Butthenitisabittertrialtobeholdhim，onhisreturn，doinghisutmosttosubvertmylaboursandtransformmyinnocent，affectionate，tractabledarlingintoaselfish，disobedient，andmischievousboy；therebypreparingthesoilforthoseviceshehassosuccessfullycultivatedinhisownpervertednature。
Happily，therewerenoneofArthur’s`friends’invitedtoGrassdalelastautumn：hetookhimselfofftovisitsomeoftheminstead。Iwishhewouldalwaysdoso，andIwishhisfriendswerenumerousandlovingenoughtokeephimamongstthemalltheyearround。Mr。Hargrave，considerablytomyannoyance，didnotgowithhim；butIthinkIhavedonewiththatgentlemanatlast。
Forsevenoreightmonths，hebehavedsoremarkablywell，andmanagedsoskilfullytoo，thatIwasalmostcompletelyoffmyguard，andwasreallybeginningtolookuponhimasafriend，andeventotreathimassuch，withcertainprudentrestrictionswhichIdeemedscarcelynecessary；
when，presuminguponmyunsuspectingkindness，hethoughthemightventuretooversteptheboundsofdecentmoderationandproprietythathadsolongretainedhim。ItwasonapleasanteveningatthecloseofMay：Iwaswanderinginthepark，andhe，onseeingmethereasherodepast，madeboldtoenterandapproachme，dismountingandleavinghishorseatthegate。ThiswasthefirsttimehehadventuredtocomewithinitsinclosuresinceIhadbeenleftalone，withoutthesanctionofhismother’sorsister’scompany，oratleasttheexcuseofamessagefromthem。Buthemanagedtoappearsocalmandeasy，sorespectfulandself-possessedinhisfriendliness，that，thoughalittlesurprised，Iwasneitheralarmednoroffendedattheunusualliberty，andhewalkedwithmeundertheashtreesandbythewater-side，andtalked，withconsiderableanimation，goodtaste，andintelligence，onmanysubjects，beforeIbegantothinkaboutgettingridofhim。Then，afterapause，duringwhichwebothstoodgazingonthecalm，bluewater；
Irevolvinginmymindthebestmeansofpolitelydismissingmycompanion，he，nodoubt，ponderingothermattersequallyalientothesweetsightsandsoundsthatalonewerepresenttohissenses，——hesuddenlyelectrifiedmebybeginning，inapeculiartone，low，soft，butperfectlydistinct，topourforththemostunequivocalexpressionsofearnestandpassionatelove；pleadinghiscausewithalltheboldyetartfuleloquencehecouldsummontohisaid。ButIcutshorthisappeal，andrepulsedhimsodeterminately，sodecidedly，andwithsuchamixtureofscornfulindignationtemperedwithcool，dispassionatesorrowandpityforhisbenightedmind，thathewithdrew，astonished，mortified，anddiscomforted；and，afewdaysafter，IheardthathehaddepartedforLondon。Hereturnedhoweverineightornineweeks——anddidnotentirelykeepalooffromme，butcomportedhimselfinsoremarkableamannerthathisquick-sightedsistercouldnotfailtonoticethechange。