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'Nothing whatever Whatof importance And, Stephen, you have not yet spoken to papa about our engageretfully, 'I could not find hi so much of what you said about objections, refusals--bitter words possibly--ending our happiness, that I resolved to put it off till to-ht of a tremulous kind'

'Yes; but it would be i, I think,' she said in a delicate voice, which iroarm 'I want him to knoe love, Stephen Why did you adopt as your own ht of delay?'

'I will explain; but I want to tell you of my secret first--to tell you now It is two or three hours yet to bedtime Let us walk up the hill to the church'

Elfride passively assented, and they went from the lawn by a side wicket, and ascended into the open expanse of ht which streamed around the lonely edifice on the summit of the hill

The door was locked They turned fro-place in the churchyard Stephen chose a flat to itself to be newer and whiter than those around it, and sitting down hiently drew her hand towards him

'No, not there,' she said

'Why not here?'

'A mere fancy; but never mind' And she sat down

'Elfie, will you love ainst me?'

'O Stephen, what makes you repeat that so continually and so sadly? You knoill Yes, indeed,' she said, drawing closer, 'whateverto you just the same Your ways shall be my ways until I die'

'Did you ever think what inally moved in?'

'No, not particularly I have observed one or two little points in your manners which are rather quaint--no more I suppose you have moved in the ordinary society of professional people'

'Supposing I have not--that none of my family have a profession except me?'

'I don't mind What you are only concerns me'

'Where do you think I went to school--I mean, to what kind of school?'

'Dr Somebody's acadeinally, then to a national school'