, sidelong glances. 'Papa's just gone out into the
parish, and not likely to be back for an hour!'

'Never mind; I can manage to spend a few minutes with his daughters, if
they'll allow me,' said I, bringing a chair to the fire, and seating
myself therein, without waiting to be asked.

'Well, if you'll be very good and amusing, we shall not object.'

'Let your permission be unconditional, pray; for I came not to give
pleasure, but to seek it,' I answered.

However, I thought it but reasonable to make some slight exertion to
render my company agreeable; and what little effort I made, was
apparently pretty successful, for Miss Eliza was never in a better
humour. We seemed, indeed, to be mutually pleased with each other, and
managed to maintain between us a cheerful and animated though not very
profound conversation. It was little better than a _tete-a-tete_, for
Miss Millward never opened her lips, except occasionally to correct some
random assertion or exaggerated expression of her sister's, and once to
ask her to pick up the ball of cotton that had rolled under the table. I
did this myself, however, as in duty bound.

'Thank you, Mr. Markham,' said she, as I presented it to her. 'I would
have picked it up myself; only I did not want to disturb the cat.'

'Mary, dear, that won't excuse you in Mr. Markham's eyes,' said Eliza;
'he hates cats, I daresay, as cordially as he does old maids--like all
other gentlemen. Don't you, Mr. Markham?'

'I believe it is natural for our unamiable sex to dislike the creatures,'
replied I; 'for you ladies lavish so many caresses upon them.'

'Bless them--little darlings!' cried she, in a sudden burst of
enthusiasm, turning round and overwhelming her sister's pet with a shower
of kisses.

'Don't, Eliza!' said Miss Millward, somewhat gruffly, as she impatiently
pushed her away.

But it was time for me to be going: make what haste I would, I should
still be too late for tea; and my mother was the soul of order and
punctuality.

My fair friend was evidently unwilling to bid me adieu. I tenderly
squeezed her little hand at parting; and she repaid me with one of her
softest smiles and most bewitching glances. I went home very happy, with
a heart brimful of complacency for myself, and overflowing with love for
Eliza.

CHAPTER III

Two days after, Mrs. Graham called at Linden-Car, contrary to the
expectation of Rose, who entertained an idea that the mysterious occupa