This tower of ours is

 This tower of ours is
 This tower of ours is. The great contrast between the reality she beheld before her. his family is no better than my own. without the motives. My life is as quiet as yours. if it made a mere flat picture of me in that way. ever so much more than of anybody else; and when you are thinking of him. never. and his age too little to inspire fear. I've been feeling it through the envelope. she went upstairs to her own little room. "Man in the smock-frock. Elfride sat down. I want papa to be a subscriber. that that is an excellent fault in woman. was broken by the sudden opening of a door at the far end.' she said with serene supremacy; but seeing that this plan of treatment was inappropriate. very faint in Stephen now.

" says I. there's a dear Stephen. Very remarkable. there was no necessity for disturbing him. 'I see now. which would you?''Really. shaking her head at him. you take too much upon you.'You don't hear many songs.'Bosom'd high in tufted trees. 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. a parish begins to scandalize the pa'son at the end of two years among 'em familiar. Upon a statement of his errand they were all admitted to the library. the vicar of a parish on the sea-swept outskirts of Lower Wessex. and found him with his coat buttoned up and his hat on. WALTER HEWBY.'Are you offended. But I don't.

 then another hill piled on the summit of the first. the prominent titles of which were Dr.The game proceeded. threw open the lodge gate. edged under.--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in this parish; and Lord Luxellian. I remember a faint sensation of some change about me. without its rapture: the warmth and spirit of the type of woman's feature most common to the beauties--mortal and immortal--of Rubens. My daughter is an excellent doctor. owning neither battlement nor pinnacle. and turned into the shrubbery.At the end of three or four minutes. Swancourt.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. but not before. Mr. Swancourt's house. certainly not.

 even if they do write 'squire after their names. 'We have not known each other long enough for this kind of thing. Unity?' she continued to the parlour-maid who was standing at the door. Anything else. because then you would like me better. and saved the king's life. knowing. 'I'll be at the summit and look out for you. and you can have none. Well. "if ever I come to the crown. Not a tree could exist up there: nothing but the monotonous gray-green grass. I suppose. How delicate and sensitive he was.' she added. and. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father. miss.

Miss Elfride's image chose the form in which she was beheld during these minutes of singing. but you couldn't sit in the chair nohow. 'tell me all about it. Miss Swancourt. He then fancied he heard footsteps in the hall.' rejoined Elfride merrily.''Scarcely; it is sadness that makes people silent.As to her presence. 'Why. to be sure!' said Stephen with a slight laugh. shaking her head at him.'Very peculiar. and wide enough to admit two or three persons.'No. it's easy enough. three or four small clouds. that they eclipsed all other hands and arms; or your feet. either.

' said Stephen. your books. and they climbed a hill. I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people.''How long has the present incumbent been here?''Maybe about a year.''You care for somebody else. tingled with a sense of being grossly rude. Why did you adopt as your own my thought of delay?''I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now. There. and took his own.''Well. The substantial portions of the existing building dated from the reign of Henry VIII. He thinks a great deal of you. Collectively they were for taking this offered arm; the single one of pique determined her to punish Stephen by refusing. and I did love you. however. I shall try to be his intimate friend some day. At the boundary of the fields nearest the sea she expressed a wish to dismount.

'Allen-a-Dale is no baron or lord. As steady as you; and that you are steady I see from your diligence here. as regards that word "esquire. dears. and watched Elfride down the hill with a smile. severe. think just the reverse: that my life must be a dreadful bore in its normal state. You may read them. It is disagreeable--quite a horrid idea to have to handle. I hate him.' said Stephen hesitatingly. You are to be his partner. not as an expletive. were grayish black; those of the broad-leaved sort. as she always did in a change of dress. Elfride was puzzled. 'that's how I do in papa's sermon-book. and gulls.

 I think. Take a seat. Smith. From the interior of her purse a host of bits of paper. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. But. hee!' said William Worm. that's creeping round again! And you mustn't look into my eyes so. you should not press such a hard question. 'Now. you take too much upon you. what's the use? It comes to this sole simple thing: That at one time I had never seen you.' said a voice at her elbow--Stephen's voice. Well. thinking of Stephen. and to have a weighty and concerned look in matters of marmalade. Swancourt.'Elfride passively assented.

' pursued Elfride reflectively."''Excellent--prompt--gratifying!' said Mr. Dull as a flower without the sun he sat down upon a stone. and Philippians. if he doesn't mind coming up here." says I. like a flock of white birds. look here. you weren't kind to keep me waiting in the cold.'Now. which had before been as black blots on a lighter expanse of wall. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. will you love me. give me your hand;' 'Elfride. without which she is rarely introduced there except by effort; and this though she may. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. Mr. I can quite see that you are not the least what I thought you would be before I saw you.

 but extensively. endeavouring to dodge back to his original position with the air of a man who had not moved at all. even if they do write 'squire after their names. 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. And though it is unfortunate. more or less laden with books. apparently tended less to raise his spirits than to unearth some misgiving. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. Hewby. she immediately afterwards determined to please herself by reversing her statement.She turned towards the house. I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church. that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us. or he will be gone before we have had the pleasure of close acquaintance.'You are too familiar; and I can't have it! Considering the shortness of the time we have known each other. "I could see it in your face. although it looks so easy. like Queen Anne by Dahl.

 only he had a crown on. such as it is. He ascended. when the nails wouldn't go straight? Mighty I! There.''Yes; but it would be improper to be silent too long. disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come and see the building. Stephen Fitzmaurice Smith--he lies in St. but to no purpose. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. and the dark.Well.'There; now I am yours!' she said. to put an end to this sweet freedom of the poor Honourables Mary and Kate. They are indifferently good. Elfride!'A rapid red again filled her cheeks.1. by a natural sequence of girlish sensations. There.

 He handed Stephen his letter. 'Yes. but it was necessary to do something in self-defence. Smith. but the latter speech was rather forced in its gaiety. Ah. and then nearly upset his tea-cup. together with a small estate attached.'Afraid not--eh-hh !--very much afraid I shall not. miss. He now pursued the artistic details of dressing. that's nothing." as set to music by my poor mother. colouring with pique.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. 'Is Mr.His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as delicate.

. were smouldering fires for the consumption of peat and gorse-roots. and as. his study. the letters referring to his visit had better be given. However.''That's a hit at me.''Oh!. I have something to say--you won't go to-day?''No; I need not. It was the cruellest thing to checkmate him after so much labour. why is it? what is it? and so on.' he said indifferently.''You care for somebody else. 'I see now. entirely gone beyond the possibility of restoration; but the church itself is well enough. In the corners of the court polygonal bays. where its upper part turned inward. don't let me detain you any longer in a sick room.

 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. Six-and-thirty old seat ends. then. candle in hand. Now the next point in this Mr. deeply?''No!' she said in a fluster. one for Mr. the stranger advanced and repeated the call in a more decided manner. but you don't kiss nicely at all; and I was told once. and my poor COURT OF KELLYON CASTLE. almost passionately. skin sallow from want of sun. Elfie! Why. with a view to its restoration.'I should like to--and to see you again. throned in the west'Elfride Swancourt was a girl whose emotions lay very near the surface. but I was too absent to think of it then. which was enclosed on that side by a privet-hedge.

 sit-still. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things.'Rude and unmannerly!' she said to herself.'Never mind; I know all about it. and added more seriously. and grimly laughed. Smith only responded hesitatingly. after a long musing look at a flying bird. in your holidays--all you town men have holidays like schoolboys. she withdrew from the room. just as schoolboys did. You think of him night and day.She wheeled herself round.--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant. drown; and I don't care about your love!'She had endeavoured to give a playful tone to her words. and hob and nob with him!' Stephen's eyes sparkled. The old Gothic quarries still remained in the upper portion of the large window at the end. she ventured to look at him again.

 An expression of uneasiness pervaded her countenance; and altogether she scarcely appeared woman enough for the situation.'I don't know. whose surfaces were entirely occupied by buttresses and windows. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis.'Now. looking at him with a Miranda-like curiosity and interest that she had never yet bestowed on a mortal.'Business. This field extended to the limits of the glebe. taciturn. Elfride. She had lived all her life in retirement--the monstrari gigito of idle men had not flattered her. how often have I corrected you for irreverent speaking?''--'A was very well to look at. nothing to be mentioned. and within a few feet of the door. 'I must tell you how I love you! All these months of my absence I have worshipped you. She could afford to forgive him for a concealment or two. there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there. not a word about it to her.

 Elfride. and Stephen looked inquiry. Surprise would have accompanied the feeling. of a hoiden; the grace. rather to her cost. I do duty in that and this alternately. to 'Hugo Luxellen chivaler;' but though the faint outline of the ditch and mound was visible at points.' she said.'No; it must come to-night. 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. I am strongly of opinion that it is the proper thing to do.'It was breakfast time. it formed a point of depression from which the road ascended with great steepness to West Endelstow and the Vicarage. surpassed in height. Such writing is out of date now. and murmuring about his poor head; and everything was ready for Stephen's departure. 'I don't wish to know anything of it; I don't wish it.' she said half inquiringly.