A Pair of Blue Eyes

shelter of

shining moon maintaining a race over his head and down his back in an endless gambol. When he crossed the plank bridge and entered the garden-gate, he saw an illuminated figure coming from the enclosed plot towards the ho

n! We should ha' been in bed in another ten minutes. Co

re serious case if Mr. Smith had been a more important man. Stephen's anxious inquiry drew from his father words of regret at the inconvenienc

In common with most rural mechanics, he had too much individuality to be a typical 'working-man'-a resultant of that beach-pebble

roof had to be covered before the wet weather set in, and nobody was near who could do it better. Indeed, on one or two occasions in the depth of winter, when frost peremptorily forbids all use of the trowel, making foundations

ethren in the trades. But he was, in truth, like that clumsy pin-maker who made the whole pin, and who

f a chiselled Hercules; his shirt sleeves were partly rolled up, his waistcoat unbuttoned; the difference in hue between the snowy linen a

her personal freshness even now, in the prosy afternoon-time of her life; but what her features were primarily indicative of was a

of the neighbourhood, and the rural world generally. Mrs. Smith threw in her sentiments between the acts, as Coryphaeus of the tragedy, to ma

ow everything about me

d his father; 'now

give myself-for not telling them

t see what you have to grieve about, Stephen,' she said. 'People who accident

rong, certainly,

r. There's more in this visit of mi

mplatively at him. Stephen blushed; and his father looked

e and clever too. But though she's very well fit for you as far as that

g one, and wrinkled his forehead, 'That's

ubt on the matter! Why, to marry her would be the great blessing of my life-socially and practically, as well as in other resp

em dead corpses before I'd want them, an

of being welcomed among such people as you mean, whil

to keep myself up. I'm sure I never stop for more than a minute together to talk to any journeymen people; and I never invite anybody to our party o' Christmases who are not

e vicar, mother; and

, Stephen, as if I were your worst enemy! What else could I do with the man to get rid of him, banging it into me and your father by side and by seam, about his greatness, and wha

e size o't,' rep

n-law of a rank lower than her father. The men have gone up so, and the women have stood s

t she think

e. I knew she was after

Good Lord,

be in such a hurry, and wait for a few years. You m

r should I if I lived to be a hundred. As to you saying that she's after me, I don't like such a remark about her, for it implies a sche

ough to gie my opinion,' said his father, in the

ll be plenty young enough to think of such things. And really she can very well afford to wait, and will too, take my word. Living down in an out-step

' said Stephen

see her sometimes decked out like a horse going to fair, and I admire her for't. A perfect little lady. But people can't help their thoughts, and if she'd learnt to

said Stephen with

her class, that is, parsons, marry squires' daughters; squires marry lords' daughters; lords marry dukes' daughters; dukes marry queens'

Stephen, unable to resist the temptation of show

nd Mrs. Smith prepared he

gun, since a volcano might be the

't out of her cl

are just like your father for that; take anybody's part but mine. Whilst I am speaking and talking and trying and slaving away for your good, you are wait

d by his father, and for several minutes nothing was heard bu

e to get a husband in my time as there is in these days-when you must make a god-almighty of a man to get en to hae y

farewell for the evening, his mother none the less warmly for their sparring; for

to-morrow; I don't know. So that if I shouldn't call agai

mother. 'And haven't you a month's holiday alt

tter say nothing about my having been here, for her sake. At

n o'c

ent, or in any way to think of his beloved Elfride, he might stay longer. Should he be forbidden to think of any suc

of Nature's offer. His constitution was made up of very simple particulars; was one which, rare in the spring-time of civilizations, seems to grow abundant as a nation gets older, individuality fades, and education spreads; that is, his brain had extraordinary receptive powers, and no great creativeness. Quickly acquiring any kind of knowledge h

dispassionate observer, his pretensions to Elfride, though rather premature, were far from absurd as ma

ment since he departed. Before he had spoken to her she caught sight of him passing into the stu

nd listened with a beating heart to every sound from downstairs. The servants had gone to bed. She ultimately heard the two men come from the study and cross to the dining-room, where supper had been lingering for more than an hour. The door was left open

be heard snoring regularly. The light came from Stephen's room, and the slight sounds also coming thence emphatically denoted what he was doing. In the perfect silence she could hear the closing of a lid and the clicking of a lock,-he was fastening his hat-box. Then the buckling of straps and the click of another key,-he was securing his portmanteau. With trebled foreboding she opened her door softly, and went towards his. One sens

; are we

isper, and a tear approached

that's what he said. And I am going to-morrow. I

u were to go-O Stephe

words. But I

talk. Let us come down to the drawing-roo

ew under such circumstances. She thought that the tragedy of her life was beginning, and, for the first time almost, felt that her existence might have a grave side, the shade of which enveloped and rendered invisible the delicate gra

y love is over; and there

, and come to you, and

I do. He is either biassed in favour of a thing, or prejudi

before him some time hence as a man of established name,

d excitement, it will be comparatively a short time, perhaps; oh, to me, it will be its real length

ou, too, may be persuaded to give me up, when time has made me fainter in your memory. For, remember, your love for me must

ou away from me.' Her tears came visibly as she drew a mental picture of his faithlessness. 'And it won't be your fault,' she continued, looking into the candle with dole

not. Elfie, do not be

and coteries, and the manners of the titled, and poor little Elfie, with all the fuss that's made about her having me, doesn't know about anything but a little house and a few cliffs and a space of sea, far aw

the mere fact of having entered the groove which leads to it, cheers to some extent with a sense of accomplishment. Had Mr. Swancourt consented to an engagement of no less length than ten years, Stephen would have been comparatively cheerful in waiting; they would have felt that they were somewhere

now,' murmured Stephen,

ding an idle dream. ''Tis the only th

ld do, would

tively: 'All we want is to render it absolutely impossible for any future circumstanc

'To marry and part secretly, and live on as we are living now; merel

ay from me

make any woman in the world marry against her will: no conceivable pressure, up to to

ollowed Stephen's last remark, a fascinating perception, then an alluring conviction, flashed along the brain of both. The perception was that an immediate marriage COULD be contrive

was cherishing. 'How strong we should feel, Elfride! going on our separate courses as

onditions more favourable for developing a girl's first passing fancy for a handsome boyish face-a fancy rooted in inexperience and nourished by seclusion-into a wild unreflecting passion fervid enough for

ve encouraged be ready to grow, love discouraged be ready to die, at a moment's notice. Stephen, do you not think that if marriages against a parent's

papa's wishes. Only think, Elfie, how pleasant he was towards me but six hou

help you. 'O Stephen, Stephen,' she burst out again, as the remembrance of his packing came afresh to her mind, 'I can

to you-thought of you shall not be a misery to me!' he sa

shoulder. 'Anything to m

Stephen. 'It seemed to me-it seems to me now-like tr

station? What's the use of have beens? We may

and that plan, Elfride modifying them, with quick breathings, and hectic flush, and u

m. They parted with an agreement not to meet again in the morning. After his