to my head, and found my
skull not broken, I thought it was a miracle, and no mistake. But, poor
fellow!' added he, with a sentimental sigh--'his heart's broken--that's
the truth of it--and his head's--'

'Will you be silent NOW?' cried I, starting up, and eyeing the fellow so
fiercely that my mother, thinking I meant to inflict some grievous bodily
injury, laid her hand on my arm, and besought me to let him alone, and he
walked leisurely out, with his hands in his pockets, singing
provokingly--'Shall I, because a woman's fair,' &c.

'I'm not going to defile my fingers with him,' said I, in answer to the
maternal intercession. 'I wouldn't touch him with the tongs.'

I now recollected that I had business with Robert Wilson, concerning the
purchase of a certain field adjoining my farm--a business I had been
putting off from day to day; for I had no interest in anything now; and
besides, I was misanthropically inclined, and, moreover, had a particular
objection to meeting Jane Wilson or her mother; for though I had too good
reason, now, to credit their reports concerning Mrs. Graham, I did not
like them a bit the better for it--or Eliza Millward either--and the
thought of meeting them was the more repugnant to me that I could not,
now, defy their seeming calumnies and triumph in my own convictions as
before. But to-day I determined to make an effort to return to my duty.
Though I found no pleasure in it, it would be less irksome than
idleness--at all events it would be more profitable. If life promised no
enjoyment within my vocation, at least it offered no allurements out of
it; and henceforth I would put my shoulder to the wheel and toil away,
like any poor drudge of a cart-horse that was fairly broken in to its
labour, and plod through life, not wholly useless if not agreeable, and
uncomplaining if not contented with my lot.

Thus resolving, with a kind of sullen resignation, if such a term may be
allowed, I wended my way to Ryecote Farm, scarcely expecting to find its
owner within at this time of day, but hoping to learn in what part of the
premises he was most likely to be found.

Absent he was, but expected home in a few minutes; and I was desired to
step into the parlour and wait. Mrs. Wilson was busy in the kitchen, but
the room was not empty; and I scarcely checked an involuntary recoil as I
entered it; for there sat Miss Wilson chattering with Eliza Millward.
However, I determined to be cool and civil.