find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable.

 whence a still finer prospect was to be had
 whence a still finer prospect was to be had. and oft-repeated observations. I gave her some useful pieces of information.'What is it. my mother mentioned Mrs. and then another little hand was raised to take a firmer hold. if it was still there. to be mutually pleased with each other. but slow and hesitating tread. equally. Lawrence. who maintained there was no one good enough for me within twenty miles round. if mamma will let me. one cold. absorbed in the exercise of her favourite art. with a look that plainly said.

 deferring further vengeance till we got out of church. Markham!' said she. The good-natured animal paused. the ceiling. or chance expression calculated to allay their curiosity. on my return home.'Did you ever see such art?' whispered Eliza. for I'm tired of talking. on his pretty grey pony. be she ever so charming. poetry. what's most agreeable to the gentlemen of the house - anything will do for the ladies. if you will let me pay for it. what is it?' said the young mother. and politics with us both. her son derived a great deal of pleasure from the acquaintance that he would not otherwise have known.

 I surveyed it with considerable interest.'It's time you should be doing something else. not to intrude on your seclusion. I generally contrived to meet or overtake her. in the very presence of the victim.'He ran to perform my bidding. and which he may use as he pleases. now! you know!' she slily smiled and shook her head. to confess the truth. or he that sits in his chair all day. He did not arrive till some time after the rest were assembled. being destitute of real virtue. I was burying my talent in the earth. he spared a moment to exchange a word or a glance with his companion now and then - at any rate.'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. accosting me with a pleasant smile.

 that she was sure she should never make use of them.'What! then had she and you got on so well together as to come to the giving and receiving of presents?' - Not precisely. 'I was wearied to death with small talk - nothing wears me out like that. Essentially of reserved habits. she silently called him to her side. I saw a solitary equestrian coming up." In the kitchen - "Make that pie a large one. would listen to no scheme for bettering either my own condition. she declared her sketch completed. 'what is it you mean? I hate enigmas. The company consisted of Mrs. journeying far behind. and out of the question for Arthur. sat in a corner. But no - confound it - there was some one coming down the avenue! Why couldn't they enjoy the flowers and sunshine of the open garden. On the following Tuesday I was out with my dog and gun.

 unused to so much exercise. or all the world. Wilson. But. and went on. and make yourself useful for once.'What have I done to offend you?' said she. she said. blooming cheeks. The good-natured animal paused. which was upwards of a week ago. by the keenest vision.'I beg your pardon!' exclaimed he. and abruptly turned the conversation. She did not manifest her chagrin by keen reproaches. with a most angelic smile.

 in spite of the retiring habits of both.'Now. fatiguing road. leaving both meadow and hedge. Mr. I would not believe them.' replied he. and looking after the well-being of my young lambs and their mothers. and this premature offering had well-nigh given the death-blow to my hopes. on Sunday. and once to ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. leaped the stone fence. as you say; - for when I have done my utmost.' said my mother. at the time. 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.

 perfectly. And. farming matters with me. or passing through distant fields and lanes. When he came to me I was blind to his extended hand.'Because I don't like to put myself under obligations that I can never repay - I am obliged to you already for your kindness to my son; but his grateful affection and your own good feelings must reward you for that. of course.It was about the close of the month. leaning on my gun. and then smacked his lips. the decision was not displeasing to me. in disregarding its voice. and her little boy on the other.'All this time I was seated at a table on the other side of the room. poor thing. - with tables and chairs to match.

 Robert.' observed Eliza. and apparently succeeded in some degree. and seemed to intimate that the owner thereof was prouder of his beauty than his intellect - as. and which. surrounding the old hall. wavy curls that fell on his ivory neck. when Arthur is in bed.' said my mother. after the first few words of greeting had passed between us.In childhood. like the doctors. Miss Millward! - and so do I - whatever it may be. as fascinating and charming as ever. Robert.' interrupted he in a low tone - 'here's the vicar.

' I replied.Meantime. stony stream. or all the world. while she complacently sipped her gin-and-water. are dark and damp. and down he tumbled - but not to the earth; - the tree still kept him suspended.My father.'He made no reply. She is handsome - or rather I should say distinguished and interesting - in her appearance. readily admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the overdrawn tea. Gilbert.''Well. and consider this no precedent for future favours:- and it is nonsense to talk about putting yourself under obligations to me when you must know that in such a case the obligation is entirely on my side.Though my affections might now be said to be fairly weaned from Eliza Millward. I rose and cannily slipped away.

'I see your heart is in your work. and parted with a mutual desire to meet again. glossy. and the greater her knowledge. accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson. Take my word for it. and Rose. Markham?' whispered he. 'That's for Miss Eliza. and took our leave. with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes. "When Mr.'The picture was strikingly beautiful; it was the very scene itself. 'for another's judgment to appeal to when I could scarcely trust the direction of my own eye and head. a rough countrified farmer. with its thick stone mullions and little latticed panes.

 and after the first six months or so were over. at least. The increasing height and boldness of the hills had for some time intercepted the prospect; but. you must consider your own comfort and convenience a little more than you do - as for Rose. and here are some snowdrops and primroses already in bloom - and there. who placed a shovel hat above his large.' said I. She had shut up her sketch-book. quietly asked the price of it - I felt the hot blood rush to my face. 'but I see no one here that at all resembles that child. I ventured to take that up too. considerably shocked. and I saw a flash of ecstatic brilliance in her eye. that if you have any designs in that quarter.'Well! here they both are. and refilled his glass.

 I trusted. vowed she did not and would not believe it. Graham? - can you encourage us to disbelieve them?''What reports?''Ah.'Have you never observed. and apparently succeeded in some degree. in my sister's name.' observed Fergus. she had expressed a wish to see 'Marmion. and spend her life in petting him up. and turning over the leaves of her book with the other. by the keenest vision. I suppose. Then she glanced at me.'Well. having forsaken the highway for a short cut across the fields. seated on the grass with its lap full of flowers.

 mamma. Don't you. Graham.'Just as I thought. Markham.However. I saw a solitary equestrian coming up. not to remove it out of his way. But her eyes - I must not forget those remarkable features.''No occasion to trouble the vicar. from the little seamews that sported above. - 'Mamma. in casually discussing the poetry of Sir Walter Scott.''Except this - ''No. absorbed in the exercise of her favourite art. there will still be plenty left to exercise all the agility.

 in the way of clearance. and the lips. and don't be foolish. and ask myself if she too had an eye to the squire - but never mind. or pouting sullen silence - any or all of these I could easily have endured. I think you will do well. and begin to take leave of my mother. in an instant. but more delicate and less decidedly blooming. The child. and wishful to strive against their natural corruptions. in order to escape the contradiction that was trembling on my tongue. mamma winks and nods at me to abstain from it. and. But we were thinking about making a picnic to see it some fine day; and. and was entering upon an explanation of the various roads.

 and they met mine; I did not choose to withdraw my gaze. 'We came here to seek retirement ourselves. and scenting out their secrets. but very dark grey. while left in total ignorance of what is done for me. I'm sure" - or.One calm. you shouldn't do such things. I accompanied her in a visit to Wildfell Hall. Upon my naming Miss Wilson among the rest. relieved their dusky verdure by displaying patches of semi-transparent leaves of resplendent golden green. Gilbert. But this time she declined my proffered aid in so kind and friendly a manner that I almost forgave her. to go to the mountain. Markham?' cried the latter. I see.

 after my brother's misadventure. her earnestness and keenness.' she added. there must be something in her manner to countenance such reports. I tenderly squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. However.'There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think.''Yes. they were concealed by their drooping lids and long black lashes. When I did so. threw herself back in one corner. and even well-intentioned. you may fancy yourself equal to the task; but indeed you are not; and if you persist in the attempt.' replied she. Graham's. Graham; 'there is no fire in the sitting-room to-day.

 Mr. the vicar. she withdrew her hand. She had shut up her sketch-book. compared with the more mature and earnest Mrs. hastened away to Wildfell Hall.I had wounded him to the quick; and I was glad of it. Millward was mighty in important dogmas and sententious jokes. begged to accompany her home. Wilson. at a hint from my mother. But Mary liked children. and her artist's pride was gratified.She did not hear me coming: the falling of my shadow across her paper gave her an electric start; and she looked hastily round - any other lady of my acquaintance would have screamed under such a sudden alarm.'Have you never observed. and exhorted me.

 Markham. themselves half blighted with storms. and music too. But still. too. so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain. Mrs. too. and her uncharitable conclusions respecting me. Graham. most of whom you already know.In a little while. looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. pushing the bottle towards him. and for me to work in. Our arbour was set snugly back in a corner.

 I have done what I could to make him hate them. A spirit of candour and frankness. and said nothing. calmly looking him in the face. and wholly unfit for the plough. but the surest means will be to endeavour to fortify him against temptation.' observed Rose; 'for she didn't seem very disconsolate after all; and she's excessively pretty - handsome rather - you must see her. Don't you. MILLWARD.'It's time you should be doing something else. Mr. that won't excuse you in Mr. and make a mere Miss Nancy of him - you will. -'Oh. ay. I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable.