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'Very well, then, that bringsto propose This is a letter from Lord Luxellian I think you heard me speak of him as the resident landowner in this district, and patron of this living?'

'I--know of him'

'He is in London now It seems that he has run up on business for a day or two, and taken Lady Luxellian with hio to his house, and search for a paper aot to take with him'

'What did he send in the letter?' inquired Elfride

'The key of a private desk in which the papers are He doesn't like to trust such a s for him before And what I propose is, that we make an afternoon of it--all three of us Go for a drive to Targan Bay, co over the documents you can ramble about the rooms where you like I have the run of the house at any tiables outside, has a splendid hall, staircase, and gallery within; and there are a few good pictures'

'Yes, there are,' said Stephen

'Have you seen the place, then?

'I saw it as I ca to the interior And the church--St Eval's--is nes' here I do duty in that and this alternately, you know The fact is, I ought to have so across that park for twoIf my constitution were not well seasoned, as thank God it is,'--here Mr Swancourt looked down his front, as if his constitution were visible there,--'I should be coughing and barking all the year round And when the faoes away, there are only about three servants to preach to when I get there Well, that shall be the arrangeo?'

Elfride assented; and the little breakfast-party separated Stephen rose to go and take a few finalhim to the door with a mysterious expression of inquiry on his face

'You'll put up with our not having fa, I hope?' he whispered

'Yes; quite so,' said Stephen

'To tell you the truth,' he continued in the sa of it; but e have strangers visiting us, I a to do, and I always do it I am very strict on that point But you, S in your face which makes me feel quite at home; no nonsense about you, in short Ah, 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, and grihed