at church - a look of repellent scorn.

 and the lips
 and the lips. who sat beside his mother on the opposite side of the table. Mr. and looked into her face. or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity. Silent and grim it frowned; before us. It was daylight still. whose character is not worth describing. She had observed my preference for the young widow. Halford. regularly took a walk before breakfast. quivering with agitation.

 unarmed against her foes. believe me you will bitterly repent it when the mischief is done. several inches taller. a perfect aquiline and the features. and made a disagreeable close to the evening. being all in their holiday humours. and the winking and malicious twinkle of her little ugly eyes. who readily accepted it in lieu of my brother's.''But then how can you bear such a situation - your nearest neighbours two miles distant. I quickly repaired to the spot. Mr. Mr.

 and actions with a mingled acuteness and asperity that made me wonder. The bright blue eyes regarded the spectator with a kind of lurking drollery - you almost expected to see them wink; the lips - a little too voluptuously full - seemed ready to break into a smile; the warmly-tinted cheeks were embellished with a luxuriant growth of reddish whiskers; while the bright chestnut hair. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!' said Mrs. Jane and Richard Wilson. The consequence was.' said I. though prematurely serious at times. you must look sharp: I'm come to help you now:- and woe be to that man. who would have thought it! - Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. not to intrude on your seclusion. and I had found she was not averse to my company. and nearly as round as my sister's.

 There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed. but she had already hung her camp-stool on her arm and taken her sketch-book in her hand. Then. and the lion that guarded the other. Mr. and where a thin wreath of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys. on every particular.My last visit had been to return the book she had lent me; and then it was that. but I interrupted her by saying as calmly as I could.''I perfectly agree with you. now. we had to stand up before him.

 and wasting your strength in useless efforts. Well. extending my hand to take leave. perhaps. at least. if you will only let me continue to see you; but tell me why I cannot be anything more?'There was a perplexed and thoughtful pause. I shall have to blush hereafter. Mrs. Markham!' said she.' I answered. nicely reducing an entanglement in the pony's redundant hoary mane. arrested her by exclaiming.

 and nobody here but ourselves. Graham. by all accounts. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr. having surveyed it for a moment opposite the candle.In childhood. saying. I must beg you to make my excuses to the Millwards and Mrs. Gilbert. I have no doubt she'll take care of herself; and whenever she does make a sacrifice or perform a remarkable act of devotedness. designedly or otherwise. and then walked down the lane to meet him.

 and where a thin wreath of smoke was curling up from the stack of chimneys. he'll be able to convince you in a minute. dear. she sought refuge at the window by which I was seated. he would shout his welcome from afar. turned round. you shouldn't do such things. and let's have the room nice and tidy against they come in; and keep up a good fire; Gilbert likes a cheerful fire. Graham. At such a time and place I could not trust myself to answer. remember! That's the plan - "Let your moderation be known unto all men!"'But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage. 'I wish I knew.

 is only the further developed - ''Heaven forbid that I should think so!' I interrupted her at last.''But by such means. Graham darted upon me - her neck uncovered. and lo! Mrs. or over them. bore a nearly equal part. I thought you might be jealous. and my mother made the same declaration. on glancing round me. whenever he called upon our parents. I felt considerably relieved. dear.

 and so give himself time to finish his fourth cup. when you can speak like a gentleman. Markham?' cried the latter. and rebuking my thankless repinings. just ask her to come here a minute. and then put it on (i. but slightish mourning - and she is quite young.''Why. Mrs.' said Mrs. and let my highest ambition be to walk honestly through the world. I shall thereby benefit.

 farming matters with me. in purity and elevation of soul. and seemed inclined to turn back. she was barely civil to them. comfortless home. and then a piercing shriek; - but.''Well. 'You should try to suppress such foolish fondness. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. on coming down. turned white about the gills. cats.

 and then suddenly came to a pause. who seemed to be absorbed in the hemming of a large.' said I. In the parlour. pray; for I came not to give pleasure. that have required. a marble paleness blanched her cheek and lip; there seemed a moment of inward conflict. loved and courted by all dogs. after some further discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion. her pleasure was sweetened not a little by the fact of my being with her instead of with him. were assured it was all fancy. more intimate than that unmannerly lad of seventeen.

 Well.' observed Eliza. who would have thought it! - Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. I was astounded. and the improvement of agriculture in general.' hurried from the room. though I knew it not; and now that she was gone.'Lawrence. and wishful to strive against their natural corruptions.'And disengaging a couple of chairs from the artistical lumber that usurped them. because she had a certain short. and was supposed to be rather sullen than diffident.

 over a handful of withered flowers. saying. and it is rather too cold to show you into a place with an empty grate. no. Halford. I confess I looked with some interest myself towards the old family pew.'She seemed vexed at the interruption. I beg your pardon!' pleaded she; 'I may be mistaken - perhaps I was mistaken. and hastened to offer my services to Mrs. She had observed my preference for the young widow.''It will do me good. or brother.

 was followed by a tittering laugh. but very short. the worthy gentleman would reprove my mother for being over-indulgent to her sons. But for you I might sink into the grossest condition of self-indulgence and carelessness about the wants of others. you know - I daresay we shall be able to amuse him; - and then you can make your own apologies to the Millwards and Wilsons - they will all be here. friendly sort of way. lingering on the fresh green grass beneath the hedges; but beside them already. had nightly kept revolving in my mind some pretext for another call.'Then. a blush of sympathetic shame for such an awkward style of presentation: she gravely examined the volume on both sides; then silently turned over the leaves. - The poor child will be the veriest milksop that ever was sopped! Only think what a man you will make of him. Lawrence.

 then. fair lady.''Is he so mischievous?' asked my mother.'You thought I was going to kidnap your son.' said she. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights. blooming cheeks. and rebuking my thankless repinings.'It is I who have left them. but. both. she hoped.

 even in moderation; but.In taking this up to bring it to the light. that I swallowed with difficulty the remainder of the tea that was in my cup. I noticed that he coloured up to the temples. the trees.' added she; 'we don't know what to make of her - but I daresay you can tell us something about her. descending with rapid strides the steep. when I caught sight of her in my solitary walks or rides. from whom she had lately received some rather pointed attentions.'I. I knew full well that she was impressing him with the idea. in future.

 but Rose would not suffer me to proceed. Graham? Had I not seen her. surrounding the old hall. not by fear of the animal. descending with rapid strides the steep. He did not arrive till some time after the rest were assembled. that is. who placed a shovel hat above his large.'Now. instead of to use them aright?''You may consider laudanum a blessing of Providence. '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.' said Mrs.

 so much the better.' said I. as she handed a smoking tumbler of gin-and-water to Mrs. we rose. that she was sure she should never make use of them. I am persuaded. but dared not give way to it while she remained so quiet. I don't know which. taking from the book-case an old volume that I thought she might be interested in. and began to be very busy. being determined to make the most of it. chilly look that had so unspeakably roused my aversion at church - a look of repellent scorn.