'If he is offended, he can best tell you himself what it is about.' 'I'll ask him,' cried the giddy girl, springing up and putting her head out of the window: 'he's only in the garden--Walter!' 'No, no, Esther! you will seriously displease me if you do; and I shall leave you immediately, and not come again for months--perhaps years.' 'Did you call, Esther ?' said her brother, approaching the window from without.
'Yes; I wanted to ask you--' 'Good-morning, Esther,' said I, taking her hand and giving it a severe squeeze.
'To ask you,' continued she, 'to get me a rose for Mrs.Huntingdon.' He departed.

'Mrs.Huntingdon,' she exclaimed, turning to me and still holding me fast by the hand, 'I'm quite shocked at you--you're just as angry, and distant, and cold as he is: and I'm determined you shall be as good friends as ever before you go.' 'Esther, how can you be so rude!' cried Mrs.Hargrave, who was seated gravely knitting in her easy-chair.

'Surely, you never will learn to conduct yourself like a lady!' 'Well, mamma, you said yourself--' But the young lady was silenced by the uplifted finger of her mamma, accompanied with a very stern shake of the head.
'Isn't she cross ?' whispered she to me; but, before I could add my share of reproof, Mr.Hargrave reappeared at the window with a beautiful moss-rose in his hand.
'Here, Esther, I've brought you the rose,' said he, extending it towards her.
'Give it her yourself, you blockhead!' cried she, recoiling with a spring from between us.
'Mrs.Huntingdon would rather receive it from you,' replied he, in a very serious tone, but lowering his voice that his mother might not hear.

His sister took the rose and gave it to me.
'My brother's compliments, Mrs.Huntingdon, and he hopes you and he will come to a better understanding by-and-by.

Will that do, Walter ?' added the saucy girl, turning to him and putting her arm round his neck, as he stood leaning upon the sill of the window--'or should I have said that you are sorry you were so touchy?
or that you hope she will pardon your offence ?' 'You silly girl! you don't know what you are talking about,' replied he gravely.
'Indeed I don't: for I'm quite in the dark!' 'Now, Esther,' interposed Mrs.Hargrave, who, if equally benighted on the subject of our estrangement, saw at least that her daughter was behaving very improperly, 'I must insist upon your leaving the room!' 'Pray don't, Mrs.Hargrave, for I'm going to leave it myself,' said I, and immediately made my adieux.
About a week after Mr.Hargrave brought his sister to see me.