I wonder, Eliza, you should think of referring to that unfortunate person--you might know the mention of her would be anything but agreeable to any one here present.' How could this be borne?
I rose and was about to clap my hat upon my head and burst away, in wrathful indignation from the house; but recollecting--just in time to save my dignity--the folly of such a proceeding, and how it would only give my fair tormentors a merry laugh at my expense, for the sake of one I acknowledged in my own heart to be unworthy of the slightest sacrifice--though the ghost of my former reverence and love so hung about me still, that I could not bear to hear her name aspersed by others--I merely walked to the window, and having spent a few seconds in vengibly biting my lips and sternly repressing the passionate heavings of my chest, I observed to Miss Wilson, that I could see nothing of her brother, and added that, as my time was precious, it would perhaps be better to call again to-morrow, at some time when I should be sure to find him at home.
'Oh, no!' said she; 'if you wait a minute, he will be sure to come; for he has business at L--' (that was our market-town), 'and will require a little refreshment before he goes.' I submitted accordingly, with the best grace I could; and, happily, I had not long to wait.

Mr.Wilson soon arrived, and, indisposed for business as I was at that moment, and little as I cared for the field or its owner, I forced my attention to the matter in hand, with very creditable determination, and quickly concluded the bargain--perhaps more to the thrifty farmer's satisfaction than he cared to acknowledge.

Then, leaving him to the discussion of his substantial 'refreshment,' I gladly quitted the house, and went to look after my reapers.
Leaving them busy at work on the side of the valley, I ascended the hill, intending to visit a corn-field in the more elevated regions, and see when it would be ripe for the sickle.

But I did not visit it that day; for, as I approached, I beheld, at no great distance, Mrs.Graham and her son coming down in the opposite direction.

They saw me; and Arthur already was running to meet me; but I immediately turned back and walked steadily homeward; for I had fully determined never to encounter his mother again; and regardless of the shrill voice in my ear, calling upon me to 'wait a moment,' I pursued the even tenor of my way; and he soon relinquished the pursuit as hopeless, or was called away by his mother.
At all events, when I looked back, five minutes after, not a trace of either was to be seen.
This incident agitated and disturbed me most unaccountably--unless you would account for it by saying that Cupid's arrows not only had been too sharp for me, but they were barbed and deeply rooted, and I had not yet been able to wrench them from my heart.