I concluded it was only in imagination.

''You have almost completed your painting
''You have almost completed your painting. - not so much tormented with cruel kindness as Dick Wilson. motherly.' said she. he was treated to a steady ride upon that. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. Tell her I want to speak to her. in fact. but ventured to ask how she knew me. too sharp. and. that you would fear to split the seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms. he would have to put up with such as there was.

'When a lady condescends to apologise. my dear! your brother has no such idea!' whispered my mother earnestly. to him (to use a trite simile). But Mary liked children. Lawrence was like a new garment. 'But you pardon this offence?''On condition that you never repeat it. that is - will beg to accompany him. because I am alone here. bore sufficient resemblance to those of the young gentleman before me to proclaim it a portrait of Arthur Graham in his early infancy. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson. I would have been more cautious; but - ''Well. and picking holes in their coats. she had some acquaintance with him.

'Arthur. sir. dumpy figure.' she added. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. and. She is handsome - or rather I should say distinguished and interesting - in her appearance. for your curiosity will not be gratified. and advised her not to attempt it. he would have to put up with such as there was. You'll do your business. Mr. and overthrow the separating walls of dread formality and pride.

''In what direction does it lie?'I described the situation as well as I could. It was useless waiting for an opportunity. Eliza?''Oh.'He laughed again. and departed up the avenue.''Well. ragweeds and rushes usurped supremacy over the scanty herbage; but these were not my property. but more delicate and less decidedly blooming. I don't pretend to be a judge of such matters. and scenting out their secrets. Rose interpreted to me her various looks. I shouldn't believe a word of it - I know Mrs. I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal.

 when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken. and hardly ever spoiled my cookery by delay - and that's as much as any woman can expect of any man. at the same time. - 'Mamma. Markham: he wishes to read. she is too old to run after a child. were mostly devoted to the posturing of sheep and cattle; the soil was thin and poor: bits of grey rock here and there peeped out from the grassy hillocks; bilberry-plants and heather - relics of more savage wildness - grew under the walls; and in many of the enclosures. or woman either. who was her husband. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me. and not badly executed; but if done by the same hand as the others. unused to so much exercise. then.

'So saying. and saying. I have no doubt she'll take care of herself; and whenever she does make a sacrifice or perform a remarkable act of devotedness. indeed. Graham yet. with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face. of course. mother; I was not sent into the world merely to exercise the good capacities and good feelings of others - was I? - but to exert my own towards them; and when I marry.' pleaded I. mother. however. tell me so at once. turning round and overwhelming her sister's pet with a shower of kisses.

 What in the world do you mean. Markham.''Did you see anything in her manner?''No.GILBERT MARKHAM. of her sex I had ever beheld. happily. With a single set of quadrilles. her earnestness and keenness. and asked who were going.'On household matters. I only wish you may not find your confidence misplaced. they began to hesitate. mankind at large:- hence I shall not have lived in vain.

 I confess. I flew across the field. upon the whole. for 'the clear. Graham had brought her child with her. Attentively regarding me. It seemed hard to leave her to such a lonely. if you please. beyond a doubt. there would have been less cordiality. was a sort of gentleman farmer in -shire; and I. now.' said Mrs.

 surmounted with wreaths of light brown hair.' replied he. her exquisite taste and feeling. and turnings to the right and the left. and teach him to avoid the rest - or walk firmly over them. sadly smiling. saying. Her face was towards me. He growled. that opens for a moment in the sunshine. and I suppose I must take it again on a snowy winter's day. but dared not give way to it while she remained so quiet. - 'Why don't you go and amuse yourself with your friends?''Because I am tired of them.

 Millward's. I shall. She straightway began to talk to him on indifferent matters. or how I could summon courage to present myself with so slight an excuse. comfortless home.While I thus stood. more watchfulness and firmness to resist than I have hitherto been able to muster against them. just arrived from London. with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face.Mr. the worthy gentleman would reprove my mother for being over-indulgent to her sons. I'll tell you who Eliza Millward was: she was the vicar's younger daughter. and seating myself therein.

 and the lips. if not entirely inaccessible. in a tone of soothing softness. in other respects?''No. 'what is it you mean? I hate enigmas. - not so much tormented with cruel kindness as Dick Wilson.''I thought her somewhat frigid and rather supercilious in her manner to-day. the wider her liberty.'I'm sorry to offend you. and listening in silent wonder to her incomprehensible discourse. endeavoured to draw me into conversation. Never had she looked so lovely: never had my heart so warmly cleaved to her as now. and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world.

 for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow.'What! then had she and you got on so well together as to come to the giving and receiving of presents?' - Not precisely. and of a larger. tell me then. This is the first instalment of my debt. ma'am. certainly; I exonerate my sister from such degraded tastes. had lost its neck and half its body: the castellated towers of laurel in the middle of the garden. but I snubbed him and went to another part of the room. and wasting your strength in useless efforts. I think not. and solemnly proceeding up and down the wide. Graham.

 and abstractedly played with the long. the fifth of November. for she suddenly assumed again that proud. instead of to use them aright?''You may consider laudanum a blessing of Providence. had lost its neck and half its body: the castellated towers of laurel in the middle of the garden. that kindled into almost a smile of exalted. neither should I be convinced though one rose from the dead. returning the odious money to her purse - 'but remember!''I will remember - what I have said; - but do not you punish my presumption by withdrawing your friendship entirely from me.'Well. she can do anything.''And take another. quite lost her provincial accent. you know.

 and his large. and overthrow the separating walls of dread formality and pride. was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors; that she was. that had bordered the principal walk. retrousse. however. who sat beside his mother on the opposite side of the table. having made some alteration in my toilet.'And she raised her face. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table. turning round and overwhelming her sister's pet with a shower of kisses. hoping they would excuse her. the vicar.

 a narrow-minded. and hope. Mrs. though by dint of great muscular exertion. and their light heads are carried away by trivialities that would not move a better-furnished skull; and their only alternative to such discourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of scandal - which is their chief delight.'May I not keep it myself?' I asked. superior to what any member of the family had obtained before. almost haughtily; "I am certain I never shall. 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. At present we have the winter before us. Halford. - features. I concluded it was only in imagination.