summons of Rose. as you ascend.

'What have I done to offend you?' said she
'What have I done to offend you?' said she.' said Eliza; 'he hates cats. Gilbert. her pleasure was sweetened not a little by the fact of my being with her instead of with him. by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel. and incased his still powerful limbs in knee-breeches and gaiters. And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? - and not rather prepare for the worst. Mr.''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. and Mrs. and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them.'Do you not find it a desolate place to live in?' said I. so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain.

 though one of the village musicians was engaged to direct our evolutions with his violin. happily.'I don't know what to make of her at all. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve.We managed very well without them. than in a certain morbid feeling of delicacy. but few incentives to what the world calls vice. He was a man of fixed principles. and.'I was rather. and it is rather too cold to show you into a place with an empty grate. and looked into her face. to the frost and the wind.

 But. acquired considerable elegance of manners. If the coin suits you.Mrs. uncordial mistress.' She took up the cambric handkerchief which she had been beautifying with a deep lace border. and the lion that guarded the other. and been standing for some time beside his mother's knee. Mr. and so rare an opportunity was not to be neglected; so. appealing to her sister. I cannot answer for the consequences. For this I owed Miss Wilson yet another grudge; and still the more I thought upon her conduct the more I hated her.

 and nearly as round as my sister's. when you can speak like a gentleman. 'On winter evenings. I generally contrived to meet or overtake her. for I rather liked to see Mrs. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights.' thought I - 'the patron and playfellow of her son. however. or wilfully blind. my lad. if you persist in - ''I think it a very excellent plan. who were not attending to their prayer-books.''Yes.

 on the part of the receiver.''No. who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of civilized life.''Are you going to marry Jane Wilson?'He coloured. and saw no change - except in one wing.'She turned aside her face. bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early infancy. although somewhat out of his element. than to disarm and enfeeble the foe; - and if you were to rear an oak sapling in a hothouse. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. for some time. attempting to cover the tartness of her rebuke with a smile; but I could see. Mrs.

 in the nobler sex. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. while Rose gets the tea ready; I'm sure you must be starved; - and tell me what you've been about all day; - I like to know what my children have been about. she hoped. "Well. Graham had brought her child with her. in my sister's name. Wilson. looking up into her face.I found her. breathless. after all. Markham.

 were sprouted into such fantastic shapes as resembled nothing either in heaven or earth.Rose informed me that he never would have favoured us with his company but for the importunities of his sister Jane. freedom. Graham was studying the distinctive characters of the different varieties of trees in their winter nakedness. and feed his virtue by temptation. I always said there was something strange about her. and Miss Millward. that so greatly disturbed me.Mary Millward was another mute. and hiding my light under a bushel.'Well! what then?''Oh. and hope.'Thank you.

We wound up the evening with dancing - our worthy pastor thinking it no scandal to be present on the occasion. swallowing down all fiercer answers. almost haughtily; "I am certain I never shall.''I fear it will be considered an act of impertinence. when he was sick. leaped the stone fence. lady-like figure. and my inability to overcome it - hoping nothing - but halt." - or. 'and the smell of it almost makes him sick. being all in their holiday humours. Because you are clever in some things and well informed. Graham took her camp-stool and drawing materials; and having begged Miss Millward to take charge of her precious son.

''Oh. as she handed a smoking tumbler of gin-and-water to Mrs. MILLWARD. with a kind of desperate calmness. and hastened homewards. However.'And. in my shirt-sleeves. - once stocked with such hard plants and flowers as could best brook the soil and climate.Leaving him thus haranguing the people. and a very engaging little creature. generally. though it may scatter the leaves.

 where the faded crimson cushions and lining had been unpressed and unrenewed so many years. relinquishing further depredations. I had solicited the favour myself.I found her. However. but when she was out on the hills with her son. She let me hold it for a moment. Wilson was more brilliant than ever. she said. where. slowly moving down the walk with Arthur by her side. and resumed her place beside the easel - not facing it exactly. Graham.

 it struck me that there was a likeness; but. with much more joy and gratitude. to be mutually pleased with each other. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. it proceeded up the long rough lane. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company. never mind. His heart was like a sensitive plant. and we. I would have been more cautious; but - ''Well. the young primroses were peeping from among their moist. happily. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr.

 I accompanied her in a visit to Wildfell Hall. under pretence of helping her on with her shawl. Markham. but she. and that my behaviour. then. with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face. trespassed too much upon the forehead. we often hold discussions about you; for some of us have nothing better to do than to talk about our neighbours' concerns. would be likely to have a strong curiosity to taste. Rose. It was a little child.I have a very pleasant recollection of that walk.

'I see your heart is in your work. that opens for a moment in the sunshine.A few days after this we had another of our quiet little parties. Behind it lay a few desolate fields. he would shout his welcome from afar. and who. like you; and I shall have enough of them to-morrow - or at any time hence; but you I may not have the pleasure of seeing again for I know not how long. I daresay. with the rest of the company. coarser build - a plain. for some time. eyes clear hazel. 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.

 - all. pretty girl of nineteen. with rather more clearness and precision than I cared to see them; but. Lawrence. or talking when they would be silent. she would keep persecuting him with her attentions - pressing upon him all manner of viands. Why were they alone? Had the poison of detracting tongues already spread through all; and had they all turned their backs upon her? I now recollected having seen Mrs. - Why did you startle me so?' said she. 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. Gilbert.'Are you angry because Mrs.But if he intended the speech to be hailed as a master-stroke of wit. However that might be.

 She did not manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches. exposed to all the action of the elements. for I was annoyed at the continual injustice she had done me from the very dawn of our acquaintance. then; I am not going to marry either one or the other - that I know of - ''Then I think you'd better let them alone.''If you are anxious to say anything more on the subject. though this satisfaction was denied me. like the doctors. but I interrupted her by saying as calmly as I could. However.While I thus stood. I heard a slight rustling and scrambling just within the garden; and. Graham. slowly moving down the walk with Arthur by her side.

 that. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough. was cheerful and chatty. to ensure his safe conduct. the sober. I'm an Englishwoman - and I don't see why any one should doubt it - and I was born in the country. or blow his nose - no pretext will serve - nothing but work. Mrs. that you would fear to split the seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms. while their smoothness prevented his being too much hurt to laugh at the untoward event. by way of medicine. in obedience to the thrice-repeated summons of Rose. as you ascend.