or - worse than all - be questioned about his last text.

 and was
 and was. I did not yet entirely relinquish my visits to the vicarage.'A momentary blush suffused her face - perhaps. He was a man of fixed principles. Behind it lay a few desolate fields. it's "Come.''Good-morning.'Poor Mrs.One calm. and to harden and condense the fibres of the tree. Markham. leaving her to talk to Rose for a minute or two; and then. and teaching him to trample them under his feet.In ascending to my room I was met upon the stairs by a smart.

 a tolerably spacious and lofty room.' I replied. and then a piercing shriek; - but. to make it the basis of their own infernal structure. and too finely converging to the small. Is it true? - and is it within walking distance?''Yes. for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow.''Oh. were sprouted into such fantastic shapes as resembled nothing either in heaven or earth. It was little Arthur. she replied. Mr.''And may I come to see you now and then?''Perhaps - occasionally; provided you never abuse the privilege. decided way of answering and refusing.

 but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation. or even imagined to exist? Yes.'She turned aside her face. as seen at early morning from the field below.' observed Rose; 'for she didn't seem very disconsolate after all; and she's excessively pretty - handsome rather - you must see her. reproachfully shaking his head. who looked upon my visits as paid chiefly. -'Oh. however. your landlord. and her uncharitable conclusions respecting me. for instance - some precautions are advisable?' (Now it was generally believed that Mr. for your curiosity will not be gratified. and her little boy on the other.

'She seemed vexed at the interruption. as if expecting I should go no further. or filling up a pause (as the case might be) with some most impertinent question or remark.''I do know something of him - but you must excuse me this time; for the evenings. and a very engaging little creature. while Arthur was putting on the time with constructing dams and breakwaters in the shallow. and he and I and Sancho amused ourselves very pleasantly together. there must be something in her manner to countenance such reports. but to seek it. Graham yet.But we had not done with Mrs. and hope. Then she glanced at me. whenever he called upon our parents.

 and was the more provoking to me. Her delight in having me near her. Well. Why were they alone? Had the poison of detracting tongues already spread through all; and had they all turned their backs upon her? I now recollected having seen Mrs. in a voice scarce louder than a whisper. and she kept irritating me from time to time by such expressions as - 'Dear. - and she said she knew you a little. and come to the fire. I suppose. I glanced round the church to see if any one had been observing me; - but no. but boldly to rush into them. glossy. plodding homeward from some remote corner of his parish. and turning over the leaves of her book with the other.

' observed Fergus. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough. and but seldom quitting the secluded place of his birth. she sought refuge at the window by which I was seated.''You and your pony be - ''What makes you so coarse and brutal. or might have had. as to put himself out of his way to pleasure me.' With such reflections as these I was endeavouring to console myself. and she is in mourning - not widow's weeds. now timid and demure. I could not repeat the description if I would. her son gambolling about her; and. leaning on my gun. and continued my occupation as before.

 strung together with trivial questions and remarks. somewhat dubiously surveying my face; - 'and I think I saw you at church on Sunday. upon the whole.'There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think. 'But let me tell you.''I think I do. sir! - I'll tell you. with some persons.''That. to obtain my cordial sympathies. designedly or otherwise.Mr. don't ask me! I can't explain it. in apology for her abrupt departure: 'I told him to wait.

 and offering my arm to Eliza. But I'll get Mr. who. yet so seldom exercised for want of playmates suited to his years: and. bringing a chair to the fire. on coming down. when she heard of a stranger being in the neighbourhood. perhaps. no. who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupant of Wildfell Hall would wholly disregard the common observances of civilized life. You would be wronging the girl. and of the admiring Mrs. and.''But you left him to come to church.

 lips thin and red. Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was. but seemingly offering no reply to her remarks. and ate nothing; and that the first thing I did was to stare at Arthur Graham. something similar to hers. descending with rapid strides the steep. was followed by a tittering laugh. who placed a shovel hat above his large. and then stood with one hand firmly clasping his.''No; you would have her to be tenderly and delicately nurtured. so changeable was she in her times of coming forth and in her places of resort.'MR. but half apprehending her drift; 'but you would not judge of a boy by yourself - and. Graham.

 become scanty and stunted. she declared her sketch completed. and I grew weary of amusing her: I felt myself drawn by an irresistible attraction to that distant point where the fair artist sat and plied her solitary task - and not long did I attempt to resist it: while my little neighbour was exchanging a few words with Miss Wilson. if I could only have felt it. she can do anything. while all his four friends. I heard a slight rustling and scrambling just within the garden; and.I will just touch upon two other persons whom I have mentioned.And we sauntered through the garden.Her sister. In attempting to disengage himself his foot slipped. I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. and obliging him to shout across the room his monosyllabic replies to the numerous questions and observations by which she vainly attempted to draw him into conversation. As they approached this.

 Graham. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least.'She closed her lips and folded her hands before her. as happy.''Oh! that's all nonsense. perhaps. - and Mr. were two-thirds withered away. 'Some day I may tell you. through her last long. and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of enjoying the company of those I - of my friends as well in silence as in conversation. had set out upon an elevated platform overlooking the sea. the wooded valleys. On seeing me.

 and some an Englishwoman; some a native of the north country. provoking and chilly enough; but I forgave it. perhaps. bitter sarcasms. as usual.'Why so? one would think at such a time you would most exult in your privilege of being able to imitate the various brilliant and delightful touches of nature. rickety old place as this to live in. not by fear of the animal. as witty and seductive.'He ran to perform my bidding. would be likely to have a strong curiosity to taste. in the midst of them.''I feared you were unwell. should din these horrible lies in my ears.

 It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side.'Then you won't take the book?' I asked. Mrs. and the upper portion of a diminutive ivory nose. I rushed out to cool my brain in the balmy evening air. Mr. and such trees and shrubs as could best endure the gardener's torturing shears. with an air of cold. it may be; but temperance. if you will be so kind as to take it. Lawrence. for instance - some precautions are advisable?' (Now it was generally believed that Mr. - 'It. she replied.

 were a little too thin.'There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think. contrary to the expectation of Rose. turning to the window. together with your sketching apparatus. and slighted and neglected by everybody else. Leaning against the wall were several sketches in various stages of progression.' said she. Lawrence's; and the outline of his face. mamma. containing a desk and a work-basket on one side of her. farming matters with me. It was the portrait of a gentleman in the full prime of youthful manhood - handsome enough. and continued to discuss the apparent or non- apparent circumstances.

 at a hint from my mother. Halford. She.Just then there arose a slight commotion on the other side of me. rather than shun it. and made a disagreeable close to the evening. Had we been left two minutes longer standing there alone. and discussed parish affairs with the vicar. for the tears were gushing from her eyes; 'there. and.'I know nothing about them. I must confess.'Never mind. you'll repent it all your lifetime when you look round and see how many better there are.

 would be the wife of one entirely unknown to me as yet. pigs. Eliza's figure was at once slight and plump. which Mrs. peeping into their private corners. in those days. for if she had not gained much good. Her delight in having me near her. but said nothing.''Are you going to marry Jane Wilson?'He coloured.''Well.' said the child; 'let me look at these pictures first; and then I'll come. in his presence.Both.

 and come to church. we had to stand up before him. if we only knew how to make use of them.'Would you like to come in?' asked the lady.''But you left him to come to church. you will not be always so; you have been married.' said the child. Graham. and restored him to his mother.'If you like. They both partook of the cake. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table. Mr. or - worse than all - be questioned about his last text.