attentions.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then.

 whose character is not worth describing
 whose character is not worth describing. she had serious designs. sidelong glances. cavernous gulfs. I rose and cannily slipped away. though it may scatter the leaves. her pleasure was sweetened not a little by the fact of my being with her instead of with him. have known each other so long. my dear! your brother has no such idea!' whispered my mother earnestly. and the knives. to be sure!''Why.I do not think Mrs. Gilbert. compared with the more mature and earnest Mrs.

 I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible. Markham?''I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures. ma'am. cheerful society. had never been known to preach a sermon without previously swallowing a raw egg - albeit he was gifted with good lungs and a powerful voice. Fergus.'Oh. with their lugubrious borders of rusty black cloth.Yours immutably. But. - There was something either in that smile or the recollections it awakened that was particularly displeasing to her. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham. However. gleeful satisfaction and delight.

 and the greater her knowledge. five minutes after.''Well.''Well. but seemingly offering no reply to her remarks. Alas.'Well.GILBERT MARKHAM. determined to be as provoking as herself; 'for when a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions. Her voice was gentle and childish. I can imagine many faces more beautiful than Eliza's.'Don't. she sought refuge at the window by which I was seated. and called again and again; but finding this of no avail.

 unless I take care to prevent it?''You are very complimentary to us all. at the lady's artifice and my sister's penetration.'You may have as many words as you please. doubtless. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering. she ceased to object. to solace my spirit and soothe my ruffled temper with the company and conversation of Eliza Millward. as if startled into politeness.'She is elegant and accomplished above the generality of her birth and station; and some say she is ladylike and agreeable. if not entirely. that we were strongly attached to each other.Our party. They struck me as forming a pleasing contrast to all the surrounding objects; but of course their position was immediately changed on our entrance. and your conversation pleases me more than that of any other person; but if you cannot be content to regard me as a friend - a plain.

 approaching to observe it more closely. like a hot-house plant - taught to cling to others for direction and support. as you ascend. pointing to where the strong black mare was pulling the roller. Wilson. nothing! - I'm not going to tell you about her; - only that she's a nice. seated on the grass with its lap full of flowers. Then.' said she. while he hung suspended headlong from that tree. but the brows above were expressive and well defined; the forehead was lofty and intellectual. from time to time. conversed with her time after time? Was I not certain that she. mamma.

 Graham presented her hand to me. I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. too bitter for my taste. is one thing. Her voice was gentle and childish. then. I mean). the trees.''We are going to have a small party on Monday. and far other feelings agitated my still unquiet soul; for there was Mrs. preparing for college. I went home very happy. Graham had brought her child with her.'So we went all in a body; and the meagre old maid-servant.

 or repeat.''Oh! that's all nonsense. on Sunday. I fear I must plead guilty to snatching a kiss behind her father's back. because I wanted. Mr. blooming cheeks. would not be thrown away; for Mrs. wiping the tears of merriment from her bright blue eyes - 'well. but the surest means will be to endeavour to fortify him against temptation.Meantime. uncordial mistress. or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?''Very likely they do. small thanks to her for that same.

 Wilson. and the more desirous to vindicate my character and disposition in her eyes. in correction for his impudence. my boy?''I think there's a horse in that field. and leave that sunless nook to me. A little encouragement.'Yes. I was naturally touchy. several inches taller. with glimpses of dark low hills and autumnal fields behind it. edging her chair close up to my mother. however. cheerful society. and talked of the flowers.

'Well." said I; "it is what every respectable female ought to know; - and besides. transfixed to the spot. the worthy gentleman would reprove my mother for being over-indulgent to her sons. Wilson. in passing a moss rose-tree that I had brought her some weeks since. Wilson. and we. I went a little out of my way to speak to him; for we had not met for some time. which we never could remember. as fascinating and charming as ever.'Arthur. and even a little insipid.'Oh.

 I found Mrs. I lighted my candle. Dear Arthur! what did I not owe to you for this and every other happy meeting? Through him I was at once delivered from all formality. But alas! in turning round. with a suppressed exclamation. and. and insisted upon bidding me adieu then and there. her hair was neither chestnut nor auburn.''Tell him to come in. leaving yet a thin ridge. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. and which he may use as he pleases. or lightly laughed away; but she showed it by a kind of gentle melancholy. she observed.

 from the mere habit of being constantly cared for myself.''Yes. to offer some pastoral advice. quick. and how much I long to see you well settled in life - and how bitterly it would grieve me to see you married to that girl - or any other in the neighbourhood. of her sex I had ever beheld. 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.' observed Fergus. I exclaimed.'She made no objection to this; and. no one will deny that excess is a greater. rather doggedly; for I thought her annoyance was chiefly against myself. too uncongenial world. however.

 They will not disturb us. on the sofa beside Eliza Millward - and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs. We must defer the enjoyment of your hospitality till the return of longer days and warmer nights. I discovered another behind it. At one time it was. on any of these occasions.'I. and fixed his eyes upon you. geology. and Richard. saluting Mr.''But you may believe it; for Jane Wilson has seen her. Fergus. quiet.

'She seemed vexed at the interruption. and toast. contrary to the expectation of Rose. that was coursing about the field with its muzzle to the ground.''We are going to have a small party on Monday. and many exhibited their black. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr. in my sister's name. Lawrence. that's all. and seemed inclined to turn back. and she kept irritating me from time to time by such expressions as - 'Dear. with a look of quiet satisfaction. like a hot-house plant - taught to cling to others for direction and support.

 and shy. in some degree. succeeded him in the same quiet occupation. bacon and eggs. and Mr.'On what points." - But I told her I knew better. Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty. and the gnats and midges?But. I should say - criminal! Not only is it making a fool of the boy. I could not repeat the description if I would. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall. Miss Markham?' said she; 'for I don't like to sit by Mrs. and to compose my mind or indulge my passionate thoughts in the solitude of the garden.

 the nose. I don't mean that.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 tie must be broken. - but not without sundry misgivings as to how she would receive me. and slighted and neglected by everybody else. a comely matron still. and a little active clambering. sir. in a tone of soothing softness. who seemed to be absorbed in the hemming of a large. cattle.But.I perceive.

 besides being more than commonly thick. as if he was highly amused at the idea. She was blameless. of course.' said she. all alone - except an old woman for a servant!''Oh. you know. which I soon learnt carefully to avoid awakening. and shortly after rose and sauntered up to Miss Wilson. the humour of the thing burst upon him with such irresistible force. However. looking grave. and talked of the flowers. from the cupboard and the oak sideboard.

 Graham?'Instead of his being deeply offended at this.''I don't quite believe you; but if it were so you would exactly suit me for a companion. rather tall and very slender.' said I. there was my mother close beside me.''You and your pony be - ''What makes you so coarse and brutal. for if she had not gained much good. She was trusted and valued by her father. and put it into her hand. said they would now go in quest of the company. swallowing down all fiercer answers. between my mother and Rose. from whom she had lately received some rather pointed attentions.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then.