Episode 6

Stephen Smith,who has hitherto been hidden from us by the darkness,was at this time of his life but a youth in appearance,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 fretof Babylon the Second.

His complexion was as fine as Elfrides own;the pink of his cheeks as delicate.His mouth as perfect as Cupids bow in form,and as cherry-red in colour as hers.Bright curly hair;bright sparkling blue-gray eyes;a boys 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 fathers.

Hes come,papa.Such a young man for a business man!

Oh,indeed!

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

Hm!what next?

Nothing;thats 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 Heavens sake.And when he has done eating,say I should like to have a few words with him,if he doesnt mind coming up here.

The young lady glided downstairs again,and whilst she awaits young Smiths 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 others.

The spot is a very remote one:we have no railway within fourteen miles;and the nearest place for putting up at--called a town,though merely a large village--is Castle Boterel,two miles further on;so that it would be most convenient for you to stay at the vicarage--which I am glad to place at your disposal--instead of pushing on to the hotel at Castle Boterel,and coming back again in the morning.

Any day of the next week that you like to name for the visit will find us quite ready to receive you.--Yours very truly,CHRISTOPHER

SWANCOURT.

2.MR.HEWBY TO MR.SWANCOURT.

"PERCY PLACE,CHARING CROSS,Feb.20,18--.

DEAR SIR,--Agreeably to your request of the 18th instant,I have arranged to survey and make drawings of the aisle and tower of your parish church,and of the dilapidations which have been suffered to accrue thereto,with a view to its restoration.

My assistant,Mr.Stephen Smith,will leave London by the early train to-morrow morning for the purpose.Many thanks for your proposal to accommodate him.He will take advantage of your offer,and will probably reach your house at some hour of the evening.You may put every confidence in him,and may rely upon his discernment in the matter of church architecture.

Trusting that the plans for the restoration,which I shall prepare from the details of his survey,will prove satisfactory to yourself and Lord Luxellian,I am,dear sir,yours faithfully,WALTER HEWBY.

Episodes
1 Episode 1
2 Episode 2
3 Episode 3
4 Episode 4
5 Episode 5
6 Episode 6
7 Episode 7
8 Episode 8
9 Episode 9
10 Episode 10
11 Episode 11
12 Episode 12
13 Episode 13
14 Episode 14
15 Episode 15
16 Episode 16
17 Episode 17
18 Episode 18
19 Episode 19
20 Episode 20
21 Episode 21
22 Episode 22
23 Episode 23
24 Episode 24
25 Episode 25
26 Episode 26
27 Episode 27
28 Episode 28
29 Episode 29
30 Episode 30
31 Episode 31
32 Episode 32
33 Episode 33
34 Episode 34
35 Episode 35
36 Episode 36
37 Episode 37
38 Episode 38
39 Episode 39
40 Episode 40
41 Episode 41
42 Episode 42
43 Episode 43
44 Episode 44
45 Episode 45
46 Episode 46
47 Episode 47
48 Episode 48
49 Episode 49
50 Episode 50
51 Episode 51
52 Episode 52
53 Episode 53
54 Episode 54
55 Episode 55
56 Episode 56
57 Episode 57
58 Episode 58
59 Episode 59
60 Episode 60
61 Episode 61
62 Episode 62
63 Episode 63
64 Episode 64
65 Episode 65
66 Episode 66
67 Episode 67
68 Episode 68
69 Episode 69
70 Episode 70
71 Episode 71
72 Episode 72
73 Episode 73
74 Episode 74
75 Episode 75
76 Episode 76
77 Episode 77
78 Episode 78
79 Episode 79
80 Episode 80
81 Episode 81
82 Episode 82
83 Episode 83
84 Episode 84
85 Episode 85
86 Episode 86
87 Episode 87
88 Episode 88
89 Episode 89
90 Episode 90
91 Episode 91
92 Episode 92
93 Episode 93
94 Episode 94
95 Episode 95
96 Episode 96
97 Episode 97
98 Episode 98
99 Episode 99
100 Episode 100
101 Episode 101
102 Episode 102
103 Episode 103
104 Episode 104
105 Episode 105
106 Episode 106
107 Episode 107
108 Episode 108
109 Episode 109
110 Episode 110
111 Episode 111
112 Episode 112
113 Episode 113
114 Episode 114
115 Episode 115
116 Episode 116
117 Episode 117
118 Episode 118
119 Episode 119
120 Episode 120
121 Episode 121
122 Episode 122
123 Episode 123
124 Episode 124
125 Episode 125
126 Episode 126
127 Episode 127
128 Episode 128
129 Episode 129
130 Episode 130
131 Episode 131
132 Episode 132
133 Episode 133
134 Episode 134
135 Episode 135
136 Episode 136
137 Episode 137
138 Episode 138
139 Episode 139
140 Episode 140
141 Episode 141
Episodes

Updated 141 Episodes

1
Episode 1
2
Episode 2
3
Episode 3
4
Episode 4
5
Episode 5
6
Episode 6
7
Episode 7
8
Episode 8
9
Episode 9
10
Episode 10
11
Episode 11
12
Episode 12
13
Episode 13
14
Episode 14
15
Episode 15
16
Episode 16
17
Episode 17
18
Episode 18
19
Episode 19
20
Episode 20
21
Episode 21
22
Episode 22
23
Episode 23
24
Episode 24
25
Episode 25
26
Episode 26
27
Episode 27
28
Episode 28
29
Episode 29
30
Episode 30
31
Episode 31
32
Episode 32
33
Episode 33
34
Episode 34
35
Episode 35
36
Episode 36
37
Episode 37
38
Episode 38
39
Episode 39
40
Episode 40
41
Episode 41
42
Episode 42
43
Episode 43
44
Episode 44
45
Episode 45
46
Episode 46
47
Episode 47
48
Episode 48
49
Episode 49
50
Episode 50
51
Episode 51
52
Episode 52
53
Episode 53
54
Episode 54
55
Episode 55
56
Episode 56
57
Episode 57
58
Episode 58
59
Episode 59
60
Episode 60
61
Episode 61
62
Episode 62
63
Episode 63
64
Episode 64
65
Episode 65
66
Episode 66
67
Episode 67
68
Episode 68
69
Episode 69
70
Episode 70
71
Episode 71
72
Episode 72
73
Episode 73
74
Episode 74
75
Episode 75
76
Episode 76
77
Episode 77
78
Episode 78
79
Episode 79
80
Episode 80
81
Episode 81
82
Episode 82
83
Episode 83
84
Episode 84
85
Episode 85
86
Episode 86
87
Episode 87
88
Episode 88
89
Episode 89
90
Episode 90
91
Episode 91
92
Episode 92
93
Episode 93
94
Episode 94
95
Episode 95
96
Episode 96
97
Episode 97
98
Episode 98
99
Episode 99
100
Episode 100
101
Episode 101
102
Episode 102
103
Episode 103
104
Episode 104
105
Episode 105
106
Episode 106
107
Episode 107
108
Episode 108
109
Episode 109
110
Episode 110
111
Episode 111
112
Episode 112
113
Episode 113
114
Episode 114
115
Episode 115
116
Episode 116
117
Episode 117
118
Episode 118
119
Episode 119
120
Episode 120
121
Episode 121
122
Episode 122
123
Episode 123
124
Episode 124
125
Episode 125
126
Episode 126
127
Episode 127
128
Episode 128
129
Episode 129
130
Episode 130
131
Episode 131
132
Episode 132
133
Episode 133
134
Episode 134
135
Episode 135
136
Episode 136
137
Episode 137
138
Episode 138
139
Episode 139
140
Episode 140
141
Episode 141

Download

Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Download

Bonus

New users downloading the APP can read 10 episodes for free

Receive
NovelToon
Step Into A Different WORLD!
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play