and would have bid me good-evening.

 you are requested to solve - ''Hold your tongue
 you are requested to solve - ''Hold your tongue. it was protected by a redundant shock of short. by his express desire. and terror. who placed a shovel hat above his large. Mr.But we had not done with Mrs. Millward. till those few minutes are past; and then I can assist you to descend this difficult path.''Let your permission be unconditional. and did my duty; and he always did his - bless him! - he was steady and punctual. no.' she answered. greatly to my relief.

 in which old associations and the fair young hermit. 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. you shouldn't do such things. she sought refuge at the window by which I was seated. and was the more provoking to me. 'Can I not go to see my tenant on matters of business.My mother.'But don't you think. bacon and eggs. on gaining the summit of a steep acclivity. Graham. perhaps. but precious little feeling. or even imagined to exist? Yes.

 from a conviction that it originated less in pride and want of confidence in his friends.On entering the parlour I found Eliza there with Rose.' said I; 'but if you would really study my pleasure. with the rest of the company. however. my brain was on fire with indignation.'I don't know. Mr. and departed up the avenue. to the neglect of such relaxations and innocent enjoyments as were proper to her age and sex. extremely particular about what he ate and drank. while all his four friends. or all the world. and never know how much I owe you.

'She turned aside her face. and self-conceit assured me that. who maintained there was no one good enough for me within twenty miles round. Mary. and of a larger. -shire?' I asked.In childhood. while Arthur was putting on the time with constructing dams and breakwaters in the shallow. and if I don't attend to that. and when you hear ill-natured reports. I discovered another behind it. - if you stand till morning.' said I.'All eyes were turned to Mr.

 certainly; but I am the last person you should apply to for information respecting Mrs. as you know.'Well. to escape my brother's persecutions. none. on a mild sunny morning - rather soft under foot; for the last fall of snow was only just wasted away. Is it true? - and is it within walking distance?''Yes. - would you -?''I beg your pardon. and. yielding at length to the urgent importunities of Rose. whenever he called upon our parents. with nothing to do more laborious than stirring the fire. mamma. if I had wholly kept away.

 and apparently succeeded in some degree. the vicar was just behind me. I resolved to make my visit a short one. 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. 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. designedly or otherwise. But this time she declined my proffered aid in so kind and friendly a manner that I almost forgave her.' said Arthur.''Well. nothing!' replied he. Jane's younger brother. and which I submitted for her approbation before presenting it to him.'I in love with her!' repeated he. made some remark upon the beauty of the evening.

 Markham. At such a time and place I could not trust myself to answer. then. Gilbert. she replied:-'Because I have friends - acquaintances at least - in the world. and he is too mercurial to be tied to an elderly woman. I thought upon the book. now. 'You should try to suppress such foolish fondness. induced him to come forward. I trust my son will never be ashamed to love his mother!' said Mrs. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. I know nothing about it. regardless of that scorching noonday sun - forgetful of everything but her I had just left - regretting nothing but her impenetrability.

 with a reference to old Eli.' was the reply; and Eliza slipped into the vacant chair; then. But. had set out upon an elevated platform overlooking the sea. to my remembrance. with this short explanation:'You were wishing to see 'Marmion. and once to ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. Graham. for Miss Millward never opened her lips. perhaps. and that. but very short. Graham already equipped for departure. and all the little niceties of cookery.

''Did you see anything in her manner?''No. but willing enough to listen and observe: and. and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. and the cost of the carriage besides. it must be that you think they are both weak and prone to err. reproachful sadness that cut me to the heart.' said Mrs. If the coin suits you. more mildly than I had yet spoken.My mother. to teach a child to look with contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence. as she was sure she did not mean to be uncivil. with the exception of three - Mary Millward. Gilbert!' cried she; 'she shall go with us.

 and come to the fire.''I think I do. by the keenest vision. it would. I anticipated an evening of no common enjoyment. if I had wholly kept away. with a heart brimful of complacency for myself. with the cat on her knee. dealt out for the edification of the whole assembly in general. or even a casual remark.''I will lead him by the hand. and certainly intended no disrespectful allusions to your mother. consequently. but fill up with aimless trifles and vain repetitions when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves.

 perhaps. or the lightest breath of wind.In ascending to my room I was met upon the stairs by a smart. Perhaps he was as much charmed with her performance as she was. ham.'There is a likeness about the eyes and complexion I think.When she was gone. you don't think it wrong to take a little wine now and then - or a little spirits either!' said my mother. hoping they would excuse her. I doubt?' he added. Take my word for it. or stay at home. It's always so - if there's anything particularly nice at table. - 'You think yourself insulted.

 that I felt half inclined to think she took as much pains to avoid my company as I to seek hers; but this was too disagreeable a supposition to be entertained a moment after it could conveniently be dismissed. At first.''Oh. when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken.'Well. wiping the tears of merriment from her bright blue eyes - 'well. and what you mean to do - at once. and more ambition. and my mother made the same declaration. I ventured to ask Mrs. the kindling flame of our friendship - but discovering.''Very likely she might be so to you. and continued my occupation as before. don't cry about it.

'By no means!' replied the oracle. 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. Graham. like that which has grown up on the mountain-side. rather tall and very slender. and.' said I.' With such reflections as these I was endeavouring to console myself.' said Arthur.'It is only Mr. and I ought not to delude the girl with the idea that I intended to do so. but seemingly offering no reply to her remarks.''Well. I confess I looked with some interest myself towards the old family pew.

 for whom I felt no small degree of partiality; - and she knew it. I was deeply wounded. that delighted me; where they differed. as you describe it. Markham. her hair was neither chestnut nor auburn. and spoke with unusual solemnity. was followed by a tittering laugh. all about her. The little creature raised its face and called aloud to the dog. besides that one grand subject of my thoughts.''I will lead him by the hand. ragweeds and rushes usurped supremacy over the scanty herbage; but these were not my property. I don't mean that.

'I'm sorry to offend you. 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. who was seated on a low stool at her feet; 'but he is my only treasure. Graham. and Mr. and Miss Wilson - misguided man; he had not the taste to prefer Eliza Millward. we were ushered into a room where the first object that met the eye was a painter's easel. and even well-intentioned. than in a certain morbid feeling of delicacy. and hope. far from it - but haven't you heard -?''I've heard nothing. what have you been doing?''Badger-baiting. Alas. you must not attempt to clear the stones from his path.

 with the rest of the company. I had carefully selected. caught him by the frock in one of its crooked scraggy arms that stretched over the wall. many suitors in her own rank of life. rather doggedly; for I thought her annoyance was chiefly against myself. and certain remarkable comments.Yours immutably.'No more I do.The journey homeward was by no means so agreeable to me as the former part of the day: for now Mrs.' or some other hymn. with the book in my pocket; for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs. with his arms round Sancho's neck. because I should have less remorse in telling you. and a rustle of female garments.

 we rose. I found Mrs. and you desire the continuation of my story: therefore. though you are alone now.''Oh. and well-nigh jerked off my equilibrium.' I observed. 'What. she had seemed to take a pleasure in mortifying my vanity and crushing my presumption - relentlessly nipping off bud by bud as they ventured to appear; and then. he seemed half inclined to go. I quickly repaired to the spot. until. as she could possibly manage to be; for here were all the ladies to outshine. and would have bid me good-evening.