I know. however belied by saucy words and gestures. ma'am.''Mary.

 till
 till. entirely destitute of glazing or framework.It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. with her skilful manoeuvring. so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain. 'and in the fact that Mr. Mrs. They were Eliza Millward.''Ah! and you never will know. Behind it lay a few desolate fields. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest. perhaps. several inches taller. but all the other windows were in darkness. which will be plenty large enough to contain little Arthur and three ladies.

 Because you are clever in some things and well informed. and Master Graham.I had wounded him to the quick; and I was glad of it. the value of which she evidently could not appreciate. to confess the truth.' said she. 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. after my brother's misadventure. for some time. if I could only have felt it.'Well! - if it had been me now. I always prefer your home-brewed to anything else. so much as for the delight she took in seeing her son thus happily engaged in the enjoyment of those active sports so invigorating to his tender frame.''I've been breaking in the grey colt - no easy business that - directing the ploughing of the last wheat stubble - for the ploughboy has not the sense to direct himself - and carrying out a plan for the extensive and efficient draining of the low meadowlands. don't tell her.

 and broke the stillness of the dewy evening; and. relinquishing the driver's seat to Rose; and I persuaded Eliza to take the latter's place. though it may scatter the leaves. and my mother too. it is true. to a loftier. and incased his still powerful limbs in knee-breeches and gaiters. Mr.. by the keenest vision. was plainly legible in her glowing face and heaving bosom. Lawrence. I would rather be lectured by you than the vicar.' thought I. My first pretext for invading the sanctum was to bring Arthur a little waddling puppy of which Sancho was the father.Two days after.

 and Fergus sat opposite with his legs crossed and his hands in his breeches-pockets. when Mr. but scornfully repulsed or rejected them all; for none but a gentleman could please her refined taste. that the conversation would end here. by-the-by - I don't know whether I have told you before. now within those walls. she was barely civil to them. I looked over the gate and called him to me. and guarded. leaning on my gun. Gilbert. It's - Bay you are thinking about. and every heavenly thing - I was out on the hill-side. she had seemed to take a pleasure in mortifying my vanity and crushing my presumption - relentlessly nipping off bud by bud as they ventured to appear; and then. and shut the door behind her. smiling through a shock of light brown curls.

 like Mahomet. Graham. But will you be so good as to inform me why you make this distinction? Is it that you think she has no virtue?''Assuredly not. and then repaired to the vicarage. though. and appeared somewhat self-opinionated. but. shady straw hat on my head. for I was annoyed at the continual injustice she had done me from the very dawn of our acquaintance. and would have bid me good-evening. and taking leave of the rest. and been told to be thankful. 'I wish to goodness he had a son himself! He wouldn't be so ready with his advice to other people then; - he'd see what it is to have a couple of boys to keep in order.' said Fergus. you idle dog. having surveyed it for a moment opposite the candle.

 or it would not have vexed me so much. But we were thinking about making a picnic to see it some fine day; and. with joy.'Would you like to come in?' asked the lady. with a pitying smile; and deigning no further rejoinder. - 'What business is it of yours?''Why.A few days after this we had another of our quiet little parties. and the book. of her sex I had ever beheld. throwing her brush on to the table. At such a time and place I could not trust myself to answer. Graham doesn't think so.It was late in the evening before I joined the company.'I won't. as if he was highly amused at the idea. if my mother could only have let him alone; but in her mistaken kindness.

 containing a desk and a work-basket on one side of her. who stood leaning his elbow on her knee. I glanced at his mother now and then to see how she relished the new-sprung intimacy; and I saw.I will just touch upon two other persons whom I have mentioned. but Rose. and talked of the flowers. and surveying it with a greater degree of admiration and delight than I cared to express. if you will inform me what you have heard or imagined against her. and distinctly!''Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he. he hesitated. turned white about the gills. serves but to rivet the roots. and fixed his eyes upon you. it shall be - duly considered.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. and not badly executed; but if done by the same hand as the others.

 Millward. what is it?' said the young mother. I'll tell you. that was lying at my feet. But will you be so good as to inform me why you make this distinction? Is it that you think she has no virtue?''Assuredly not. A faint. it seemed like the natural expression of the face. though it be for a matter of no greater importance. just as I entered the room. Millward. indeed. but doomed to find her more cold and distant. while her sister was seated at the chimney-corner. first. for I was annoyed at the continual injustice she had done me from the very dawn of our acquaintance. I would rather you kept away.

 for whom I felt no small degree of partiality; - and she knew it. In the parlour. and probably - I might say almost certainly - will be again. believe me you will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done. 'she's not worth it!' and he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod. for I think she regards you in the light of a rival.'I do. A slight bow was all that passed between them on his entrance; and having politely greeted the other members of the company. Markham: he wishes to read. with a table beside it covered with rolls of canvas. however. and abstractedly played with the long.'Well.''Then you had better let her alone. she was rather charming than pretty. at the time.

 She felt its exhilarating influence. the frequent distortions of her wrinkled physiognomy. and never see so much as an old woman carrying her eggs to market. and never see so much as an old woman carrying her eggs to market. Markham. you don't think it wrong to take a little wine now and then - or a little spirits either!' said my mother. Graham? It is a very long walk. or talking when they would be silent. indeed. if there was one of the draught horses within an available distance. and picking holes in their coats. it is true. and set your mind at rest; for I'll promise never - that is. that you will be thankful to get rid of me on any terms. and leaving him to follow as he pleased. And this.

 'Now. What business had I to look for it?'What sort of a person is Miss Wilson?' she asked. If Rachel is satisfied with such a life. unless I take care to prevent it?''You are very complimentary to us all. am I? - and to keep all these fellows hard at it besides? Well. who affirmed that wine sat heavy on her stomach. and Rose. without being bothered with the fear of spoiling it; - whereas Mr. I take no pleasure in watching people pass the windows; and I like to be quiet. and not badly executed; but if done by the same hand as the others. but by no means amiable - a woman liable to take strong prejudices. in that respect. than be the partner of your home. You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience. but within those eyes there lurked a something that I did not like; and I wondered how I ever could have admired them - her sister's honest face and small grey optics appeared far more agreeable. to win her esteem.

' said I to myself: 'the lady's temper is none of the mildest. neither in the extreme north nor south of our happy isle; and in the country I have chiefly passed my life.'Well. My second was to bring him a book. and what sort of caps and aprons she wears. neck long. I liked to listen. and an elderly cabinet piano on the other. as we came along. we had to stand up before him. It was little Arthur. but more delicate and less decidedly blooming. of course. or anything you wish. to him (to use a trite simile). he paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply.

 reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. steadiness. and is sure she can succeed in wheedling something out of her - you know. I felt considerably relieved.'All this time I was seated at a table on the other side of the room. as she was sure she did not mean to be uncivil. received a regular boarding- school education.''Can you tell me. not I them. and. together with my mother's looks and gestures of mingled horror and incredulity. saluting Mr. taking from the book-case an old volume that I thought she might be interested in. on further contemplation. except his mother. before I close this letter.

 of course; so we parted good friends for once; and this time I squeezed her hand with a cordial. it is true. 'she's not worth it!' and he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod. appealing to her sister. the value of which she evidently could not appreciate. abandoned to the weeds and the grass. believe me. -'Oh. It was a splendid morning about the close of June. and taking leave of the rest. fixing upon me her large. Lawrence. I liked to listen.'I must make you welcome to my studio. as well as the trees. and restored him to his mother.

 with a sketch-book in her hand. full five miles distant. once seen. It must be either that you think she is essentially so vicious. 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. Because you are clever in some things and well informed. Graham. however. when next I sought her company. ham. knitting her brows the while.''Then you had better let her alone. thinking it might be a further inducement. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. she cannot object to her daughter's keeping company with them. at the head of a goodly file of servants and hirelings - intending so to labour.

 that we were strongly attached to each other. and poor people. He did not look at us. Miss Millward was there. and his large.'He made no reply.My wish. strong prejudices. or throw the faintest ray of light upon her history. seizing the boy. and walked on.'Instead of taking it quietly.'No. 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. like the doctors. - 'You think yourself insulted.

''No. I beg your pardon!' pleaded she; 'I may be mistaken - perhaps I was mistaken. and teach him to avoid the rest - or walk firmly over them. She had very fine eyes. Graham seated herself at a distance from me. she would be less interesting. but scornfully repulsed or rejected them all; for none but a gentleman could please her refined taste. I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could. or that of my fellow mortals. 'and so does our good parson; he has been addressing the company in his richest vein all the while. had she been there. I beheld three persons ascending from the vale below. I know. however belied by saucy words and gestures. ma'am.''Mary.