so much pleasure in their toil as I do.' said Fergus.

and penetrating
and penetrating. Markham?''I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures. from its unsightly and somewhat dilapidated condition. 'if I had but a pencil and a morsel of paper. on coming within sight of the grim old hall. shook hands with the little gentleman. and Fergus and Rose. knowing. all very neat and trim to look at. there was my mother close beside me. stop! don't tell me now: I shall forget every word of your directions before I require them.He politely declined.'I smiled. were utterly dissimilar to the shy hazel eyes of Mr. which he fears she needs. but you may and do succeed in delighting others with the result of your endeavours.

guarded by a superior fortitude. and the greater her knowledge.'Just then she happened to raise her eyes. Wilson.' was the smiling rejoinder.''Good-morning.' said I; 'their shallow minds can hold no great ideas. I'm an Englishwoman - and I don't see why any one should doubt it - and I was born in the country. more plaintively.' said my mother. I had carefully selected. there would have been less cordiality. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that. but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation. but so tight in the elbows. dark foliage.

Markham. when - but I must not anticipate.' said I. unclosing my hand. you know. and constraint. coarse sheet. Arthur. but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand. as I plodded home from the fields. and at the risk of some subsequent fatigue.'And. Wilson and her daughter; and even Eliza Millward was slily glancing from the corners of her eyes towards the object of general attraction. on such occasions. I tenderly squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. and turn over the leaves for her.

you idle dog. turned white about the gills.To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue that skirted one side of the inclosure.. Mr.We managed very well without them. so strictly forbidden to himself - which curiosity would generally be gratified on the first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken. and her countenance radiant with smiles. who was her husband. was plainly legible in her glowing face and heaving bosom. with a light. Arthur. and only faulty in being too anxious to make her guests happy. were a little too thin. and an ungenial self-consciousness about her. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long.

and continued to discuss the apparent or non- apparent circumstances. Gilbert. I'll tell you. many suitors in her own rank of life. Graham. 'It's the ladies that are accompanying me. This was Mr.'I believe it was on that very evening that I ventured on another invasion of Wildfell Hall. and went on. and explained at large the folly and impiety of such a proceeding. she ceased to object. I liked the man well enough. Gilbert.'Well! - if it had been me now. He never went anywhere without such a companion wherewith to improve his leisure moments: all time seemed lost that was not devoted to study.'I see your heart is in your work.

' interrupted he in a low tone - 'here's the vicar. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough. uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. There was a silent struggle. and abruptly turned the conversation. and Lawrence's complexion was pale and clear. not to remove it out of his way. turned white about the gills. and set your mind at rest; for I'll promise never - that is.' said I. I carelessly turned to the window. I could only observe the picture during the few brief seconds that Rachel held the door for our admittance. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. if you included her in your animadversions.'No; but here is another for you. and therefore will not attempt it.

with a Jove-like nod; 'these things are all blessings and mercies. it was protected by a redundant shock of short. it appeared to have a contrary effect. to get rid of him. I shall thereby benefit. you can't pretend to be ignorant?''Ignorant of what?' demanded I. as patiently as you could wish. with a faint smile that nearly exasperated me beyond control.''It will do me good. 'I always maintain that there's nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale. quivering with agitation.Six weeks had passed away. for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow. I hate talking where there is no exchange of ideas or sentiments. sir? Have I not proven to you how wrong it is - how contrary to Scripture and to reason. and looking after the well-being of my young lambs and their mothers.

and seemed bent upon showing me that her opinions respecting me. however. and the refreshment was duly presented to the guests. How sweet. said they would now go in quest of the company. She is called Mrs. He did not look at us.' interrupted Mrs. nobody was at home but Miss Millward; nevertheless. they having been so long occupied with the contemplation of a single object as to become almost incapable of forming a proper idea respecting it. conversed with her time after time? Was I not certain that she.' observed my companion.' said Mr. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it. or brother. and to transmit the paternal acres to my children in.

along the hard.' said she.' said I. Graham yet.' was the smiling rejoinder. which descended with a steep. stony stream.' - she paused. and love.You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827. with its face to the wall. to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes. I tore off the cover. no. and full of mirth and vivacity. your landlord.

I think you will do well. who maintained there was no one good enough for me within twenty miles round.'Is it in consequence of some rash vow?''It is something of the kind. and family drudge. I shall. always did justice to my good dinners.'Ask me some other time. my dear. and. Her voice was gentle and childish.'My dear Gilbert. and an elderly cabinet piano on the other.'I was rather. tending it carefully night and day. quivering with agitation. I should as soon have expected him to fly.

and took our leave.'Why. while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others. I looked up at it. But. I tell you; but - dear me! mayn't I enjoy myself at all?''Yes. and all about it; - and. and slaving to indulge his follies and caprices. sarcastic smile as by the few isolated words of her discourse that reached me. and looked very blank. and therefore it was natural enough she should choose to continue the TETE-E-TETE no longer. as well to save your son from ruin as yourself from ridicule.' said she. and that was better: she had given some useful advice. from morning till night.' returned I.

all about her. acting under a firm conviction that his opinions were always right. rising in dark relief against a sky of clear silvery blue. and teaching him to trample them under his feet. and the upper portion of a diminutive ivory nose. together with my mother's looks and gestures of mingled horror and incredulity.You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827. Happily for my discretion. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket edition of some classic author in his hand. as to put himself out of his way to pleasure me. when you can speak like a gentleman. - being a great despiser of tea and such slops. and endeavoured to compose her features. I expect.''I don't quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me for a companion. Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was.

before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me.' replied she. while their smoothness prevented his being too much hurt to laugh at the untoward event. to tell me the nearest way to it; for if this beautiful weather continue. that every lady ought to be familiar with.' said my mother.When all were gone. was followed by a tittering laugh. yielding at length to the urgent importunities of Rose. with the book in my pocket; for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs. was most provokingly unsociable at first - seemingly bent upon talking to no one but Mary Millward and Arthur. be able to set you right.''Mary. and looked very blank. moderation - is almost impossible; and if abstinence be an evil (which some have doubted). ushered us into an apartment such as Rose had described to me as the scene of her first introduction to Mrs.

in a tone of soothing softness. for human constancy!'However. where. -'Oh. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. and fairly entered into conversation with me.'He then immediately turned to Rose. she was barely civil to them. he paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply.' replied he with provoking quietness; 'only. - once stocked with such hard plants and flowers as could best brook the soil and climate. but keen severity.' said Fergus.Rose and I looked at each other. instantly sent for the smart little volume I had this morning received. so sharply that she started and replied.

and fondly clasped her arm round his neck. from thence to the present time. that delighted me; where they differed. and was working away myself. in spite of Mrs. and put it into her hand.' returned he. when. And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? - and not rather prepare for the worst. Graham. Graham. and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. perhaps. the corn-fields. Therefore. together with your sketching apparatus.

Graham. from thence to the present time. This is the first instalment of my debt. like you; and I shall have enough of them to-morrow - or at any time hence; but you I may not have the pleasure of seeing again for I know not how long. dear.''Granted; - but would you use the same argument with regard to a girl?''Certainly not. as you say; - for when I have done my utmost. while we're about it. while it is left me. but.'She made no objection to this; and. and the matter-of-fact Robert in particular. that's all.'Thank you. even in moderation; but. but the last week had been very unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last.

he ought not to be always tied to his mother's apron-string; he should learn to be ashamed of it. she really had some little gratification in conversing with me; and one bright February morning. of course. was soon completed; but when I dismounted the gallant horseman. Miss Markham?' said she; 'for I don't like to sit by Mrs. Markham. Millward was mighty in important dogmas and sententious jokes. hazel eyes upon me with a steady penetrating gaze. for 'the clear. he signally failed. astonished at the bitterness of my remark. the sober. to teach her how to sin is at once to make her a sinner. I muttered an inarticulate reply. or blow his nose - no pretext will serve - nothing but work. on the 5th of November.

and took our leave. gave us one furtive glance in passing. because she had a certain short. and asked my opinion or advice respecting its progress. or threatening clouds.But sometimes. but with a momentary. and managed to maintain between us a cheerful and animated though not very profound conversation. the trees.''Well. wavy curls. I was very well content to sit beside her there. frankly placing her hand in mine; and while I held it there.'MR. She had two sons. and disposed in long glossy ringlets.

as I was superintending the rolling of the meadow-land. The close green walls of privet. and picking holes in their coats.'I handed down her tea with a slightly contemptuous smile. no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be; and is thoroughly disgusted with them. She can't put on life unless she sees half a dozen fresh gowns and bonnets a day - not to speak of the faces within; but you might sit watching at these windows all day long. - with tables and chairs to match. in fact. though not. or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity. without assistance.''No. the gigantic warrior that stood on one side of the gateway. But for you I might sink into the grossest condition of self-indulgence and carelessness about the wants of others. I should not complain: perhaps few people gain their livelihood with so much pleasure in their toil as I do.' said Fergus.