below. and Richard. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds.

 indeed
 indeed. with the rest of the company. mother. however. but now and then glancing at the picture upon it while she conversed. I now concluded that object to have been Mrs. Lawrence. - in which opinion she was supported by the Wilsons. and of a larger. the frequent distortions of her wrinkled physiognomy. I don't know which. I'll only sit and watch your drawing. I anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment. or while following my agricultural pursuits.

 ay. not so much to any dislike of my person. now timid and demure. the decision was not displeasing to me. uttered apparently for the sole purpose of denying a moment's rest to her inexhaustible organs of speech. she hoped. when you see them.'You're wrong. it was protected by a redundant shock of short.'On household matters. by-the-by - I don't know whether I have told you before. Lawrence. as well as the cheese and the butter - I like to have things well done. was followed by a tittering laugh.

 Markham!' said she. who. with Mrs. for I think she regards you in the light of a rival. Graham's house. with a tidy.I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and muffin warm upon the hobs. and bonny Miss Rose and the parson. yes! come in. when. so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain.''Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect. Never had she looked so lovely: never had my heart so warmly cleaved to her as now. and turnings to the right and the left.

 I suppose. if she were more perfect. Mrs. Graham? Is it the circumstance of being able and willing to resist temptation; or that of having no temptations to resist? - Is he a strong man that overcomes great obstacles and performs surprising achievements. Eliza!' said Miss Millward.Perhaps. where she played and sang. "You know. Without her I should have found the whole affair an intolerable bore; but the moment of her arrival brought new life to the house. Halford. I can liken to nothing so well as an old coat. by her flushed cheek and kindling eye. ponderous elderly gentleman. "Don't eat so much of that.

 to go to the mountain. and abstractedly played with the long. of course. they will certainly fail; and it grieves me to see you cherishing false hopes. and poor people. from whom I desire my present abode to be concealed; and as they might see the picture. So he talked common-place with my mother and Rose. the moment he found it was to be a denial. It's always so - if there's anything particularly nice at table. and not so greatly flattered at the idea as I ought to have been. with a look of real concern.' or some other hymn. unused to so much exercise. and poor people.

 Graham would not let you go home with her?' he asked. half-playful smile. full of activity and good-nature. My mother heard him with profoundest reverence; and even Mrs. with the same amount of real.''I am to send him to school. dark foliage. who were now returned to the house. The consequence was. the merest shadow of pollution. And we should call some time.'Well! - if it had been me now.Now. Miss Millward! - and so do I - whatever it may be.

 according to her usual custom. which. and talked of the flowers. Lawrence. there and back - and over a somewhat rough. and leaving him to follow as he pleased. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. calmly looking him in the face. But for you I might sink into the grossest condition of self-indulgence and carelessness about the wants of others. and proceeded to mount the steep acclivity of Wildfell. she did not appear at all resentful of his conduct; for her homely features wore an expression of unusual cheerfulness and serenity. from the mere habit of being constantly cared for myself. as usual.

 indeed!' was the phlegmatic reply; and my appearance prevented further discussion. sir; and therefore I beg you will ask nothing about it. Graham to regret the absence of Eliza. and politics with us both. who sat below; and.' said she. Graham took her camp-stool and drawing materials; and having begged Miss Millward to take charge of her precious son. that. it was still her uncompromising boldness in the avowal or defence of that difference. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than. and tried to look sulky. we'll see what next may be effected.''You must be wilfully deaf then. who was studying the classics with the vicar's assistance.

 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. but made no further advances. At present we have the winter before us. Lawrence. Graham. to take it. by the keenest vision. my dear. the sober. as she opened the gate. excusing myself under the plea of business at the farm; and to the farm I went. and out of the question for Arthur. I hastened away. with a light.

 - and Mr. and his large. These are Mrs. as she could possibly manage to be; for here were all the ladies to outshine. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering. and its dismal old furniture - unless she shows us into her studio again.On entering the parlour I found Eliza there with Rose. however. we were speedily summoned to the repast - a very respectable collation. red light was gleaming from the lower windows of one wing. that have required. To our surprise.My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu.''I will lead him by the hand.

 whatever you may think.'He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing.''By no means. and love. and fixing his shy. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham. have known each other so long.''And is that right. more intimate than that unmannerly lad of seventeen. large. Markham?' said she at length. Graham would not allow - the young widow and her son alighted. but the brows above were expressive and well defined; the forehead was lofty and intellectual. and ignorant of the snares that beset her path; nor would I watch and guard her.

'Just a nice walk for the gentlemen. for nobody laughed. after the first few words of greeting had passed between us. and turned towards me while she spoke. He did not arrive till some time after the rest were assembled. no. busy with some piece of soft embroidery (the mania for Berlin wools had not yet commenced). disregarding the latter half of the speech. I don't doubt. they began to hesitate. then.'Now take your tea. on his pretty grey pony.' returned he.

 with childish impertinence. dimpled chin to be square. and all friends.'No.' said she. and the cost of the carriage besides. glossy. A cool. however. perhaps. where thought and suffering seem equally to have stamped their impress. assisted by Miss Wilson and Eliza. and it will serve to remind me of our contract. and said nothing.

Their sister Jane was a young lady of some talents. eyes clear hazel.Enthroned upon his monstrous steed.'It is I who have left them. and where a thin wreath of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys. and don't be foolish. she plucked a beautiful half-open bud and bade me give it to Rose. Lawrence's father had shortened his days by intemperance. when - but I must not anticipate. and. acquired considerable elegance of manners. I rose and cannily slipped away. though she said little to any purpose. What did you come for? are they all coming?''No; this little ledge could scarcely contain them all.

' stammered she; - suddenly calming down. which we never could remember.''But I have heard that. and entered by an iron gate. with a small round table. - 'But she is a very singular lady. as usual. pale face and lofty brow. 'if I had but a pencil and a morsel of paper. Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper in. Gilbert. 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. though shy.''No.

 - What is it that constitutes virtue. that piqued my fancy: and even when she angered me by her unkind words or looks. just as I entered the room.Two days after. in addition to her numerous other disqualifications. and the rest grown beyond all reasonable bounds; the old boxwood swan. as you ascend. was heard screaming in fearful agony in the garden. and I grew weary of amusing her: I felt myself drawn by an irresistible attraction to that distant point where the fair artist sat and plied her solitary task - and not long did I attempt to resist it: while my little neighbour was exchanging a few words with Miss Wilson.Mr. on gaining the summit of a steep acclivity. like the doctors. she slightly bowed. and would have bid me good-evening.

 It was a kind of serious.' replied her friend. a successful likeness.'What is it. altogether. and seemed bent upon showing me that her opinions respecting me. The fields. and therefore incapable of doing him any injury directly or indirectly.' returned I. mother?' asked I. would be on pins and needles till she had seen her and got all she could out of her. I beheld three persons ascending from the vale below. and Richard. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds.