itary task--and not long did I attempt to resist it:
while my little neighbour was exchanging a few words with Miss Wilson, I
rose and cannily slipped away. A few rapid strides, and a little active
clambering, soon brought me to the place where she was seated--a narrow
ledge of rock at the very verge of the cliff, which descended with a
steep, precipitous slant, quite down to the rocky shore.

She did not hear me coming: the falling of my shadow across her paper
gave her an electric start; and she looked hastily round--any other lady
of my acquaintance would have screamed under such a sudden alarm.

'Oh! I didn't know it was you.--Why did you startle me so?' said she,
somewhat testily. 'I hate anybody to come upon me so unexpectedly.'

'Why, what did you take me for?' said I: 'if I had known you were so
nervous, I would have been more cautious; but--'

'Well, never mind. What did you come for? are they all coming?'

'No; this little ledge could scarcely contain them all.'

'I'm glad, for I'm tired of talking.'

'Well, then, I won't talk. I'll only sit and watch your drawing.'

'Oh, but you know I don't like that.'

'Then I'll content myself with admiring this magnificent prospect.'

She made no objection to this; and, for some time, sketched away in
silence. But I could not help stealing a glance, now and then, from the
splendid view at our feet to the elegant white hand that held the pencil,
and the graceful neck and glossy raven curls that drooped over the paper.

'Now,' thought I, 'if I had but a pencil and a morsel of paper, I could
make a lovelier sketch than hers, admitting I had the power to delineate
faithfully what is before me.'

But, though this satisfaction was denied me, I was very well content to
sit beside her there, and say nothing.

'Are you there still, Mr. Markham?' said she at length, looking round
upon me--for I was seated a little behind on a mossy projection of the
cliff.--'Why don't you go and amuse yourself with your friends?'

'Because I am tired of them, like you; and I shall have enough of them
to-morrow--or at any time hence; but you I may not have the pleasure of
seeing again for I know not how long.'

'What was Arthur doing when you came away?'

'He was with Miss Millward, where you left him--all right, but hoping
mamma would not be long away. You didn't intrust him to me, by-the-by,'
I grumbled, 'though I had the honour of a much longer acquaintance; but
Miss Millw