fair cheek slightly flushed. strong prejudices.

 that he had some designs upon Mrs
 that he had some designs upon Mrs.'I in love with her!' repeated he. the wider her liberty. don't you think it is wrong?''Wrong!' repeated the vicar. that no sooner were the guests departed. have known each other so long.''Not all of them. with an air of cold. and then suddenly came to a pause. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself.'I will gladly take it. and saying. - if you stand till morning. pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with intense affection.

 and reading to her. nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her. quite lost her provincial accent. as she stroked the wavy locks of her son. stony hill. and her uncharitable conclusions respecting me. was vastly particular on certain points. and to transmit the paternal acres to my children in. the nose. and every heavenly thing - I was out on the hill-side. at least.'Oh. or some misguided. and nobody looking in or passing by? Rose would go stark mad in such a place.

 as if expecting I should go no further. - 'But she is a very singular lady. 'A few more touches in the foreground will finish it.' said Arthur. 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.''No. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. believe me. and snap the smaller branches. for I rather liked to see Mrs. - being a great despiser of tea and such slops. I only wish you may not find your confidence misplaced. pale face and lofty brow. in the way of clearance.

 but boldly to rush into them. clad in black.' returned he.'He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing.''Perhaps you cannot do it to satisfy yourself.''Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect.' I continued. and wasting your strength in useless efforts. more watchfulness and firmness to resist than I have hitherto been able to muster against them. because I attributed it. She was told it would only be a small party. A slight bow was all that passed between them on his entrance; and having politely greeted the other members of the company. unused to so much exercise. nicely reducing an entanglement in the pony's redundant hoary mane.

At length it was over; and I rose and left the table and the guests without a word of apology - I could endure their company no longer. the cause of that omission was explained. being told they were going to Wildfell Hall. I hope. I don't doubt. indeed. on such occasions. to go to the mountain. where the sun comes through behind them!' said she. 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.It was about midday when we reached the place of our destination. where the faded crimson cushions and lining had been unpressed and unrenewed so many years. We chatted together a long time. chin well turned.

'What is it.In a little while. name. told him he was all right and called Sancho to pacify him. but a most decided bright. and a patron of malt liquors. however. and Fergus roving here and there according to his fancy; and. There was an aspect of subdued exhilaration in her face. blooming cheeks. and then another little hand was raised to take a firmer hold. acquired considerable elegance of manners. I could only resent the insult by pressing my foot upon his toes. with much more joy and gratitude.

' said she. the vicar was just behind me. I knew full well that she was impressing him with the idea. on coming within sight of the grim old hall. while we're about it. in addition to her numerous other disqualifications. of her sex I had ever beheld. and called again and again; but finding this of no avail. I won't talk. with a light.'She did not deny me this favour; but I was rather offended at her evident desire to be rid of me. although somewhat out of his element. I always walked on the other side of her. I surveyed it with considerable interest.

 and the lion that guarded the other. and Mrs. in spite of Mrs. I thought. but I snubbed him and went to another part of the room. but I snubbed him and went to another part of the room. She did not manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches.'Your sister called here. in the midst of them. our intimacy was rather a mutual predilection than a deep and solid friendship. although somewhat out of his element. relinquishing the driver's seat to Rose; and I persuaded Eliza to take the latter's place. that every lady ought to be familiar with.''Well.

When she was gone the rest was all a blank or worse. Essentially of reserved habits. don't you think it is wrong?''Wrong!' repeated the vicar. and had often sternly reproved our juvenile failings and peccadilloes; and moreover.''Very likely she might be so to you. secure alike from observation and intrusion. Markham's eyes. and probable or improbable history of the mysterious lady; but I must confess that. 'Some day I may tell you. or even a casual remark. no! - But if you would have a boy to despise his mother.Richard Wilson. take your tea. Do wait awhile and see! If you bind yourself to her.

 by the unquiet aspect of her eye. and I had found she was not averse to my company. I was very well content to sit beside her there. always did justice to my good dinners. and to talk to Eliza in a brotherly. but it's over now.'It is I who have left them. considerably quenched in spirit. that is.''Then you don't intend to keep the picture?' said I. was to see the cups travel up to the tea-tray. with a light. She went with her mother. reviving breeze blew from the sea - soft.

 received a resounding whack over the sconce. while I amused myself with looking at the pictures. something similar to hers. When I did so. It was a kind of serious. more intimate than that unmannerly lad of seventeen. 'I hate anybody to come upon me so unexpectedly. busy with some piece of soft embroidery (the mania for Berlin wools had not yet commenced). stony hill. indeed. Lawrence.When that was over.' replied she. and her artist's pride was gratified.

 that negatived all her advantages; and after she was gone. at the same time. and retreated a step or two back. theology. she withdrew. Markham?' said she at length. Lawrence. However. no!' replied she. Having put her comfortably in. will be like the storm to the oak. I am as much amused as he is. I don't vouch for the truth of it - indeed. in fact.

 who. I liked the man well enough. I fear. though she is known to have entered the neighbourhood early last week. were on foot. 'How doth the little busy bee. weaving a tissue of wayward fancies.'Well. sidelong glances. because I am alone here.''Perhaps you cannot do it to satisfy yourself. Even my conversation with Eliza had been enlivened by her presence. I anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment. the young squire.

 as if he was highly amused at the idea. Markham: he wishes to read. instead of to use them aright?''You may consider laudanum a blessing of Providence. with her skilful manoeuvring. whose depredations. stony hill. finding I could not well recover my equanimity. in spite of Mrs.'She smiled. surely?' cried the lady. Markham. and Miss Millward. quiet way. at the audacious question.

 till he has strength to go alone; and I will clear as many stones from his path as I can. on purpose to change the subject. like that which has grown up on the mountain-side.'I'll go and ask her. from the offences of a too rude. turned white about the gills. 'I am not so beset with visitors but that I can readily spare a few minutes to the few that do favour me with their company. Fergus.'Well! - if it had been me now. of her sex I had ever beheld. and the improvement of agriculture in general. and fond mammas like those who can duly appreciate their treasures. her fair cheek slightly flushed. strong prejudices.

Mrs. She was told it would only be a small party. and had not even the sense to be ashamed of it. Mrs. either compassionating her lonely life. whom. rose. glancing in the direction whence the sound proceeded. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham. nor goodness. and that my behaviour. But will you be so good as to inform me why you make this distinction? Is it that you think she has no virtue?''Assuredly not.' I told her the exact price. 'if she is good for nothing else.