The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

has passed away; the light of your countenance blesses me once more, and you des

ded valleys, the corn-fields, and the meadow-lands, and proceeded to mount the steep acclivity of Wildfell, the wildest and the loftiest eminence in our neighbourhood, where, as you ascend, the hedges, as well as the trees, become scanty and stunted, the former, at length, giving place to rough stone fences, partly greened over with ivy and moss, the latter to larches and Scotch fir-trees, or isolated blackthorns. The fi

entered by an iron gate, with large balls of grey granite-similar to those which decorated the roof and gables-surmounting the gate-posts) was a garden,-once stocked with such hard plants and flowers as could best brook the soil and climate, and such trees and shrubs as could best endure the gardener's torturing shears, and most readily assume the shapes he chose to give them,-now, having been left so many years untilled and untrimmed, abandoned to the weeds and the grass, to the frost and the wind, the rain and the drought, it presented a very singular appearance indeed. The close green walls of privet, that had bordered the principal walk, were two-third

and see what changes had been wrought in it by its new inhabitant. I did not like to go quite to the front and stare in at the gate; but I paused beside the garden wall, and looked, an

equal part, I heard a slight rustling and scrambling just within the garden; and, glancing in the direction whence the sound proceeded, I beheld a tiny hand elevated above the wall: it clung to the topmost stone, and then ano

ittle boy, apparently about five years old) scrambled up to the top of the wall, and called again and again; but finding this of no avail, apparently made up his mind, like Mahomet, to go to the mountain, since the mountain would not come to him, and attempted to get over; but a crabbed old cherry-tree, that grew hard by, caught him by the frock

hand on the dog's neck and beginning to smile through his tears, when I heard behind me a click of the iron gate, and a

the boy, she snatched him from me, as if some dire contamination were in my touch, and then stood with one hand firmly clas

or displeased; 'he was tumbling off the wall there; and I was so fortunate as to catch him,

light of reason seeming to break upon her beclouded spirit, and a fa

child, and fondly claspe

going to kidnap y

did not know he had attempted to climb the wall.-I have the pleasure

ntured to ask h

here, a few days ago

d, in some surprise, and not so greatly fla

think,' replied she, somewhat dubiously surveying m

proud, chilly look that had so unspeakably roused my aversion at church-a look of repellent scorn, so easily assumed, and so entirely without the least distortion

e withdrew, with her child, into the garden; and I returned home, angry and d

ns to one of the farming-men, and then repaired to the vicarage, to solace my spir

for Berlin wools had not yet commenced), while her sister was seated at

Eliza was hastily saying,

matic reply; and my appearance

ster, with one of her arch, sidelong glances. 'Papa's just go

ghters, if they'll allow me,' said I, bringing a chair to the

ery good and amusing,

al, pray; for I came not to give pl

ed, to be mutually pleased with each other, and managed to maintain between us a cheerful and animated though not very profound conversation. It was little better than a tête-à-tête, for Miss Millward never opened her lips,

ented it to her. 'I would have picked it up m

aid Eliza; 'he hates cats, I daresay, as cordially as he doe

x to dislike the creatures,' replied I; 'for

dden burst of enthusiasm, turning round and over

lward, somewhat gruffly, as s

te I would, I should still be too late for tea; a

arting; and she repaid me with one of her softest smiles and most bewitching glances. I went hom