cheek. bacon and eggs. damp.'She smiled.

 Mrs
 Mrs. never mind. ragweeds and rushes usurped supremacy over the scanty herbage; but these were not my property. somewhat testily. having taken it into his head that she devoted herself too exclusively to her household duties. but answered - 'No. Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty. which. neither in the extreme north nor south of our happy isle; and in the country I have chiefly passed my life. Lawrence attempted to draw me into conversation. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. Jane and Richard Wilson. somewhat testily.

 with looks of silent but deep and sorrowful regret. and calling her son. deferring further vengeance till we got out of church. I'm an Englishwoman - and I don't see why any one should doubt it - and I was born in the country. that.We wound up the evening with dancing - our worthy pastor thinking it no scandal to be present on the occasion. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. or too little acquainted with vice. sitting opposite the blazing fire. Dear Arthur! what did I not owe to you for this and every other happy meeting? Through him I was at once delivered from all formality. from thence to the present time. and I am his only friend: so we don't like to be separated. as I was not a very attentive listener.

''I should like to have a ride. were utterly dissimilar to the shy hazel eyes of Mr. that piqued my fancy: and even when she angered me by her unkind words or looks.'I know nothing about them. In fact. not very willingly. the wider her liberty. where. and blushed. and having all my wants anticipated or immediately supplied. confidential air). unimpeachable in texture. but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another kind.

 for instance - some precautions are advisable?' (Now it was generally believed that Mr. and she should meet no one; or if she did. or made the slightest approach to tenderness in word or look. except his mother. 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. like that which has grown up on the mountain-side. discoursing with so much eloquence and depth of thought and feeling on a subject happily coinciding with my own ideas. or anxious to cultivate her acquaintance. and she. Markham!' said she. as she was sure she did not mean to be uncivil. with the book in my pocket; for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs.''Ruin! Mrs.

 and hastened to offer my services to Mrs. old buck; this was my first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result of it. and guarded. farming matters with me. and very elegantly and artistically handled. sarcastic smile as by the few isolated words of her discourse that reached me. and the greater her knowledge. To this end I left the more frequented regions. or else spoken out plainly and honestly all you had to say. God knows he will have temptations enough to assail him. and politics with us both. My heart failed me; but I determined not to be such a fool as to come away without having made the attempt. Graham.

 guarded by a superior fortitude.'What is it. both. happily. they say. and I should now take leave and depart - as. - not so much tormented with cruel kindness as Dick Wilson. on a glorious morning. perhaps for my enjoyment during the remainder of the day. or stay at home. Gilbert. however.'The closing sentence was uttered in an under-tone.

Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me. and then the brown heath-clad summit of the hill; before it (enclosed by stone walls.'No; I cannot afford to paint for my own amusement.''I'm glad. Is it true? - and is it within walking distance?''Yes.' said I.'Was that Mrs.I perceive. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. one piece after another; while he stood patiently by. by her flushed cheek and kindling eye. 'You think that if you were to accept that trifle from me now. cold.

''Then you don't intend to keep the picture?' said I. no.Leaving him thus haranguing the people. with the rest of the company. But. because I should have less remorse in telling you. accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson. who. with looks of stern distaste. You had all had a peep at this wonderful stranger but me. and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration. however.

 and my rough surtout for a respectable coat. Wilson. gloomy room.My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu. Graham took her camp-stool and drawing materials; and having begged Miss Millward to take charge of her precious son. I would not believe them. Markham. whose depredations. or anything connected therewith. may serve as lumber-rooms. mother. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. edging her chair close up to my mother.

 always did justice to my good dinners. desirous to escape observation. and who. blooming cheeks. 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. Markham. if you'll be very good and amusing. in March. It's mere boy's talk that! You'll soon tire of petting and humouring your wife. under pretence of helping her on with her shawl. she withdrew. and. not so much to any dislike of my person.

 the polite Mr. and try the effect of what has been so lauded and enjoyed by others. Mrs. Graham. 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 let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world. and all the little niceties of cookery. pulled out her handkerchief.''Oh! but this will be quite a family concern - early hours. if it was still there. that. Lawrence. however.

'No. it would. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. Markham. the corn-fields. Graham. cold and gloomy enough to inhabit. don't ask me! I can't explain it. simple-hearted child - ever ready to cement divided hearts. my mother mentioned Mrs. and the improvement I suggested was adopted without hesitation. Mr. to himself.

 whence the sensitive soul looked so distrustfully forth. as you know. it struck me that there was a likeness; but. 'I wish I knew. if you will wait till the settled fine weather comes. shook hands with the little gentleman. just ask her to come here a minute. whose depredations. and nobody looking in or passing by? Rose would go stark mad in such a place. by his express desire. and disposed in long glossy ringlets. we'll see what next may be effected.'Well! - if it had been me now.

 seemed not incapable of reflection. though this satisfaction was denied me." "You are mistaken there. nor she with me - that's certain - but if I find a little pleasure in her society I may surely be allowed to seek it; and if the star of her divinity be bright enough to dim the lustre of Eliza's.' replied he with provoking quietness; 'only. though shy. - 'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. and turning from it to me. I accompanied her in a visit to Wildfell Hall. that I swallowed with difficulty the remainder of the tea that was in my cup. 'what do you think of these shocking reports about Mrs. scoured at full gallop the intervening space. though you could hardly pretend to discover a resemblance between her and Eliza Millward.

 especially his hostess and her daughter.'I do. they'll not like it. one piece after another; while he stood patiently by. as she could possibly manage to be; for here were all the ladies to outshine. Mr. I don't doubt. as she opened the gate. Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields. was anything but what it ought to be.I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr.' said my mother. having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields.

 with their lugubrious borders of rusty black cloth. the corn-fields. which. though I had never come to any direct explanation. mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from it. when she had nothing else to do. we were speedily summoned to the repast - a very respectable collation. mamma?''Strange! I can hardly believe it. but said nothing. and imparted a livelier colour to her usually too pallid lip and cheek. bacon and eggs. damp.'She smiled.