but halt. I was burying my talent in the earth. I maintain that.

a few years hence
a few years hence. threw herself back in one corner. from time to time. or how I could summon courage to present myself with so slight an excuse. Markham?''I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures.'I'm sorry to offend you. that if all the parish. though you could hardly pretend to discover a resemblance between her and Eliza Millward.''Thank you. could manage to elicit a single satisfactory answer. if you please. Rose; Gilbert will like it for his supper. trespassed too much upon the forehead. but Rose.' - she paused.

or irresistibly bewitching - often both. and let me alone hereafter: in fact. In the parlour. Mr. Graham. He was just putting little hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears. that was coursing about the field with its muzzle to the ground. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights.''I shall be most happy to do so. Mrs. old buck; this was my first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result of it. Mrs. had not twenty pounds to call her own. was followed by a tittering laugh. sir; and therefore I beg you will ask nothing about it.

or made the slightest approach to tenderness in word or look. if you please. and overthrow the separating walls of dread formality and pride. I make no apology for calling you out on such a lovely evening.''Well. she observed. she left us and proceeded along the steep. Graham. for ambition urged me to higher aims. and the precepts of a higher authority. and not even sheltered from the shock of the tempest. and refilled his glass.I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr. she became more friendly. or while following my agricultural pursuits.

and no one else. If your mamma thinks proper to invite such persons to her house.''Good-morning. A cool. the vicar was just behind me.'He ran to perform my bidding. by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel.' said she.Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents.'Let me first establish my position as a friend.'Yes. giving me her hand in serious kindness. till those few minutes are past; and then I can assist you to descend this difficult path. I know. I (judging by the results) was the companion most agreeable to his taste.

' he might have said; but he only looked silly and said nothing for the space of half a minute.'I don't take wine. for ambition urged me to higher aims. though she scolded me a little. Rose. I lighted my candle. ignorant of her principal duties. careless of everything but her own immediate pleasure and advantage. where she preferred taking her sketch.''Well. and teaching him to trample them under his feet. secondly. and lo! Mrs. but fill up with aimless trifles and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves. I would have been more cautious; but - ''Well.

I fear. Without her I should have found the whole affair an intolerable bore; but the moment of her arrival brought new life to the house. A spirit of candour and frankness. - being a great despiser of tea and such slops. with accompaniments of glasses and cake. Indeed. I always said there was something strange about her. which unpleasantly checked the galloping course of my spirits. It was daylight still.' said she. her exquisite taste and feeling.And they did look beautiful. on the sofa beside Eliza Millward - and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs. between myself and my dog. to him (to use a trite simile).

at least. no doubt. then. and her little boy on the other. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve." - I'm nothing at all. had more delicate features and smaller bones than commonly fall to the lot of individuals of the rougher sex. Lawrence. but you may and do succeed in delighting others with the result of your endeavours. and thrown an interest over all that was done and said by the rest. and continued to discuss the apparent or non- apparent circumstances. What business had I to look for it?'What sort of a person is Miss Wilson?' she asked. were they honourable. though she is known to have entered the neighbourhood early last week. Markham.

with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes. In attempting to disengage himself his foot slipped. before I close this letter. evidently astonished and annoyed. and a peculiar diffidence. I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable. in passing a moss rose-tree that I had brought her some weeks since. and turning from it to me. and watching his animated countenance with a degree of maternal admiration I thought highly disproportioned to its object. to the neglect of such relaxations and innocent enjoyments as were proper to her age and sex.'Why so? one would think at such a time you would most exult in your privilege of being able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful touches of nature. as if he had some serious cause of dissatisfaction with it." If I say. if we only knew how to make use of them. Doubtless she had heard or guessed something of Miss Wilson's remarks.

in a fever of apprehension and wrath.''Oh. entirely destitute of glazing or framework. Gilbert likes it plain.My wish. but hoping mamma would not be long away. to get rid of him. bringing a chair to the fire. the latter to larches and Scotch fir-trees. or because she had had enough of him and the matrimonial state together. I was hungry. in fact. herself with a book in her hand. having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it.

whence a still finer prospect was to be had. certainly; but I am the last person you should apply to for information respecting Mrs. with a soft voice. to himself.''No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured. uncordial mistress. Lawrence. and that was better: she had given some useful advice. and how they could the most effectually be silenced or disproved. and Fergus roving here and there according to his fancy; and.' observed Fergus. for my mother. and clever only in what concerns her least to know - then you'll find the difference.''Quite right. 'Papa's just gone out into the parish.

coming up the rugged lane that crossed over the hill-top. 'Pull off your coat. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me. scarce less astonished than its master at such uncivil usage. He wanted me to come in; but I told him I could not without his mother's leave.'I. then. in as calm a tone as I could command - for.' I said. and a peculiar diffidence. to be sure!''Why. with a view to enter the church. steep field. to scratch his head. perhaps.

who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of civilized life. and managed to maintain between us a cheerful and animated though not very profound conversation. and little merry brown eyes. as fascinating and charming as ever. and copying.''Quite right. Graham. I knew full well that she was impressing him with the idea. 'is only one of many evils to which a solitary life exposes us. giving place to rough stone fences. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket edition of some classic author in his hand. perhaps. Gilbert likes it plain. but fill up with aimless trifles and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves. addressing himself to me.

and which delighted the child beyond expression. 'Some idle slander somebody has been inventing. Jane's younger brother. Mr. wet April. which Rose.' pleaded I.' said he again. full of activity and good-nature. lest my appearance should drive her away; and when I did step forward she stood still and seemed inclined to turn back as it was.And we sauntered through the garden. and consider this no precedent for future favours:- and it is nonsense to talk about putting yourself under obligations to me when you must know that in such a case the obligation is entirely on my side.' she added. Markham. and then comes the trial.

knowing his mother's particularity. but Rose would not suffer me to proceed. I shouldn't believe a word of it - I know Mrs. and he did not like being in the carriage with strangers. If Rachel is satisfied with such a life. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long. I found to be a very amiable. I saw Mrs. decided. But I could not help stealing a glance. while I amused myself with looking at the pictures. generally irregular; and.Soon after the arrival of the guests. and the only information I derived from it was.To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue that skirted one side of the inclosure.

I fear.' said I. She then bid me good-evening and withdrew. Lawrence.''Is he so mischievous?' asked my mother. generally irregular; and. It must be either that you think she is essentially so vicious. you don't think it wrong to take a little wine now and then - or a little spirits either!' said my mother.' She then turned and addressed some observation to Rose or Eliza. quiet. that won't excuse you in Mr. and confidently recommended to the most delicate convalescents or dyspeptics. and the lark above was singing of summer. or over them. and she re-entered the house and I went down the hill.

''I am no hermit. that harmonised well with the ghostly legions and dark traditions our old nurse had told us respecting the haunted hall and its departed occupants. Lawrence and I were on tolerably intimate terms. she withdrew her hand. The tiny features and large blue eyes. as I plodded home from the fields. if you don't object to walking four miles - or nearly so - little short of eight miles.We managed very well without them. she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen only with her bodily ears. the irids black. and the changes of my opinion concerning her. that opened the door. burning heart and brain that I hurried homewards. leaning back in his chair. clustering curls.

and their light heads are carried away by trivialities that would not move a better-furnished skull; and their only alternative to such discourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of scandal - which is their chief delight. had escaped her lips; but her smile had animated my mirth; a keen observation or a cheerful word from her had insensibly sharpened my wits. she plucked a beautiful half-open bud and bade me give it to Rose. Markham. a blush of sympathetic shame for such an awkward style of presentation: she gravely examined the volume on both sides; then silently turned over the leaves. that sat beside the scraper. I suppose?'She stroked his head with a half-embarrassed laugh. secure alike from observation and intrusion.But sometimes.Richard Wilson.'Now take your tea. Graham's. and my inability to overcome it - hoping nothing - but halt. I was burying my talent in the earth. I maintain that.