第9章

itwavedherdroopingringlets，andimpartedaliveliercolourtoherusuallytoopallidlipandcheek。Shefeltitsexhilaratinginfluence，andsodidI——Ifeltittinglingthroughmyframe，butdarednotgivewaytoitwhilesheremainedsoquiet。Therewasanaspectofsubduedexhilarationinherface，thatkindledintoalmostasmileofexalted，gladintelligenceashereyemetmine。Neverhadshelookedsolovely：neverhadmyheartsowarmlycleavedtoherasnow。Hadwebeenlefttwominuteslonger，standingtherealone，Icannotanswerfortheconsequences。Happilyformydiscretion，perhapsformyenjoymentduringtheremainderoftheday，wewerespeedilysummonedtotherepast——averyrespectablecollation，whichRose，assistedbyMissWilsonandEliza，who，havingsharedherseatinthecarriage，hadarrivedwithheralittlebeforetherest，hadsetoutuponanelevatedplatformoverlookingthesea，andshelteredfromthehotsunbyashelvingrockandoverhangingtrees。

MrsGrahamseatedherselfatadistancefromme。Elizawasmynearestneighbour。Sheexertedherselftobeagreeable，inhergentle，unobtrusiveway，andwas，nodoubt，asfascinatingandcharmingasever，ifIcouldonlyhavefeltit。Butsoon，myheartbegantowarmtowardsheronceagain；andwewereallverymerryandhappytogether——asfarasIcouldsee——throughouttheprotracted，socialmeal，Whenthatwasover，RosesummonedFergustohelphertogatherupthefragments，andtheknives，dishes，etc。，andrestorethemtothebaskets；andMrsGrahamtookhercamp-toolanddrawingmaterials；andhavingbeggedMissMillwardtotakechargeofherpreciousson，andstrictlyenjoinedhimnottowanderfromhisnewguardian’sside，sheleftusandproceededalongthesteep，stonyhill，toaloftier，moreprecipitouseminenceatsomedistance，whenceastillfinerprospectwastobehad，whereshepreferredtakinghersketch，thoughsomeoftheladiestoldheritwasafrightfulplace，andadvisedhernottoattemptit。

Whenshewasgone，Ifeltasiftherewastobenomorefun——thoughitisdifficulttosaywhatshehadcontributedtothehilarityoftheparty。Nojests，andlittlelaughterhadescapedherlips；buthersmilehadanimatedmymirth，akeenobservationoracheerfulwordfromherhadinsensiblysharpenedmywits，andthrownaninterestoverallthatwasdoneandsaidbytherest。EvenmyconversationwithEliza，hadbeenenlivenedbyherpresence，thoughIknewitnot；andnowthatshewasgone，Eliza’splayfulnonsenseceasedtoamuseme——nay，grewwearisometomysoul，andIgrewwearyofamusingher：Ifeltmyselfdrawnbyanirresistibleattractiontothatdistantpointwherethefairartistsatandpliedhersolitarytask——andnotlongdidIattempttoresistit：whilemylittleneighbourwasexchangingafewwordswithMissWilson，Iroseandcannilyslippedaway。Afewrapidstrides，andalittleactiveclambering，soonbroughtmetotheplacewhereshewasseated——anarrowledgeofrockattheveryvergeofthecliff，whichdescendedwithasteep，precipitousshaft，quitedowntotherockyshore。

Shedidnothearmecoming：thefallingofmyshadowacrossherpapergaveheranelectricstart；andshelookedhastilyround——anyotherladyofmyacquaintancewouldhavescreamedundersuchasuddenalarm。

`Oh！Ididn’tknowitwasyou——Whydidyoustartlemeso？’saidshe，somewhattestily，`Ihateanybodytocomeuponmesounexpectedly。’

`Why，whatdidyoutakemefor？’saidI；`ifIhadknownyouweresonervous，Iwouldhavebeenmorecautious；but——`’

`Well，nevermind。Whatdidyoucomefor？aretheyallcoming？’

`No；thislittleledgecouldscarcelycontainthemall，’

`I’mglad，forI’mtiredoftalking。’

`Wellthen，Iwon’ttalk，I’llonlysitandwatchyourdrawing。’

`Oh，butyouknowIdon’tlikethat，’

`ThenI’llcontentmyselfwithadmiringthismagnificentprospect。’

Shemadenoobjectiontothis；and，forsometime，sketchedawayinsilence。ButIcouldnothelpstealingaglance，nowandthen，fromthesplendidviewatourfeettotheelegantwhitehandthatheldthepencil，andthegracefulneckandglossyravencurlsthatdroopedoverthepaper。

`Now，’thoughtI，`ifIhadbutapencilandamorselofpaper，Icouldmakealoveliersketchthanhers，admittingIhadthepowertodelineatefaithfullywhatisbeforeme。’

Butthoughthissatisfactionwasdeniedme，Iwasverywellcontenttositbesideherthere，andsaynothing。

`Areyoutherestill，MrMarkham？’saidshe，atlength，lookingrounduponme——forIwasseatedalittlebehindonamossyprojectionofthecliff——`Whydon’tyougoandamuseyourselfwithyourfriends？’

`BecauseIamtiredofthem，likeyou；andIshallhaveenoughofthemto-morrow——oratanytimehence；butyou，ImaynothavethepleasureofseeingagainforIknownothowlong，’

`WhatwasArthurdoingwhenyoucameaway？’

`HewaswithMissMillwardwhereyoulefthim——allright，buthopingmammawouldnotbelongaway。Youdidn’tentrusthimtome，bytheby，’Igrumbled，`thoughIhadthehonourofamuchlongeracquaintance；

butMissMillwardhastheartofconciliatingandamusingchildren，’I

carelesslyadded；`ifsheisgoodfornothingelse。’

`MissMillwardhasmanyestimablequalities，whichsuchasyoucannotbeexpectedtoperceiveorappreciate。WillyoutellArthurthatIshallcomeinafewminutes？’

`Ifthatbethecase，Iwillwait，withyourpermission，tillthosefewminutesarepast；andthenIcanassistyoutodescendthisdifficultpath。’

`Thankyou——Ialwaysmanagebest，onsuchoccasions，withoutassistance。’

`But，atleast，Icancarryyourstoolandsketch-book，’

Shedidnotdenymethisfavour；butIwasratheroffendedatherevidentdesiretoberidofme，andwasbeginningtorepentofmypertinacity，whenshesomewhatappeasedmebyconsultingmytasteandjudgmentaboutsomedoubtfulmatterinherdrawing。Myopinion，happily，metherapprobation，andtheimprovementIsuggestedwasadoptedwithouthesitation。

`Ihaveoftenwishedinvain，’saidshe，`foranother’sjudgmenttoappealtowhenIcouldscarcelytrustthedirectionofmyowneyeandhead，theyhavingbeensolongoccupiedwiththecontemplationofasingleobject，astobecomealmostincapableofformingaproperidearespectingit。’

`That，’repliedI，`isonlyoneofmanyevilstowhichasolitarylifeexposesus。’

`True，’saidshe；andagainwerelapsedintosilence。

Abouttwominutesafter，however，shedeclaredhersketchcompletedandclosedthebook。

Onreturningtothesceneofourrepast，wefoundallthecompanyhaddesertedit，withtheexceptionofthree——MaryMillward，RichardWilson，andArthurGraham。Theyoungergentlemanlayfastasleepwithhisheadpillowedonthelady’slap；theotherwasseatedbesideherwithapocketeditionofsomeclassicauthorinhishand。Heneverwentanywherewithoutsuchacompanionwherewithtoimprovehisleisuremoments：alltimeseemedlostthatwasnotdevotedtostudy，orexacted，byhisphysicalnature，forthebaresupportoflife。Evennow，hecouldnotabandonhimselftotheenjoymentofthatpureairandbalmysunshine——thatsplendidprospect，andthosesoothingsounds，themusicofthewavesandofthesoftwindintheshelteringtreesabovehim——notevenwithaladybyhisside(thoughnotaverycharmingone，Iwillallow)——hemustpullouthisbook，andmakethemostofhistimewhiledigestinghistemperatemeal，andreposinghiswearylimbs，unusedtosomuchexercise。

Perhaps，however，hesparedamomenttoexchangeawordoraglancewithhiscompanionnowandthen——atanyrate，shedidnotappearatallresentfulofhisconduct；forherhomelyfeaturesworeanexpressionofunusualcheerfulnessandserenity，andshewasstudyinghispale，thoughtfulfacewithgreatcomplacencywhenwearrived。

Thejourneyhomewardwasbynomeanssoagreeable，tome，astheformerpartoftheday；fornowMrsGrahamwasinthecarriage，andElizaMillwardwasthecompanionofmywalk。Shehadobservedmypreferencefortheyoungwidow，andevidentlyfeltherselfneglected。Shedidnotmanifestherchagrinbykeenreproaches，bittersarcasms，orpouting，sullensilence——anyoralloftheseIcouldeasilyhaveendured，orlightlylaughedaway；butsheshoweditbyakindofgentlemelancholy，amild，reproachfulsadnessthatcutmetotheheart。Itriedtocheerherup，andapparentlysucceededinsomedegree，beforethewalkwasover；butintheveryactmyconsciencereprovedme，knowing，asIdid，thatsoonerorlater，thetiemustbebroken，andthiswasonlynourishingfalsehopes，andputtingofftheevilday。

Whenthepony-carriagehadapproachedasnearWildfellHallastheroadwouldpermit——unless，indeed，itproceededupthelongroughlane，whichMrsGrahamwouldnotallow——theyoungwidowandhersonalighted，relinquishingthedriver’sseattoRose；andIpersuadedElizatotakethelatter’splace。Havingputhercomfortablyin，bidhertakecareoftheeveningair，andwishedherakindgoodnight，Ifeltconsiderablyrelieved，andhastenedtooffermyservicestoMrsGrahamtocarryherapparatusupthefields，butshehadalreadyhunghercamp-stoolonherarmandtakenhersketchbookinherhand；andinsisteduponbiddingmeadieuthenandthere，withtherestofthecompany。Butthistime，shedeclinedmyprofferedaidinsokindandfriendlyamanner，thatIalmostforgaveher。

TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter8CHAPTER8ThePresentSixweekshadpassedaway。ItwasasplendidmorningaboutthecloseofJune。Mostofthehaywascut，butthelastweekhadbeenveryunfavourable；

andnowthatfineweatherwascomeatlast，beingdeterminedtomakethemostofit，Ibadgatheredallhandstogetherintothehayfield，andwasworkingawaymyself，inthemidstofthem，inmyshirtsleeves，withalight，shadystrawhatonmyhead，catchinguparmfulsofmoist，reekinggrass，andshakingitouttothefourwindsofheaven，attheheadofagoodlyfileofservantsandhirelings——intendingsotolabour，frommorningtonight，withasmuchzealandassiduityasIcouldlookforfromanyofthem，aswelltoprospertheworkbymyownexertionastoanimatetheworkersbymyexample——when，lo！myresolutionswereoverthrowninamoment，bythesimplefactofmybrother’srunninguptomeandputtingintomyhandasmallparcel，justarrivedfromLondon，whichIhadbeenforsometimeexpecting。Itoreoffthecover，anddisclosedanelegantandportableeditionof`Marmion’。

`IguessIknowwhothat’sfor，’saidFergus，whostoodlookingonwhileIcomplacentlyexaminedthevolume。That’sforMissEliza，now。’

Hepronouncedthiswithatoneandlooksoprodigiouslyknowing，thatIwasgladtocontradicthim。

`You’rewrong，mylad，’saidI；andtakingupmycoat，，Idepositedthebookinoneofitspockets，andthenputiton(i。e。thecoat)。`Nowcomehere，youidledog，andmakeyourselfusefulforonce，’Icontinued——`Pulloffyourcoat，andtakemyplaceinthefieldtillIcomeback。’

Tillyoucomeback？——andwhereareyougoing，pray？’

`Nomatter——where——thewhenisallthatconcernsyou；——andIshallbebackbydinner，atleast。’

`Ohho！andI’mtolabourawaytillthen，amI？——andtokeepallthesefellowshardatitbesides？——Well，well！I’llsubmit——foronceinaway——Come，mylads，youmustlooksharp：I’mcomingtohelpyounow；——andwoebetothatman，orwomaneither，thatpausesforamomentamongstyou——whethertostareabouthim，toscratchhishead，orblowhisnose——nopretextwillserve——nothingbutwork，workinthesweatofyourface，’——etc。，etc。

Leavinghimthusharanguingthepeople，moretotheiramusementthanedification，Ireturnedtothehouse，andhavingmadesomealterationinmytoilet，hastenedawaytoWildfellHall，withthebookinmypocket；

foritwasdestinedfortheshelvesofMrsGraham。

`What，then，hadsheandyougotonsowelltogetherastocometothegivingandreceivingofpresents？’——Notprecisely，oldbuck；thiswasmyfirstexperimentinthatline；andIwasveryanxioustoseetheresultofit。

Wehadmetseveraltimessincethe——Bayexcursion，andIhadfoundshewasnotaversetomycompany，providedIconfinedmyconversationtothediscussionofabstractmatters，ortopicsofcommoninterest；——themomentItoucheduponthesentimentalorthecomplimentary，ormadetheslightestapproachtotendernessinwordorlook，Iwasnotonlypunishedbyanimmediatechangeinhermanneratthetime，butdoomedtofindhermorecoldanddistant，ifnotentirelyinaccessible，whennextIsoughthercompany。Thiscircumstancedidnotgreatlydisconcertme，however，becauseIattributedit，notsomuchtoanydislikeofmyperson，astosomeabsoluteresolutionagainstasecondmarriageformedpriortothetimeofouracquaintance，whetherfromexcessofaffectionforherlatehusband，orbecauseshehadhadenoughofhimandthematrimonialstatetogether。Atfirst，indeed，shehadseemedtotakeapleasureinmortifyingmyvanityandcrushingmypresumption——relentlesslynippingoffbudbybudastheyventuredtoappear；andthen，Iconfess，Iwasdeeplywounded，though，atthesametime，stimulatedtoseekrevenge；——butlatterly，finding，beyondadoubt，thatIwasnotthatempty-headedcoxcombshehadfirstsupposedme，shehadrepulsedmymodestadvancesinquiteadifferentspirit。

Itwasakindofserious，almostsorrowfuldispleasure，whichIsoonlearnedcarefullytoavoidawakening。