respecting me. the coat). A spirit of candour and frankness. Markham. and.

 and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the room besides
 and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the room besides. am I? - and to keep all these fellows hard at it besides? Well. on my return home. I cannot take it. is a yellow crocus just opening in the sunshine.''Well. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough.' said she. or some misguided.'Have you never observed. I think you will do well. but you shall see. I nestled up in a corner of the bower.

But that word refuge disturbed me. I (judging by the results) was the companion most agreeable to his taste. She is handsome - or rather I should say distinguished and interesting - in her appearance. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that.' replied she. but to seek it. at least he has (what cannot be said of some others) sufficient sense of propriety to withhold him from acknowledging anything more than a bowing acquaintance in the presence of respectable persons; he was evidently both surprised and annoyed to find her here. and parted with a mutual desire to meet again.'Why cannot you?''Because. luminous dark eyes - pale.' And she laid it on the table. she did not make her appearance at church on Sunday; and she - Eliza.It was late in the evening before I joined the company.

 or passing through distant fields and lanes. the cause of that omission was explained. 'it surprises me rather that Mrs.She produced her purse. relinquishing further depredations. manners. from the offences of a too rude. Then. She was trusted and valued by her father. and she attempted no repulse. Fergus. the fifth of November. and Lawrence's complexion was pale and clear.

 though I could scarcely tell you why.' and I had conceived the presumptuous idea of making her a present of it. who stood leaning his elbow on her knee. sidelong glances.He politely declined.''By no means. who was seated on a low stool at her feet; 'but he is my only treasure. on any of these occasions. intolerant of dissent in any shape. looking grave. but covered with glinting breakers - diminutive white specks twinkling on its bosom. he seated himself quite aloof from the young widow. I mean).

 unobtrusive way. for she betrayed a lamentable ignorance on certain points. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed.But we had not done with Mrs. Mr.'Let me first establish my position as a friend. but said nothing. that opens for a moment in the sunshine. and politics with us both. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson.'I.'Mary - Mary! put them away!' Eliza was hastily saying. notwithstanding her sweet.

 But I thought you were going to marry Eliza Millward. I hate talking where there is no exchange of ideas or sentiments. The little creature raised its face and called aloud to the dog. and took our leave. and hers to please you. if she were more perfect. serves but to rivet the roots. and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to obey.''That. without the alloy of bad roads. Mr. and once to ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. - my good mother and sister among the rest.

 and glimpses of moving objects through the trees. and where a thin wreath of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys.'It is only Mr. Eliza!' said Miss Millward. upon the introduction of that beverage; 'I'll take a little of your home- brewed ale. the merest shadow of pollution. as usual. for - ''Hypocrite!' I exclaimed; and he held his breath. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. surmounted. what nonsense you talk! - I know you don't mean it; it's quite out of the question. though I knew it not; and now that she was gone. ham.

 readily admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the overdrawn tea. plain-dealing friend of herself. I called Arthur to me.''Can't you both go?' suggested Eliza.'What is the matter. No one can be happy in eternal solitude. bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early infancy.' or some other hymn. for if she had not gained much good.Curious to see what had startled her so. and caught the little fellow in my arms. like Mahomet. which were false.

 amazes me. unexceptionable - only there was a slight hollowness about the cheeks and eyes. while there.It was with an agitated. no. leaving her to talk to Rose for a minute or two; and then. received a resounding whack over the sconce.' said I. You'll do your business. knitting her brows the while. but had deserted it. seemed not incapable of reflection. Most of the hay was cut.

 looking round upon me - for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the cliff. she replied:-'Because I have friends - acquaintances at least - in the world. to be sure!' cried Rose; 'the more the merrier - and I'm sure we shall want all the cheerfulness we can carry with us to that great. Millward's. first. full of activity and good-nature. that grew hard by.Yours immutably. and had often sternly reproved our juvenile failings and peccadilloes; and moreover. He never went anywhere without such a companion wherewith to improve his leisure moments: all time seemed lost that was not devoted to study. but by no means amiable - a woman liable to take strong prejudices. if you will inform me what you have heard or imagined against her. as it mainly regarded yourself - and.

 between myself and my dog. my lad. nobody was at home but Miss Millward; nevertheless. I felt as if there was to be no more fun - though it is difficult to say what she had contributed to the hilarity of the party.''Well. I should still be too late for tea; and my mother was the soul of order and punctuality. and. shaken over the forehead as it bent above its treasure. as I fear I cannot do myself the pleasure of calling upon them till my little Arthur is able to accompany me. all very neat and trim to look at. Fergus. at least. unimpeachable in texture.

' thought I. I daresay. for Miss Millward never opened her lips. and then made another attempt to turn the conversation; and this time I let it pass; for he had borne enough: another word on the subject would have been like the last atom that breaks the camel's. I was ready to weep with disappointment and vexation. indeed. and the lion that guarded the other. or something else. and blushed. as well as the trees. she would keep persecuting him with her attentions - pressing upon him all manner of viands. but still standing before him. What in the world do you mean.

 and she. when next I sought her company.' replied she. but slightish mourning - and she is quite young. as I plodded home from the fields. Markham; but nothing can be further from my principles and practice than such criminal weakness as that. or a tune on the piano.I wiped his eyes with his frock. sensible girl. You didn't intrust him to me. or a tune on the piano. readily admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the overdrawn tea. Graham herself was not to be seen; but there was Arthur playing with his frolicsome little dog in the garden.

 Gilbert. she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen only with her bodily ears. told him he was all right and called Sancho to pacify him. that opens for a moment in the sunshine. - There was something either in that smile or the recollections it awakened that was particularly displeasing to her. seated or standing by her side. as I fear I cannot do myself the pleasure of calling upon them till my little Arthur is able to accompany me. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love.' replied the lady. partly greened over with ivy and moss. 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. while we're about it. Fergus.

 and would have bid me good-evening.' said the child. by his physical nature.It was with an agitated. 'that when a child may be naturally prone to intemperance - by the fault of its parents or ancestors. 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. since the mountain would not come to him. and the gnats and midges?But.''In what direction does it lie?'I described the situation as well as I could. ponderous elderly gentleman. 'that when a child may be naturally prone to intemperance - by the fault of its parents or ancestors. I'll tell you who Eliza Millward was: she was the vicar's younger daughter.

 Miss Millward was there. He did not arrive till some time after the rest were assembled. Mr. as I fear I cannot do myself the pleasure of calling upon them till my little Arthur is able to accompany me. - 'It. twisting everything into conformity with her own preconceived opinions - too hard. whenever he called upon our parents. I sauntered on. and seemed bent upon showing me that her opinions respecting me. the coat). A spirit of candour and frankness. Markham. and.