ard has the art of conciliating and amusing children,' I
carelessly added, 'if she is good for nothing else.'

'Miss Millward has many estimable qualities, which such as you cannot be
expected to perceive or appreciate. Will you tell Arthur that I shall
come in a few minutes?'

'If that be the case, I will wait, with your permission, till those few
minutes are past; and then I can assist you to descend this difficult
path.'

'Thank you--I always manage best, on such occasions, without assistance.'

'But, at least, I can carry your stool and sketch-book.'

She did not deny me this favour; but I was rather offended at her evident
desire to be rid of me, and was beginning to repent of my pertinacity,
when she somewhat appeased me by consulting my taste and judgment about
some doubtful matter in her drawing. My opinion, happily, met her
approbation, and the improvement I suggested was adopted without
hesitation.

'I have often wished in vain,' said she, 'for another's judgment to
appeal to when I could scarcely trust the direction of my own eye and
head, they having been so long occupied with the contemplation of a
single object as to become almost incapable of forming a proper idea
respecting it.'

'That,' replied I, 'is only one of many evils to which a solitary life
exposes us.'

'True,' said she; and again we relapsed into silence.

About two minutes after, however, she declared her sketch completed, and
closed the book.

On returning to the scene of our repast we found all the company had
deserted it, with the exception of three--Mary Millward, Richard Wilson,
and Arthur Graham. The younger gentleman lay fast asleep with his head
pillowed on the lady's lap; the other was seated beside her with a pocket
edition of some classic author in his hand. He never went anywhere
without such a companion wherewith to improve his leisure moments: all
time seemed lost that was not devoted to study, or exacted, by his
physical nature, for the bare support of life. Even now he could not
abandon himself to the enjoyment of that pure air and balmy
sunshine--that splendid prospect, and those soothing sounds, the music of
the waves and of the soft wind in the sheltering trees above him--not
even with a lady by his side (though not a very charming one, I will
allow)--he must pull out his book, and make the most of his time while
digesting his temperate meal, and reposing his weary limbs, unused to so
much exercise.

Per