eated at a table on the other side of the room,
apparently immersed in the perusal of a volume of the _Farmer's
Magazine_, which I happened to have been reading at the moment of our
visitor's arrival; and, not choosing to be over civil, I had merely bowed
as she entered, and continued my occupation as before.

In a little while, however, I was sensible that some one was approaching
me, with a light, but slow and hesitating tread. It was little Arthur,
irresistibly attracted by my dog Sancho, that was lying at my feet. On
looking up I beheld him standing about two yards off, with his clear blue
eyes wistfully gazing on the dog, transfixed to the spot, not by fear of
the animal, but by a timid disinclination to approach its master. A
little encouragement, however, induced him to come forward. The child,
though shy, was not sullen. In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet,
with his arms round Sancho's neck, and, in a minute or two more, the
little fellow was seated on my knee, surveying with eager interest the
various specimens of horses, cattle, pigs, and model farms portrayed in
the volume before me. I glanced at his mother now and then to see how
she relished the new-sprung intimacy; and I saw, by the unquiet aspect of
her eye, that for some reason or other she was uneasy at the child's
position.

'Arthur,' said she, at length, 'come here. You are troublesome to Mr.
Markham: he wishes to read.'

'By no means, Mrs. Graham; pray let him stay. I am as much amused as he
is,' pleaded I. But still, with hand and eye, she silently called him to
her side.

'No, mamma,' said the child; 'let me look at these pictures first; and
then I'll come, and tell you all about them.'

'We are going to have a small party on Monday, the fifth of November,'
said my mother; 'and I hope you will not refuse to make one, Mrs. Graham.
You can bring your little boy with you, you know--I daresay we shall be
able to amuse him;--and then you can make your own apologies to the
Millwards and Wilsons--they will all be here, I expect.'

'Thank you, I never go to parties.'

'Oh! but this will be quite a family concern--early hours, and nobody
here but ourselves, and just the Millwards and Wilsons, most of whom you
already know, and Mr. Lawrence, your landlord, with whom you ought to
make acquaintance.'

'I do know something of him--but you must excuse me this time; for the
evenings, now, are dark and damp, and Arthur, I fear, is too delic