nce, and barely a man
in years. Judging from his look, London was the last place in the world
that one would have imagined to be the scene of his activities: such a
face surely could not be nourished amid smoke and mud and fog and dust;
such an open countenance could never even have seen anything of 'the
weariness, the fever, and the fret' of Babylon the Second.

His complexion was as fine as Elfride's own; the pink of his cheeks as
delicate. His mouth as perfect as Cupid's bow in form, and as cherry-red
in colour as hers. Bright curly hair; bright sparkling blue-gray eyes;
a boy's blush and manner; neither whisker nor moustache, unless a
little light-brown fur on his upper lip deserved the latter title: this
composed the London professional man, the prospect of whose advent had
so troubled Elfride.

Elfride hastened to say she was sorry to tell him that Mr. Swancourt was
not able to receive him that evening, and gave the reason why. Mr. Smith
replied, in a voice boyish by nature and manly by art, that he was very
sorry to hear this news; but that as far as his reception was concerned,
it did not matter in the least.

Stephen was shown up to his room. In his absence Elfride stealthily
glided into her father's.

'He's come, papa. Such a young man for a business man!'

'Oh, indeed!'

'His face is--well--PRETTY; just like mine.'

'H'm! what next?'

'Nothing; that's all I know of him yet. It is rather nice, is it not?'

'Well, we shall see that when we know him better. Go down and give the
poor fellow something to eat and drink, for Heaven's sake. And when he
has done eating, say I should like to have a few words with him, if he
doesn't mind coming up here.'

The young lady glided downstairs again, and whilst she awaits young
Smith's entry, the letters referring to his visit had better be given.

1.--MR. SWANCOURT TO MR. HEWBY.

'ENDELSTOW VICARAGE, Feb. 18, 18--.

'SIR,--We are thinking of restoring the tower and aisle of the church in
this parish; and Lord Luxellian, the patron of the living, has mentioned
your name as that of a trustworthy architect whom it would be desirable
to ask to superintend the work.

'I am exceedingly ignorant of the necessary preliminary steps. Probably,
however, the first is that (should you be, as Lord Luxellian says you
are, disposed to assist us) yourself or some member of your staff come
and see the building, and report thereupon for the satisfaction of
parishioners and