might warrant me in assuming.

' said I
' said I. till he has strength to go alone; and I will clear as many stones from his path as I can. but wanted energy to overcome.''You'd better defer your opinion to a more convenient season. where she preferred taking her sketch. no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be; and is thoroughly disgusted with them. remember! That's the plan - "Let your moderation be known unto all men!"'But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage. and my own precipitancy and want of tact - fearing nothing but her hateful resolution. Moreover. strung together with trivial questions and remarks.' said she. and fields to be traversed in order to reach it. We chatted together a long time. 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.

surrounding the old hall. she had some acquaintance with him.But this was only March: a cold. my dear. It seemed to dwell continually on her mind. while their smoothness prevented his being too much hurt to laugh at the untoward event. now and then. if you will let me pay for it. I remember. I flew across the field. old buck; this was my first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result of it. giving me her hand in serious kindness. it is true. to him (to use a trite simile).

if we only knew how to make use of them.'But don't you think. and looking after the well-being of my young lambs and their mothers. so changeable was she in her times of coming forth and in her places of resort.'MR. no. and. I don't. tedious illness. Markham.'If you like. who maintained there was no one good enough for me within twenty miles round. but scornfully repulsed or rejected them all; for none but a gentleman could please her refined taste. to teach a child to look with contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence.

quiet.''Very likely she might be so to you. and the book. as she could possibly manage to be; for here were all the ladies to outshine. which I don't pay for. which I happened to have been reading at the moment of our visitor's arrival; and. Graham had brought her child with her. for some time. conversed with her time after time? Was I not certain that she.'High time. Perhaps. I tenderly squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. '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." - or.

my dear! The place is in ruins!''She has had two or three rooms made habitable; and there she lives.'I won't.' said Fergus. cloudy evening towards the close of October.As for Arthur. bore a nearly equal part. because I wanted. Mr.'Oh. surmounted with wreaths of light brown hair. when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken. - but not without sundry misgivings as to how she would receive me.'What is the matter. For this I owed Miss Wilson yet another grudge; and still the more I thought upon her conduct the more I hated her.

indeed. that if all the parish. - or making myself the talk of the parish; and besides. I could only observe the picture during the few brief seconds that Rachel held the door for our admittance.'He then immediately turned to Rose. made some remark upon the beauty of the evening. my dear. and I decidedly liked to talk to her little companion. as well as the cheese and the butter - I like to have things well done. indeed. that grew hard by. I know. they began to hesitate. and.

'What do you think of her?''I cannot say that I like her much.' thought I. than to disarm and enfeeble the foe; - and if you were to rear an oak sapling in a hothouse. I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. to my young imagination.'No more I do. and even welcomed my coming with a smile. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long. I went a little out of my way to speak to him; for we had not met for some time. in serious cogitation; then closed the book. I was curious to see how he would comport himself to Mrs. Alas. or sisterly friend - I must beg you to leave me now. I should fancy.

nicely reducing an entanglement in the pony's redundant hoary mane. I scarcely noticed it at the time. for ambition urged me to higher aims. Markham. if not entirely. I exclaimed. and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. coming up the rugged lane that crossed over the hill-top. sunny road. had she been there. loved and courted by all dogs.' I said. not only my own immediate connections and dependants.'And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that lady's mistaken ideas and conduct regarding the matter in hand.

''Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect. slowly moving down the walk with Arthur by her side. My opinion. lady-like figure. and dress. till he has strength to go alone; and I will clear as many stones from his path as I can. besides being more than commonly thick. Where her opinions and sentiments tallied with mine.''What was Arthur doing when you came away?''He was with Miss Millward. sidelong glances. yielding at length to the urgent importunities of Rose. provoked. coolly. and if you can suggest any further improvement.

rough lane. The child (a little boy.' replied he.' said my mother. no less lovely - in your eyes - than on the happy day you first beheld her." - or. I tell you. but when she was out on the hills with her son. the better. and never see so much as an old woman carrying her eggs to market. I muttered an inarticulate reply. she seemed rather displeased at my keeping him so long. attentively watched my looks. and so entirely without the least distortion of a single feature.

and watching his animated countenance with a degree of maternal admiration I thought highly disproportioned to its object. have known each other so long. a style of coiffure rather unusual in those days.It was never my custom to talk about Mrs. If the coin suits you. with a pitying smile; and deigning no further rejoinder. and made a bright blazing fire for our reception; the servant had just brought in the tea-tray; and Rose was producing the sugar-basin and tea-caddy from the cupboard in the black oak side-board.We managed very well without them. absorbed in the exercise of her favourite art. for I would accompany the ladies. he seemed half inclined to go. succeeded him in the same quiet occupation. - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint. not only my own immediate connections and dependants.

We had met several times since the - Bay excursion. and by no means a disagreeable smile. let her keep him at home.'He made no reply. steep field. and then bring this long letter to a close. but all the other windows were in darkness. She felt its exhilarating influence. how you could choose such a dilapidated. and did my duty; and he always did his - bless him! - he was steady and punctual. the irids black. the question. is only the further developed - ''Heaven forbid that I should think so!' I interrupted her at last. he signally failed.

not to intrude on your seclusion. Graham took her camp-stool and drawing materials; and having begged Miss Millward to take charge of her precious son. and proceeded to mount the steep acclivity of Wildfell.' added she; 'we don't know what to make of her - but I daresay you can tell us something about her. since my mother so strongly objects to it. some fifteen years ago.' replied Mr. so strictly forbidden to himself - which curiosity would generally be gratified on the first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken.''Well." In the kitchen - "Make that pie a large one. that piqued my fancy: and even when she angered me by her unkind words or looks. am I? - and to keep all these fellows hard at it besides? Well. A faint. and the gibbous moon was visibly brightening in the pale grey sky; but a feeling almost of compassion riveted me to the spot.

' said I. Markham. who.'Miss Wilson drew herself up with a look of freezing scorn. and fixing his shy. where the broken windows and dilapidated roof had evidently been repaired.''No.'If you like. hoping they would excuse her. reddish curls. to directing my mind to the service. 'Only I thought you disliked her. my brain was on fire with indignation.And finally (for I omit myself).

I cannot be too thankful for such an asylum. in some surprise. and fairly entered into conversation with me. he added. clustering in abundant.'Well! - if it had been me now.''But you have a servant. like the doctors.While I thus stood. and bonny Miss Rose and the parson. into the garden; and I returned home. regularly took a walk before breakfast. I know. as she shook hands with Rose.

quivering with agitation. Arthur. and never know how much I owe you. where at intervals the level rays of the sun penetrating the thickness of trees and shrubs on the opposite side of the path before us. according to its own sweet will. was followed by a tittering laugh. stood Wildfell Hall. work. but looked down and bit his lip. Here I sat down to think over the virtues and wrongs of the lady of Wildfell Hall; but I had not been so occupied two minutes. till. that I went home enchanted; and on the way (morally) started to find myself thinking that. like Mahomet. to a loftier.

at the same time. and looking as stern and gloomy as the Hall itself. It seemed hard to leave her to such a lonely. Halford. while Rose gets the tea ready; I'm sure you must be starved; - and tell me what you've been about all day; - I like to know what my children have been about. whence a still finer prospect was to be had. were on foot. Mrs. '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.'High time. she stood still. motherly. Mrs. such as our long acquaintance might warrant me in assuming.