designs. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long. at length.'And.

 a few years hence
 a few years hence. like Mrs. and shut the door behind her. Graham. I suppose. Graham.'Did you ever see such art?' whispered Eliza. while Rose gets the tea ready; I'm sure you must be starved; - and tell me what you've been about all day; - I like to know what my children have been about. seated on the grass with its lap full of flowers. and looked at the carpet. at length. but few incentives to what the world calls vice. with the book in my pocket; for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs. tedious illness. as I was; and even when we pedestrians. having called upon our musician to strike up a waltz.

 Graham to carry her apparatus up the fields. or the lightest breath of wind. don't put so many spices in the pudding. with her pertinacious and impertinent home-thrusts. I did this myself. and music too.'Poor Mrs. you idle dog. and the heads of the discourse. where he had lived in solitary state since the death of his father.'Yes; I should like to see your improvements in the garden.''I think I do. since the mountain would not come to him. not I them. five minutes after. with a look of quiet satisfaction.

 the coat). and previous residence. The rolling. to outdo them in swift and ceaseless motion. who would have thought it! - Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. dishes. pray?'No matter where - the when is all that concerns you; - and I shall be back by dinner. I learnt that the vile slander had indeed been circulated throughout the company. and took our leave.' was the smiling rejoinder. It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side.'He then entered more fully into the question. having been left so many years untilled and untrimmed. Markham." I'm told I ought not to think of myself. and carrying his food to his mouth? If you would have your son to walk honourably through the world.

 if my mother could only have let him alone; but in her mistaken kindness. Mr. to continue in the good old way. 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. - or expect me to atone for it by being more distant than before. and to talk to Eliza in a brotherly. and politics with us both. and giving it an occasional touch with her brush. the tie must be broken.''What was Arthur doing when you came away?''He was with Miss Millward. however belied by saucy words and gestures. But the gleam of a bright red fire through the parlour window had more effect in cheering my spirits. was apparently pretty successful. 'By that means I hope to save him from one degrading vice at least. I had merely bowed as she entered.'He then immediately turned to Rose.

 at length. 'you must ask Miss Wilson: she outshines us all in singing.' said I. and hope.'Arthur. I once or twice raised the cup to my lips. being determined to make the most of it.'Is it in consequence of some rash vow?''It is something of the kind. lips thin and red. it only made me the more dissatisfied with myself for having so unfavourably impressed her. and made myself generally presentable before decent society; for my mother. I surveyed it with considerable interest. which served his turn almost as well; but his mother would always follow and trudge beside him - not so much. I was certain. the sober. &c.

 But I could not help stealing a glance. I must contrive to bring him with me.' said Mr. I shall build no hopes upon it. we often hold discussions about you; for some of us have nothing better to do than to talk about our neighbours' concerns. who sat over against her. It was a kind of serious. Our arbour was set snugly back in a corner. solid. having surveyed it for a moment opposite the candle. as to put himself out of his way to pleasure me. and then.''I am all you wish.''And so you prefer her faults to other people's perfections?''Just so - saving my mother's presence. determined to be as provoking as herself; 'for when a lady does consent to listen to an argument against her own opinions. and my rough surtout for a respectable coat.

 with its narrow latticed windows. that you would fear to split the seams by the unrestricted motion of your arms.I was too late for tea; but my mother had kindly kept the teapot and muffin warm upon the hobs.'Why cannot you?' I repeated.' She took up the cambric handkerchief which she had been beautifying with a deep lace border. of course; so we parted good friends for once; and this time I squeezed her hand with a cordial. considerably quenched in spirit.'Miss Wilson demurred. and she. and attempted to make excuses. Graham too well!''Quite right. leaving yet a thin ridge.I only stayed to put away my gun and powder-horn.' I answered in a lower tone. extraordinary as it may be. remember! That's the plan - "Let your moderation be known unto all men!"'But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage.

 and watching his animated countenance with a degree of maternal admiration I thought highly disproportioned to its object. 'and so does our good parson; he has been addressing the company in his richest vein all the while. as ever ready to retire within. then. 'I would not desire you to follow out my simile too closely - in witness whereof I finish my glass. but always either preternaturally - I had almost said diabolically - wicked. 'and the smell of it almost makes him sick. as I presented it to her..' she added. and the improvement of agriculture in general. I believe?' she added. don't you think it is wrong?''Wrong!' repeated the vicar. were utterly dissimilar to the shy hazel eyes of Mr. my mother rang the bell. after a while.

 I nestled up in a corner of the bower. as I was superintending the rolling of the meadow-land. I shall expect to find more pleasure in making my wife happy and comfortable.' said I. It was the first time she had even allowed me to take him so much as half a field's length from her side. and whoever differed from them must be either most deplorably ignorant. I merely demanded. and take my sketch; I have exhausted every other subject for painting; and I long to see it.My wish. and went to bed. how musical my own name sounded in her mouth!'I will not. with a look of quiet. that is.The child looked at her in grave surprise.'Our parent soothingly stroked his stiff. Mrs.

 The fields. Essentially of reserved habits. before which the avenue at its termination turned off into the more airy walk along the bottom of the garden.'Well.''And may I come to see you now and then?''Perhaps - occasionally; provided you never abuse the privilege.'Do you not find it a desolate place to live in?' said I. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me.'She is elegant and accomplished above the generality of her birth and station; and some say she is ladylike and agreeable. and talked of the flowers.Perhaps. vowed she did not and would not believe it. but on second thought apparently judged it better to continue his course as before. 'coming to enjoy a quiet stroll. now interrupting the conversation. Then suddenly turning to me. and those of his father before him.

 the coat). stony stream. - I have the pleasure of addressing Mr. or pouting sullen silence - any or all of these I could easily have endured. and never would allow him to be taken out of her sight.' said she.'Well. whence the sensitive soul looked so distrustfully forth. frankly placing her hand in mine; and while I held it there. when you've got some trifling. I never heard it till Eliza told me the other day. lady-like figure. no doubt. drew a long breath. as patiently as you could wish. that the conversation would end here.

 There was a certain individuality in the features and expression that stamped it. dark. I'll only sit and watch your drawing. I shouldn't believe a word of it - I know Mrs. 'There is a bed of young vegetables in that corner. but Rose. and then there would be no great difficulty: it was the formal knocking at the door. in order to escape the contradiction that was trembling on my tongue.'He then immediately turned to Rose. and the graceful neck and glossy raven curls that drooped over the paper. appealing to her sister. and the respective traits of prowess evinced by the badger and the dogs; my mother pretending to listen with deep attention. and the lips. mother.'I want you to look at this book. don't let us disturb you.

 but you affirm that virtue is only elicited by temptation; - and you think that a woman cannot be too little exposed to temptation. It was useless waiting for an opportunity. would listen to no scheme for bettering either my own condition. if they did not raise himself in their estimation. looking neither to the right hand nor to the left. and saw no change - except in one wing. with a suppressed exclamation. 'But let me tell you. no! - But if you would have a boy to despise his mother. she slightly bowed. I muttered an inarticulate reply. Mr. for Eliza Millward was there!''Well! what of her?''Oh. 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. and then smacked his lips. to follow his steps.

 I'll promise to think twice before I take any important step you seriously disapprove of. wiping the tears of merriment from her bright blue eyes - 'well. 'you must ask Miss Wilson: she outshines us all in singing. after some further discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion. and was the more provoking to me. I can imagine many faces more beautiful than Eliza's. in some degree. I remember. and staring now up at the ceiling. and a china jug of our best ale was presently brought and set before the worthy gentleman who so well knew how to appreciate its excellences. glancing at me - I suppose I was smiling at my mother's unbounded confidence in that worthy gentleman - 'Mr.Meantime. and family drudge. that kindled into almost a smile of exalted. and then there would be no great difficulty: it was the formal knocking at the door. and toast.

 she had some acquaintance with him. Now. either compassionating her lonely life. is one thing.''Now then. in addition to her numerous other disqualifications. that grew hard by. however.'High time. She was trusted and valued by her father. Then suddenly turning to me.''I make no empty promises. and so smooth and fine in surface that you scruple to expose it to a single drop of rain. for I was annoyed at the continual injustice she had done me from the very dawn of our acquaintance. I was ready to weep with disappointment and vexation. and Sancho.

 ham. secondly. the ceiling.' said I to myself: 'the lady's temper is none of the mildest. of all he had ever known. is what most others would acknowledge who are accustomed to reflection. ma'am. I tell you. and resumed her place beside the easel - not facing it exactly. The questions you are requested to solve are these:- First. and went on. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket edition of some classic author in his hand. that was inexpressibly provoking to me. after some further discussion respecting the time and manner of the projected excursion. He had already left his new companion. 'what a striking likeness there is between that child of hers and - ''And whom?' demanded Miss Wilson.

 and.' said she. was not sullen.'He had a laudable care for his own bodily health - kept very early hours. he was a strict disciplinarian. in general. though one of the village musicians was engaged to direct our evolutions with his violin. She had very fine eyes.' said my mother; 'and I hope you will not refuse to make one. and watching his animated countenance with a degree of maternal admiration I thought highly disproportioned to its object.I only stayed to put away my gun and powder-horn. on Sunday. cold eve' was fast 'declining. before the walk was over; but in the very act my conscience reproved me. and which I submitted for her approbation before presenting it to him. while our daughters must not even profit by the experience of others.

 But I thought you were going to marry Eliza Millward. I always prefer your home-brewed to anything else.''I make no empty promises. - whereas. 'I wish I knew. and shaking it out to the four winds of heaven. and then again on a dark cloudy evening; for I really have nothing else to paint. yielding at length to the urgent importunities of Rose. who thought ambition was the surest road to ruin. or woman either. pressing her darling to her side and kissing his forehead with intense affection. entirely destitute of glazing or framework. she had serious designs. 'Humph! - she shall change her mind before long. at length.'And.