ugly eyes, I judged it was some spicy piece of scandal that engaged her powers; and from the cautious privacy of the communication, I supposed some person then present was the luckless object of her calumnies; and from all these tokens, together with my mother's looks and gestures of mingled horror and incredulity, I now concluded that object to have been Mrs Graham. I did not emerge from my place of concealment, till she had nearly reaChed the bottom of the walk, lest my appearance should drive her away; and when I did step forward, she stood still and seemed inclined to turn back as it was.

Oh, don't let us disturb you, Mr Markham!' said she. `We came here to seek retirement ourselves; not to intrude on your seclusion.'

`I am no hermit, Mrs Graham--though I own it looks rather like it, to absent myself in this uncourteous fashion from my guests.'

`I feared you were unwell,' said she, with a look of real concern.

`I was rather, but it's over now. Do sit here a little, and rest, and tell me how you like this arbour,' said I, and lifting Arthur by the shoulders, I planted him in the middle of the seat by way of securing his mamma, who, acknowledging it to be a tempting place of refuge, threw herself back in one corner, while I took possession of the other.

But that word refuge disturbed me. Had their unkindness then really driven her to seek for peace in solitude?

`Why have they left you alone?' I asked.

`It is I who have left them,' was the smiling rejoinder. `I was wearied to death with small talk--nothing wears me out like that. I cannot imagine how they can go on as they do.'

I could not help smiling at the serious depth of her wonderment.

`Is it that they think it a duty to be continually talking,' pursued she; `and so never pause to think, but fill up with aimless trifles and vain repetitions, when subjects of real interest fail to present themselves?--or do they really take a pleasure in such discourse?'

Very likely they do,' said I: `their shallow minds can hold no great ideas, and their light heads are carried away by trivialities that would not move a better furnished skill;--and their only alternative to such disCourse is to plunge over head and ears into the slough of scandal--which is their chief delight.'

`Not all of them surely?' cried the lady, astonished at the bitterness of my remark.

`No, certainly; I exonerate my sister from such degraded tastes--and my mother too, if you included her in your animadversions.'

`I meant no animadversions against anyone, and certainly in- tended no disrespectful allusions to your mother. I have known some sensible persons great adepts in that style of conversation, when circumstances impelled them to it; but it is a gift I cannot boast the possession of. I kept up my attention, on this occasion, as long as I could, but when my powers were exhausted, I stole away, to seek a few minutes' repose in this quiet walk. 1 hate talking where there is no exchange of ideas or sentiments, and no good given or received.'

`Well,' said I, `if ever I trouble you with my loquacity, tell me so at once, and I promise not to be offended; for I possess the faculty of enjoying the company of those I--of my friends as well in silence as in conversation.'

`I don't quite believe you; but if it were so, you would exactly suit me for a companion.'

`I am all you wish, then, in other respects?'