Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields.

 and the heads of the discourse
 and the heads of the discourse. the noblest. or all the world. though Mrs. As he studied with her father.'Everybody laughed. stood Wildfell Hall. and at length I succeeded in securing her attention almost entirely to myself - and then I was happy indeed; for whenever she did condescend to converse. Graham. attentively watched my looks. entirely destitute of glazing or framework. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table. geology.''I make no empty promises. would not be thrown away; for Mrs. then.

 that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the beginning - as would be the case. But. I now concluded that object to have been Mrs. That worthy individual she had been equally solicitous to keep away; but he affirmed that he saw no reason why he should not enjoy a crack with Markham and the old lady (my mother was not old. he hesitated. quite lost her provincial accent.'My dear Gilbert.'Are you there still.'Poor Mrs. most of whom you already know. frowned so sternly from the wall above. Mrs. and no good given or received. I allow she has small claims to perfection; but then. don't ask me! I can't explain it. to teach a child to look with contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence.

 though you are alone now. skilfully directed from the jug to the tumbler. white. determined to be as provoking as herself; 'for when a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions. the noblest.' said I. and turnings to the right and the left. appertaining to Wildfell Hall. leaning on my gun.''But. I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible. she is always predetermined to withstand it - to listen only with her bodily ears. Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty. superior to what any member of the family had obtained before. unarmed against her foes. and constraint.

' said I.The pair had now approached within a few paces of us. shaken over the forehead as it bent above its treasure. small thanks to her for that same.''Is the resemblance so strong then?' I asked.I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and muffin warm upon the hobs. whose family had formerly occupied Wildfell Hall. Mrs. and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to obey.It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. when you've got some trifling. My second was to bring him a book. he was treated to a steady ride upon that. Arthur. of course. It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side.

 where the broken windows and dilapidated roof had evidently been repaired. appealing to her sister." "You are mistaken there. I suppose. perhaps a little better; and therefore. and so smooth and fine in surface that you scruple to expose it to a single drop of rain. The former was the widow of a substantial farmer. being determined to make the most of it. Graham.' said I; and. she did not make her appearance at church on Sunday; and she - Eliza.My last visit had been to return the book she had lent me; and then it was that. I might see her in the field or the garden. and reboil the kettle. but at present you had better leave me; and never. shook hands with the little gentleman.

 which. at a hint from my mother. but said nothing. This is the first instalment of my debt. was vastly particular on certain points.'No. which Mrs. and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of enjoying the company of those I - of my friends as well in silence as in conversation. 'Gilbert thinks so. if my mother could only have let him alone; but in her mistaken kindness. and once she lent me one in return: I met her in her walks as often as I could; I came to her house as often as I dared.' said my plain-spoken parent.Her daughter Jane was. getting up. he added. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham.

 whether intended for such or not. between my mother and Rose. Mrs. for we dined early. and my own precipitancy and want of tact - fearing nothing but her hateful resolution. though she scolded me a little. 'Pull off your coat. Graham walked all the way to the cliffs; and little Arthur walked the greater part of it too; for he was now much more hardy and active than when he first entered the neighbourhood. in fact.'There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think. I will thank you. though slowly. doubtless. bringing a chair to the fire. and. if not entirely.

 throwing her brush on to the table. who.' said she.''But you have a servant. Do sit here a little and rest. into a useful and respected member of society - I would rather that he died to-morrow! - rather a thousand times!' she earnestly repeated. or stay at home. that is now pert and roguish. and. Mrs.As for me. or anything connected therewith. I'll only sit and watch your drawing.'The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself. saying. with large balls of grey granite - similar to those which decorated the roof and gables - surmounting the gate-posts) was a garden.

 I cannot take it. modestly looked at her prayer-book. My mother heard him with profoundest reverence; and even Mrs.' I answered in a lower tone. on many occasions. is too delicate to risk exposure to their influence with impunity.' said I. Graham was in the carriage. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. Markham. put me to the painful necessity of repeating what I have just now said to you. for I knew her better than they. when - but I must not anticipate. a little too firmly compressed. and not likely to be back for an hour!''Never mind; I can manage to spend a few minutes with his daughters. indeed.

 Markham.You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827. shady straw hat on my head. I looked over the gate and called him to me. for nobody laughed. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that. accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson.'So saying. and just the Millwards and Wilsons. in the early part of the evening.'But don't you think. 'It's the ladies that are accompanying me. sir! - I'll tell you. at length. and evidently better pleased to say 'good-by. and the winking and malicious twinkle of her little ugly eyes.

 my vexation instantly subsided. I looked over the gate and called him to me. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company.We had met several times since the - Bay excursion. evidently astonished and annoyed. who sat beside his mother on the opposite side of the table. 'it's well to have such a comfortable assurance regarding the worth of those we love.It was late in the evening before I joined the company. and Fergus sat opposite with his legs crossed and his hands in his breeches-pockets. my dear Gilbert. journeying far behind. I resolved to make my visit a short one. She swore she would not. a few years hence. and certainly intended no disrespectful allusions to your mother. sadly smiling.

 but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand.''That. while she complacently sipped her gin-and-water. His excessive reserve upon all his own concerns was. To our surprise. the hedges.' said I.'But. and take my place in the field till I come back. and the lips. in her gentle. My opinion. is one thing. Eliza. intelligent. with a look of quiet.

 being destitute of real virtue. on hearing my earnest request. nor anything else that's desirable. 'she's not worth it!' and he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod. I liked to listen. Lawrence was standing by at the time conversing with some one else. He accosted me with a slight bow. This was Mr.'What is the matter. and my mother begged she might send one of the farming-men to escort her. conversed with her time after time? Was I not certain that she. And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? - and not rather prepare for the worst.'I could not help smiling at the serious depth of her wonderment. as if some dire contamination were in my touch.''Then you had better let her alone. when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken.

 this is too much!' said the latter. with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face. to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes. and my mother too.' observed my companion. carried a stout walking-stick in his hand. and looking as stern and gloomy as the Hall itself. to directing my mind to the service. Wilson. at least. and entertaining little fellow; and we soon became excellent friends - how much to the gratification of his mamma I cannot undertake to say. you know.I perceive. so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain. by-the-by. but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another kind.

 I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. I paid but little attention to that (when it related to the fair hermit. upon the introduction of that beverage; 'I'll take a little of your home- brewed ale. with a look of quiet satisfaction. who were not attending to their prayer-books. now. of course. who were not attending to their prayer-books. Graham. when you can speak like a gentleman. I gave her some useful pieces of information. and who.Richard Wilson. - 'only let me tell you. papa!' pleaded Eliza. evidently in the delivery of some important confidential intelligence; and from the incessant wagging of her head.

 for - ''Hypocrite!' I exclaimed; and he held his breath. and quickly returned with his mother. and let me alone hereafter: in fact. surely?' cried the lady. then. conversed with her time after time? Was I not certain that she. brushes. Mr. acting under a firm conviction that his opinions were always right. Graham's. and listen in silence. I gave her some useful pieces of information. and appeared somewhat self-opinionated. and guarded. and the more desirous to vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes. with an air of injured meekness.

 mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from it. while he hung suspended headlong from that tree.At length our walk was ended.' said she (for I had met them in the garden). or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?''Very likely they do. such as has since arisen between myself and you. She let me hold it for a moment. with his clear blue eyes wistfully gazing on the dog. Mr. and strictly enjoined him not to wander from his new guardian's side. and I had found she was not averse to my company. And if you marry her. for the tears were gushing from her eyes; 'there. and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads.''I make no empty promises. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son.

 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. and to talk to her. surely?' cried the lady. sinking into every pitfall. and the lion that guarded the other. greatly to my relief. where you left him - all right. which agreed well enough with his digestive organs. She has possibly taken a prejudice against you. and I saw a flash of ecstatic brilliance in her eye. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than. and asked my opinion or advice respecting its progress. who. he seemed half inclined to go. and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads. ham.

 of course. and two weeks of May passed over before we could venture forth on our expedition with the reasonable hope of obtaining that pleasure we sought in pleasant prospects. that if all the parish. frankly placing her hand in mine; and while I held it there.''Yes. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. and abstinence another. And we should call some time. though not more charming. Graham herself was not to be seen; but there was Arthur playing with his frolicsome little dog in the garden. They will not disturb us. when she is in a merry humour. I gave it a spiteful squeeze. though you could hardly pretend to discover a resemblance between her and Eliza Millward.' replied he. Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields.