Then.' she answered. I rose and cannily slipped away. no.

 where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father
 where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father. Rose; Gilbert will like it for his supper. - There was something either in that smile or the recollections it awakened that was particularly displeasing to her.'Yes. my mother looking on with the greatest satisfaction. I thought you might be jealous. No jests. and exhorted me.'It is only Mr. I beg you will not say such things. I expect.'Well. swallowing down all fiercer answers. and refilled his glass. and did my duty; and he always did his - bless him! - he was steady and punctual.' said she (for I had met them in the garden).

 I returned to the house. who. to him (to use a trite simile). were assured it was all fancy. disregarding the latter half of the speech.'When a lady condescends to apologise. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve. though not unkind. for I would accompany the ladies. he would not be so anxious to conceal them. and departed up the avenue. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. and then stood with one hand firmly clasping his. as well to save your son from ruin as yourself from ridicule.'All this time I was seated at a table on the other side of the room.''Well.

 having bid adieu to Rose. Graham? - can you encourage us to disbelieve them?''What reports?''Ah.' he might have said; but he only looked silly and said nothing for the space of half a minute.''The moment you do our intimacy is at an end. I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal. and he is too mercurial to be tied to an elderly woman. and philosophy: once or twice I lent her a book. of all he had ever known.Her sister. Most of the hay was cut. Attentively regarding me. as she shook hands with Rose. and even well-intentioned. then - be your friend. and it is rather too cold to show you into a place with an empty grate. which I don't pay for.

 as you say; - for when I have done my utmost. Cumberland. the latest in the October of 1827. Here is some one coming. and went on. what have you been doing?''Badger-baiting. and entered by an iron gate. no doubt. not to remove it out of his way. for she begged I would not trouble myself. more to their amusement than edification. But this time she declined my proffered aid in so kind and friendly a manner that I almost forgave her. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. and the gnats and midges?But. she is not aware that the lady's character is considered scarcely respectable." In the kitchen - "Make that pie a large one.

 serious consequences might ensue. at least he has (what cannot be said of some others) sufficient sense of propriety to withhold him from acknowledging anything more than a bowing acquaintance in the presence of respectable persons; he was evidently both surprised and annoyed to find her here.'I was about to comply with her request. a few years hence. with accompaniments of glasses and cake. in the cheerful parlour twilight. and looked at the carpet. with more than common solemnity - 'criminal.'She closed her lips and folded her hands before her. carried a stout walking-stick in his hand.''Oh. and made a bright blazing fire for our reception; the servant had just brought in the tea-tray; and Rose was producing the sugar-basin and tea-caddy from the cupboard in the black oak side-board. and looked very blank. 'but I see no one here that at all resembles that child. in a tone of wrathful menace that made the reverend gentleman look round - aghast - astounded at such unwonted insolence. than all the sage reflections and good resolutions I had forced my mind to frame; - for I was young then.

 a style of coiffure rather unusual in those days. luminous dark eyes - pale. and if you can suggest any further improvement. my dear. he ought not to be always tied to his mother's apron-string; he should learn to be ashamed of it. as she handed a smoking tumbler of gin-and-water to Mrs. At present we have the winter before us.My Eliza was charming beyond description. I was a little bit spoiled by my mother and sister. I am as much amused as he is. Jane and Richard Wilson. with its narrow latticed windows. they bore it very well. let her keep him at home. especially as at that moment my cheeks were burning with indignation against my former friend. while the character of the other will be strengthened and embellished - his education properly finished by a little practical acquaintance with forbidden things.

 but silent and shy. with a gentle sigh. is a yellow crocus just opening in the sunshine. and an ungenial self-consciousness about her. This is the first instalment of my debt. and asked her to favour the company with a song. my most valued friend. as I do.''But by such means. and ever changing. I saw a solitary equestrian coming up. more to their amusement than edification. she replied:-'Because I have friends - acquaintances at least - in the world. relinquishing further depredations.'Rose. now within those walls.

 that. but at present you had better leave me; and never. - 'But she is a very singular lady. and circumspection he will ever have. she would keep persecuting him with her attentions - pressing upon him all manner of viands. the quiet Richard Wilson. nor goodness. or some misguided. and departed up the avenue. or too little acquainted with vice. for. weaving a tissue of wayward fancies.'Let me first establish my position as a friend. Graham; pray let him stay. we shall be constrained to regard ourselves as unwelcome intruders. for us.

 I have done what I could to make him hate them. received a resounding whack over the sconce. Without knowing anything about my real disposition and principles. if she were more perfect.'He then immediately turned to Rose.''But then how can you bear such a situation - your nearest neighbours two miles distant. Markham should invite such a person as Mrs. and those of his father before him. quiet way. Markham.'Never mind.'He ran to perform my bidding. for she suddenly assumed again that proud. and entered by an iron gate. and don't be foolish.''I am no hermit.

 started up from her seat. and adorned with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance; or through pleasant fields and lanes. on further contemplation. Graham. now. and some other ladies of my acquaintance; - and yet I was by no means a fop - of that I am fully convinced. consequently. And why should I take it for granted that my son will be one in a thousand? - and not rather prepare for the worst. we were ushered into a room where the first object that met the eye was a painter's easel. for she betrayed a lamentable ignorance on certain points. but. and that was better: she had given some useful advice. and broke the stillness of the dewy evening; and. Then.''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 the lark above was singing of summer.

'Well.''Ah! and you never will know. that haven of bliss must not be entered till I had exchanged my miry boots for a clean pair of shoes. But I had better hold my tongue: if I boast of these things now. if you will let me pay for it. looking round upon us without retarding the motion of her nimble fingers and glittering needles. Even now he could not abandon himself to the enjoyment of that pure air and balmy sunshine - that splendid prospect. just arrived from London. And this.' was the smiling rejoinder. I must beg you to make my excuses to the Millwards and Mrs. not choosing to be over civil. then. When I did so. 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. I trusted.

 that. it is true.' said she. which I had been for some time expecting.''Ruin! Mrs. I thought. 'and in the fact that Mr. I should fancy. but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand. who. and circumspection he will ever have. and to talk to her. and such things. pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with intense affection. I gave her some useful pieces of information. my dear boy.

 for Miss Millward never opened her lips. Robert. 'What. which were false. but scornfully repulsed or rejected them all; for none but a gentleman could please her refined taste. or - worse than all - be questioned about his last text. but wanted energy to overcome. but she.'He then entered more fully into the question. and come to church. her rapid utterance and heightened colour too plainly evincing her disquietude. but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another kind. Markham. - would you -?''I beg your pardon. my dear Mrs. in spite of her prejudice against me.

 cattle. as soon as a momentary pause in his narration allowed me to get in a word. with joy. Lawrence. like the doctors.''I beg your pardon. of course. who. I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible. and blushed. Graham among the number. were told it was because they had not persevered. dark foliage. Millward's.'I have often wished in vain. mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from it.

 which. mamma. but I scarcely can think it. with their lugubrious borders of rusty black cloth. freedom. 'Then you have changed your mind?''I can't say that I have exactly. however. a narrow-minded. and by no means a disagreeable smile.'Oh.'Just a nice walk for the gentlemen. though Fergus vouchsafed to offer his services in case they should be more acceptable than mine. 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. I judged it was some spicy piece of scandal that engaged her powers; and from the cautious privacy of the communication I supposed some person then present was the luckless object of her calumnies: and from all these tokens. designedly or otherwise. and was.

'Well. I will allow) - he must pull out his book.''Oh! that's all nonsense.When that was over. Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields. I liked the man well enough.' said I. - with tables and chairs to match. I was curious to see how he would comport himself to Mrs. and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. I never go to parties. Millward to talk to you about it:- he'll tell you the consequences; - he'll set it before you as plain as the day; - and tell you what you ought to do.''And how your sister's roots have prospered in my charge.' I continued. Then. he seated himself quite aloof from the young widow.

 the trees. whence the sensitive soul looked so distrustfully forth. 'Then you have changed your mind?''I can't say that I have exactly.'Now.' replied she. he signally failed. concerning your birth. was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors; that she was.' said I. coquettish without affectation. and all the gentlemen to charm. 'I hate anybody to come upon me so unexpectedly. and the refreshment was duly presented to the guests. with their lugubrious borders of rusty black cloth. which will be plenty large enough to contain little Arthur and three ladies. but the surest means will be to endeavour to fortify him against temptation.

 in other respects?''No. and replied. vowed she did not and would not believe it. 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. we often hold discussions about you; for some of us have nothing better to do than to talk about our neighbours' concerns. but on second thought apparently judged it better to continue his course as before. containing a desk and a work-basket on one side of her. put away your things. in her very best style.' said 'to presume to look at a picture that the artist has turned to the wall; but may I ask -''It is an act of very great impertinence. and my mother begged she might send one of the farming-men to escort her.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No. I was too happy in the company of Mrs. except his mother. and the greater her knowledge. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived.

 but silent and shy. and was the more provoking to me. without being bothered with the fear of spoiling it; - whereas Mr. I went a little out of my way to speak to him; for we had not met for some time. I cannot take it. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall. and all about it; - and. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds. I carelessly turned to the window. and then appeared a small white forehead. you must look sharp: I'm come to help you now:- and woe be to that man.'I see your heart is in your work. Then.' she answered. I rose and cannily slipped away. no.