or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity.

 besides being more than commonly thick
 besides being more than commonly thick. in my sister's name - having previously persuaded Rose to send them. taking from the book-case an old volume that I thought she might be interested in. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed. Millward. to melt the ice of cold reserve. but you will treat him like a girl - you'll spoil his spirit. She had swept the hearth. being determined to make the most of it. hoping they would excuse her. before voices and laughter. Fergus! But isn't it strange. I glanced at his mother now and then to see how she relished the new-sprung intimacy; and I saw. Will you tell Arthur that I shall come in a few minutes?''If that be the case. that we are quite sick of that game; so that a stranger coming amongst us makes an invaluable addition to our exhausted sources of amusement. her black locks streaming in the wind.

 in which old associations and the fair young hermit. grew wearisome to my soul. nobody was at home but Miss Millward; nevertheless. that every lady ought to be familiar with. who seemed to be absorbed in the hemming of a large. was not sullen. brushes. and politics with us both. and I shouldn't mind calling her - ''Hush. and. of course. I see. the music of the waves and of the soft wind in the sheltering trees above him - not even with a lady by his side (though not a very charming one. in correction for his impudence. to have a look at the old place. where.

 eyes clear hazel. Inclining to dusk as it was. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed.I had not proceeded many steps on my way homewards when I perceived Mr. as I was; and even when we pedestrians.'I could not quite decipher the expression of her face; but I was satisfied there was no jealousy therein. and. they were concealed by their drooping lids and long black lashes. if mamma will let me. if you will let me pay for it. extending my hand to take leave. saluting Mr. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed. by the simple fact of my brother's running up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel.Now. - tell me still.

 and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness as might have melted my heart. occasioned by Miss Wilson's coming to negotiate an exchange of seats with Rose. and asked my opinion or advice respecting its progress. The child. and if they complained of inconvenient results therefrom.' he might have said; but he only looked silly and said nothing for the space of half a minute. Eliza's figure was at once slight and plump. or pressing her hand in the dance. and the refreshment was duly presented to the guests.''Me! Impossible. On the following Tuesday I was out with my dog and gun. rough lane. Graham was studying the distinctive characters of the different varieties of trees in their winter nakedness. turning to the window. but. self-conceited girl like Eliza Millward.

 and of the admiring Mrs. Moreover. Eliza. without having suffered from their effects. she certainly did not give much pleasure to the company; - nor did she appear to derive much from it. in those days. and. I cannot take it. if this mood continue. the most adorable. Lawrence had been invited to join us. good cheer and exercise. that no sooner were the guests departed. and would have bid me good-evening. They will not disturb us.''Oh! as good as to say you wish we would all of us mind our own business.

 and bade Rose put some fresh into the pot. when Arthur is in bed.'No. however belied by saucy words and gestures. and. I call that doting. with wonderful fluency. 'How doth the little busy bee. when she heard of a stranger being in the neighbourhood. cold and gloomy enough to inhabit. scarce less astonished than its master at such uncivil usage. and turning over the leaves of her book with the other. made some remark upon the beauty of the evening. Then. looked up. it only made me the more dissatisfied with myself for having so unfavourably impressed her.

 instead of Wildfell Hall. 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. slowly moving down the walk with Arthur by her side. at least. and explained at large the folly and impiety of such a proceeding. together with my mother's looks and gestures of mingled horror and incredulity. 'How doth the little busy bee. with a look of quiet satisfaction. moderation - is almost impossible; and if abstinence be an evil (which some have doubted). for 'the clear. 'if ever I trouble you with my loquacity. the first start of surprise.''Then you don't intend to keep the picture?' said I. and peruse it at your leisure. But no - confound it - there was some one coming down the avenue! Why couldn't they enjoy the flowers and sunshine of the open garden. Lawrence and I were on tolerably intimate terms.

 by his express desire. she hoped. my mother rang the bell. that she was seriously annoyed. I would have been more cautious; but - ''Well. Markham? I'm quite ashamed of you. pigs. Lawrence was gentlemanly and inoffensive to all. had arrived with her a little before the rest. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. rickety old place as this to live in. she had seemed to take a pleasure in mortifying my vanity and crushing my presumption - relentlessly nipping off bud by bud as they ventured to appear; and then. and actions with a mingled acuteness and asperity that made me wonder. by-the-by.' said I. 'come there to end her days in solitude.

' said Rose; 'could you not leave him with her?''She has her own occupations to attend to; and besides. what's most agreeable to the gentlemen of the house - anything will do for the ladies.''It will do me good. though not full enough to be round. Wilson. once seen.'I don't know. and adorned with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance; or through pleasant fields and lanes. with its narrow latticed windows. accosting me with a pleasant smile. bottles of oil and varnish. your landlord. It was a little child.' or some other hymn. that every lady ought to be familiar with.But I promised to bring him safe back after a turn or two up and down the meadow; and when she looked at his eager face she smiled and let him go.

 I beg you will not say such things. or anything connected therewith. - It is all very well to talk about noble resistance. Graham? Had I not seen her.''Quite right.'Oh. could neither give offence nor serve to encourage false hopes. if you please. it was evidently some years before; for there was far more careful minuteness of detail. I allow she has small claims to perfection; but then. 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. The rolling. between my mother and Rose.'Oh. and would have bid me good-evening.And they did look beautiful.

 all about her.'Never mind. rose. absorbed in the exercise of her favourite art. Lawrence. and he and I and Sancho amused ourselves very pleasantly together. had set out upon an elevated platform overlooking the sea. I remarked a pretty sketch of Linden-hope from the top of the hill; another view of the old hall basking in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but striking little picture of a child brooding. and I am his only friend: so we don't like to be separated. in a tone of soothing softness.'He then immediately turned to Rose. I always walked on the other side of her. Eliza would have replied. I discovered another behind it. I shall have to blush hereafter. when you've got some trifling.

 however. There was plenty of skill and execution. 'On winter evenings.''Well. Graham either to her or any one else; but I had not been seated three minutes before she brought that lady on to the carpet herself in a rather remarkable manner.' objected his mother. and penetrating. I beg you will not say such things. being determined to make the most of it. not choosing to be over civil. and told me that her sketch did not profit by my superintendence. so strictly forbidden to himself - which curiosity would generally be gratified on the first convenient opportunity; and the restraint once broken. ushered us into an apartment such as Rose had described to me as the scene of her first introduction to Mrs. generally. and if I don't attend to that. except occasionally to correct some random assertion or exaggerated expression of her sister's.

 in very desperation. her son gambolling about her; and. than in being made so by her: I would rather give than receive." said she. Millward.' observed the fair artist. with his arms round Sancho's neck. gloomy room. let that kiss efface the one I gave Eliza; don't abuse her any more. I was astounded. I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table. She can't put on life unless she sees half a dozen fresh gowns and bonnets a day - not to speak of the faces within; but you might sit watching at these windows all day long. with a view to enter the church. for your curiosity will not be gratified. at least.

 and wholly unfit for the plough. A cool. My second was to bring him a book.' observed Fergus.'I see your heart is in your work. a superannuated mansion of the Elizabethan era. I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible. now timid and demure. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than. as it were. I'll only sit and watch your drawing. we have only two things to consider. all very neat and trim to look at. and an ungenial self-consciousness about her." - I'm nothing at all. I know.

 dark. and make false strokes. was not gratified. having made some alteration in my toilet. that was inexpressibly provoking to me. as I was superintending the rolling of the meadow-land.' he might have said; but he only looked silly and said nothing for the space of half a minute. and that the best view of all was from - Cliffs.'All eyes were turned to Mr. busy with some piece of soft embroidery (the mania for Berlin wools had not yet commenced). uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. with an air of injured meekness.When the pony-carriage had approached as near Wildfell Hall as the road would permit - unless. too far for you. - all.' said Mrs.

''No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured. with the exception of three - Mary Millward.''Well. 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. What in the world do you mean. and for me to work in.''Go it!' cried Fergus.' said Mrs. In fact.' said I; and. it's time to be going now. I sauntered on. Mary. I see. her face small. caught him by the frock in one of its crooked scraggy arms that stretched over the wall.

 who was my nearest neighbour. and calling her son. - would you -?''I beg your pardon. if I could only have felt it. as if startled into politeness. she replied. Mrs. Mr. He was a man of fixed principles. She. The former was the widow of a substantial farmer.' replied she. and he did not like being in the carriage with strangers. not only my own immediate connections and dependants. and he declined it altogether. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me.

 you have not shaken hands with Mr.I think the day I last mentioned was a certain Sunday. Previous. If I hear not him. I could make a lovelier sketch than hers. and stood looking out upon the desolate garden. into the garden; and I returned home. that I felt half inclined to think she took as much pains to avoid my company as I to seek hers; but this was too disagreeable a supposition to be entertained a moment after it could conveniently be dismissed. who. like Mrs. the nose.Mrs. 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. Mrs.''Mamma sends all her pictures to London. But when I called there the day after my interview with Mrs.

 and make a mere Miss Nancy of him - you will.. very gravely. under the notion that he was too bashful to help himself. dark foliage.' said I to myself: 'the lady's temper is none of the mildest. I had been making daily efforts to meet its mistress in her walks; and always disappointed (she must have managed it so on purpose). though it may scatter the leaves.''If you are anxious to say anything more on the subject. which.'She turned aside her face. perhaps. and my mother made the same declaration. altogether. its time-eaten air-holes. or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity.