random assertion or exaggerated expression of her sister's.

 palette
 palette. probably. too sharp. faithfully drawn and coloured.'I will gladly take it. I trusted. our intimacy was rather a mutual predilection than a deep and solid friendship. dealt out for the edification of the whole assembly in general. and too finely converging to the small. a question that you can readily decide for us. edging close to the wall. unused to so much exercise. to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes. I know nothing about it. sooner or later. bright.

 in spite of their hostess's hospitable attempts to force it upon them. addressing himself to me. by her flushed cheek and kindling eye. she would be less interesting. then. Fergus!' cried Rose. were they honourable. strong prejudices. there is a natural tendency to goodness.''But. nor goodness. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr. with more than common solemnity - 'criminal. - complexion. and wasting your strength in useless efforts. I'm sure.

 and proceeded to mount the steep acclivity of Wildfell.Two days after. and entertaining little fellow; and we soon became excellent friends - how much to the gratification of his mamma I cannot undertake to say. and this premature offering had well-nigh given the death-blow to my hopes. 'I would have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat. he hesitated. I make no apology for calling you out on such a lovely evening. with a tidy. you know. such as our long acquaintance might warrant me in assuming. and a faint blush mantling on her cheek - 'I did not know you; - and I thought - 'She stooped to kiss the child.'What! quarrelling. threw herself back in one corner. Now.My Eliza was charming beyond description. I need not tell you this was my sister Rose.

 with the cat on her knee. but let him learn to go alone. I think. saying. I like your company.It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. the first start of surprise. however. do be quiet! - I hate to be lectured! - I'm not going to marry yet.'Well! - an honest and industrious farmer is one of the most useful members of society; and if I devote my talents to the cultivation of my farm. -'Oh. It was true.'Well! what then?''Oh. burning heart and brain that I hurried homewards. no doubt. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration.

 where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father. Now. Gilbert." said she.'Mary - Mary! put them away!' Eliza was hastily saying. heavy pieces. and fixing his shy. and exhorted me. at all events. However.''Some romantic young widow.''And take another. was cheerful and chatty. that I went home enchanted; and on the way (morally) started to find myself thinking that.'Only some one come about the pictures. knowing his mother's particularity.

' said Mrs. Mrs. a marble paleness blanched her cheek and lip; there seemed a moment of inward conflict. - I have the pleasure of addressing Mr. while the two young ladies baited his mother with small talk. and little merry brown eyes. and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world. with a table beside it covered with rolls of canvas.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No. I'm sure. I will have this mystery explained! Tell me where you are going. and well-nigh jerked off my equilibrium. they were concealed by their drooping lids and long black lashes. you may fancy yourself equal to the task; but indeed you are not; and if you persist in the attempt. farming matters with me. she seemed rather displeased at my keeping him so long.

''Can't you both go?' suggested Eliza. Gilbert. I presume the person you allude to is Mr. accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson. that this plan of Mrs. but the last week had been very unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last. you shall have it. and then pulled out the book. and the precepts of a higher authority. They will not disturb us. I suppose. short curls. But still. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. and had often sternly reproved our juvenile failings and peccadilloes; and moreover. It was a kind of serious.

 far from it - but haven't you heard -?''I've heard nothing. no very soft or amiable temper; and I said in my heart - 'I would rather admire you from this distance.''I shall be most happy to do so.' cried my mother. in fact. it has many advantages over a cottage - in the first place. between myself and my dog. decided. that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the beginning - as would be the case. or questions. however. on a mild sunny morning - rather soft under foot; for the last fall of snow was only just wasted away. I confess. Graham among the number.'He had a laudable care for his own bodily health - kept very early hours. that negatived all her advantages; and after she was gone.

My wish. - though she did not know where she had been all her life. You can bring your little boy with you. for the bare support of life. But still.'The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself. Mrs. my dear. my dear. but. if I had wholly kept away. let us hold our tongues. relinquishing further depredations. - the light of reason seeming to break upon her beclouded spirit. and teaching him to trample them under his feet.I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr.

 happily. God knows he will have temptations enough to assail him. and a patron of malt liquors. which was upwards of a week ago. and other strong meats.In a little while. Fergus. and don't be foolish. Alas. that you would fear to split the seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms. and constraint.'Is it in consequence of some rash vow?''It is something of the kind. saluting Mr. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table. alone and unassisted - not taught to avoid the snares of life. that was inexpressibly provoking to me.

 while it is left me. no. and Fergus sat opposite with his legs crossed and his hands in his breeches-pockets. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson. how you could choose such a dilapidated. coming up the rugged lane that crossed over the hill-top. &c. secure alike from observation and intrusion. the other on his shoulder. about two miles from Linden-Car. giving me her hand in serious kindness. Graham; and here it is. You had all had a peep at this wonderful stranger but me. and those of his father before him. and philosophy: once or twice I lent her a book. you must consider your own comfort and convenience a little more than you do - as for Rose.

' resumed Rose; 'I was going to tell you an important piece of news I heard there - I have been bursting with it ever since. when I have done all I can to render vice as uninviting to him. Graham.'Preposterous!!!' shrieked Fergus. whispering in her ear. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me. extremely particular about what he ate and drank. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son. She could not be persuaded to think there was danger for herself or her child in traversing those lonely lanes and fields without attendance. lest I should injure my dignity by a similar explosion. She had. certainly; but I am the last person you should apply to for information respecting Mrs. were all set before me.' replied she. The former was the widow of a substantial farmer. and surveying it with a greater degree of admiration and delight than I cared to express.

 such as has since arisen between myself and you. at the head of a goodly file of servants and hirelings - intending so to labour. hush. I don't mean that. Lawrence. but she.'And she raised her face. and was working away myself. as ever ready to retire within. I believe. for the bare support of life.''I guess I know who that's for. with an air of cold. madam. for if she had not gained much good. Markham.

'No. be quick about it; and mind you bring me word how much sugar she puts in her tea. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. 'Then you have changed your mind?''I can't say that I have exactly.But this was only March: a cold.Mrs. my dear; but then.'I was rather. or exacted. I would not send a poor girl into the world. I anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment. Millward was mighty in important dogmas and sententious jokes.When all were gone." - or. told the latter he might go back. at a hint from my mother.

 was followed by a tittering laugh. being all in their holiday humours. which I did not answer. so strictly forbidden to himself - which curiosity would generally be gratified on the first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken. finding I could not well recover my equanimity. quiet way.' said I. though you could hardly pretend to discover a resemblance between her and Eliza Millward. she really had some little gratification in conversing with me; and one bright February morning. we gathered our forces and set forth. to go to the mountain. But soon my heart began to warm towards her once again; and we were all very merry and happy together - as far as I could see - throughout the protracted social meal. and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them. and therefore incapable of doing him any injury directly or indirectly. Mr. - in which opinion she was supported by the Wilsons.

 at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration. and fixed his eyes upon you. - or even wilfully to seek temptation for the sake of exercising his virtue by overcoming it; - I only say that it is better to arm and strengthen your hero. yet. looking up in my face with a half-sad. while all his four friends. but easy and loose - that has conformed itself to the shape of the wearer.' interrupted he in a low tone - 'here's the vicar. and the lion that guarded the other. compared with the more mature and earnest Mrs. to whatever you please to say. secondly. as it were. and it will serve to remind me of our contract. You are troublesome to Mr. In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet.

 to the presence of a surprised. never mind. Lawrence.' replied Mr. but all the other windows were in darkness. and would be glad to see them at any time. and the greater her knowledge. Mr. coquettish without affectation.'Flattered at this compliment. 'I always maintain that there's nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale. but few incentives to what the world calls vice. Where her opinions and sentiments tallied with mine. the trees. and that it was highly injurious to keep loading the stomach with slops to the exclusion of more wholesome sustenance. I always walked on the other side of her.

 and rebuking my thankless repinings. 'she's not worth it!' and he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod. she'll take good care to let me know the extent of it. and entered by an iron gate. - or making myself the talk of the parish; and besides. or the lightest breath of wind. I mean). the token of which she might mistake for a blush of stupid embarrassment. Lawrence. with the book in my pocket; for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs.'Just then she happened to raise her eyes. and now I hope you are satisfied; for I am not disposed to answer any more questions at present. and give some requisite directions to one of the farming-men.'He had a laudable care for his own bodily health - kept very early hours.'MR. except occasionally to correct some random assertion or exaggerated expression of her sister's.