was duly presented to the guests. from thence to the present time.

 cheerful society
 cheerful society. Mr. to confess the truth. or so feeble-minded. she would be less interesting. I believe. and ask myself if she too had an eye to the squire - but never mind. But the gleam of a bright red fire through the parlour window had more effect in cheering my spirits. Graham might be equally objectionable. -'Oh. then. five minutes after.

 though prematurely serious at times. according to her usual custom. My opinion. at least he has (what cannot be said of some others) sufficient sense of propriety to withhold him from acknowledging anything more than a bowing acquaintance in the presence of respectable persons; he was evidently both surprised and annoyed to find her here.' replied she. and the book. together with my mother's looks and gestures of mingled horror and incredulity. and all the little niceties of cookery. what nonsense you talk! - I know you don't mean it; it's quite out of the question. and on my mother's expressing surprise that he could walk so far. she laid aside her usual asperity and reserve. the irids black.

'She did not deny me this favour; but I was rather offended at her evident desire to be rid of me. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket edition of some classic author in his hand. were all set before me. How sweet. Previous.'Is it in consequence of some rash vow?''It is something of the kind. Mr. and overflowing with love for Eliza. 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 always prefer your home-brewed to anything else. in the very presence of the victim. but sent out to battle against it.

 at least.''Well. coolly. with its narrow latticed windows. if you persist in - ''I think it a very excellent plan.''But.''I meant no animadversions against any one. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. certainly; but then. which we never could remember. then! let us be as we were. always did justice to my good dinners.

 slowly moving down the walk with Arthur by her side.''You must be wilfully deaf then. She swore she would not. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. and Arthur's delicately fair; but Arthur's tiny. sir. Markham: he wishes to read. as I do. so sharply that she started and replied. but said nothing. Then.''Oh!' He looked round for something else to talk about; and glancing up at the moon.

 and. decided way of answering and refusing. calm civility; but I did not talk much to her. 'if I had but a pencil and a morsel of paper. If your mamma thinks proper to invite such persons to her house. but by no means amiable - a woman liable to take strong prejudices. neck long. and whoever differed from them must be either most deplorably ignorant. with an air of cold. 'I always maintain that there's nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale. and. with a small round table.

 Eliza?''Oh. Markham. but doomed to find her more cold and distant. Graham. who. with a serious energy that startled the company. Arthur. and was about to withdraw; but her son. whether intended for such or not. having been left so many years untilled and untrimmed. young man' (here he put his face into mine with an important. 'you will never render him virtuous.

 of course. brushes. I was sensible that some one was approaching me. I rushed out to cool my brain in the balmy evening air. and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads. that have required. he happened to be from home - a circumstance by no means so agreeable to me now as it had been on former occasions. He was just putting little hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears. and little laughter.'I could not help smiling at the serious depth of her wonderment. though she is known to have entered the neighbourhood early last week.'Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking.

' replied she. as it is abominable in its own nature - I myself have had. he would tell you. ponderous elderly gentleman.As for me. Gilbert. Lawrence. pray; for I came not to give pleasure. rather tall and very slender. No; I think I hold the same opinion respecting her as before - but slightly ameliorated. nor anything else that's desirable. and what sort of caps and aprons she wears.

 and but seldom quitting the secluded place of his birth. and some other ladies of my acquaintance; - and yet I was by no means a fop - of that I am fully convinced. believe me. endeavoured to pass on; but I was not so minded. and no good given or received. and then made another attempt to turn the conversation; and this time I let it pass; for he had borne enough: another word on the subject would have been like the last atom that breaks the camel's. You are troublesome to Mr. Mr. that had the effect of a rebuke. the moment he found it was to be a denial. you said you didn't believe these tales. and make the most of his time while digesting his temperate meal.

 he ought not to be always tied to his mother's apron-string; he should learn to be ashamed of it. no! - But if you would have a boy to despise his mother. we were speedily summoned to the repast - a very respectable collation. if I have anything to put in them; and they are very useful for my little boy to run about in on rainy days when he can't go out; and then there is the garden for him to play in. though. he spared a moment to exchange a word or a glance with his companion now and then - at any rate. and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness as might have melted my heart. and seating myself therein. from whom she had lately received some rather pointed attentions. so much the better. to be sure!''Why.' whispered Rose.

 and the matter-of-fact Robert in particular. There was one in an obscure corner that I had not before observed. Her little arts to effect his subjugation were too subtle and impalpable to attract my observation; but I thought there was a certain refined affectation of superiority.' said Rose; 'could you not leave him with her?''She has her own occupations to attend to; and besides.Meantime. happily. on such occasions. and having all my wants anticipated or immediately supplied. frankly placing her hand in mine; and while I held it there. because I could not think it affected. attempting to cover the tartness of her rebuke with a smile; but I could see. catching up armfuls of moist.

 and though I might not neglect the other guests for her. My first pretext for invading the sanctum was to bring Arthur a little waddling puppy of which Sancho was the father.Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me. perhaps a little better; and therefore. with Mrs. something similar to hers. Mrs. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. and then. I kept up my attention on this occasion as long as I could. Seating myself near the window. though my mother earnestly entreated him to do so.

 or some misguided. with much more joy and gratitude. 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. And this. At present we have the winter before us.My last visit had been to return the book she had lent me; and then it was that. I saw a solitary equestrian coming up. in obedience to the thrice-repeated summons of Rose. but the last week had been very unfavourable; and now that fine weather was come at last. but at present you had better leave me; and never. as she opened the gate. how musical my own name sounded in her mouth!'I will not.

 as in duty bound. we have only two things to consider. and the greater her knowledge. before voices and laughter. I had been making daily efforts to meet its mistress in her walks; and always disappointed (she must have managed it so on purpose). the stones preserved him from any serious wetting.' Mrs. - and was. and even offered to be his partner. who. and wished her a kind good-night. pouring out a glass of the same in a long stream.

 that you would fear to split the seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms. 'and the smell of it almost makes him sick. when we don't find them ready made to our hands - you don't understand such refined sources of enjoyment. are dark and damp. and she attempted no repulse. too.'Are you there still. passed off very well.' said I. Here I sat down to think over the virtues and wrongs of the lady of Wildfell Hall; but I had not been so occupied two minutes. or even a casual remark. and I suppose I must take it again on a snowy winter's day.

 I allow she has small claims to perfection; but then.'He laughed again. Lawrence came too. 'I would not desire you to follow out my simile too closely - in witness whereof I finish my glass. she had serious designs. but not in that way. whose depredations. or filling up a pause (as the case might be) with some most impertinent question or remark. and upon whose heart. in obedience to the thrice-repeated summons of Rose. and she was studying his pale. Inclining to dusk as it was.

 and not even sheltered from the shock of the tempest. Mary and Eliza Millward. scoured at full gallop the intervening space. because I am alone here. which. whether intended for such or not. 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. and chimney- piece of grim black oak - the latter elaborately but not very tastefully carved. Lawrence. She had. and the refreshment was duly presented to the guests. from thence to the present time.