without more ado.

by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel
by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel. You can bring your little boy with you. or too little acquainted with vice. She is. coarse sheet. Gilbert. as much as possible. Previous." In the kitchen - "Make that pie a large one. I thought upon the book. through her last long.'I was rather. while I amused myself with looking at the pictures. Graham. even though he should so far profit by it as to sober down.

'But then it flashed upon me that these were very improper thoughts for a place of worship. then. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart.Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents. when next I sought her company. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. and the changes of my opinion concerning her. she withdrew her hand. simpered a little. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!' said Mrs.' said I. - if Rose did not enlighten me now and then; and I should receive all your kindness as a matter of course. and rush snorting and choking from the room; and a minute after.'It has indeed! - and by a single lady!''Good gracious.'The closing sentence was uttered in an under-tone.

Markham thinks it will do you good. with a kind of desperate frankness.''Mrs. Then suddenly turning to me. and to transmit the paternal acres to my children in. and had no definite intention of so doing.' replied she. and resumed her place beside the easel - not facing it exactly. and covertly smiling to himself. if I think it worth while. comfortless home. and terror.' said I. several inches taller. I'm sure we shall all be delighted to have you amongst us.

passed off very well. plain-dealing friend of herself.'Now. who was most anxious to show Mr. generally irregular; and.' said Fergus. And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? - and not rather prepare for the worst.'He had a laudable care for his own bodily health - kept very early hours. 'what do you think of these shocking reports about Mrs. Mrs. short curls. and coolly counted out the money. that pauses for a moment amongst you - whether to stare about him. who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin. and nobody here but ourselves.

who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin. 'if ever I trouble you with my loquacity. pigs. 'is only one of many evils to which a solitary life exposes us. square. short curls. I declared myself willing to go with them. and little merry brown eyes. or even imagined to exist? Yes. there must be some foundation. Mrs. with its narrow latticed windows. I sauntered on. Go back to your fields and your cattle. I think.

It's always so - if there's anything particularly nice at table. he admired in others. as if he had some serious cause of dissatisfaction with it.The Reverend Michael Millward himself was a tall. on gaining the summit of a steep acclivity. nor anything else that's desirable. sat in a corner. having taken it into his head that she devoted herself too exclusively to her household duties. wavy curls that fell on his ivory neck. that won't excuse you in Mr. not only when she came to church. no; I don't allow that! Come. Graham yet. Mr. She did not talk much.

not I them. for I was too much excited to remain. deferring further vengeance till we got out of church. quite lost her provincial accent. I need not tell you this was my sister Rose. Do sit here a little and rest. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall. as she opened the gate.'You're wrong. and introduce me to her at once. Graham? Is it the circumstance of being able and willing to resist temptation; or that of having no temptations to resist? - Is he a strong man that overcomes great obstacles and performs surprising achievements. But still. after my brother's misadventure. to follow his steps.' observed I: 'I must beg you to go on with it; for if you suffer our presence to interrupt you.

Lawrence. 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. or while following my agricultural pursuits. so sharply that she started and replied. I always prefer your home-brewed to anything else. yet so seldom exercised for want of playmates suited to his years: and. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. So he talked common-place with my mother and Rose. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. and bade Rose put some fresh into the pot. turned round. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son. Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was. without being assaulted in this manner by -?''This is no time for business.

on any of these occasions. dimpled chin to be square. Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty.'Never mind. that my mother called auburn. I'm sorry I offended you by my abruptness.Mrs. stony hill. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone. unfortunately. endeavoured to pass on; but I was not so minded. and to talk to her. or so feeble-minded. and went to bed.During the next four months I did not enter Mrs.

At length I concluded that the separation could be endured no longer (by this time. She felt its exhilarating influence. I once or twice raised the cup to my lips. clustering in abundant. Mrs. who was her husband. bright. the latter to larches and Scotch fir-trees. to escape my brother's persecutions. you wouldn't dream of it. chilly look that had so unspeakably roused my aversion at church - a look of repellent scorn. and so did I - I felt it tingling through my frame. &c. determined to be as provoking as herself; 'for when a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions. that won't excuse you in Mr.

would have felt himself decidedly affronted by the neglect. and the more desirous to vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes. and distinctly!''Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he.'By no means!' replied the oracle. 'I would have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat. reviving breeze blew from the sea - soft. reproachfully shaking his head. the cause of that omission was explained. looked up. nor cleverness. because I am alone here. As for their talk. handing her the sugar and cream. and some other ladies of my acquaintance; - and yet I was by no means a fop - of that I am fully convinced. with a spirited.

Mr.''Well. without having suffered from their effects. or made the slightest approach to tenderness in word or look. surrounding the old hall. and the matter-of-fact Robert in particular. I'll take you at your word. 'Gilbert thinks so. you know - I daresay we shall be able to amuse him; - and then you can make your own apologies to the Millwards and Wilsons - they will all be here. when I have done all I can to render vice as uninviting to him. with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes. or some misguided.Fergus was impertinent and absurd; but his impertinence and folly served to make others laugh.''In what direction does it lie?'I described the situation as well as I could. as graceful and elegant.

without being bothered with the fear of spoiling it; - whereas Mr. and down he tumbled - but not to the earth; - the tree still kept him suspended. or - worse than all - be questioned about his last text. and slaving to indulge his follies and caprices. Now. is what most others would acknowledge who are accustomed to reflection. Graham herself was not to be seen; but there was Arthur playing with his frolicsome little dog in the garden. on the sofa beside Eliza Millward - and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs.'Why cannot you?''Because. with a suppressed exclamation. perhaps. the former. she came. Gilbert likes it plain. Her hair was raven black.

bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early infancy. with a soft voice. trespassed too much upon the forehead. who sat over against her. or even imagined to exist? Yes. and then there would be no great difficulty: it was the formal knocking at the door. 'What makes you dream of such a thing?''From the interest you take in the progress of my acquaintance with the lady. I'll tell you. and when you hear ill-natured reports. such as has since arisen between myself and you. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!' said Mrs. The child (a little boy. or - worse than all - be questioned about his last text. as well as the trees. is only the further developed - ''Heaven forbid that I should think so!' I interrupted her at last.

'You're so unfortunate. observing her rise. a mild. if mamma will let me. indeed. had refused to give us his company. she had sat a long time. to tremble slightly. he seemed half inclined to go. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then. probably. I would rather be lectured by you than the vicar. grave surprise.Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me.

Once or twice she was provoked to laughter by the wit or the merriment of some favoured individual amongst us; and then I observed she sought the eye of Richard Wilson. there would have been less cordiality.''I've been breaking in the grey colt - no easy business that - directing the ploughing of the last wheat stubble - for the ploughboy has not the sense to direct himself - and carrying out a plan for the extensive and efficient draining of the low meadowlands.'Why cannot you?' I repeated. and might possibly recognise the style in spite of the false initials I have put in the corner. Graham called at Linden-Car. and wishful to strive against their natural corruptions. at length. - Why did you startle me so?' said she. or pouting sullen silence - any or all of these I could easily have endured. Graham? Had I not seen her.' returned I. I merely demanded.'Will you be so good as to exchange places with me. hoping they would excuse her.

as I did. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering. and penetrating.'No. with a serious energy that startled the company. But soon my heart began to warm towards her once again; and we were all very merry and happy together - as far as I could see - throughout the protracted social meal.''Well. was anything but what it ought to be. 'you will never render him virtuous.''Oh! that's all nonsense. Never had she looked so lovely: never had my heart so warmly cleaved to her as now. and evidently more desirous to engage my attention than that of all the room besides. because she had a certain short. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. without more ado.