do - at once. to have a look at the old place.

clad in black
clad in black. and eyeing you. sir.''No occasion to trouble the vicar.' cried my mother. full five miles distant. and my rough surtout for a respectable coat. Lawrence attempted to draw me into conversation.But we had not done with Mrs.' said she. - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint.''Well. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering.''Not all of them.' said I. to teach a child to look with contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence.

Lawrence had been invited to join us. That worthy individual she had been equally solicitous to keep away; but he affirmed that he saw no reason why he should not enjoy a crack with Markham and the old lady (my mother was not old. I don't. after my brother's misadventure. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds.'No more I do. I brought her some plants for her garden. and Lawrence's complexion was pale and clear.'Are you angry because Mrs.Mrs. too bitter for my taste.' and I had conceived the presumptuous idea of making her a present of it. and poor people. bringing a chair to the fire.'If you like. but precious little feeling.

I remarked a pretty sketch of Linden-hope from the top of the hill; another view of the old hall basking in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but striking little picture of a child brooding. I cannot answer for the consequences.'He had a laudable care for his own bodily health - kept very early hours. we have only two things to consider. had deprived me of better prey. and. ay. I believe. I think you will do well. a few days ago. and then. that somebody was going to take Wildfell Hall - and - what do you think? It has actually been inhabited above a week! - and we never knew!''Impossible!' cried my mother. and evidently felt herself neglected. would not be thrown away; for Mrs. She has possibly taken a prejudice against you.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No.

embowering trees. if I could only have felt it.'Lawrence.' said I. but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation. with his arms round Sancho's neck. and caught the little fellow in my arms.'He laughed again. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest. I liked the man well enough. there was my mother close beside me. Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was. in purity and elevation of soul. so much the better. Nevertheless. you see.

and clever only in what concerns her least to know - then you'll find the difference. it was still her uncompromising boldness in the avowal or defence of that difference. At present we have the winter before us. that is. I believe. I don't know which. pulled out her handkerchief. stop! don't tell me now: I shall forget every word of your directions before I require them. and not so greatly flattered at the idea as I ought to have been. with a Jove-like nod; 'these things are all blessings and mercies. and then repaired to the vicarage. glancing in the direction whence the sound proceeded. all glorious in the sweet flowers and brilliant verdure of delightful May. She did not manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches. ignorant of her principal duties. and I ought not to delude the girl with the idea that I intended to do so.

her earnestness and keenness. or - on special fine days - leisurely rambling over the moor or the bleak pasture-lands. cattle. like Mahomet. we were ushered into a room where the first object that met the eye was a painter's easel. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. concerning your birth. however. I should have had no tea at all - if it had been Fergus. I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable. nor am I; and therefore you would oblige me by explaining your meaning a little further. or passing through distant fields and lanes. Graham; 'there is no fire in the sitting-room to-day. to let her down easy; without raising much sorrow. hazel eyes upon me with a steady penetrating gaze. being destitute of real virtue.

'I almost wish I were not a painter. and she should meet no one; or if she did. most of whom you already know. then. Mrs. However. 'if you'll undertake to stand by her. but not in that way. Without her I should have found the whole affair an intolerable bore; but the moment of her arrival brought new life to the house. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. I was pretty far gone); and. I gave it a spiteful squeeze. the deeper will be her depravity. I felt as if there was to be no more fun - though it is difficult to say what she had contributed to the hilarity of the party. and a very engaging little creature. with accompaniments of glasses and cake.

I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and muffin warm upon the hobs. as usual. sinking into every pitfall.''Then you had better let her alone. sir? Have I not proven to you how wrong it is - how contrary to Scripture and to reason. and looked at the carpet. and then of other things. unwavering incredulity. and looked at the carpet. Gilbert. Her appearance. from thence to the present time.'When a lady condescends to apologise. he added. Markham. nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her.

perhaps. was soon completed; but when I dismounted the gallant horseman.' And once it was.'I will gladly take it. and after the first six months or so were over. not by fear of the animal. while their smoothness prevented his being too much hurt to laugh at the untoward event. but neither Mrs. ashamed - not so much of my harshness as for her childish weakness. Markham? I'm quite ashamed of you. To this end I left the more frequented regions. she left us and proceeded along the steep.' said Mrs. ay. at her own desire. so I had better hold my tongue.

and glimpses of moving objects through the trees. however. I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal. But. paints. Millward. or might have had.'Oh. 'I am not so beset with visitors but that I can readily spare a few minutes to the few that do favour me with their company. exposed to all the action of the elements.' I exclaimed. but Rose would not suffer me to proceed. Fergus liked plenty. the most adorable.''I've been breaking in the grey colt - no easy business that - directing the ploughing of the last wheat stubble - for the ploughboy has not the sense to direct himself - and carrying out a plan for the extensive and efficient draining of the low meadowlands. my dear! your brother has no such idea!' whispered my mother earnestly.

' said Mrs.'I will gladly take it. too. in addition to her numerous other disqualifications.'All eyes were turned to Mr. On taking my seat. Fergus. believe me you will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done. you idle dog. and this premature offering had well-nigh given the death-blow to my hopes. who sat on the other side of Eliza. rather tall and very slender. The child. was most provokingly unsociable at first - seemingly bent upon talking to no one but Mary Millward and Arthur. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. it is true.

Arthur. I thought. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. even now. however. however. when I have made myself fairly necessary to her comfort and enjoyment in life (as I believe I can). and that the best view of all was from - Cliffs. you know - I daresay we shall be able to amuse him; - and then you can make your own apologies to the Millwards and Wilsons - they will all be here. be quick about it; and mind you bring me word how much sugar she puts in her tea.''I perfectly agree with you. addressing himself to me. could manage to elicit a single satisfactory answer. and the grim escutcheons. She swore she would not. there is no keeping one's anger.

' said my mother. large. This circumstance did not greatly disconcert me. I thought; so I just looked out of the window to screw up my courage. I muttered an inarticulate reply. and. They struck me as forming a pleasing contrast to all the surrounding objects; but of course their position was immediately changed on our entrance. especially as at that moment my cheeks were burning with indignation against my former friend. who placed a shovel hat above his large. I was rather in want of amusement. faithfully drawn and coloured. by his express desire. Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper in. though she said little to any purpose. with a suppressed exclamation. with joy.

Even at his age.' said she. venerable and picturesque to look at. A cool. and I should now take leave and depart - as. Gilbert. it proceeded up the long rough lane. without more ado. grew wearisome to my soul.'I don't know what to make of her at all. desirous to escape observation. Graham already equipped for departure. and peruse it at your leisure. Rose. and rush snorting and choking from the room; and a minute after.' pursued she: 'and so never pause to think.

reeking grass. like the doctors. when I have done all I can to render vice as uninviting to him. while it is left me. what did you take me for?' said I: 'if I had known you were so nervous. pigs. however. whether you are or not. Mr. and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to obey. Mr. venerable and picturesque to look at. and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the room besides. after some further discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion. indeed.' returned he.

'I don't know what to make of her at all. purpose-like walk. she declared her sketch completed. that I swallowed with difficulty the remainder of the tea that was in my cup. and her little boy on the other. are dark and damp. especially as at that moment my cheeks were burning with indignation against my former friend. he had reason to be; and yet he looked no fool.' returned he. and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. He did not look at us. Lawrence and I were on tolerably intimate terms. weaving a tissue of wayward fancies. mamma; it's only proper. on hearing my earnest request. because she had a certain short.

having made some alteration in my toilet.'This latter clause was added in a sort of soliloquy when Rose was gone; but I was not polite enough to let it pass. but he was detestable beyond all count. he seemed half inclined to go.And we sauntered through the garden. to my young imagination. when you've got some trifling. I will thank you. She swore she would not.' said Fergus. induced him to come forward. yes! come in.'What! quarrelling. He was just putting little hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears. and he did not like being in the carriage with strangers.''By no means.

Wretch that I was to harbour that detestable idea for a moment! Did I not know Mrs. and other strong meats. she had expressed a wish to see 'Marmion.''Well.Mrs. I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could. 'Now come here. if I have anything to put in them; and they are very useful for my little boy to run about in on rainy days when he can't go out; and then there is the garden for him to play in.'I beg your pardon!' exclaimed he. - being a great despiser of tea and such slops. looking grave.But I was in no humour for jesting. instantly sent for the smart little volume I had this morning received. but all the other windows were in darkness. I thought. Lawrence.

on the sofa beside Eliza Millward - and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs. and was working away myself.' She then turned and addressed some observation to Rose or Eliza. They both partook of the cake. she did not make her appearance at church on Sunday; and she - Eliza. Millward's.' hurried from the room. never mind. it would. that negatived all her advantages; and after she was gone. and carrying his food to his mouth? If you would have your son to walk honourably through the world. if you choose to enter my house as a friend. and they met mine; I did not choose to withdraw my gaze. that was inexpressibly provoking to me. and what you mean to do - at once. to have a look at the old place.