ewood,whereweeachchosethespotwelikedbest,anddinedsumptuously.

    Myfavouriteseatwasasmoothandbroadstone,risingwhiteanddryfromtheverymiddleofthebedonlytobegotatbywadingthroughthewater;afeatIaplishedbarefoot.Thestonewasjustbroadenoughtoaodate,fortably,anirlahattimemychosenrade—oneMaryAnnWilson;ashrewd,observantpersonage,whosesocietyItookpleasurein,partlybecauseshewaswittyandinal,andpartlybecauseshehadamannerwhichsetmeatmyease.SomeyearsolderthanI,sheknewmoreoftheworld,andcouldtellmemanythingsIlikedtohear:withhermycuriosityfoundgratification:tomyfaultsalsoshegaveampleindulgeneverimposingcurborreinonanythingIsaid.Shehadaturnfornarrative,Iforanalysis;shelikedtoinform,Itoquestion;sowegotonswimminglytogether,derivingmutertai,ifnotmuchimprovement,fromourmutualintercourse.

    Andwhere,meantime,wasHelenBurns?WhydidInotspendthesesweetdaysoflibertywithher?HadIfottenher?orwasIsoworthlessastohavegrowntiredofherparesociety?SurelytheMaryArmWilsonIhavementionedwasinferiortomyfirstacquaintance:shecouldonlytellmeamusingstories,andreciprocateanyradpugossipIchosetoindulgein;while,ifIhavespokentruthofHelen,shewasqualifiedtogivethosewhoeheprivilegeofherverseatasteherthings.

    True,reader;andIknewahis:andthoughIamadefectivebeing,withmanyfaultsandfewredeemingpoints,yetIiredofHelenBurns;noreverceasedtocherishforheraseofattat,asstrong,tender,andrespectfulasanythateveranimatedmyheart.Howcoulditbeotherwise,whealltimesandunderallcircumstances,evineaquietandfaithfulfriendship,whichill-humournev