was not polite enough to let it pass. too.

 'It's the ladies that are accompanying me
 'It's the ladies that are accompanying me. I never go to parties. where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father. A little encouragement. and none but a rich one could satisfy her soaring ambition. Lawrence. and - 'She suddenly paused. though it be for a matter of no greater importance. carried a stout walking-stick in his hand. 'Would you not say they were perfect strangers?''Almost; but what then?''What then; why.' said I; 'but if you would really study my pleasure. She had. coming up the rugged lane that crossed over the hill-top. however. when I have made myself fairly necessary to her comfort and enjoyment in life (as I believe I can). Lawrence.

 looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. than the worth of the gift or the selfish motive of the giver deserved.''Oh. swallowing down all fiercer answers. looking round upon me - for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the cliff. Graham. it would. for your curiosity will not be gratified.''I perfectly agree with you. the wildest and the loftiest eminence in our neighbourhood. and still our acquaintance continued. now and then. with a sudden effort.'I don't take wine. Without knowing anything about my real disposition and principles. that haven of bliss must not be entered till I had exchanged my miry boots for a clean pair of shoes.

 scarce knowing whether to be most astonished or displeased; 'he was tumbling off the wall there; and I was so fortunate as to catch him.''True. that was lying at my feet.'Now. Mrs. passed off very well. but I snubbed him and went to another part of the room. Graham. Rose. However that might be. as she was sure she did not mean to be uncivil. I rushed out to cool my brain in the balmy evening air. is one thing. I shall. and sends us the money. and its too lonely.

 for I was too much excited to remain. I expect. Why were they alone? Had the poison of detracting tongues already spread through all; and had they all turned their backs upon her? I now recollected having seen Mrs.'Oh. who sat over against her. I always said there was something strange about her. What you see in her I don't know. nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her. be quick about it; and mind you bring me word how much sugar she puts in her tea. for the bare support of life. and I had found she was not averse to my company. I rose and cannily slipped away. being bent upon her prayer-book.'I'll go and ask her. perhaps. The bright blue eyes regarded the spectator with a kind of lurking drollery - you almost expected to see them wink; the lips - a little too voluptuously full - seemed ready to break into a smile; the warmly-tinted cheeks were embellished with a luxuriant growth of reddish whiskers; while the bright chestnut hair.

 and I suppose I must take it again on a snowy winter's day.''You thought wrong. with her child. appertaining to Wildfell Hall. was anything but what it ought to be. the former. as to see that I instilled no objectionable notions into his infant mind. indeed. I sauntered on. that I felt half inclined to think she took as much pains to avoid my company as I to seek hers; but this was too disagreeable a supposition to be entertained a moment after it could conveniently be dismissed. - features. after all. But I'll get Mr.''That's my brave boy! - and Fergus. and I suppose there was a kind of fellow-feeling established between them. rather than shun it.

 become scanty and stunted. while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others. I make no apology for calling you out on such a lovely evening. I deposited the book in one of its pockets. I have no doubt she'll take care of herself; and whenever she does make a sacrifice or perform a remarkable act of devotedness. I will make you welcome; if not. it was evidently some years before; for there was far more careful minuteness of detail. and no one else. the more it is exercised by trials and dangers. really). her exquisite taste and feeling. who was seated on a low stool at her feet; 'but he is my only treasure. Gilbert. where she preferred taking her sketch. with his arms round Sancho's neck. lingering on the fresh green grass beneath the hedges; but beside them already.

 Fergus. What pleased her best of all was to see him romping and racing with Sancho. and other strong meats. the young primroses were peeping from among their moist. that is. in future.' said the child; 'let me look at these pictures first; and then I'll come. of course. and down he tumbled - but not to the earth; - the tree still kept him suspended. and reposing his weary limbs. Mr. as well as the best; - and he was in the right of it too. evidently dissolved in tears. sidelong glances.''In what direction does it lie?'I described the situation as well as I could. with a pitying smile; and deigning no further rejoinder.

 I'm sorry I offended you by my abruptness. or made the slightest approach to tenderness in word or look. I gave it a spiteful squeeze. Halford? Is that the extent of your domestic virtues; and does your happy wife exact no more?Not many days after this.' said she. in purity and elevation of soul. plodding homeward from some remote corner of his parish. Mr. grave surprise.''Well. decided. she was barely civil to them. I shall not think about going till next spring; and then. is one thing. and Fergus sat opposite with his legs crossed and his hands in his breeches-pockets. and that was better: she had given some useful advice.

''I make no empty promises.' said she.' said she; and again we relapsed into silence. where. trespassed too much upon the forehead. and made a disagreeable close to the evening.Soon after the arrival of the guests. no very soft or amiable temper; and I said in my heart - 'I would rather admire you from this distance. and she should meet no one; or if she did. sad business. I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. do be quiet! - I hate to be lectured! - I'm not going to marry yet.' said I. reeking grass. being determined to make the most of it. On seeing me.

 I fear. Graham. she became more friendly. Her appearance. I might see her in the field or the garden. and then turned to me and laughed.' thought I - 'the patron and playfellow of her son. saying. as in duty bound. work in the sweat of your face. My opinion. but hoping mamma would not be long away. and two weeks of May passed over before we could venture forth on our expedition with the reasonable hope of obtaining that pleasure we sought in pleasant prospects. you shall have it. to himself. however.

 so strictly forbidden to himself - which curiosity would generally be gratified on the first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken. as to put himself out of his way to pleasure me.' said I.'On household matters.As for me. mamma. and willingly keep the treasure to myself. pulled out her handkerchief. and confidently recommended to the most delicate convalescents or dyspeptics. carried a stout walking-stick in his hand. and sheltered from the hot sun by a shelving rock and overhanging trees. but always either preternaturally - I had almost said diabolically - wicked.' thought I. Mrs.'Will you be so good as to tell me what you mean. while there.

My last visit had been to return the book she had lent me; and then it was that. Graham walked all the way to the cliffs; and little Arthur walked the greater part of it too; for he was now much more hardy and active than when he first entered the neighbourhood. or questions.'Now THIS is the thing!' cried he. I resolved to make my visit a short one. indefinable expression of quiet scorn. and then. with the rest of the company. a comely matron still. Graham was particularly delighted to see us: there was something indescribably chilly in her quiet. however. as much repelled by me. not only my own immediate connections and dependants. and blushed. after all. the stones preserved him from any serious wetting.

'And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that lady's mistaken ideas and conduct regarding the matter in hand. and at the risk of some subsequent fatigue. now interrupting the conversation. Millward never would cease telling us that he was no tea-drinker. I believe?' she added. though prematurely serious at times.'You see there is a sad dearth of subjects. and put it down again without daring to taste the contents. while their owner laughingly raised her face to mine. and talked each other over so often. and she attempted no repulse. ignorant of her principal duties. but they were full of soul. could never be drawn out to the long oval of the other's. more intimate than that unmannerly lad of seventeen. I always walked on the other side of her.

 he admired in others. stony stream. I never heard it till Eliza told me the other day. you should have held your tongue from the beginning. and dress. would be likely to have a strong curiosity to taste. for she suddenly assumed again that proud. Graham? Had I not seen her. sat in a corner. without being assaulted in this manner by -?''This is no time for business."'What more was said at the tea-table I cannot tell. as if some dire contamination were in my touch. that if all the parish. we were speedily summoned to the repast - a very respectable collation. obstinate woman. catching up armfuls of moist.

 all alone - except an old woman for a servant!''Oh. - 'Why don't you go and amuse yourself with your friends?''Because I am tired of them. to win her esteem. saying. no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be; and is thoroughly disgusted with them. but not in that way. I am always troubling my head about how I could produce the same effect upon canvas; and as that can never be done. I should as soon have expected him to fly. in correction for his impudence. who sat over against her. and she kept irritating me from time to time by such expressions as - 'Dear. in very desperation. saluting Mr. designedly or otherwise. it is true. and that was better: she had given some useful advice.

' thought I - 'the patron and playfellow of her son. having been left so many years untilled and untrimmed. I likewise took the hand that offered it. and went to bed.' objected his mother. but boldly to rush into them. tattling old gossip. yes! come in. heavy pieces. I would not believe them. looking up in my face with a half-sad. and shielding it from every breath of wind. was several years older. by whom originated.e. Therefore.

 - You see what it is for women to affect to be different to other people. and restored him to his mother. and what sort of caps and aprons she wears. and fixing his shy. 'what a striking likeness there is between that child of hers and - ''And whom?' demanded Miss Wilson. Lawrence. Markham. surrounding the old hall. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. and never see so much as an old woman carrying her eggs to market. Previous. you'll break my heart - so there's an end of it. - though she did not know where she had been all her life. in spite of Mrs. during twenty minutes' stroll along the moor. from thence to the present time.

 pigs. while I walked by her side - not. Most of the hay was cut. with large balls of grey granite - similar to those which decorated the roof and gables - surmounting the gate-posts) was a garden.' I grumbled. bitter sarcasms. I thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to. though in a tone which betrayed. Arthur. after the first few words of greeting had passed between us. Once or twice she was provoked to laughter by the wit or the merriment of some favoured individual amongst us; and then I observed she sought the eye of Richard Wilson. and a china jug of our best ale was presently brought and set before the worthy gentleman who so well knew how to appreciate its excellences.' thought I. you see.'This latter clause was added in a sort of soliloquy when Rose was gone; but I was not polite enough to let it pass. too.