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where Rosalie is gone： and why she likes to be so much alone？'
'She says she likes to be alone when she has a new book to read。'
'But why can't she read it in the park or the garden？ … why should she
go into the fields and lanes？ And how is it that that Mr。 Hatfield so often
finds her out？ She told me last week he'd walked his horse by her side
all up Moss Lane； and now I'm sure it was he I saw； from my dressing…
room window； walking so briskly past the park…gates； and on towards the
field where she so frequently goes。 I wish you would go and see if she is
there； and just gently remind her that it is not proper for a young lady of
her rank and prospects to be wandering about by herself in that manner；
exposed to the attentions of anyone that presumes to address her； like
some poor neglected girl that has no park to walk in； and no friends to take
care of her： and tell her that her papa would be extremely angry if he
knew of her treating Mr。 Hatfield in the familiar manner that I fear she
does； and … oh！ if you … if ANY governess had but half a mother's
watchfulness … half a mother's anxious care； I should be saved this trouble；
and you would see at once the necessity of keeping your eye upon her； and
making your company agreeable to … Well； go … go； there's no time to be
lost；' cried she； seeing that I had put away my drawing materials； and was
waiting in the doorway for the conclusion of her address。
According to her prognostications； I found Miss Murray in her
favourite field just without the park； and； unfortunately； not alone； for the
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tall； stately figure of Mr。 Hatfield was slowly sauntering by her side。
Here was a poser for me。 It was my duty to interrupt the TETE…A…
TETE： but how was it to be done？ Mr。 Hatfield could not to be driven
away by so insignificant person as I； and to go and place myself on the
other side of Miss Murray； and intrude my unwelcome presence upon her
without noticing her companion； was a piece of rudeness I could not be
guilty of： neither had I the courage to cry aloud from the top of the field
that she was wanted elsewhere。 So I took the intermediate course of
walking slowly but steadily towards them； resolving； if my approach
failed to scare away the beau； to pass by and tell Miss Murray her mamma
wanted her。
She certainly looked very charming as she strolled； lingering along
under the budding horse…chestnut trees that stretched their long arms over
the park…palings； with her closed book in one hand； and in the other a
graceful sprig of myrtle； which served her as a very pretty plaything； her
bright ringlets escaping profusely from her little bonnet； and gently stirred
by the breeze； her fair cheek flushed with gratified vanity； her smiling blue
eyes； now slyly glancing towards her admirer； now gazing downward at
her myrtle sprig。 But Snap； running before me； interrupted her in the
midst of some half…pert； half…playful repartee； by catching hold of her
dress and vehemently tugging thereat； till Mr。 Hatfield； with his cane；
administered a resounding thwack upon the animal's skull； and sent it
yelping back to me with a clamorous outcry that afforded the reverend
gentleman great amusement： but seeing me so near； he thought； I
suppose； he might as well be taking his departure； and； as I stooped to
caress the dog； with ostentatious pity to show my disapproval of his
severity； I heard him say： 'When shall I see you again； Miss Murray？'
'At church； I suppose；' replied she； 'unless your business chances to
bring you here again at the precise moment when I happen to be walking
by。'
'I could always manage to have business here； if I knew precisely
when and where to find you。'
'But if I would； I could not inform you； for I am so immethodical； I
never can tell to…day what I shall do tomorrow。'
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'Then give me that； meantime； to comfort me；' said he； half jestingly
and half in earnest； extending his hand for the sprig of myrtle。
'No； indeed； I shan't。'
'Do！ PRAY do！ I shall be the most miserable of men if you don't。
You cannot be so cruel as to deny me a favour so easily granted and yet so
highly prized！' pleaded he as ardently as if his life depended on it。
By this time I stood within a very few yards of them； impatiently
waiting his departure。
'There then！ take it and go；' said Rosalie。
He joyfully received the gift； murmured something that made her
blush and toss her head； but with a little laugh that showed her displeasure
was entirely affected； and then with a courteous salutation withdrew。
'Did you ever see such a man； Miss Grey？' said she； turning to me； 'I'm
so GLAD you came！ I thought I never SHOULD； get rid of him； and I
was so terribly afraid of papa seeing him。'
'Has he been with you long？'
'No； not long； but he's so extremely impertinent： and he's always
hanging about； pretending his business or his clerical duties require his
attendance in these parts； and really watching for poor me； and pouncing
upon me wherever he sees me。'
'Well； your mamma thinks you ought not to go beyond the park or
garden without some discreet； matronly person like me to accompany you；
and keep off all intruders。 She descried Mr。 Hatfield hurrying past the
park…gates； and forthwith despatched me with instructions to seek you up
and to take care of you； and likewise to warn … '
'Oh； mamma's so tiresome！ As if I couldn't take care of myself。 She
bothered me before about Mr。 Hatfield； and I told her she might trust me：
I never should forget my rank and station for the most delightful man that
ever breathed。 I wish he would go down on his knees to…morrow； and
implore me to be his wife； that I might just show her how mistaken she is
in supposing that I could ever … Oh； it provokes me so！ To think that I
could be such a fool as to fall in LOVE！