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Agnes Grey Anne Bronte 9330K 2023-09-02

'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' 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 re lady of her rank and prospects to be wandering about by herself in that manner, exposed to the attentions of anyone that presuirl that has no park to walk in, and no friends to take care of her: and tell her that her papa would be extre Mr Hatfield in the faoverness 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 o; there's no ti that I had put awayin 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 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 hoas 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 intrudeher couilty of: neither had I the courage to cry aloud from the top of the field that she anted elsewhere So I took the inter slowly but steadily towards the, if my approach failed to scare away the beau, to pass by and tell Miss Murray heras she strolled, lingering along under the budding horse-chestnut trees that stretched their long ars; with her closed book in one hand, and in the other a graceful sprig of ht ringlets escaping profusely froently stirred by the breeze, her fair cheek flushed with gratified vanity, her s towards her ad But Snap, running before me, interrupted her in thehold of her dress and vehe thereat; till Mr Hatfield, with his cane, ad thwack upon the ani back to entleht, I suppose, hehis departure; and, as I stooped to caress the dog, with ostentatious pity to show my disapproval of his severity, I heard hiain, Miss Murray?'