ds 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 animate the workers by my example--when lo! my resolutions
were overthrown in a moment, by the simple fact of my brother's running
up to me and putting into my hand a small parcel, just arrived from
London, which I had been for some time expecting. I tore off the cover,
and disclosed an elegant and portable edition of 'Marmion.'

'I guess I know who that's for,' said Fergus, who stood looking on while
I complacently examined the volume. 'That's for Miss Eliza, now.'

He pronounced this with a tone and look so prodigiously knowing, that I
was glad to contradict him.

'You're wrong, my lad,' said I; and, taking up my coat, I deposited the
book in one of its pockets, and then put it on (_i.e._ the coat). 'Now
come here, you idle dog, and make yourself useful for once,' I continued.
'Pull off your coat, and take my place in the field till I come back.'

'Till you come back?--and where are you going, pray? 'No matter
where--the when is all that concerns you;--and I shall be back by dinner,
at least.'

'Oh--oh! and I'm to labour away till then, am I?--and to keep all these
fellows hard at it besides? Well, well! I'll submit--for once in a
way.--Come, 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 to stare about him, to scratch his head, or blow his
nose--no pretext will serve--nothing but work, work, work in the sweat of
your face,' &c., &c.

Leaving him thus haranguing the people, more to their amusement than
edification, I returned to the house, and, having made some alteration in
my toilet, hastened away to Wildfell Hall, with the book in my pocket;
for it was destined for the shelves of Mrs. Graham.

'What! then had she and you got on so well together as to come to the
giving and receiving of presents?'--Not precisely, old buck; this was my
first experiment in that line; and I was very anxious to see the result
of it.

We had met several times since the -- Bay excursion, and I had found she
was not averse to my company, provided I confined my conversation to the
discussion of abstract matters, or topics of common interest;--the moment
I touched upon the sentimental or the co