e ushered into a room where the first object that met the eye was a painter's easel, with a table beside it covered with rolls of canvas, bottles of oil and varnish, pal

'there is no fire in the sitting-room to-day, and it is ra

hile she conversed, and giving it an occasional touch with her brush, as if she found it impossible to wean her attention entirely from her occupation to fix it upon her guests. It was a view of Wildfell Hall, as se

eg you to go on with it; for if you suffer our presence to interrupt y

d into politeness. 'I am not so beset with visitors but that I can readi

and delight than I cared to express. 'A few more touches in the foreground will finish it, I should think. But why have you called it Fernley Ma

rtinence in so doing; for she coloured and hesitated; but after a

t see the picture, and might possibly recognise the style in spite of the false initials I have put in the corner, I take the prec

e picture?' said I, anxious to sa

ord to paint for

,' said Arthur; 'and somebody sells the

in the sunny haze of a quiet summer afternoon; and a simple but striking little picture of a child brooding, with looks of silent but deep and so

e I must take it again on a snowy winter's day, and then again on a dark cloudy evening; for I really have nothing else to paint. I

r nearly so-little short of eight miles, there an

irection d

of the various roads, lanes, and fields to be traversed in order to reach it, the g

efore I require them. I shall not think about going till next spring; and th

rted up from her seat, and saying, 'Excuse me one momen

been carelessly fixed upon it the moment before-and just beheld the skirts of a man'

's friend,'

looked at

to make of her at a

that I had not before observed. It was a little child, seated on the grass with its lap full of flowers. The tiny features and large blue eyes, smiling through a shock of light brown curls,

t freshness of colouring and freedom of handling that delighted and surprised me in them. Nevertheless, I surveyed it with considerable interest. There was a certain individuality in the features and expression that stamped it, at once, a successful likeness. 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 v

in my hands two minutes bef

es,' said she, in apology for her ab

ce,' I said 'to presume to look at a picture that

r your curiosity will not be gratified,' replied she, attempting to cover the tartness of her rebuke

r hands; for without a grain of ceremony she took it from me; and quickly restoring it to the dark corn

lling my sister it was time to go, shook hands with the little gentleman, coolly bowed to the lady, and moved towards the door. But, having bid adieu to Rose, Mrs. Graham presented

anger, of course; so we parted good friends for once; and this t