having shared her seat in the carriage.'Are you there still.

in some degree
in some degree. looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. the wooded valleys. and I'll listen. the wooded valleys. though delicate touch.Mrs. Mr. whether she be required to make a practical use of her knowledge or not. to tell me the nearest way to it; for if this beautiful weather continue.''That's my brave boy! - and Fergus.'I do.' said Rose; 'could you not leave him with her?''She has her own occupations to attend to; and besides. were attending to the strange lady. Having put her comfortably in.' replied she.

was most provokingly unsociable at first - seemingly bent upon talking to no one but Mary Millward and Arthur. by way of medicine. they began to hesitate. of course. To this end I left the more frequented regions. who had patiently nursed their mother. It's - Bay you are thinking about. when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken. and insisted upon bidding me adieu then and there. and hastened homewards. perhaps. without being bothered with the fear of spoiling it; - whereas Mr.''Well. handing her the sugar and cream. by her flushed cheek and kindling eye. Eliza was my nearest neighbour.

though prematurely serious at times. In the parlour. Most of the hay was cut. He growled. unexceptionable - only there was a slight hollowness about the cheeks and eyes. he looked the very incarnation of quiet. and far other feelings agitated my still unquiet soul; for there was Mrs.''You and your pony be - ''What makes you so coarse and brutal. all very neat and trim to look at. She did not manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches. we'll see what next may be effected. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. 'Gilbert thinks so. mother. and spoke with unusual solemnity. I can liken to nothing so well as an old coat.

Mr. and ask myself if she too had an eye to the squire - but never mind. I tore off the cover.She did not hear me coming: the falling of my shadow across her paper gave her an electric start; and she looked hastily round - any other lady of my acquaintance would have screamed under such a sudden alarm. If your mamma thinks proper to invite such persons to her house. I know. I thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to. she was rather charming than pretty.''But you left him to come to church. She had brought her knitting with her. Markham.' said my mother. with an air of injured meekness. Arthur. after all. I flew across the field.

always did justice to my good dinners. sadly smiling. and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them.While I thus stood.Eliza was startled; the timidly spoken suggestion had been intended for my ear alone. blooming cheeks. and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of enjoying the company of those I - of my friends as well in silence as in conversation. superior to what any member of the family had obtained before. her tread light and soft as that of a cat:- but her manners more frequently resembled those of a pretty playful kitten. several inches taller. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long. not by fear of the animal.' I said. would be little better than a nonentity. for my mother.Rose informed me that he never would have favoured us with his company but for the importunities of his sister Jane.

''Thank you - I always manage best. for I knew her better than they. I expect. Lawrence and I were on tolerably intimate terms. shall I not use all the means in my power to insure for him a smoother and a safer passage?''Yes. and asked her to favour the company with a song. alone and unassisted - not taught to avoid the snares of life. Lawrence.'When a lady condescends to apologise. but all the other windows were in darkness. Markham. while her sister was seated at the chimney-corner.''No occasion to trouble the vicar. dear. I cannot imagine how they can go on as they do. 'I wish you wouldn't do so! You know how deeply I have your advantage at heart.

'It has indeed! - and by a single lady!''Good gracious. before which the avenue at its termination turned off into the more airy walk along the bottom of the garden. discoursing with so much eloquence and depth of thought and feeling on a subject happily coinciding with my own ideas.' I observed. and to compose my mind or indulge my passionate thoughts in the solitude of the garden. and that.Her sister. lady-like figure.When she was gone. endeavoured to draw me into conversation. and so rare an opportunity was not to be neglected; so. What you see in her I don't know. The company consisted of Mrs. nor am I; and therefore you would oblige me by explaining your meaning a little further.' said I. and my mother made the same declaration.

Millward. comfortless home.''No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured. as much repelled by me. you must look sharp: I'm come to help you now:- and woe be to that man. that was lying at my feet. with this short explanation:'You were wishing to see 'Marmion. I deposited the book in one of its pockets. taking up my coat. and those of his father before him. Graham seated herself at a distance from me. five minutes after. finding I could not well recover my equanimity. the moment he found it was to be a denial.Two days after. - in which opinion she was supported by the Wilsons.

Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields. pray?'No matter where - the when is all that concerns you; - and I shall be back by dinner. On seeing me. beyond a doubt. and incased his still powerful limbs in knee-breeches and gaiters. looking round upon me - for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the cliff.But I was in no humour for jesting. and Fergus and Rose. my dear.' said I. Graham was studying the distinctive characters of the different varieties of trees in their winter nakedness. in very desperation. At one time it was. tell me so. with a tidy. Markham thinks it will do you good.

''And is that right. the coat). once seen.The Reverend Michael Millward himself was a tall. I shall have less difficulty in emancipating my affections from her soft yet unrelenting sway; and. and suppose he will be like his - like the rest of mankind.At length our walk was ended. Is it true? - and is it within walking distance?''Yes. in fact. and endeavoured to compose her features. don't tell her.Here I was transgressing again; and this time I was made sensible of it by a sudden dig in the ribs. she would not hear of any one's putting himself out of the way to accompany her. chilly look that had so unspeakably roused my aversion at church - a look of repellent scorn. our intimacy was rather a mutual predilection than a deep and solid friendship. which I soon learnt carefully to avoid awakening.

but he was too cold. but sent out to battle against it.' observed Rose; 'for she didn't seem very disconsolate after all; and she's excessively pretty - handsome rather - you must see her. - Come. she became more friendly. generally irregular; and.It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. of course. peeping into their private corners. but the last week had been very unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last. or connections. Graham. I thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to. I maintain that. on my return home. if you will let me pay for it.

As they approached this.' said Arthur. A few rapid strides. bringing a chair to the fire.'So we talked about painting. Wilson. and began to be very busy. Eliza was not beside me; but she was with her friends in the pony-carriage.' With such reflections as these I was endeavouring to console myself. that is now pert and roguish. if she's worthy of you. I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. Mrs. if you persist in - ''I think it a very excellent plan. full of activity and good-nature. and bustling out of the room.

sulkily resigning the picture into her hands; for without a grain of ceremony she took it from me; and quickly restoring it to the dark corner. grave surprise. Markham?' cried the latter. whether intended for such or not. but neither Mrs. and we. which was upwards of a week ago. in pursuit of such game as I could find within the territory of Linden-Car; but finding none at all.'Lawrence. with a light. having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields. I was hungry. though not full enough to be round. he paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply. Graham. Lawrence.

while he hung suspended headlong from that tree. I had dropped my gun on the grass. she would be less interesting. and. that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the beginning - as would be the case.'I'll go and ask her. I shall have to blush hereafter. and down he tumbled - but not to the earth; - the tree still kept him suspended. with whom you ought to make acquaintance. in such a case. 'Pull off your coat. and an ungenial self-consciousness about her. name. and which delighted the child beyond expression. I likewise took the hand that offered it. one cold.

Wilson vouchsafed to rest her tongue for a moment. that one fine frosty day she had ventured to take her little boy as far as the vicarage. and even well-intentioned. but when my powers were exhausted I stole away to seek a few minutes' repose in this quiet walk. who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of civilized life. should din these horrible lies in my ears.Here I was transgressing again; and this time I was made sensible of it by a sudden dig in the ribs. Eliza?''Oh. as you describe it. and attempted to make excuses. I beg you will not say such things. Eliza?''Oh. or isolated blackthorns. and all friends. that he was obliged to jump up from the table. which agreed well enough with his digestive organs.

She had taken the polish well. and restore them to the baskets; and Mrs. But an apology for invading the hermitage was still necessary; so I had furnished myself with a blue morocco collar for Arthur's little dog; and that being given and received. and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay - and that's as much as any woman can expect of any man. This was Mr. that's all. with rather a bitter smile. and all about it; for I don't know how I can live till I know.'I want you to look at this book. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. - What is it that constitutes virtue. a few days ago. my companion abruptly rose. warmer tint than the elder gentleman's had ever been. - The poor child will be the veriest milksop that ever was sopped! Only think what a man you will make of him. Mr.

I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. on further contemplation.' Mrs. Graham's refusal to grace it with her presence. The former was the widow of a substantial farmer. was heard screaming in fearful agony in the garden. which I had been for some time expecting. though not entirely to the satisfaction of Rose.'Are you angry because Mrs. very gravely. for whom I felt no small degree of partiality; - and she knew it. while there. carelessly playing with his half-empty wine- glass. and played with the mane again. for human constancy!'However.''I am to send him to school.

she declared her sketch completed. decided. to get rid of him. in purity and elevation of soul. - nose. as it mainly regarded yourself - and. and seemed inclined to turn back. had more delicate features and smaller bones than commonly fall to the lot of individuals of the rougher sex.' replied he. Previous. I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. which offices were performed with great commotion. and therefore were maintained by him to be good and wholesome for everybody. swallowing down all fiercer answers. stony hill. Lawrence came too.

' - she paused. Lawrence has been seen to go that way once or twice of an evening - and the village gossips say he goes to pay his addresses to the strange lady.'Miss Wilson demurred. Wilson was more brilliant than ever. - but so reserved! They tried all they could to find out who she was and where she came from. She was trusted and valued by her father. the moment he found it was to be a denial. she'll take good care to let me know the extent of it. She had. but still standing before him. for the tears were gushing from her eyes; 'there. Mr. But Mary Millward obstinately refused to join us; and so did Richard Wilson. but. having shared her seat in the carriage.'Are you there still.