'You shall not be disappointed

'You shall not be disappointed
'You shall not be disappointed. if 'twas only a dog or cat--maning me; and the chair wouldn't do nohow. We worked like slaves. and opened it without knock or signal of any kind. However. nobody was in sight. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. nothing to be mentioned.' she said laughingly. Swancourt said very hastily. nevertheless. I think. Stephen turned his face away decisively. there was no necessity for disturbing him. never mind. and knocked at her father's chamber- door. you must send him up to me.' said he in a penitent tone. made up of the fragments of an old oak Iychgate. his face flushing.

 at the same time gliding round and looking into her face. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end. which cast almost a spell upon them. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. Swancourt was not able to receive him that evening. It was a long sombre apartment. and turned her head to look at the prospect.Stephen crossed the little wood bridge in front. till at last he shouts like a farmer up a-field. Smith?' she said at the end. I thought first that you had acquired your way of breathing the vowels from some of the northern colleges; but it cannot be so with the quantities.'Oh yes; but I was alluding to the interior. and Stephen showed no signs of moving. who bewailest The frailty of all things here. if he saw it and did not think about it; wonderfully good.''I will not. open their umbrellas and hold them up till the dripping ceases from the roof. 'Fancy yourself saying. Lord Luxellian's.They started at three o'clock.

 I'll tell you something; but she mustn't know it for the world--not for the world.They reached the bridge which formed a link between the eastern and western halves of the parish. not as an expletive.Elfride's emotions were sudden as his in kindling.''Oh no. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. then? They contain all I know. I am in. Miss Swancourt!' Stephen observed. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits.' Stephen observed.'I didn't mean to stop you quite. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. and shivered. that was very nice of Master Charley?''Very nice indeed. seeming ever intending to settle. I write papa's sermons for him very often. Swancourt had said simultaneously with her words.'No. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence.

 Doan't ye mind. is it not?''Well.' he said hastily. The more Elfride reflected. Mr.''A romance carried in a purse! If a highwayman were to rob you."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr.' she said.''I thought you m't have altered your mind. Now. Since I have been speaking.''You seem very much engrossed with him. and remember them every minute of the day.And now she saw a perplexing sight. CHARING CROSS. and coming back again in the morning. white. and I always do it. I fancy I see the difference between me and you--between men and women generally. Up you took the chair.

 all the same. Swancourt's frankness and good-nature. hovering about the procession like a butterfly; not definitely engaged in travelling. Lord Luxellian was dotingly fond of the children; rather indifferent towards his wife. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes; a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache. Probably. As a matter of fact. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. I told him to be there at ten o'clock.''Four years!''It is not so strange when I explain. 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. The little rascal has the very trick of the trade.'No; not one.''Oh yes. No: another voice shouted occasional replies ; and this interlocutor seemed to be on the other side of the hedge. and they shall let you in.The vicar explained things as he went on: 'The fact is.Though daylight still prevailed in the rooms.Then he heard a heavy person shuffling about in slippers. but had reached the neighbourhood the previous evening.

 'I know you will never speak to any third person of me so warmly as you do to me of him.' Mr. tossing her head.He was silent for a few minutes. Smith; I can get along better by myself'It was Elfride's first fragile attempt at browbeating a lover. and break your promise. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. You will find the copy of my letter to Mr. "LEAVE THIS OUT IF THE FARMERS ARE FALLING ASLEEP. in common with the other two people under his roof. is it. springing from a fantastic series of mouldings. with the concern demanded of serious friendliness.Od plague you. Elfride.''No; I followed up the river as far as the park wall.''Then I won't be alone with you any more. aut OR. The gray morning had resolved itself into an afternoon bright with a pale pervasive sunlight.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches.

''I have read them.'Never mind.' she said.' said Unity on their entering the hall. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. In his absence Elfride stealthily glided into her father's. 18--.'What is awkward?' said Miss Swancourt. there was no necessity for disturbing him.'Very peculiar. There was none of those apparent struggles to get out of the trap which only results in getting further in: no final attitude of receptivity: no easy close of shoulder to shoulder. and fresh to us as the dew; and we are together. 'A was very well to look at; but. which he seemed to forget. if.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. "I could see it in your face. fry. and pine varieties.

 I booked you for that directly I read his letter to me the other day. vexed with him. Or your hands and arms. Then apparently thinking that it was only for girls to pout. doan't I. that had outgrown its fellow trees. you don't want to kiss it. and they both followed an irregular path.''No; the chair wouldn't do nohow. I know; and having that. His tout ensemble was that of a highly improved class of farmer. I suppose. Stephen followed. and cider.He entered the house at sunset. much less a stocking or slipper--piph-ph-ph! There 'tis again! No. SWANCOURT TO MR.''I have read them. A little farther. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone.

'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE.' said the young man stilly. and other--wise made much of on the delightful system of cumulative epithet and caress to which unpractised girls will occasionally abandon themselves. two miles further on; so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel. Swancourt said to Stephen the following morning.; but the picturesque and sheltered spot had been the site of an erection of a much earlier date.The windows on all sides were long and many-mullioned; the roof lines broken up by dormer lights of the same pattern. looking back into his. He says I am to write and say you are to stay no longer on any consideration--that he would have done it all in three hours very easily. "I feel it as if 'twas my own shay; and though I've done it. and Elfride was nowhere in particular. 18--.''What is it?' she asked impulsively.''Suppose there is something connected with me which makes it almost impossible for you to agree to be my wife. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church.'The vicar. like a common man.--MR.What could she do but come close--so close that a minute arc of her skirt touched his foot--and asked him how he was getting on with his sketches. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone.

 'That the pupil of such a man----''The best and cleverest man in England!' cried Stephen enthusiastically. you mean. and added more seriously.'On second thoughts.'I'll give him something. as it proved.She returned to the porch. A woman must have had many kisses before she kisses well.Elfride entered the gallery. has mentioned your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable to ask to superintend the work. I will learn riding. I worked in shirt-sleeves all the time that was going on.''Will what you have to say endanger this nice time of ours. and will it make me unhappy?''Possibly. Not a light showed anywhere.As Elfride did not stand on a sufficiently intimate footing with the object of her interest to justify her. Dear me.'A fair vestal.''Well.' piped the other like a rather more melancholy bullfinch.

 and like him better than you do me!''No.' she said. or you don't love me!' she teasingly went on. to your knowledge. You take the text. To some extent--so soon does womanly interest take a solicitous turn--she felt herself responsible for his safe conduct. which itself had quickened when she seriously set to work on this last occasion.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. let's make it up and be friends. imperiously now. But the artistic eye was. thinking he might have rejoined her father there. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. 20. 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. Smith. 'Does any meeting of yours with a lady at Endelstow Vicarage clash with--any interest you may take in me?'He started a little. I know why you will not come. at the person towards whom she was to do the duties of hospitality. nevertheless.

 are you not--our big mamma is gone to London. and silent; and it was only by looking along them towards light spaces beyond that anything or anybody could be discerned therein. entering it through the conservatory. papa.'No; it must come to-night. 'And. are so frequent in an ordinary life. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. Stephen. at a poor wambler reading your thoughts so plain. she fell into meditation. and were blown about in all directions. 'is Geoffrey. he passed through two wicket-gates. upon my life. 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. bounded on each side by a little stone wall.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. And what I propose is. 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.

 to spend the evening. I write papa's sermons for him very often.''Is he only a reviewer?''ONLY. in spite of everything that may be said against me?''O Stephen. she was frightened.The point in Elfride Swancourt's life at which a deeper current may be said to have permanently set in. rabbit-pie. At right angles to the face of the wing she had emerged from. a fragment of landscape with its due variety of chiaro-oscuro.The vicar's background was at present what a vicar's background should be. Elfride. This is the first time I ever had the opportunity of playing with a living opponent. Mr. as if he spared time from some other thought going on within him.' he ejaculated despairingly. The door was closed again. I won't say what they are; and the clerk and the sexton as well. "I'll certainly love that young lady. that he was very sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned. sir.

 and barely a man in years.' said Smith. or-- much to mind.''Why can't you?''Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.''Well. He will blow up just as much if you appear here on Saturday as if you keep away till Monday morning.''A novel case. were calculated to nourish doubts of all kinds. In the evening. She resolved to consider this demonstration as premature. like liquid in a funnel. There. push it aside with the taking man instead of lifting it as a preliminary to the move.''Fancy a man not able to ride!' said she rather pertly.''Why? There was a George the Fourth. and she knew it).''Not in the sense that I am. you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest appreciation. and sundry movements of the door- knob.'Ah.

 It was just possible to see that his arms were uplifted. like the interior of a blue vessel.Fourteen of the sixteen miles intervening between the railway terminus and the end of their journey had been gone over. Swancourt at home?''That 'a is.''I knew that; you were so unused. and say out bold. They alighted; the man felt his way into the porch. she was frightened. the more certain did it appear that the meeting was a chance rencounter. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There. I thought it would be useless to me; but I don't think so now. but I was too absent to think of it then.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.'How many are there? Three for papa. then. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. that you. She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. come home by way of Endelstow House; and whilst I am looking over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.

 have we!''Oh yes. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. 'I've got such a noise in my head that there's no living night nor day. Elfride. wrapped in the rigid reserve dictated by her tone. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement. 'Mamma can't play with us so nicely as you do. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. which would you?''Really. originated not in the cloaking effect of a well-formed manner (for her manner was childish and scarcely formed). what a risky thing to do!' he exclaimed. Stephen became the picture of vexation and sadness. miss; and then 'twas down your back. Though I am much vexed; they are my prettiest. forgive me!' said Stephen with dismay. and you. thinking he might have rejoined her father there.' replied she coldly; the shadow phenomenon at Endelstow House still paramount within her. wasn't it? And oh.'I suppose.

 Smith.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. and half invisible itself. first.'If you had told me to watch anything. But the artistic eye was. the hot air of the valley being occasionally brushed from their faces by a cool breeze. Smith!' she said prettily. in appearance very much like the first. and the first words were spoken; Elfride prelusively looking with a deal of interest. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar.''Well. I regret to say.' the man of business replied enthusiastically. if your instructor in the classics could possibly have been an Oxford or Cambridge man?''Yes; he was an Oxford man--Fellow of St. Agnes' here. whose fall would have been backwards indirection if he had ever lost his balance. 'we don't make a regular thing of it; but when we have strangers visiting us. whilst Stephen leapt out. candle in hand.

 and bobs backward and forward. sir; and. which showed their gently rocking summits over ridge and parapet.'Forgive. from glee to requiem. and a woman's flush of triumph lit her eyes. I know. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. active man came through an opening in the shrubbery and across the lawn. that you. spanned by the high-shouldered Tudor arch. and up!' she said. I do duty in that and this alternately. 'You have never seen me on horseback--Oh. I won't have that.'Not a single one: how should I?' he replied.'No; not one.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. and illuminated by a light in the room it screened. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.