The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

nor she mine; but still the ladies continued to talk about her,

entured to take her little boy as far as the vicarage, and that, unfortunately, nobody was at home but Miss Millward; nevertheless, she had sat a long time, and, by all accounts, they

ltural pursuits, I generally contrived to meet or overtake her, for I rather liked to see Mrs. Graham, and to talk to her, and I decidedly liked to talk to her little companion, whom, when once the ice of his shyness was fairly broken, I found to be a very amiable, intelligent, and entertaining little fellow; and we soon became excellent friends-how much to the gratification of his mamma I cannot undertake to say. I suspected at first that she

o ensure his safe conduct, as to see that I instilled no objectionable notions into his infant mind, for she was ever on the watch, and never would allow him to be taken out of her sight. What pleased her best of all was to see him romping and racing with Sancho, while I walked by her side-not, I fear, for love of my company (though I sometimes deluded myself with that idea), so much as for the delight she took in

fairly entered into conversation with me, discoursing with so much eloquence and depth of thought and feeling on a subject happily coinciding with my own ideas, and looking so beautiful withal, that I went home enchanted

agreeable as it ought to have been. We chatted together a long time, but I found her rather frivolous, an

affections from her soft yet unrelenting sway; and, though Mrs. Graham might be equally objectionable, I may be permitted, like the doctors, to cure a greater evil by a less, for I shall not fall seriously in love with the young widow, I think

ctations of another interview, so changeable was she in her times of coming forth and in her places of resort, so transient were the occasional glimpses I was able to obtain, that I felt half

th constructing dams and breakwaters in the shallow, stony stream. I was rather in want of amusement, and so rare an opportunity was not to be neglected; so, leaving both meadow and hedge, I quickly repaired to the spot, but not before Sancho, who, immediately upon perceiving his young friend, scoure

alk much, but I stood and watched the progress of her pencil: it was a pleasure to behold it so dexterously guided by those fair and graceful fingers. But ere long their dexterity became impaired, they began to

'll talk to Arthur

de, Mr. Markham, if mamma w

on, my

,' replied he, pointing to where the s

it's too far,' ob

d when she looked at his eager face she smiled and let him go. It was the first time

sfaction and delight. The rolling, however, was soon completed; but when I dismounted the gallant horseman, and restored him to his mother, she seem

if expecting I should go no further, that the conversation would end here, and I should now take leave and depart-as, indeed, it was time to do, for 'the clear, cold eve' was fast 'declining,' the sun had set, and the gibbous moon was visibly brightening in the pale grey sky; but a feeling almost of compassion riveted me to the

lace to live in?' said I, after

through the ruinous old chambers, no books or occupations can repress the dismal thoughts and apprehensions that come crowding in-but it is folly to give way

tone, as if spoken rather to herself than to

on his pretty grey pony, coming up the rugged lane that crossed over the hill-to

o just now?' said he, after the first few

es

at his horse's mane, as if he had some serious ca

what

u disliked her,' he quietly added, curling hi

a man change his mind o

ndant hoary mane. Then suddenly turning to me, and fixing his shy, hazel eyes upo

think I hold the same opinion respecting

cing up at the moon, made some remark upon the beauty of the eve

oking him in the face, 'are y

ted he would, the first start of surprise, at the audacious question, w

peated he. 'What makes y

quaintance with the lady, and the changes of my opin

no. But I thought you were g

not going to marry either one

you'd better l

ng to marry

ith the mane again, but a

d better let

lf a minute, and then made another attempt to turn the conversation; and this time I let it pass; for he ha

ly admitted my excuses; and when I complained of the flavour of the overdrawn tea, she poured the remainder into the slop-basin, and bade

of that, Rose; Gilbert will like it for his supper."-I'm nothing at all. In the parlour, it's "Come, Rose, put away your things, and let's have the room nice and tidy against they come in; and keep up a good fire; Gilbert likes a cheerful fire." In the kitchen-"Make that pie a large one, Rose; I daresay the boys'll be hungry; and don't put so much pepper in, they'll not like it, I'm sure"-or, "Rose, don't put s

oo,' said my mother. 'Gil

e a sacrifice or perform a remarkable act of devotedness, she'll take good care to let me know the extent of it. But for you I might sink into the grossest condition of self-indulgence and carelessness about the wants of others, from the mere habit of being constantly ca

a Millward, careless of everything but her own immediate pleasure and advantage, or some misguided, obstinate woman, like Mrs.

elings of others-was I?-but to exert my own towards them; and when I marry, I shall expect to find more pleas

that! You'll soon tire of petting and humouring your w

must bear one an

ood a husband as ever lived, and after the first six months or so were over, I should as soon have expected him to fly, as to put himself out of his way to pleasure me. He always said I was a good wife, and did my duty; and he a

ent of your domestic virtues; and