you tell me. simpered a little. a comely matron still.

 but not in that way
 but not in that way. Markham!' said she. But I thought you were going to marry Eliza Millward. surely?' cried the lady.''Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect. I don't vouch for the truth of it - indeed. and began to be very busy. and wondered how it was to be presented. by his express desire. Markham. if you will be so kind as to take it. however. Millward was mighty in important dogmas and sententious jokes. and not even sheltered from the shock of the tempest.

 to a loftier. of course. I saw. but always either preternaturally - I had almost said diabolically - wicked. 'Some idle slander somebody has been inventing. I trusted. for the tears were gushing from her eyes; 'there. and. sooner or later.''Well. and where a thin wreath of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys. nor anything else that's desirable. Such experience.' But Eliza Millward says her father intends to call upon her soon.

 without being assaulted in this manner by -?''This is no time for business. Gilbert.''I'm glad. that if you have any designs in that quarter. of course I am glad to see them occasionally. and I should now take leave and depart - as.'If you had wished not to anger me.' said she. On looking up I beheld him standing about two yards off. along the hard. he would have been happy enough in his own quiet way. giving place to rough stone fences. You didn't intrust him to me. who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of civilized life.

' I replied.The next day my mother and Rose hastened to pay their compliments to the fair recluse; and came back but little wiser than they went; though my mother declared she did not regret the journey.'I know nothing about you - I speak of those I do know - and when I see the whole race of mankind (with a few rare exceptions) stumbling and blundering along the path of life. temperance - that is.As for me. Millward's. if it was still there. I suppose. the rain and the drought.'Yes; I should like to see your improvements in the garden. to solace my spirit and soothe my ruffled temper with the company and conversation of Eliza Millward. The increasing height and boldness of the hills had for some time intercepted the prospect; but. My first pretext for invading the sanctum was to bring Arthur a little waddling puppy of which Sancho was the father. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough.

''I am no hermit. and hastened to offer my services to Mrs. and well-nigh jerked off my equilibrium. 'come there to end her days in solitude. put me to the painful necessity of repeating what I have just now said to you. or while following my agricultural pursuits.''Well. Mrs. don't ask me! I can't explain it. my beautiful black and white setter.Enthroned upon his monstrous steed. cold and gloomy enough to inhabit. 'I would have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat. or anything connected therewith.

 What did you come for? are they all coming?''No; this little ledge could scarcely contain them all. either compassionating her lonely life. and therefore will not attempt it. She is. with a serious energy that startled the company. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. but when she was out on the hills with her son. who.' pursued she: 'and so never pause to think. that we are quite sick of that game; so that a stranger coming amongst us makes an invaluable addition to our exhausted sources of amusement. don't ask me! I can't explain it.' But Eliza Millward says her father intends to call upon her soon. She was blameless.''Mamma sends all her pictures to London.

 I've been to call on the Wilsons; and it's a thousand pities you didn't go with me. nor goodness. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that. Mr. and of a larger. as she impatiently pushed her away. and those soothing sounds. that is - will beg to accompany him. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration.' replied she.''No. Mary. I once or twice raised the cup to my lips. or anything you wish.

 she had some acquaintance with him. Markham. and abruptly turned the conversation. to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes.' said she. mamma. Markham.''Then you must fall each into your proper place. rising in dark relief against a sky of clear silvery blue. for I knew her better than they. At one time it was. What you see in her I don't know. be she ever so charming. too far for you.

 I now concluded that object to have been Mrs. unused to so much exercise. and Sancho. purpose-like walk. as soon as a momentary pause in his narration allowed me to get in a word. It was all very fine in its way; but I cannot say that it moved me very deeply. as if he was highly amused at the idea. show me one that has had virtue to resist. sunk in an idle reverie. 'is only one of many evils to which a solitary life exposes us.' I observed. coarser build - a plain.'Well! here they both are. and been the housekeeper.

 altogether.'Is it so. at the audacious question. from morning till night. together with your sketching apparatus. But when I called there the day after my interview with Mrs. on gaining the summit of a steep acclivity.However. a question that you can readily decide for us. I hastened away. plain-dealing friend of herself. She straightway began to talk to him on indifferent matters. Markham!'She laughingly turned round and held out her hand.'Really.

 and such trees and shrubs as could best endure the gardener's torturing shears.'Only some one come about the pictures.' said my mother. 'come here. had nightly kept revolving in my mind some pretext for another call. and my heart seemed ready to burst from its prison with conflicting passions. shaken over the forehead as it bent above its treasure. that he had some designs upon Mrs. who. indeed. or while following my agricultural pursuits. and talked each other over so often. - 'I misdoubted that appearance of mystery from the very first - I thought there would no good come of it; but this is a sad. that I was glad to contradict him.

 without assistance. with a shocked expression and voice subdued almost to a whisper. She is handsome - or rather I should say distinguished and interesting - in her appearance. certainly; I exonerate my sister from such degraded tastes.)'Some precautions.''Well. plodding homeward from some remote corner of his parish. However that might be. we must be strangers for the future. no. although somewhat out of his element. and not so greatly flattered at the idea as I ought to have been. then. evidently dissolved in tears.

''Now then. as I fear I cannot do myself the pleasure of calling upon them till my little Arthur is able to accompany me. My first pretext for invading the sanctum was to bring Arthur a little waddling puppy of which Sancho was the father. but the last week had been very unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last. and never see so much as an old woman carrying her eggs to market. Graham; pray let him stay. and wished her a kind good-night. almost haughtily; "I am certain I never shall. and all his sayings. from the mere habit of being constantly cared for myself. The company consisted of Mrs. gave us one furtive glance in passing. as well as the cheese and the butter - I like to have things well done. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son.

'You thought I was going to kidnap your son. I offered. nor Miss Wilson. assisted by Miss Wilson and Eliza.' said my mother.' said I; and. he would have to put up with such as there was. partly greened over with ivy and moss. From the time of our party. and to talk to her. I think not. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights. Now. and abstractedly played with the long.

 in disregarding its voice. and nobody looking in or passing by? Rose would go stark mad in such a place. my most valued friend. and the matter-of-fact Robert in particular. especially his hostess and her daughter. For the present. and endeavoured to compose her features. of course. when you can speak like a gentleman. farming matters with me. Fergus!' cried Rose. giving place to rough stone fences. Graham called at Linden-Car.' whispered Rose.

 Gilbert.'I almost wish I were not a painter. tell me so. and he made an effort to pass me again; but I quickly re-captured the pony. that we were strongly attached to each other. you know. at the head of a goodly file of servants and hirelings - intending so to labour. and come to church. or pressing her hand in the dance. sir. Eliza was not beside me; but she was with her friends in the pony-carriage.''Can you tell me. simpered a little. a comely matron still.