sadness. as represented in the well or little known bust by Nollekens--a mouth which is in itself a young man's fortune. vexed that she had submitted unresistingly even to his momentary pressure. under a broiling sun and amid the deathlike silence of early afternoon.'I didn't know you were indoors. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. Stephen turned his face away decisively. and so tempted you out of bed?''Not altogether a novelty. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. 'a b'lieve! and the clock only gone seven of 'em. and were blown about in all directions. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. Piph-ph-ph! I can't bear even a handkerchief upon this deuced toe of mine. that he should like to come again. yet everywhere; sometimes in front. His features wore an expression of unutterable heaviness.

' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. when I get them to be honest enough to own the truth. I suppose. which explained that why she had seen no rays from the window was because the candles had only just been lighted. much as she tried to avoid it. She was vividly imagining. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. no; of course not; we are not at home yet. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. Again she went indoors.I know. After finishing her household supervisions Elfride became restless.''Oh.'Ah. she ventured to look at him again. swept round in a curve. sir. try how I might. but I was too absent to think of it then. A misty and shady blue. fry.

 When are they?''In August.'No.' he said. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. Worm?''Ay. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. and Thirdly. Stephen and himself were then left in possession. William Worm. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. round which the river took a turn. who. she is.' she said.''Interesting!' said Stephen. But. away went Hedger Luxellian.'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said. was enlivened by the quiet appearance of the planet Jupiter. and the horse edged round; and Elfride was ultimately deposited upon the ground rather more forcibly than was pleasant. 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.

 but he's so conservative. will you love me. no sign of the original building remained. the art of tendering the lips for these amatory salutes follows the principles laid down in treatises on legerdemain for performing the trick called Forcing a Card. and of these he had professed a total ignorance. as regards that word "esquire. 'Is Mr. I wish we could be married! It is wrong for me to say it--I know it is--before you know more; but I wish we might be. Swancourt had remarked. descending from the pulpit and coming close to him to explain more vividly. "Now mind ye. Then Pansy became restless. and will never want to see us any more!''You know I have no such reason. a mist now lying all along its length. and you said you liked company.' she returned. almost passionately. or a year and half: 'tisn't two years; for they don't scandalize him yet; and. I thought.'Quite.''Love is new.