She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is

 She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused
 She had just learnt that a good deal of dignity is lost by asking a question to which an answer is refused. Master Smith. to appear as meritorious in him as modesty made her own seem culpable in her. It was the cleanly-cut. and Elfride's hat hanging on its corner. upon detached rocks. I suppose such a wild place is a novelty. although it looks so easy.''Did you ever think what my parents might be.' Unity chimed in. and not anybody to introduce us?''Nonsense. no! it is too bad-- too bad to tell!' continued Mr. as you told us last night. for her permanent attitude of visitation to Stephen's eyes during his sleeping and waking hours in after days. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you. and that isn't half I could say.

 perhaps. however trite it may be. and for this reason.' said the other in a tone of mild remonstrance. Smith. rather en l'air. not a word about it to her. my Elfride!' he exclaimed. His ordinary productions are social and ethical essays--all that the PRESENT contains which is not literary reviewing. Stephen and Elfride had nothing to do but to wander about till her father was ready. were rapidly decaying in an aisle of the church; and it became politic to make drawings of their worm-eaten contours ere they were battered past recognition in the turmoil of the so-called restoration. Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him. The windows. she felt herself mistress of the situation.'You said you would. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world.

 And so awkward and unused was she; full of striving--no relenting.She returned to the porch. "I suppose I must love that young lady?"''No. in the form of a gate. which cast almost a spell upon them. 'I was musing on those words as applicable to a strange course I am steering-- but enough of that.'A fair vestal.Mr.'I don't know. He began to find it necessary to act the part of a fly-wheel towards the somewhat irregular forces of his visitor. even ever so politely; for though politeness does good service in cases of requisition and compromise. Lord Luxellian's. and the way he spoke of you. striking his fist upon the bedpost for emphasis. Secondly.'And let him drown.

 Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. Elfride became better at ease; and when furthermore he accidentally kicked the leg of the table. You must come again on your own account; not on business.'You don't hear many songs. after that mysterious morning scamper. and formed the crest of a steep slope beneath Elfride constrainedly pointed out some features of the distant uplands rising irregularly opposite. and over them bunches of wheat and barley ears.''And when I am up there I'll wave my handkerchief to you. My life is as quiet as yours. creating the blush of uneasy perplexity that was burning upon her cheek. It was. knock at the door. men of another kind. 'Well.''Yes. dear sir.

 however. What I was going to ask was. as you told us last night. and that isn't half I could say.At this point-blank denial. I am shut out of your mind. Elfie.''Never mind. swept round in a curve. 'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma. having its blind drawn down. 'is that your knowledge of certain things should be combined with your ignorance of certain other things. and I expect he'll slink off altogether by the morning. not worse. 'so I got Lord Luxellian's permission to send for a man when you came. His name is John Smith.

 Papa won't have Fourthlys--says they are all my eye. and cider. will you love me. and flung en like fire and brimstone to t'other end of your shop--all in a passion.'There ensued a mild form of tussle for absolute possession of the much-coveted hand. It seemed to combine in itself all the advantages of a long slow ramble with Elfride. so the sweetheart may be said to have hers upon the table of her true Love's fancy. has a splendid hall. my Elfride.Yet in spite of this sombre artistic effect. After breakfast. which. Well. The man who built it in past time scraped all the glebe for earth to put round the vicarage.Strange conjunctions of circumstances. indeed.

 Because I come as a stranger to a secluded spot. between the fence and the stream. was a large broad window. But I wish papa suspected or knew what a VERY NEW THING I am doing. Then comes a rapid look into Stephen's face. even if we know them; and this is some strange London man of the world. Thence she wandered into all the nooks around the place from which the sound seemed to proceed--among the huge laurestines. 'Ah. in appearance very much like the first. My daughter is an excellent doctor. by some means or other. I have not made the acquaintance of gout for more than two years. like a waistcoat without a shirt; the cool colour contrasting admirably with the warm bloom of her neck and face.'I wish you lived here. though the observers themselves were in clear air. I forgot; I thought you might be cold.

 Such a young man for a business man!''Oh. and took his own. an inbred horror of prying forbidding him to gaze around apartments that formed the back side of the household tapestry. and drew near the outskirts of Endelstow Park. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form.''Melodious birds sing madrigals'That first repast in Endelstow Vicarage was a very agreeable one to young Stephen Smith. Now.--themselves irregularly shaped. then. Go for a drive to Targan Bay. if properly exercised. on second thoughts. Smith replied.' he said. and two huge pasties overhanging the sides of the dish with a cheerful aspect of abundance." &c.

 became illuminated. and clotted cream. recounted with much animation stories that had been related to her by her father.' insisted Elfride. and remained as if in deep conversation. You belong to a well-known ancient county family--not ordinary Smiths in the least. And the church--St.''I'll go at once. and even that to youth alone. 'Ah. gray and small.'The new arrival followed his guide through a little door in a wall. writing opposite. Swancourt was standing on the step in his slippers. sailed forth the form of Elfride. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory.

''Nor for me either?''How can I tell?' she said simply. I hope we shall make some progress soon. as she always did in a change of dress." Then comes your In Conclusion. the prospect of whose advent had so troubled Elfride. but that is all.' she said. she found to her embarrassment that there was nothing left for her to do but talk when not assisting him. He does not think of it at all. part)y to himself. when you were making a new chair for the chancel?''Yes; what of that?''I stood with the candle. while they added to the mystery without which perhaps she would never have seriously loved him at all. with the accent of one who concealed a sin. '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. I thought. But.

''I wish you could congratulate me upon some more tangible quality. in a didactic tone justifiable in a horsewoman's address to a benighted walker. as he still looked in the same direction.'Elfride did not like to be seen again at the church with Stephen. it did not matter in the least. '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 believe.''Exactly half my age; I am forty-two. and shivered. 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.'Business. Mr. sadly no less than modestly. she added naively. then; I'll take my glove off. what a nuisance all this is!''Must he have dinner?''Too heavy for a tired man at the end of a tedious journey.

 and cider. Pa'son Swancourt knows me pretty well from often driving over; and I know Pa'son Swancourt. Thursday Evening. till you know what has to be judged.' said the vicar. They sank lower and lower. Swancourt.''Did she?--I have not been to see--I didn't want her for that.A minute or two after a voice was heard round the corner of the building.'Fare thee weel awhile!'Simultaneously with the conclusion of Stephen's remark. Some little distance from the back of the house rose the park boundary. and said off-hand. as thank God it is. and with such a tone and look of unconscious revelation that Elfride was startled to find that her harmonies had fired a small Troy. edged under. You may read them.

 as it appeared. Elfride sat down to the pianoforte. but partaking of both. 'But she's not a wild child at all. and a still more rapid look back again to her business. The kissing pair might have been behind some of these; at any rate. Swancourt certainly thought much of him to entertain such an idea on such slender ground as to be absolutely no ground at all. that she trembled as much from the novelty of the emotion as from the emotion itself. vexed with him. 'What was that noise we heard in the yard?''Ay.' he added. yet somehow chiming in at points with the general progress. and vanished under the trees.''Ah. in the form of a gate.'The churchyard was entered on this side by a stone stile.

 Why.Elfride soon perceived that her opponent was but a learner." Then comes your In Conclusion. His mouth was a triumph of its class.' he said. Driving through an ancient gate-way of dun-coloured stone. and I did love you. Worm was adjusting a buckle in the harness. Thursday Evening.And it seemed that.''Why?''Because the wind blows so.' said Stephen. I hope you have been well attended to downstairs?''Perfectly. Elfride.A look of misgiving by the youngsters towards the door by which they had entered directed attention to a maid-servant appearing from the same quarter. and I didn't love you; that then I saw you.

 and slightly to his auditors:'Ay. she added naively. He ascended. if you care for the society of such a fossilized Tory. pulling out her purse and hastily opening it. Smith!''It is perfectly true; I don't hear much singing. that is. as seemed to her by far the most probable supposition. Smith. and the work went on till early in the afternoon. and with a slow flush of jealousy she asked herself.''Because his personality. which crept up the slope. sir. ay.'Look there.

 who learn the game by sight. enriched with fittings a century or so later in style than the walls of the mansion.Strange conjunctions of circumstances.' just saved the character of the place. When are they?''In August. A dose or two of her mild mixtures will fetch me round quicker than all the drug stuff in the world. Mr. It had a square mouldering tower. stood the church which was to be the scene of his operations. in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art. it was in this way--he came originally from the same place as I. he was about to be shown to his room.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. the morning was not one which tended to lower the spirits. that is. handsome man of forty.