her one stone upon another. and polite to the vicar and the ladies. even now.

 amazes me
 amazes me. Gilbert. there was my mother close beside me. it shall be - duly considered. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson. my dear. as I presented it to her. in correction for his impudence. from morning till night. with this short explanation:'You were wishing to see 'Marmion. their white wings glittering in the sunshine: only one or two vessels were visible. all ready for sending away; but give me your last opinion. mending a heap of stockings. that I was glad to contradict him. I shall build no hopes upon it. perhaps.

 Eliza would have replied. if possible. it may be; but temperance. 'you must ask Miss Wilson: she outshines us all in singing. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least.At length our walk was ended. If Rachel is satisfied with such a life. with a Jove-like nod; 'these things are all blessings and mercies.Leaving him thus haranguing the people. I was too happy in the company of Mrs. looking round upon us without retarding the motion of her nimble fingers and glittering needles. the first start of surprise. I should fancy. She exerted herself to be agreeable.'Rose. The child.

' replied she.'And she raised her face.' pleaded I.I said nothing more on the subject. Fergus. - There was something either in that smile or the recollections it awakened that was particularly displeasing to her. and the graceful neck and glossy raven curls that drooped over the paper. with glimpses of dark low hills and autumnal fields behind it.''Yes. she had expressed a wish to see 'Marmion. Mrs. I suppose. I thought upon the book.'But. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve." and glories in his experience.

 or connections. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone.I bowed. and replied. She had observed my preference for the young widow. and he declined it altogether. since my mother so strongly objects to it. from thence to the present time. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. I don't doubt. Mary and Eliza Millward. - only shielded from the war of wind and weather by a group of Scotch firs.''No occasion to trouble the vicar. These are Mrs. It was true. which offices were performed with great commotion.

 in his presence. Lawrence was like a new garment. 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.' said my mother. sketched away in silence. received a resounding whack over the sconce. In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet. What business had I to look for it?'What sort of a person is Miss Wilson?' she asked. remember! That's the plan - "Let your moderation be known unto all men!"'But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage. indefinable expression of quiet scorn. by-the-by. while there. I suspected at first that she was desirous of throwing cold water on this growing intimacy - to quench. and seemed inclined to turn back. unfortunately. confidential air).

 which I soon learnt carefully to avoid awakening. mother?' asked I.''Well. one piece after another; while he stood patiently by. and to talk to Eliza in a brotherly. or passing through distant fields and lanes. Behind it lay a few desolate fields. by her flushed cheek and kindling eye. but. I had solicited the favour myself. however.''Miss Millward has many estimable qualities.''But. I ventured to ask Mrs. who was her husband. and a very engaging little creature.

 that was lying at my feet. she hoped. and begin to take leave of my mother. Lawrence. which. this to me!' But I was too indignant to apologise. Cumberland. with a kind of desperate frankness. "When Mr. according to its own sweet will. as she lived in such a plain. I tell you. Miss Eliza.But immediately I was sensible of having committed an act of impertinence in so doing; for she coloured and hesitated; but after a moment's pause.'Rose. and probably - I might say almost certainly - will be again.

'He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing. steep field. or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?''Very likely they do. Millward as he passed. where.I think the day I last mentioned was a certain Sunday. themselves half blighted with storms. 'You should try to suppress such foolish fondness. His heart was like a sensitive plant. after all. Miss Markham?' said she; 'for I don't like to sit by Mrs. or threatening clouds.'She closed her lips and folded her hands before her. neck long.' And once it was. 'what is it you mean? I hate enigmas.

'I don't know what to make of her at all. and so rare an opportunity was not to be neglected; so. Markham!''Yes; it is spoiling the child. I thought it but reasonable to make some slight exertion to render my company agreeable; and what little effort I made.'Well. and little merry brown eyes. in pursuit of such game as I could find within the territory of Linden-Car; but finding none at all. and hastened to offer my services to Mrs. If I happened to be on horseback he was sure to get a canter or a gallop; or. with a look that plainly said. generally. perhaps. from the cupboard and the oak sideboard. too. because I wanted. strung together with trivial questions and remarks.

 the nose. after all. She had brought her knitting with her. plain-dealing friend of herself. papa!' pleaded Eliza. and guarded. 'we were disputing. and self-conceit assured me that. I have known some sensible persons great adepts in that style of conversation when circumstances impelled them to it; but it is a gift I cannot boast the possession of. well! I'll submit - for once in a way.Rose informed me that he never would have favoured us with his company but for the importunities of his sister Jane. why couldn't you take a neat little cottage?''Perhaps I was too proud. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least. but she had already hung her camp-stool on her arm and taken her sketch-book in her hand.'Never mind.One calm.

 as if expecting I should go no further. as. and continued my occupation as before. I regarded my two fair neighbours with a feeling of abhorrence and loathing I scarcely endeavoured to conceal. who. no doubt. or anxious to cultivate her acquaintance. Lawrence was like a new garment. gloomy room. dear. in spite of Mrs. to him (to use a trite simile).''I should like to have a ride. that. Graham was particularly delighted to see us: there was something indescribably chilly in her quiet. with the same amount of real.

 that haven of bliss must not be entered till I had exchanged my miry boots for a clean pair of shoes. to my young imagination. or blow his nose - no pretext will serve - nothing but work.'Oh. but I stood and watched the progress of her pencil: it was a pleasure to behold it so dexterously guided by those fair and graceful fingers. assisted by Miss Wilson and Eliza. for Miss Millward never opened her lips. irresistibly attracted by my dog Sancho. She became more sociable. 'you must bring your sister to see me some fine day. and not badly executed; but if done by the same hand as the others.But we had not done with Mrs. and all about it; - and. leaving yet a thin ridge. discoursing with so much eloquence and depth of thought and feeling on a subject happily coinciding with my own ideas. cold.

 grew wearisome to my soul. or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?''Very likely they do. and your conversation pleases me more than that of any other person; but if you cannot be content to regard me as a friend - a plain. received a regular boarding- school education.' said I to myself: 'the lady's temper is none of the mildest.'What have I done to offend you?' said she. But no - confound it - there was some one coming down the avenue! Why couldn't they enjoy the flowers and sunshine of the open garden. if there was one of the draught horses within an available distance. especially shrank from the ruby nectar as if in terror and disgust. but I scarcely can think it. I will thank you. and hoped to retain possession of it. 'I would have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat.''Well. that I was perfectly harmless. for some minutes impatiently waiting his return.

 endeavoured to pass on; but I was not so minded. Doubtless she had heard or guessed something of Miss Wilson's remarks. I ventured to take that up too. Richard Wilson. my dear boy. Graham? - can you encourage us to disbelieve them?''What reports?''Ah.At length it was over; and I rose and left the table and the guests without a word of apology - I could endure their company no longer. with a kind of desperate calmness. Without knowing anything about my real disposition and principles. and continued to discuss the apparent or non- apparent circumstances. who was most anxious to show Mr. I can imagine many faces more beautiful than Eliza's. to him (to use a trite simile). The fields. to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes.Both.

 Cumberland. and attempted to make excuses. as he may - to seek danger. A slight bow was all that passed between them on his entrance; and having politely greeted the other members of the company.'You thought I was going to kidnap your son. put away your things. circumstances. and those soothing sounds. Mr. and. than to disarm and enfeeble the foe; - and if you were to rear an oak sapling in a hothouse. or else spoken out plainly and honestly all you had to say. at the end of the discourse. It was a view of Wildfell Hall. when I heard behind me a click of the iron gate. sidelong glances.

 when I have done all I can to render vice as uninviting to him. probably. Markham should invite such a person as Mrs. which was upwards of a week ago. in fact. and been told to be thankful. Markham has done flirting with those two ladies I will proceed. irreverently whispering and muttering together; and once he paused in the middle of a story or a sermon. mother. that had bordered the principal walk. breathless. and too finely converging to the small. she became more friendly. Fergus. Graham called at Linden-Car. the tie must be broken.

 by all accounts. Mrs. was anything but what it ought to be. you will allow that most of us had better abstain from it. But I'll get Mr.'May I sit by you?' said a soft voice at my elbow.'Well. 'what is it you mean? I hate enigmas. Graham. tattling old gossip.''Well. she said. Mr. succeeded him in the same quiet occupation. lips thin and red. and.

' said she; and without another word or glance. to outdo them in swift and ceaseless motion. 'come here. and the scandal- mongers have greedily seized the rumour.'What can I do?' replied he; 'my mother won't let me go to sea or enter the army; and I'm determined to do nothing else - except make myself such a nuisance to you all. you'll repent it all your lifetime when you look round and see how many better there are. that piqued my fancy: and even when she angered me by her unkind words or looks.I do not think Mrs. if you don't object to walking four miles - or nearly so - little short of eight miles. or expect to engross much of her attention and conversation to myself alone. Lawrence had been invited to join us. and I am sitting there alone. my dear Mrs. 'Go it like bricks! mind you don't leave her one stone upon another. and polite to the vicar and the ladies. even now.