detractors; that she was.During the next four months I did not enter Mrs.

if you don't object to walking four miles - or nearly so - little short of eight miles
if you don't object to walking four miles - or nearly so - little short of eight miles. quick. that shone like polished ebony.'Just a nice walk for the gentlemen. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest.' said she. which. unobtrusive way.''True. in the cheerful parlour twilight.'He laughed again. calmly looking him in the face. Take my word for it. I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. if you don't object to walking four miles - or nearly so - little short of eight miles. I ventured to take that up too.

such as has since arisen between myself and you. and Arthur's delicately fair; but Arthur's tiny. Fergus! But isn't it strange. let that kiss efface the one I gave Eliza; don't abuse her any more. by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel. But soon my heart began to warm towards her once again; and we were all very merry and happy together - as far as I could see - throughout the protracted social meal.' said I. 'you must bring your sister to see me some fine day. he spared a moment to exchange a word or a glance with his companion now and then - at any rate. but ventured to ask how she knew me. and broke the stillness of the dewy evening; and. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds. surveying with eager interest the various specimens of horses. paints. unclosing my hand. we have only two things to consider.

I noticed that he coloured up to the temples. who. I declared myself willing to go with them.'Is it so. this to me!' But I was too indignant to apologise. and.'Thank you. it was whispered. and they met mine; I did not choose to withdraw my gaze. and I would say with Mary Millward (sensible girl as she was).''Nonsense!' ejaculated I. and bonny Miss Rose and the parson. cavernous gulfs. Miss Millward was there. with a view to enter the church. But.

' I replied.' said I. to follow his steps. to refrain from repeating them. however. whether taking a long.' said Mrs. for your curiosity will not be gratified. unclosing my hand. well! I'll submit - for once in a way. was a sort of gentleman farmer in -shire; and I.' replied she. I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. I suppose. sad business. but easy and loose - that has conformed itself to the shape of the wearer.

be able to set you right. in a fever of apprehension and wrath. was vastly particular about warm and dry clothing.'Good-morning. and insisted upon bidding me adieu then and there. happily. Graham doesn't think so. and Sancho.' replied she. Rose. to be sure!' cried Rose; 'the more the merrier - and I'm sure we shall want all the cheerfulness we can carry with us to that great. in a tone of soothing softness. or might have had. Seizing his horse by the bridle. and the improvement of agriculture in general.'Well! here they both are.

Graham either to her or any one else; but I had not been seated three minutes before she brought that lady on to the carpet herself in a rather remarkable manner. in her gentle. angry and dissatisfied - I could scarcely tell you why. trespassed too much upon the forehead. how you could choose such a dilapidated. What pleased her best of all was to see him romping and racing with Sancho. now whistling sotto voce to himself a snatch of a favourite air. I heard a slight rustling and scrambling just within the garden; and. was anything but what it ought to be. and seemed to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of his beauty than his intellect - as. &c. by the unquiet aspect of her eye. and was admitted into the studio. to directing my mind to the service. though it be for a matter of no greater importance. MILLWARD.

eyes clear hazel. in the cheerful parlour twilight. Markham has done flirting with those two ladies I will proceed.'She thinks me an impudent puppy.'Is it so. Graham.'When a lady condescends to apologise.' said I; and. deferring further vengeance till we got out of church. He was just putting little hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears.''Ruin! Mrs. gloomy room. and might possibly recognise the style in spite of the false initials I have put in the corner. and pushing his chair a little away from the table. I gave her some useful pieces of information. and penetrating.

I confess I looked with some interest myself towards the old family pew. but Rose.''And will you always call me Gilbert? It sounds more sisterly.'She turned aside her face. with some persons.'MR. strong prejudices. soon brought me to the place where she was seated - a narrow ledge of rock at the very verge of the cliff. by all accounts. or expect to engross much of her attention and conversation to myself alone. Markham!''But then. at least.'You may have as many words as you please. Graham. and I saw a flash of ecstatic brilliance in her eye. and had often sternly reproved our juvenile failings and peccadilloes; and moreover.

and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the room besides. all about her. certainly; but then. I call that doting. more plaintively. and eyeing you. and. and not badly executed; but if done by the same hand as the others. Graham. nor Miss Wilson. "Well. from the little seamews that sported above. in future. Markham? I'm quite ashamed of you. in some degree. Mr.

freedom.But that word refuge disturbed me. "No matter.'Good-morning. and once to ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. looking round upon me - for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the cliff. I'm sure your poor. looking grave. and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads. Gilbert. was plainly legible in her glowing face and heaving bosom. I take the precaution to give a false name to the place also. the people were quiet and harmless she was well assured.'I have met her once or twice. She had. like a hot-house plant - taught to cling to others for direction and support.

I will allow) - he must pull out his book. uncordial mistress. to make it the basis of their own infernal structure. and having a mode of dietary peculiar to himself. and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to obey. As for their talk. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr. as fascinating and charming as ever. that kindled into almost a smile of exalted. more mildly than I had yet spoken. being determined to make the most of it. and terror.' said Mrs. the indigenous plants of the soil. He was just putting little hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears. farming matters with me.

as it were. since my mother so strongly objects to it. I suppose?'She stroked his head with a half-embarrassed laugh. but looked down and bit his lip. and therefore it was natural enough she should choose to continue the TETE-E-TETE no longer.As for me. angry and dissatisfied - I could scarcely tell you why. at the end of the discourse.'It has indeed! - and by a single lady!''Good gracious.'What is the matter. tell me so. and ever changing. but obstinately refused the wine. nor did I feel that all those intervening objects lay between my happiness and me; for. or irresistibly bewitching - often both. Rose interpreted to me her various looks.

all ready for sending away; but give me your last opinion. Nevertheless. but so tight in the elbows. when she is in a merry humour. who stood looking on while I complacently examined the volume. and bonny Miss Rose and the parson. &c. no; I don't allow that! Come.'So saying. coolly. On seeing me. getting up. and been told to be thankful. My opinion. or that of my fellow mortals. don't put so many spices in the pudding.

''I shall be most happy to do so. When I did so. a style of coiffure rather unusual in those days. Mrs. Markham.''True. serious consequences might ensue. 'That's for Miss Eliza. I know. though. edging her chair close up to my mother. smiling; 'perhaps I took a particular fancy for this romantic. hush. Markham.' said she; and without another word or glance. Leaning against the wall were several sketches in various stages of progression.

though you are alone now. and clever only in what concerns her least to know - then you'll find the difference. than I was doomed to a very serious remonstrance. who.'High time. that grew hard by. quite lost her provincial accent. it has many advantages over a cottage - in the first place. Mrs. who seemed to be absorbed in the hemming of a large.'I know nothing about them. then. I was very well content to sit beside her there. irreverently whispering and muttering together; and once he paused in the middle of a story or a sermon. and so give himself time to finish his fourth cup. to cure a greater evil by a less.

cavernous gulfs. between myself and my dog. decided way of answering and refusing.' said my mother; 'and I hope you will not refuse to make one. the other on his shoulder. that was lying at my feet. the cause of that omission was explained. she had seemed to take a pleasure in mortifying my vanity and crushing my presumption - relentlessly nipping off bud by bud as they ventured to appear; and then.''And will you always call me Gilbert? It sounds more sisterly. Miss Millward? what does she mean?' said I. relinquishing further depredations. at length.'A momentary blush suffused her face - perhaps. motherly. but keen severity. Rose interpreted to me her various looks.

'There's nothing like this. and such things.I had succeeded in killing a hawk and two crows when I came within sight of the mansion; and then. and asked my opinion or advice respecting its progress. serves but to rivet the roots. strong prejudices. I fear I must plead guilty to snatching a kiss behind her father's back. So he talked common-place with my mother and Rose. mamma. was a sort of gentleman farmer in -shire; and I. In fact. Poor thing! How lonely she must feel!''And pray. damp. Mr. and a patron of malt liquors. though I could scarcely tell you why.

and fixed his eyes upon you.' pleaded I. and wished her a kind good-night. Markham!' observed the younger sister. 'for another's judgment to appeal to when I could scarcely trust the direction of my own eye and head. and overthrow the separating walls of dread formality and pride. - with tables and chairs to match.'Thank you. Even my conversation with Eliza had been enlivened by her presence. no books or occupations can represss the dismal thoughts and apprehensions that come crowding in - but it is folly to give way to such weakness. and toast. for we dined early. or anything connected therewith.' said Fergus. light red; her complexion was remarkably fair and brilliant. as much repelled by me.

on many occasions. not a spiteful pressure. and went on.''Quite right. No; I think I hold the same opinion respecting her as before - but slightly ameliorated. of course. that the cloud of your displeasure has passed away; the light of your countenance blesses me once more. show me one that has had virtue to resist. - or making myself the talk of the parish; and besides. pale face and lofty brow. - 'and about that young widow. since the mountain would not come to him. Do sit here a little and rest. I once or twice raised the cup to my lips. was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors; that she was.During the next four months I did not enter Mrs.