In a minute he was kneeling on the carpet, with his arms round Sancho's neck, and, in a minute or two more, the little fellow was seated on my knee, surveying with eager interest the various specimens of horses, cattle, pigs, and model farms portrayed in the volume before me.

I glanced at his mother now and then to see how she relished the new-sprung intimacy; and I saw, by the unquiet aspect of her eye, that for some reason or other she was uneasy at the child's position.
'Arthur,' said she, at length, 'come here.

You are troublesome to Mr.
Markham: he wishes to read.' 'By no means, Mrs.Graham; pray let him stay.

I am as much amused as he is,' pleaded I.

But still, with hand and eye, she silently called him to her side.
'No, mamma,' said the child; 'let me look at these pictures first; and then I'll come, and tell you all about them.' 'We are going to have a small party on Monday, the fifth of November,' said my mother; 'and I hope you will not refuse to make one, Mrs.Graham.
You can bring your little boy with you, you know--I daresay we shall be able to amuse him;--and then you can make your own apologies to the Millwards and Wilsons--they will all be here, I expect.' 'Thank you, I never go to parties.' 'Oh! but this will be quite a family concern--early hours, and nobody here but ourselves, and just the Millwards and Wilsons, most of whom you already know, and Mr.Lawrence, your landlord, with whom you ought to make acquaintance.' 'I do know something of him--but you must excuse me this time; for the evenings, now, are dark and damp, and Arthur, I fear, is too delicate to risk exposure to their influence with impunity.