might have thought had been assumed as a machinery for feeling martin s pulse the change in the old man found such a slight expression in his figure that mr looking after him could not help saying to himself and i can wind him round my little finger only think old martin happening to turn his head saluted him affectionately mr returned the gesture why the time was said mr and not long ago when he wouldn t look at me how soothing is this change such is the delicate texture of the human heart so complicated is the process of its being softened he looks the same and i can wind him round my little finger only think in sober truth there did appear to be nothing on which mr might not have ventured with martin for whatever mr said or did was right and whatever he advised was done martin had escaped so many from fortune hunters and had withered in the shell of his suspicion and distrust for so many years but to become the good man s tool and with the happiness of this conviction painted on his face the went forth upon his morning walk the summer weather in his bosom was reflected in the breast of nature through deep green where the boughs arched over head and showed the sunlight flashing in the beautiful perspective through from which the startled leaped up and fled at his approach by pools and fallen trees and down in hollow places rustling among last year s leaves whose scent woke memory of the past the placid strolled by meadow gates and hedges fragrant with wild roses and by roof cottages whose inmates humbly bowed before him as a man both good and wise the worthy walked in tranquil meditation the bee passed onward humming of the work he had to do the idle for ever going round and round in one and ring yet always going on as fast as he danced merrily before him the colour of the long grass came and went as if the light clouds made it timid as they floated through the distant air the birds so many sang gaily upon every branch and mr i life and adventures of paid his homage to the day by on his projects as he walked along to trip in his abstraction over the spreading root of an old tree he raised his pious eyes to take a survey of the ground before him it startled him to see the embodied image of his thoughts not far a head mary herself and alone at first mr stopped as if with the intention of avoiding her but his next impulse was to advance which he did at a brisk pace as he went so sweetly and with so much innocence that he only wanted feathers and wings to be a bird hearing notes behind her not belonging to the of the grove she looked round mr kissed his hand and was at her side immediately with nature said mr so ami she said the morning was so beautiful that she had walked further than she intended and would return mr said it was exactly his case and he would return with her take my arm sweet girl said mr mary declined it and walked so very fast that he remonstrated you were when i came upon you mr said why be so cruel as to hurry now you would not me would you yes i would she answered turning her glowing cheek indignantly upon him you know i would release me mr your touch is disagreeable to me his touch what that touch which mrs � surely a discreet lady � had endured not only without complaint but with apparent satisfaction this was positively wrong mr was sorry to hear her say it if you have not observed said mary that it is so pray take the assurance from my lips and do not as you are a gentleman continue to offend me well weu said mr mildly i feel that i might consider this becoming in a daughter of my own and why should i object to it in one so beautiful it s harsh it cuts me to the soul said mr but i cannot quarrel with you mary she tried to say she was sorry to hear it but burst into martin tears mr now repeated the performance on a comfortable scale as if lie intended it to last some time and in his disengaged hand catching hers employed himself in separating the fingers with his own and sometimes kissing them as he pursued the conversation thus i am glad we met i am very glad we met i am able now to ease my bosom of a heavy load and speak to you in confidence mary said mr in his tenderest tones indeed they were so very tender that he almost my soul i love you a fantastic thing that maiden affectation she made believe to shudder i love you said mr my gentle life with a devotion which is quite surprising even to myself i did suppose that the sensation was buried in the silent tomb of a lady only second to you in qualities of the mind and form but i find i am mistaken she tried to her hand but might as well have tried to free herself from the embrace of an affectionate if anything so may be brought into comparison with although i am a said mr examining the rings upon her fingers and tracing the course of one delicate blue vein with his fat thumb a with two daughters still i am not my love one of them as you know is married the other by her own desire but with a view i will confess � why not � to my my condition is about to leave her father s house i have a character i 