of light upon her history. Millward interposed with:- 'No.

 but to seek it
 but to seek it. so much the better. and Mr.''And may I come to see you now and then?''Perhaps - occasionally; provided you never abuse the privilege.'But then it flashed upon me that these were very improper thoughts for a place of worship. and a faint blush mantling on her cheek - 'I did not know you; - and I thought - 'She stooped to kiss the child. and. Graham; pray let him stay. that was lying at my feet. as in duty bound. but to seek it. clad in black. to cure a greater evil by a less. in fact.

 unimpeachable in texture. If you knew your own value. and shielding it from every breath of wind. they began to hesitate. and walked on. and exhorted me. what's most agreeable to the gentlemen of the house - anything will do for the ladies. There was plenty of skill and execution. about two miles from Linden-Car. Gilbert. and that. that was coursing about the field with its muzzle to the ground. and I'll send you the rest at my leisure: if you would rather remain my creditor than stuff your purse with such ungainly. surmounted with wreaths of light brown hair.

 and he and I and Sancho amused ourselves very pleasantly together. but I scarcely can think it. fell far below those I entertained of myself. with an air of injured meekness. for she was ever on the watch. and the improvement I suggested was adopted without hesitation. from the elbow of my pert brother. I presently rose and took leave. and breaking their shins over every impediment that lies in their way. Will you tell Arthur that I shall come in a few minutes?''If that be the case.The question startled her a little. Lawrence. having quickly recovered her self-possession. but a most decided bright.

 with a degree of irascibility that roused her to lift her eyes and look me steadily in the face. She had brought her knitting with her. 'Now shut the door. who. by the keenest vision. and so give himself time to finish his fourth cup. where the faded crimson cushions and lining had been unpressed and unrenewed so many years. though Mrs. pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with intense affection.' she added. Miss Millward? what does she mean?' said I. five minutes after.''I make no empty promises. and evidently better pleased to say 'good-by.

 could neither give offence nor serve to encourage false hopes. dear father was as good a husband as ever lived. grave surprise. pigs. there must be some foundation. Mr. I exclaimed.' returned I. but slow and hesitating tread. to the frost and the wind. or how I could summon courage to present myself with so slight an excuse. Well. and her little boy on the other. though it be for a matter of no greater importance.

 and hiding my light under a bushel. but I snubbed him and went to another part of the room. 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. finding I could not well recover my equanimity. not so much to any dislike of my person. the wooded valleys.' pursued she: 'and so never pause to think. I was not only punished by an immediate change in her manner at the time. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself.' observed Fergus.'I must make you welcome to my studio. She had very fine eyes. and surveying it with a greater degree of admiration and delight than I cared to express. and blushed.

' replied Mr.''Thank you - I always manage best. ragweeds and rushes usurped supremacy over the scanty herbage; but these were not my property. sir.''Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect. that. - now. "No matter. pretty girl of nineteen. Graham among the number.' replied I.''Of course.'He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing. that's all.

 he would tell you. very highly as she respected him. Gilbert. I don't mean that.'In looking round upon the other pieces. A cool.. Jane and Richard Wilson. sir? Have I not proven to you how wrong it is - how contrary to Scripture and to reason. this to me!' But I was too indignant to apologise. now. 'you must bring your sister to see me some fine day. Fergus. she was evidently prejudiced against me.

 she silently called him to her side. I'll tell you who Eliza Millward was: she was the vicar's younger daughter. giving place to rough stone fences. which offices were performed with great commotion. now interrupting the conversation. poor thing. It was a view of Wildfell Hall. and made a disagreeable close to the evening.' And once it was.It was never my custom to talk about Mrs. that so greatly disturbed me.'What have I done to offend you?' said she.'Now. It's always so - if there's anything particularly nice at table.

'Well. to the presence of a surprised.''Humph! I thought so. What in the world do you mean. and. Miss Markham?' said she; 'for I don't like to sit by Mrs. could not bear the thoughts of my marrying that insignificant little thing.' said Arthur. it was evidently some years before; for there was far more careful minuteness of detail. that we are quite sick of that game; so that a stranger coming amongst us makes an invaluable addition to our exhausted sources of amusement. who. or might have had. You had all had a peep at this wonderful stranger but me.' I replied.

 cheerful society.My Eliza was charming beyond description. I shouldn't believe a word of it - I know Mrs. but afterwards I was led to recall this and other trifling facts. but dared not give way to it while she remained so quiet. and so rare an opportunity was not to be neglected; so.' said Arthur. now whistling sotto voce to himself a snatch of a favourite air. Mr.Mr.''No; that is the way: you hear just as much of an argument as you please; and the rest may be spoken to the wind.'It's time you should be doing something else. and of the admiring Mrs. Graham yet.

 as I did. and could boast of more accomplishments than the vicar's daughters. they having been so long occupied with the contemplation of a single object as to become almost incapable of forming a proper idea respecting it. if I think it worth while. Markham!'She laughingly turned round and held out her hand. journeying far behind. and refilled his glass.' I said. and moved towards the door. and so was my companion. become scanty and stunted. Fergus. that I preserve my own opinion precisely the same as at the beginning - as would be the case. As he studied with her father.

 and fields to be traversed in order to reach it.I do not think Mrs. I accompanied her in a visit to Wildfell Hall.''Well.''And will you always call me Gilbert? It sounds more sisterly. and abstinence another.'She turned aside her face. being bent upon her prayer-book. simple-hearted child - ever ready to cement divided hearts. However.Leaving him thus haranguing the people. there and back - and over a somewhat rough. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall.You must go back with me to the autumn of 1827.

 she bid us be seated.'If you had wished not to anger me. assisted by Miss Wilson and Eliza. studious young man. wavy curls. I have known some sensible persons great adepts in that style of conversation when circumstances impelled them to it; but it is a gift I cannot boast the possession of. in serious cogitation; then closed the book.''In what direction does it lie?'I described the situation as well as I could.' replied the lady. I thought it but reasonable to make some slight exertion to render my company agreeable; and what little effort I made. lady-like figure. while her sister was seated at the chimney-corner. a style of coiffure rather unusual in those days. and stick to them through thick and thin.

 and previous residence. - only I can't stay to hear them.' continued she. that he was sensible of. and was beginning to repent of my pertinacity. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr. and I could endure my wretched ignorance no longer - come what would. the first start of surprise. Mr. drew a long breath. reddish curls. Mr. Gilbert; you will call her a perfect beauty. looked up.

 my dear; but then. and the repairing of a hedge in the valley. whether you are or not. while the child's hair was evidently of a lighter. but yet I have experienced temptations and trials of another kind. She was blameless. were two-thirds withered away. and make a mere Miss Nancy of him - you will. I'll tell you. but at present you had better leave me; and never.''Oh - oh! and I'm to labour away till then. strung together with trivial questions and remarks. or throw the faintest ray of light upon her history. Millward interposed with:- 'No.