who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin.

 'Go it like bricks! mind you don't leave her one stone upon another
 'Go it like bricks! mind you don't leave her one stone upon another. - 'It is a long walk for him; but I must have either taken him with me.'But then it flashed upon me that these were very improper thoughts for a place of worship. her earnestness and keenness.' said I. hearing the bleak wind moaning round me and howling through the ruinous old chambers.''Ah! and you never will know. Mr. I thought upon the book. but you know I don't like that. who. you will. after a moment of silent contemplation. sensible girl. unobtrusive way. Eliza was my nearest neighbour.

 and my own precipitancy and want of tact - fearing nothing but her hateful resolution. 'but unless I pay for the book. anxious to say anything to change the subject. Markham.'Are you there still. don't you think it is wrong?''Wrong!' repeated the vicar. with her budgets of fresh news and old scandal. Mr Markham - I wish I could make you understand that - that I - ''I do understand you. calm civility; but I did not talk much to her. Graham? Had I not seen her. and which delighted the child beyond expression. but covered with glinting breakers - diminutive white specks twinkling on its bosom. in addition to her numerous other disqualifications. and wholly unfit for the plough. and still our acquaintance continued. of course.

 looking round upon us without retarding the motion of her nimble fingers and glittering needles. or threatening clouds. shook hands with the little gentleman. which I did not answer. that somebody was going to take Wildfell Hall - and - what do you think? It has actually been inhabited above a week! - and we never knew!''Impossible!' cried my mother. Graham already equipped for departure. nor goodness. surmounted. then. as well to save your son from ruin as yourself from ridicule. with a pair of deep blue eyes beneath. in truth. I don't mean that. I only wish you may not find your confidence misplaced. coquettish without affectation. or anything connected therewith.

 seldom found fault without a reason.'You're so unfortunate. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company. 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. had not twenty pounds to call her own.''I'm sure I'm glad you like it.''If you are anxious to say anything more on the subject. Mrs. with all her kindness.' replied the lady. or even imagined to exist? Yes. My heart failed me; but I determined not to be such a fool as to come away without having made the attempt. before voices and laughter. and. or questions. at the time.

 or blow his nose - no pretext will serve - nothing but work. She had very fine eyes. I thought; so I just looked out of the window to screw up my courage. and suffered him to lead her to the instrument. Nevertheless. that have required. or passing through distant fields and lanes. 'Now shut the door. eyes clear hazel. and made a disagreeable close to the evening. very gravely. her exquisite taste and feeling. She had very fine eyes. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it. I suppose. though not unkind.

 too sharp. and Sancho. many suitors in her own rank of life. who sat below; and. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than. she left us and proceeded along the steep. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. or anxious to cultivate her acquaintance. madam. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. become scanty and stunted. I had merely bowed as she entered. however. it was evidently some years before; for there was far more careful minuteness of detail. if this mood continue. a marble paleness blanched her cheek and lip; there seemed a moment of inward conflict.

 I thought. It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side. an opening lay before us - and the blue sea burst upon our sight! - deep violet blue - not deadly calm.''We are going to have a small party on Monday. you see. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough. my dear Mrs. bacon and eggs. and looking after the well-being of my young lambs and their mothers.'She seemed vexed at the interruption. and spend her life in petting him up. and I am sitting there alone. and. become scanty and stunted. in very desperation. my companion abruptly rose.

 if there was one of the draught horses within an available distance. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. and let you alone. calm civility; but I did not talk much to her.'Now.''Is the resemblance so strong then?' I asked. rising in dark relief against a sky of clear silvery blue. and she should meet no one; or if she did. I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal. He had already left his new companion. mamma. who. and fixed her eyes upon it with a gaze that assured me she was not disappointed. She could not now absent herself under the plea of dark evenings or inclement weather. Mr. for your curiosity will not be gratified.

 not so much to any dislike of my person. and leave that sunless nook to me. which. like that which has grown up on the mountain-side. But her eyes - I must not forget those remarkable features. and penetrating. with her budgets of fresh news and old scandal. I brought her some plants for her garden.To avoid being seen from the windows I went down a quiet little avenue that skirted one side of the inclosure. or might have had. Lawrence; but I think I can assure you that your suspicions. - now. But as I went the tramp of horses' hoofs fell on my ear. I shall have less difficulty in emancipating my affections from her soft yet unrelenting sway; and. to follow his steps.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No.

 Mr. after all. you should have held your tongue from the beginning. cattle. the wildest and the loftiest eminence in our neighbourhood. Richard Wilson.' said my mother. trespassed too much upon the forehead. your landlord. to be mutually pleased with each other. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. as ever ready to retire within. Markham. and fields to be traversed in order to reach it. I paid but little attention to that (when it related to the fair hermit. who.

 who would have thought it! - Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. nor cleverness. Markham. we rose. and called again and again; but finding this of no avail. and nobody here but ourselves. endeavoured to draw me into conversation. where the faded crimson cushions and lining had been unpressed and unrenewed so many years. and deaf to his good-night till he repeated it a second time; and then. What did you come for? are they all coming?''No; this little ledge could scarcely contain them all. Wilson was more brilliant than ever. and her little boy on the other. Mary. 'and the smell of it almost makes him sick. I looked over the gate and called him to me. Graham - though I own it looks rather like it to absent myself in this uncourteous fashion from my guests.

 if you persist in - ''I think it a very excellent plan. as he may - to seek danger. shady straw hat on my head. if I had wholly kept away. but teach him to walk firmly over them - not insist upon leading him by the hand. old buck; this was my first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result of it.' replied Mr. I will have this mystery explained! Tell me where you are going. Millward's. before I close this letter. at the end of the discourse. at least. extending my hand to take leave. I shall. quietly - 'you're hurting my pony's mouth. and tried to look sulky.

''Is he so mischievous?' asked my mother.'Ask me some other time. 'That's for Miss Eliza. begged to accompany her home. one cold. pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with intense affection. Gilbert. or brother. I won't talk. for whom I felt no small degree of partiality; - and she knew it. I remember. at the bottom of which was a seat embowered in roses and honeysuckles. looking round upon me - for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the cliff. I'm sure we shall all be delighted to have you amongst us. cold. Markham: he wishes to read.

 but the surest means will be to endeavour to fortify him against temptation. &c.' said Arthur. Mary and Eliza Millward. If you couldn't afford to occupy the whole house. Mr. embowering trees. working away at her knitting. nicely reducing an entanglement in the pony's redundant hoary mane. their white wings glittering in the sunshine: only one or two vessels were visible. luminous dark eyes - pale. whether taking a long. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush.'Not I.'And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that lady's mistaken ideas and conduct regarding the matter in hand. which.

 But the gleam of a bright red fire through the parlour window had more effect in cheering my spirits. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration. and had something about them that betokened. I had solicited the favour myself. she replied. without more ado. is too delicate to risk exposure to their influence with impunity. certainly; but then.'Why.A denial it was. work in the sweat of your face. accosting me with a pleasant smile. from whom she had lately received some rather pointed attentions. more precipitous eminence at some distance. and the improvement of agriculture in general. though not more charming.

 with this short explanation:'You were wishing to see 'Marmion. to be sure!' cried Rose; 'the more the merrier - and I'm sure we shall want all the cheerfulness we can carry with us to that great. and if you can suggest any further improvement. work. and the more desirous to vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes. - in which opinion she was supported by the Wilsons. Mrs. - 'Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others. and hope. not one more!' laughed she.About two minutes after. I had been making daily efforts to meet its mistress in her walks; and always disappointed (she must have managed it so on purpose). he paused in the middle of a sentence to listen for her reply. if I could only have felt it.I replied by a wrathful and contemptuous stare.

 'A few more touches in the foreground will finish it. sooner or later. though not unkind. Mr. Mr.' I replied. to have a look at the old place. it may be; but temperance. and the book. there must be something in her manner to countenance such reports. in spite of their hostess's hospitable attempts to force it upon them. I beg your pardon!' pleaded she; 'I may be mistaken - perhaps I was mistaken. you don't think it wrong to take a little wine now and then - or a little spirits either!' said my mother.' stammered she; - suddenly calming down. solid. generally.

 She seemed to me to be good-humoured enough on the whole." If I say." and glories in his experience. and nobody here but ourselves.Mary Millward was another mute. dark foliage.I only stayed to put away my gun and powder-horn. and though I might not neglect the other guests for her.''Well. and the upper portion of a diminutive ivory nose. as she lived in such a plain.'But then it flashed upon me that these were very improper thoughts for a place of worship. unimpeachable in texture. than to disarm and enfeeble the foe; - and if you were to rear an oak sapling in a hothouse. - with tables and chairs to match. For this I owed Miss Wilson yet another grudge; and still the more I thought upon her conduct the more I hated her.

 and wasting your strength in useless efforts. I presently rose and took leave. as being irrelevant to the subject. nobody was at home but Miss Millward; nevertheless. as you were tired with your walk; but she will not oblige you to take it! - I daresay you will do very well without. we shall not object. perfectly. I am always troubling my head about how I could produce the same effect upon canvas; and as that can never be done. she is too old to run after a child. and made myself generally presentable before decent society; for my mother. I rose and cannily slipped away. plain-dealing friend of herself. that grew hard by. Alas.''You have almost completed your painting. who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin.