The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

the very presence of the victim. Rose, however, vowed she did not and would not believe it, and my moth

t!-Well! I always thought there was something odd about her.-You see what it is for women to affect to be different to other people.' And once it was

you didn't believe th

ut then, you know, there

seen to go that way once or twice of an evening-and the village gossips say he goes to pay his addresses to the strang

st be something in her manner

anything in

know, I always said there wa

luded that the separation could be endured no longer (by this time, you will see, I was pretty far gone); and, taking from the book-case an old volume that I thought she might be interested in, though, from its unsightly and somewhat dilapidated condition, I had not yet ventured to offer it for perusal, I hastened away,-but not without sundry misgivings as to how she w

rthur playing with his frolicsome little dog in the garden. I looked over the gate and calle

ask her,' s

she's not engaged, just ask her to come her

with smiles. Dear Arthur! what did I not owe to you for this and every other happy meeting? Through him I was at once delivered from all formality, and terror, and constraint. In love affairs, there is no media

?' said the young mother, acco

eruse it at your leisure. I make no apology for calling you out on such

ome in, mamma,

e to come in?'

to see your improvem

ve prospered in my charge,' add

y companion. By degrees I waxed more warm and tender than, perhaps, I had ever been before; but still I said nothing tangible, and she attempted no repulse, unt

eep it mysel

re is anoth

r eye, a glow of glad excitement on her face-I thought my hour of victory was come-but instantly a painful recollection seemed to flash upon her; a cloud of anguish darkened her

e I am alone here, and your conversation pleases me more than that of any other person; but if you cannot be content to regard me as a friend-a p

ing you wish, if you will only let me continue to

rplexed and th

sequence of s

; and never, Gilbert, put me to the painful necessity of repeating what I have just now said to you,' she ear

plied. 'But you pa

that you nev

me to see you

; provided you never

y promises, but

our intimacy is at

It sounds more sisterly, and it will

to dusk as it was, I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. Lawrence on his grey pony. I flew across the field, leaped the stone fence, and then walked down the lane to meet him. On seeing me, he suddenly drew in his little steed, and seemed inclined to turn back, but on second thought apparently judged it better to con

he bridle?' said he, quietly-'

d your

e and brutal, Markham? I

leave this spot I will know what you

till you let go the bridle,

losing my hand, but sti

he, and he made an effort to pass me again; but I quickly re-captured

tter. 'Can I not go to see my tenant on matters of b

s, sir!-I'll tell you, now,

e vicar.' And, in truth, the vicar was just behind me, plodding homeward from some remote corner of hi

t?' he added, reproachfully shaking his head. 'But let me tell you, young man' (here he put his face into min

nce, and stare me in the face, with a look that plainly said, 'What, this to me!' But I was too indignant to apologise, or to speak another wo