The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

It was a splendid morning

catching up armfuls of moist, reeking grass, and shaking it out to the four winds of heaven, at the head of a goodly file of servants and hirelings-intending so to labour, from morning till night, with as much zeal and assiduity as I could look for from any of them, as well to prosper the work by my own exertion as to anim

who stood looking on while I complacently exam

d look so prodigiously knowing, t

ets, and then put it on (i.e. the coat). 'Now come here, you idle dog, and make yourself useful

ay? 'No matter where-the when is all that concer

e, my lads, you must look sharp: I'm come to help you now:-and woe be to that man, or woman either, that pauses for a moment amongst you-whether

rned to the house, and, having made some alteration in my toilet, hastened away to Wildf

ing and receiving of presents?'-Not precisely, old buck; this was my firs

naccessible, when next I sought her company. This circumstance did not greatly disconcert me, however, because I attributed it, not so much to any dislike of my person, as to some absolute resolution against a second marriage formed prior to the time of our acquaintance, whether from excess of affection for her late husband, or because she had had enough of him and the matrimonial state together. At first, indeed, she had seemed to take a pleasure in mortifying my v

the sober, solid, plain-dealing friend of herself, and then, when I have made myself fairly necessa

ing puppy of which Sancho was the father, and which delighted the child beyond expression, and, consequently, could not fail to please his mamma. My second was to bring him a book, which, knowing his mother's particularity, I had carefully selected, and which I submitted for her approbation before presenting it

it, and, on my return home, instantly sent for the smart little volume I had this morning received. But an apology for invading the hermitage was still necessary; so I had furnished myself with a blue morocco collar for Arthur's little dog; and tha

d and framed, all ready for sending away; but give me your last opinion, and if

doubt, to read my heartfelt admiration in my eyes. But, while I gazed, I thought upon the book, and wondered how it was to be presented. My heart failed me; but I determined not to be such a fool as to come away without having made the attempt. It was useless waiting for an opportunity,

' Mrs. Graham; and here it is, if

avely examined the volume on both sides; then silently turned over the leaves, knitting her brows the while, in serious cog

d she, 'but unless I pay for the book, I ca

canno

aused, and looke

e of irascibility that roused her to lift

repay-I am obliged to you already for your kindness to my son; but his

e!' ejac

of quiet, grave surprise, that had the effect

book?' I asked, more mild

t price, and the cost of the carriage besides, in as calm a tone as I could

o my hand. Attentively regarding me, in a tone of soothing softness, she observed,-'Y

aken:-if you will only oblige me by taking it, believe me, I shall build no hopes upon it, and consider this no precedent for future favours:-and it is nonse

answered, with a most angelic smile, returning

our friendship entirely from me,-or expect me to atone for it by being more distant than

ere, I had much difficulty to refrain from pressing it to my lips;-but that would be suicidal madness: I

I had just left-regretting nothing but her impenetrability, and my own precipitancy and want of tact-fearing nothing but her hateful resolution, a