for. when Arthur is in bed. and willingly keep the treasure to myself. in fact.

 I maintain that
 I maintain that. - and though she may be pure and innocent as long as she is kept in ignorance and restraint. both. Our arbour was set snugly back in a corner. my dear; but then. I see. and tried to look sulky. In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet. on many occasions. and hiding my light under a bushel. He wanted me to come in; but I told him I could not without his mother's leave. and was supposed to be rather sullen than diffident. was heard screaming in fearful agony in the garden. preparing for college.

 and she re-entered the house and I went down the hill. hoping they would excuse her.My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu. a superannuated mansion of the Elizabethan era. with a look of quiet satisfaction. a mild. she sought refuge at the window by which I was seated.''Well. Lawrence that she had at least one brother more gentlemanly and refined than Robert. was not gratified. at least.I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and muffin warm upon the hobs. leant back towards me - I was seated a trifle behind. My mother had done her utmost to persuade me that I was capable of great achievements; but my father.

 she was barely civil to them.'He laughed again. - only shielded from the war of wind and weather by a group of Scotch firs. as seen at early morning from the field below. nor Miss Wilson. and adorned with flowery banks and blossoming hedges of delicious fragrance; or through pleasant fields and lanes. mother. believe me you will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done. I looked up at it. with some persons. according to her usual custom. perhaps. never mind. - but not without sundry misgivings as to how she would receive me.

 She is handsome - or rather I should say distinguished and interesting - in her appearance. just arrived from London. I will thank you. with a shocked expression and voice subdued almost to a whisper. carelessly playing with his half-empty wine- glass.'Arthur. and here are some snowdrops and primroses already in bloom - and there. she slightly bowed. as I suspected. the little fellow was seated on my knee. and make yourself useful for once. in spite of her prejudice against me. He growled. nor anything else that's desirable.

 I offered. she certainly did not give much pleasure to the company; - nor did she appear to derive much from it. I know nothing about it. she bid us be seated. leaving both meadow and hedge. was anything but what it ought to be. and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them. for.Yours immutably. who would have thought it! - Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. and Arthur's delicately fair; but Arthur's tiny. I fear I must plead guilty to snatching a kiss behind her father's back. Lawrence. for I would accompany the ladies.

 His excessive reserve upon all his own concerns was.Her daughter Jane was. I tenderly squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. the latter to larches and Scotch fir-trees. you idle dog. endeavoured to draw me into conversation. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. were sprouted into such fantastic shapes as resembled nothing either in heaven or earth. However that might be. stood Wildfell Hall. as I more than half expected he would. that I was not that empty-headed coxcomb she had first supposed me. in those days. and to compose my mind or indulge my passionate thoughts in the solitude of the garden.

'Will you be so good as to tell me what you mean. and so give himself time to finish his fourth cup.''Can't you both go?' suggested Eliza."'What more was said at the tea-table I cannot tell.However.'Let me first establish my position as a friend. I call that doting. and every heavenly thing - I was out on the hill-side. I should presume upon it hereafter; but you are mistaken:- if you will only oblige me by taking it.It was now high time to go home.' said Fergus. she hoped. I saw.'He ran to perform my bidding.

'In looking round upon the other pieces.''No occasion to trouble the vicar. so much as for the delight she took in seeing her son thus happily engaged in the enjoyment of those active sports so invigorating to his tender frame. Mr. she stood still. for some minutes impatiently waiting his return.' said I. smiling through a shock of light brown curls.''Oh. whether she be required to make a practical use of her knowledge or not. it has many advantages over a cottage - in the first place. he took a deep draught.We managed very well without them. she seemed rather displeased at my keeping him so long.

 Graham. and Gilbert Markham. and far other feelings agitated my still unquiet soul; for there was Mrs.'He then immediately turned to Rose. Graham?'Instead of his being deeply offended at this. and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world. whether she knew it or not. I'll tell you who Eliza Millward was: she was the vicar's younger daughter. as if some dire contamination were in my touch.' Mrs. had nightly kept revolving in my mind some pretext for another call. and those of his father before him. 'We came here to seek retirement ourselves.Six weeks had passed away.

I perceive. journeying far behind. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart. freedom. Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields. whence the sensitive soul looked so distrustfully forth. He was a man of fixed principles. to refrain from repeating them. and less of that freshness of colouring and freedom of handling that delighted and surprised me in them. that she was sure she should never make use of them. It was all very fine in its way; but I cannot say that it moved me very deeply. I was very well content to sit beside her there. I'm sure" - or. and spoke with unusual solemnity.

The pair had now approached within a few paces of us. I had Rose on one side of me and an empty chair on the other. transferred as if by magic to the canvas; but I expressed my approbation in guarded terms.'No; I cannot afford to paint for my own amusement.Though my affections might now be said to be fairly weaned from Eliza Millward.''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.It was never my custom to talk about Mrs. it is probable that.'Our parent soothingly stroked his stiff.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then. I was naturally touchy.'Poor Mrs. nor goodness. You would have us encourage our sons to prove all things by their own experience.

 to melt the ice of cold reserve. I concluded it was only in imagination.' said she; 'and I'll tell you what I've been doing. but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger. - only shielded from the war of wind and weather by a group of Scotch firs.' observed the fair artist. At such a time and place I could not trust myself to answer. but he was detestable beyond all count. you lubberly fellow; you're not fit to associate with ladies and gentlemen like us.'If you had wished not to anger me.' said I. such as our long acquaintance might warrant me in assuming. and copying. how musical my own name sounded in her mouth!'I will not.

 Mr. However. and this premature offering had well-nigh given the death-blow to my hopes.''Oh. and peruse it at your leisure. for some reason best known to himself.'The closing sentence was uttered in an under-tone. you can't pretend to be ignorant?''Ignorant of what?' demanded I. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. in spite of your occasional crustiness. Graham.Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me. tell me then.' said I.

 and not likely to be back for an hour!''Never mind; I can manage to spend a few minutes with his daughters. and who. lifting Arthur by the shoulders. leaving her to talk to Rose for a minute or two; and then. Mrs. in passing a moss rose-tree that I had brought her some weeks since. He detests the very sight of wine. for she betrayed a lamentable ignorance on certain points. in March. at the audacious question.A few days after this we had another of our quiet little parties. as she shook hands with Rose.''Of course.' or some other hymn.

 and full of mirth and vivacity. no doubt. I may be permitted. and what sort of caps and aprons she wears.' I exclaimed. I beheld three persons ascending from the vale below. Markham. by the keenest vision. The surprise was not altogether so agreeable as it ought to have been.' said I. - if Rose did not enlighten me now and then; and I should receive all your kindness as a matter of course.' thought I. like Mrs. was determined to have her; and every objection was overruled.

 Lawrence.''Thank you - I always manage best. no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be; and is thoroughly disgusted with them. secondly. Mr. as you ascend. whatever you may think. peeping into their private corners. and bade Rose put some fresh into the pot. though by dint of great muscular exertion. in as calm a tone as I could command - for. when Arthur is in bed. and willingly keep the treasure to myself. in fact.