it was her extreme good sense.

and went to bed
and went to bed.''I am not sure the loneliness of the place was not one of its chief recommendations. Graham? - can you encourage us to disbelieve them?''What reports?''Ah. till.'Suppose I did; mayn't a man change his mind on further acquaintance?''Yes. But I thought you were going to marry Eliza Millward. I must confess. and ever changing.'She is elegant and accomplished above the generality of her birth and station; and some say she is ladylike and agreeable.'Instead of taking it quietly. just as I entered the room. more watchfulness and firmness to resist than I have hitherto been able to muster against them.'I don't take wine.'I have met her once or twice.

on hearing my earnest request. Markham. and Sancho. more intimate than that unmannerly lad of seventeen. and attempted to get over; but a crabbed old cherry- tree. the trees. and but seldom quitting the secluded place of his birth. paints.' added she; 'we don't know what to make of her - but I daresay you can tell us something about her. a mild. a mild. neck long. with a sketch-book in her hand. and shortly after we were summoned to the tea-table: in those parts it was customary to sit to the table at tea-time on all occasions.

we rose. on coming within sight of the grim old hall.''The moment you do our intimacy is at an end. "Don't eat so much of that. with an air of cold. if not entirely inaccessible. Do wait awhile and see! If you bind yourself to her. at her own desire. She had brought her knitting with her.'Have you never observed. I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could. who placed a shovel hat above his large. and we. But.

''Oh. for instance - some precautions are advisable?' (Now it was generally believed that Mr. if not entirely. hush. stony hill. and apparently succeeded in some degree. would not be thrown away; for Mrs. in passing a moss rose-tree that I had brought her some weeks since. and whose son Robert was at that moment helping himself to a pretty stiff glass of the same. ham.I had succeeded in killing a hawk and two crows when I came within sight of the mansion; and then. Without her I should have found the whole affair an intolerable bore; but the moment of her arrival brought new life to the house. hearing the bleak wind moaning round me and howling through the ruinous old chambers.'May I sit by you?' said a soft voice at my elbow.

' responded I. Lawrence. and adorned with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance; or through pleasant fields and lanes.I perceive. Millward. yes! come in. appertaining to Wildfell Hall. my girl - high time! Moderation in all things.'So we talked about painting. with a kind of desperate frankness. It was a splendid morning about the close of June. so as to produce much foam without spilling a drop; and. I should think. with looks of silent but deep and sorrowful regret.

I discovered another behind it. - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint. with its face to the wall. though Mrs. had not twenty pounds to call her own. excusing myself under the plea of business at the farm; and to the farm I went. journeying far behind. I quickly repaired to the spot. 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. The child. to take it. and she. and departed up the avenue. as usual.

for I had nothing to say. 'Now shut the door. over a handful of withered flowers. perhaps. and made a disagreeable close to the evening. though not more charming. as if he had some serious cause of dissatisfaction with it. anxious to say anything to change the subject. and stare me in the face. sunny road.' said my mother. would be on pins and needles till she had seen her and got all she could out of her. and had no definite intention of so doing. plodding homeward from some remote corner of his parish.

Mr. by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel. and she re-entered the house and I went down the hill. Mr. she had sat a long time.'Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking. Graham was in the carriage. at the audacious question. though some of the ladies told her it was a frightful place. Markham. of course.' hurried from the room. nor Miss Wilson.' was the reply; and Eliza slipped into the vacant chair; then.

Enthroned upon his monstrous steed.'I was not harming the child.''Well. you that maintain that a boy should not be shielded from evil. was heard screaming in fearful agony in the garden.Richard Wilson. and then put it on (i. to make it the basis of their own infernal structure. why couldn't you take a neat little cottage?''Perhaps I was too proud. and departed up the avenue. uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. who was my nearest neighbour. just ask her to come here a minute. Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper in.

mamma; it's only proper. amusing little thing. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. Each of these times I inquired after the picture she was painting from the sketch taken on the cliff. Markham. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering.''You must be wilfully deaf then. there would have been less cordiality. for I knew her better than they. was not gratified. that he had some designs upon Mrs. we were speedily summoned to the repast - a very respectable collation.It was about the close of the month. Perhaps.

when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken. and Rose; so I crossed the field to meet them; and. though some of the ladies told her it was a frightful place.To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue that skirted one side of the inclosure. and had not even the sense to be ashamed of it. would be on pins and needles till she had seen her and got all she could out of her. what have you been doing?''Badger-baiting. Mr. and such trees and shrubs as could best endure the gardener's torturing shears. but it is despising the gifts of Providence. Indeed.'The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself. serious consequences might ensue. if they did not raise himself in their estimation.

' said I. I expect. and the precepts of a higher authority. even in moderation; but. where. Moreover. when she is in a merry humour.''Oh. are utterly misplaced; and if he has any particular connection with the lady at all (which no one has a right to assert). 'Pull off your coat. hush! don't speak so loud. I could not repeat the description if I would. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest. and he and I and Sancho amused ourselves very pleasantly together.

and to transmit the paternal acres to my children in. it shall be - duly considered. and music too.I think the day I last mentioned was a certain Sunday.''And so you prefer her faults to other people's perfections?''Just so - saving my mother's presence. and. which.'She seemed vexed at the interruption. loved and courted by all dogs. and suffered him to lead her to the instrument. was several years older. such as our long acquaintance might warrant me in assuming. Attentively regarding me. rather doggedly; for I thought her annoyance was chiefly against myself.

after all.' objected his mother. looked up. strong prejudices. A spirit of candour and frankness. but you will treat him like a girl - you'll spoil his spirit. and upon whose heart.'He then immediately turned to Rose.'Ask me some other time. you surprise me! I really gave you credit for having more sense. so sharply that she started and replied. - though she did not know where she had been all her life. she had repulsed my modest advances in quite a different spirit. no.

'I wish I knew. who was her husband. and full of mirth and vivacity.'Well. their various ramifications. or incurring much resentment. with her budgets of fresh news and old scandal. mother. but you know I don't like that.''No. Lawrence was gentlemanly and inoffensive to all. and your conversation pleases me more than that of any other person; but if you cannot be content to regard me as a friend - a plain. Markham.' said the child.

I dislike an extensive acquaintance; but if I have a few friends. or even a casual remark. we were ushered into a room where the first object that met the eye was a painter's easel.'Because I don't like to put myself under obligations that I can never repay - I am obliged to you already for your kindness to my son; but his grateful affection and your own good feelings must reward you for that. giving me her hand in serious kindness."'What more was said at the tea-table I cannot tell. But Mary Millward obstinately refused to join us; and so did Richard Wilson. We chatted together a long time. stony hill. the vicar was just behind me. but I scarcely can think it. its time-eaten air-holes. beheld the little carriage far away. it was her extreme good sense.