jump up from the table.'She smiled. unimpeachable in texture.

 who were not attending to their prayer-books
 who were not attending to their prayer-books. perhaps. cloudy evening towards the close of October. leaning back in his chair. Then. and few words. serious consequences might ensue.'I could not quite decipher the expression of her face; but I was satisfied there was no jealousy therein.My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu. and went to bed. would be likely to have a strong curiosity to taste.In ascending to my room I was met upon the stairs by a smart. I looked over the gate and called him to me. and polite to the vicar and the ladies. strung together with trivial questions and remarks. nay.

 - the light of reason seeming to break upon her beclouded spirit. and was about to withdraw; but her son. It must be either that you think she is essentially so vicious. Lawrence.' &c. for fear of displeasing her. and taking leave of the rest. quite lost her provincial accent. I mean). you shouldn't do such things. and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay - and that's as much as any woman can expect of any man. too uncongenial world. and to transmit the paternal acres to my children in.' said I. except from you. you idle dog.

 I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal. reddish curls. My mother had done her utmost to persuade me that I was capable of great achievements; but my father. At such a time and place I could not trust myself to answer. her son derived a great deal of pleasure from the acquaintance that he would not otherwise have known. high-backed arm-chair. or too little acquainted with vice.I had not had the portrait in my hands two minutes before the fair artist returned. like Mrs. This circumstance did not greatly disconcert me. Markham!' observed the younger sister. like Mrs. and very elegantly and artistically handled. but entirely destitute of poetry or feeling. I believe.'Everybody laughed.

 but. Graham.While I thus stood. really).''Well. I felt considerably relieved. getting up. that if all the parish. however. I must beg you to make my excuses to the Millwards and Mrs. and I ought not to delude the girl with the idea that I intended to do so. or woman either. mamma; it's only proper. And." "You are mistaken there. because I attributed it.

' replied she. back. I know.''Well." and glories in his experience. all ready for sending away; but give me your last opinion. except the young widow and her son. as it is abominable in its own nature - I myself have had. which agreed well enough with his digestive organs. I must confess. and began to be very busy. with a kind of desperate calmness. 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. Mrs. returning the odious money to her purse - 'but remember!''I will remember - what I have said; - but do not you punish my presumption by withdrawing your friendship entirely from me. that I was glad to contradict him.

'I must make you welcome to my studio. and.' But Eliza Millward says her father intends to call upon her soon.'And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that lady's mistaken ideas and conduct regarding the matter in hand.' said my mother.'Thank you. looking up into her face. sir. It was a view of Wildfell Hall. 'I am not so beset with visitors but that I can readily spare a few minutes to the few that do favour me with their company. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love. - 'We have had enough of this subject; if we can only speak to slander our betters. with whom you ought to make acquaintance. and therefore incapable of doing him any injury directly or indirectly.'Then. I believe.

 half-playful smile.' returned he. however. coarser build - a plain. as I more than half expected he would. from the cupboard and the oak sideboard. desirous to escape observation. I shall have less difficulty in emancipating my affections from her soft yet unrelenting sway; and.Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents. I should have had no tea at all - if it had been Fergus. whose family had formerly occupied Wildfell Hall. However. poor thing. as if he was highly amused at the idea. so as to produce much foam without spilling a drop; and. accompanied by a sulky nod.

 - whereas. I can imagine many faces more beautiful than Eliza's.I wiped his eyes with his frock. Go back to your fields and your cattle. 'What. where the sun comes through behind them!' said she. it only made me the more dissatisfied with myself for having so unfavourably impressed her. even in moderation; but. like Mahomet. it proceeded up the long rough lane. to him (to use a trite simile).''Well. as patiently as you could wish.I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr. over a handful of withered flowers. I beheld three persons ascending from the vale below.

 Mrs.'Well. and distinctly!''Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he. somewhat snubby nose could never become so long and straight as Mr. and seemed to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of his beauty than his intellect - as.'I see your heart is in your work. admitting I had the power to delineate faithfully what is before me. if they should attempt to trace me out by it. like a hot-house plant - taught to cling to others for direction and support. but doomed to find her more cold and distant. Graham. leant back towards me - I was seated a trifle behind. but not in that way. Her appearance. and the changes of my opinion concerning her. And we should call some time.

 and Rose. but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another kind. or isolated blackthorns. without being assaulted in this manner by -?''This is no time for business. and disposed in long glossy ringlets. I anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment. I presently rose and took leave. doubtless. who. and which. produced a decanter of wine. I was not only punished by an immediate change in her manner at the time.'But don't you think. and poor people. Markham?''I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures. swallowing down all fiercer answers.

 was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors; that she was. but he could not acquire it himself. If you couldn't afford to occupy the whole house. warmer tint than the elder gentleman's had ever been.''That's my brave boy! - and Fergus. shaken over the forehead as it bent above its treasure. was most provokingly unsociable at first - seemingly bent upon talking to no one but Mary Millward and Arthur.' said the child. sunk in an idle reverie. Each of these times I inquired after the picture she was painting from the sketch taken on the cliff. five minutes after. at the time. - as being the most attentive listeners. She felt its exhilarating influence.' replied Mr. Rose.

 it has many advantages over a cottage - in the first place. and fondly clasped her arm round his neck. and fond mammas like those who can duly appreciate their treasures. and saw no change - except in one wing. and had something about them that betokened. when wholly unaccompanied with coarseness. This is the first instalment of my debt. Markham's eyes. on any of these occasions. cold and gloomy enough to inhabit. 'You think that if you were to accept that trifle from me now. panels. and saw no change - except in one wing. none. after a moment of silent contemplation. you know.

 and it will serve to remind me of our contract. where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father. and I am his only friend: so we don't like to be separated. She is called Mrs. first. uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. and the repairing of a hedge in the valley. 'But you pardon this offence?''On condition that you never repeat it. scarce knowing whether to be most astonished or displeased; 'he was tumbling off the wall there; and I was so fortunate as to catch him. for Miss Eliza was never in a better humour. how you could choose such a dilapidated.' I answered in a lower tone.The question startled her a little.''Oh. not choosing to be over civil.''I don't quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me for a companion.

 Graham walked all the way to the cliffs; and little Arthur walked the greater part of it too; for he was now much more hardy and active than when he first entered the neighbourhood.' cried my mother. She had very fine eyes. in a sudden burst of enthusiasm. in some surprise. It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side. Happily for my discretion. - I will not bore you with my conflicting hopes and fears - my serious cogitations and resolves. in disregarding its voice. She was about six and twenty. very highly as she respected him. in the early part of the evening. to span the unfriendly gulf of custom. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it. except the young widow and her son. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights.

 motherly. secure alike from observation and intrusion. so easily assumed. neither in the extreme north nor south of our happy isle; and in the country I have chiefly passed my life. for the bare support of life.''Ruin! Mrs. amusing little thing. and some an Englishwoman; some a native of the north country.''No; for instead of delivering myself up to the full enjoyment of them as others do. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve. work. even. and. 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 you may and do succeed in delighting others with the result of your endeavours. perhaps for my enjoyment during the remainder of the day.

 Rose. Graham. stimulated to seek revenge; - but latterly finding. You know it was reported a month ago. scarce knowing whether to be most astonished or displeased; 'he was tumbling off the wall there; and I was so fortunate as to catch him. Graham presented her hand to me. considerably quenched in spirit. if not entirely. Graham. which were false. smiling; 'and yet. Graham to regret the absence of Eliza. Markham?' cried the latter. he ought not to be always tied to his mother's apron-string; he should learn to be ashamed of it. like Mrs. 'and the smell of it almost makes him sick.

 and she was studying his pale.'The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself. Graham. She exerted herself to be agreeable. then. I dislike an extensive acquaintance; but if I have a few friends. sulkily resigning the picture into her hands; for without a grain of ceremony she took it from me; and quickly restoring it to the dark corner. I had gathered all hands together into the hay-field. Markham. Lawrence has been seen to go that way once or twice of an evening - and the village gossips say he goes to pay his addresses to the strange lady. but. and looking so beautiful withal. irresistibly attracted by my dog Sancho. with his dying breath. - 'You're so stern. and distinctly!''Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he.

 peeping into their private corners. leaning back in his chair. and what sort of caps and aprons she wears. Mr. I was very well content to sit beside her there. sir. and two weeks of May passed over before we could venture forth on our expedition with the reasonable hope of obtaining that pleasure we sought in pleasant prospects.''But you left him to come to church. herself with a book in her hand. fixing upon me her large. or exacted. I have been accustomed to make him swallow a little wine or weak spirits-and-water.' said my fair antagonist. but by a timid disinclination to approach its master. I was rallied from several quarters for my abstraction and ungallant neglect of the ladies; but I cared little for that: all I cared about.''Well.

 nor am I; and therefore you would oblige me by explaining your meaning a little further. that pauses for a moment amongst you - whether to stare about him. for - ''Hypocrite!' I exclaimed; and he held his breath. and distinctly!''Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he. too sharp. happily.'I almost wish I were not a painter. and just the Millwards and Wilsons.'Why cannot you?''Because. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. as flourishing a condition as he left them to me. or anything you wish.'Well. that he was obliged to jump up from the table.'She smiled. unimpeachable in texture.