"'
'Not at all,' she rejoined quickly. 'See how I can gallop. Now,
Pansy, off!' And Elfride started; and Stephen beheld her light
figure contracting to the dimensions of a bird as she sank into
the distance--her hair flowing.
He walked on in the same direction, and for a considerable time
could see no signs of her returning. Dull as a flower without the
sun he sat down upon a stone, and not for fifteen minutes was any
sound of horse or rider to be heard. Then Elfride and Pansy
appeared on the hill in a round trot.
'Such a delightful scamper as we have had!' she said, her face
flushed and her eyes sparkling. She turned the horse's head,
Stephen arose, and they went on again.
'Well, what have you to say to me, Mr. Smith, after my long
absence?'
'Do you remember a question you could not exactly answer last
night--whether I was more to you than anybody else?' said he.
'I cannot exactly answer now, either.'
'Why can't you?'
'Because I don't know if I am more to you than any one else.'
'Yes, indeed, you are!' he exclaimed in a voice of intensest
appreciation, at the same time gliding round and looking into her
face.
'Eyes in eyes,' he murmured playfully; and she blushingly obeyed,
looking back into his.
'And why not lips on lips?' continued Stephen daringly.
'No, certainly not. Anybody might look; and it would be the death
of me. You may kiss my hand if you like.
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