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Stephen had long since returned to India; and the persevering couple themselves had migrated from Lord Luxellian's park at Endelstow to a comfortable roadside dwelling about a mile out of St. Launce's, where John had opened a small stone and slate yard in his own name. 'When we came here six months ago, continued Mrs.

'Of course these coasters are rather tubby, said Knight. 'But you wouldn't mind that? 'No: we wouldn't mind. 'And the saloon is a place like the fishmarket of a ninth-rate country town, but that wouldn't matter? 'Oh dear, no. If we had only thought of it soon enough, we might have had the use of Lord Luxellian's yacht. But never mind, we'll go.

'They have taken it into their heads lately to call me "little mamma," because I am very fond of them, and wore a dress the other day something like one of Lady Luxellian's. These two young creatures were the Honourable Mary and the Honourable Kate scarcely appearing large enough as yet to bear the weight of such ponderous prefixes.

But what with his not being able to afford her a regular attendant, and his inveterate habit of letting anything be to save himself trouble, the circumstance grew customary. And so there arose a chronic notion in the villagers' minds that all ladies rode without an attendant, like Miss Swancourt, except a few who were sometimes visiting at Lord Luxellian's.

The remainder of my revelation refers to where my parents are. Where do you think they live? You know them by sight at any rate. 'I know them! she said in suspended amazement. 'Yes. My father is John Smith, Lord Luxellian's master-mason, who lives under the park wall by the river. 'O Stephen! can it be? 'He built or assisted at the building of the house you live in, years ago.

The sound was the stroke of a bell from the tower of East Endelstow Church, which stood in a dell not forty yards from Lord Luxellian's mansion, and within the park enclosure. Another stroke greeted his ear, and gave character to both: then came a slow succession of them. 'Somebody is dead, he said aloud. The death-knell of an inhabitant of the eastern parish was being tolled.

'Is the man you sent for a lazy, sit-still, do-nothing kind of man? she inquired of her father. 'No, he said surprised; 'quite the reverse. He is Lord Luxellian's master-mason, John Smith. 'Oh, said Elfride indifferently, and returned towards her bleak station, and waited and shivered again. It was a trifle, after all a childish thing looking out from a tower and waving a handkerchief.

He then turned himself sideways, and keenly scrutinized the almost invisible house with an interest which the indistinct picture itself seemed far from adequate to create. 'Yes, that's Lord Luxellian's, he said yet again after a while, as he still looked in the same direction. 'What, be we going there? 'No; Endelstow Vicarage, as I have told you.

What room were they standing in? thought Elfride. As nearly as she could guess, it was Lord Luxellian's business-room, or office. What people were in the house? None but the governess and servants, as far as she knew, and of these he had professed a total ignorance. Had the person she had indistinctly seen leaving the house anything to do with the performance?