Butinsayingthis，shelookedbackatLordLowborough，whowasstandingalittlebehind，leaningagainstthebackofachair——anattentivelistener，too，experiencing，tojudgebyhiscountenance，muchthesamefeelingsofmingledpleasureandsadnessasIdid。Butthelookshegavehimplainlysaid，`Doyouchooseformenow：Ihavedoneenoughforhim，andwillgladlyexertmyselftogratifyyou’；andthusencouraged，hislordshipcameforward，andturningoverthemusic，presentlysetbeforeheralittlesongthatIhadnoticedbefore，andreadmorethanonce，withaninterestarisingfromthecircumstanceofmyconnectingitinmymindwiththereigningtyrantofmythoughts。Andnowwithmynervesalreadyexcitedandhalfunstrung，Icouldnothearthosewordssosweetlywarbledforth，withoutsomesymptomsofemotionIwasnotabletosuppress，Tearsroseunbiddentomyeyes，andIburiedmyfaceinthesofa-pillowthattheymightflowunseenwhileIlistened。Theairwassimple，sweet，andsad；itisstillrunninginmyhead，——andsoarethewords：——>`Farewelltothee！butnotfarewellToallmyfondestthoughtsofthee：Withinmyhearttheystillshalldwell；Andtheyshallcheerandcomfortme。Oh，beautiful，andfullofgrace！Ifthouhadstnevermetmineeye，IhadnotdreamedalivingfaceCouldfanciedcharmssofaroutvie。IfImayne’erbeholdagainThatformandface，sodeartome。Norhearthyvoice，stillwouldIfainPreserve，foraye，theirmemory。Thatvoice，themagicofwhosetoneCanwakeanechoinmybreast，Creatingfeelingsthat，alone，Canmakemytrancedspiritblest。Thatlaughingeye，whosesunnybeamMymemorywouldnotcherishless；——Andoh，thatsmile！whosejoyousgleamNomortallanguishcanexpress。Adieu！butletmecherish，still，ThehopewithwhichIcannotpart。Contemptmaywound，andcoldnesschill，Butstillitlingersinmyheart，AndwhocantellbutHeaven，atlast，Mayanswerallmythousandprayers，AndbidthefuturepaythepastWithjoyforanguish，smilesfortears？’Whenitceased，Ilongedfornothingsomuchastobeoutoftheroom。
Thesofawasnotfarfromthedoor，butIdidnotdaretoraisemyhead，forIknewMrHuntingdonwasstandingnearme，andIknewbythesoundofhisvoice，ashespokeinanswertosomeremarkofLordLowborough’s，thathisfacewasturnedtowardsme。Perhapsahalfsuppressedsobhadcaughthisear，andcausedhimtolookround——Heavenforbid！But，withaviolenteffort，Icheckedallfurthersignsofweakness，driedmytears，and，whenIthoughthehadturnedawayagain，rose，andinstantlylefttheapartment，takingrefugeinmyfavouriteresort，thelibrary。
Therewasnolighttherebutthefaintredglowoftheneglectedfire；——butIdidnotwantalight；Ionlywantedtoindulgemythoughts，unnoticedandundisturbed；andsittingdownonalobstoolbeforetheeasychair，Isunkmyheaduponitscushionedseat，andthought，andthought，untilthetearsgushedoutagain，andIweptlikeanychild。Presently，however，thedoorwasgentlyopenedandsomeoneenteredtheroom。Itrusteditwasonlyaservant，anddidnotstir。Thedoorwasclosedagain——butIwasnotalone：ahandgentlytouchedmyshoulder，andavoicesaid，softly——
`Helen，whatisthematter？’
Icouldnotansweratthemoment。
`Youmustandshalltellme，’wasadded，morevehemently，andthespeakerthrewhimselfonhisknees，besidemeontherug，andforciblypossessedhimselfofmyhand；butIhastilycaughtitaway，andreplied——
`Itisnothingtoyou，MrHuntingdon。’
`Areyousureitisnothingtome？’hereturned；`canyouswearthatyouwerenotthinkingofmewhileyouwept？’
Thiswasunendurable。Imadeanefforttorise，buthewaskneelingonmydress。
`Tellme，’continuedhe——`Iwanttoknow，——because，ifyouwere，Ihavesomethingtosaytoyou，——andifnot，I’llgo。’
`Gothen！’Icried；but，fearinghewouldobeytoowell，andnevercomeagain，Ihastilyadded——`Orsaywhatyouhavetosay，andhavedonewithit！’
`Butwhich？’saidhe——`forIshallonlysayitifyoureallywerethinkingofme。Sotellme，Helen。’
`You’reexcessivelyimpertinent，MrHuntingdon！’
`Notatall——toopertinent，youmean——soyouwon’ttellme？——Well，I’llspareyourwoman’spride，and，construingyoursilenceinto“Yes。”
I’lltakeitforgrantedthatIwasthesubjectofyourthoughts，andthecauseofyouraffliction——’
`Indeed，sir——’
`Ifyoudenyit，Iwon’ttellyoumysecret，’threatenedhe；andIdidnotinterrupthimagain——orevenattempttorepulsehim，thoughhehadtakenmyhandoncemore，andhalfembracedmewithhisotherarm——I
wasscarcelyConsciousofit，atthetime，`Itisthis，’resumedhe：`thatAnnabellaWilmot，incomparisonwithyou，islikeaflauntingpeonycomparedwithasweet，wildrosebudgemmedwithdew——andIloveyoutodistraction！——Now，tellmeifthatintelligencegivesyouanypleasure——Silenceagain？Thatmeans“Yes“——Thenletmeadd，thatIcannotlivewithoutyou，andifyouanswer，“No“，tothislastquestion，youwilldrivememad——Willyoubestowyourselfuponme？——youwill！’hecried，nearlysqueezingmetodeathinhisarms。
`No，no！’Iexclaimed，strugglingtofreemyselffromhim——`youmustaskmyuncleandaunt，’
`Theywon’trefuseme，ifyoudon’t。’
`I’mnotsosureofthat-myauntdislikesyou。’
`Butyoudon’t，Helen——sayyouloveme，andI’llgo。’
`Iwishyouwouldgo！’Ireplied。
`Iwill，thisinstant，——ifyou’llonlysayyouloveme。’
`YouknowIdo，’Ianswered，Andagainhecaughtmeinhisarms，andsmotheredmewithkisses。
Atthatmoment，myauntopenedwidethedoor，andstoodbeforeus，candleinhand，inshockedandhorrifiedamazement，gazingalternatelyatMrHuntingdonandme——forwehadbothstartedup，andnowstoodwideenoughasunder。Buthisconfusionwasonlyforamoment。Rallyinginaninstant，withthemostenviableassurance，hebegan——
`Ibegtenthousandpardons，MrsMaxwell！Don’tbetoosevereuponme。I’vebeenaskingyoursweetniecetotakemeforbetter，forworse；
andshe，likeagoodgirl，informsmeshecannotthinkofitwithoutheruncle’sandaunt’sconsent。Soletmeimploreyounottocondemnmetoeternalwretchedness：ifyoufavourmycause，Iamsafe；forMrMaxwell，Iamcertain，canrefuseyounothing。’
`Wewilltalkofthistomorrow，sir，’saidmyaunt，coldly。`Itisasubjectthatdemandsmatureandseriousdeliberation。Atpresent，youhadbetterreturntothedrawing-room。’
`Butmeantime，’pleadedhe，`letmecommendmycausetoyourmostindulgent——’
`Noindulgenceforyou，MrHuntingdon，mustcomebetweenmeandtheconsiderationofmyniece’shappiness。’
`Ah，true！Iknowsheisanangel，andIamapresumptuousdogtodreamofpossessingsuchatreasure；but，nevertheless，Iwouldsoonerdiethanrelinquishherinfavourofthebatmanthateverwenttoheaven——andasforherhappiness，Iwouldsacrificemybodyandsoul——’
`Bodyandsoul，MrHuntingdon——sacrificeyoursoul？’
`Well，Iwouldlaydownlife——’
`Youwouldnotberequiredtolayitdown。’
`Iwouldspendit，then——devotemylife——andallitspowerstotilepromotionandpreservation——’
`Anothertime，sir，wewilltalkofthis——aidIshouldhavefeltdisposedtojudgemorefavourablyofyourpretensions，ifyoutoohadchosenanothertimeandplace，and——letmeadd——anothermannerforyourdeclaration。’
`Why，yousee，MrsMaxwell，’hebegan——
`Pardonme，sir，’saidshe，withdignity——`Thecompanyareenquiringforyouintheotherroom。’Andsheturnedtome。
`Thenyoumustpleadforme，Helen，’saidhe，andatlengthwithdrew。
`Youhadbetterretiretoyourroom，Helen，’saidmyaunt，gravely。
`Iwilldiscussthismatterwithyou，too，to-morrow。’
`Don’tbeangry，aunt，’saidI。
`Mydear，Iamnotangry，’shereplied：`Iamsurprised。
Ifitistruethatyoutoldhimyoucouldnotaccepthisofferwithoutourconsent——’
`Itistrue，’interruptedI。
`Thenhowcouldyoupermit——’
`Icouldn’thelpit，aunt，’Icried，burstingintotears。Theywerelotaltogetherthetearsofsorrow，oroffearforherdispleasure，utrathertheoutbreakofthegeneraltumultuousexcitementofnyfeelings。
Butmygoodauntwastouchedatmyagitation。Inasoftertone，sherepeatedherrecommendationtoretire，andgentlykissingmyforehead，bademegoodnight，andputhercandleinmyhand；andIwent；——butmybrainworkedso，Icouldnotthinkofsleeping。IfeelcalmernowthatIhavewrittenallthis；andIwillgotobed，andtrytowintirednature’ssweetrestorer。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter20CHAPTER20PersistenceSeptember24th——InthemorningIrose，lightandcheerful，nay，intenselyhappy。Thehoveringcloudcastovermebymyaunt’sviews，andbythefearofnotobtainingherconsent，waslostinthebrighteffulgenceofmyownhopes，andthetoodelightfulconsciousnessofrequitedlove。Itwasasplendidmorning；andIwentouttoenjoyit，inaquietrambleincompanywithmyownblissfulthoughts。Thedewwasonthegrass，andtenthousand’
gossamerswerewavinginthebreeze；thehappyredbreastwaspouringoutitslittlesoulinsong，andmyheartoverflowedwithsilenthymnsofgratitudeandpraisetoHeaven。
ButIhadnotwanderedfarbeforemysolitudewasinterruptedbytheonlypersonthatcouldhavedisturbedmymusings，atthatmoment，withoutbeinglookeduponasanunwelcomeintruder：MrHuntingdoncamesuddenlyuponme。Sounexpectedwastheapparition，thatImighthavethoughtitthecreationofanoverexcitedimagination，hadthesenseofsightalonebornewitnesstohispresence；butimmediatelyIfelthisstrongarmroundmywaistandhiswarmkissonmycheek，whilehiskeenandgleefulsalutation，`MyownHelen！’wasringinginmyear。
`Notyoursyet，’saidI，hastilyswervingasidefromthistoopresumptuousgreeting——`remembermyguardians。Youwillnoteasilyattainmyaunt’sconsent。Don’tyouseesheisprejudicedagainstyou？’
`Ido，dearest；andyoumusttellmewhy，thatImaybestknowhowtocombatherobjections。IsupposeshethinksIamaprodigal，’pursuedhe，observingthatIwasunwillingtoreply，`andconcludesthatIshallhavebutlittleworldlygoodswherewithtoendowmybetterhalf？Ifso，youmusttellherthatmypropertyismostlyentailed，andIcannotgetridofit。Theremaybeafewmortgagesontherest——afewtriflingdebtsandencumbranceshereandthere，butnothingtospeakof；andthoughI
acknowledgeIamnotsorichasImightbe——orhavebeen——still，Ithink，wecouldmanageprettycomfortablyonwhat’sleft。Myfather，youknow，wassomethingofamiser，and，inhislatterdaysespecially，sawnopleasureinlifebuttoamassriches；andsoitisnowonderthathissonshouldmakeithischiefdelighttospendthem，whichwasaccordinglythecase，untilmyacquaintancewithyou，dearHelen，taughtmeotherviewsandnobleraims。AndtheveryideaofhavingyoutocareforundermyroofwouldforcemetomoderatemyexpensesandlivelikeaChristian——nottospeakofalltheprudenceandvirtueyouwouldinstilintomymindbyyourwisecounselsandsweet，attractivegoodness’
`Butitisnotthat，’saidI，`itisnotmoneymyauntthinksabout。Sheknowsbetterthantovalueworldlywealthaboveitsprice。’
`Whatisitthen？’
`Shewishesmeto——tomarrynonebutareallygoodman。’
`What，amanof“decidedpiety“？——ahem！——Well，come，I’llmanagethattoo！It’sSundayto-day，isn’tit？I’llgotochurchmorning，afternoon，andevening，andcomportmyselfinsuchagodlysortthatsheshallregardmewithadmirationandsisterlylove，asabrandpluckedfromtheburning。
I’llcomehomesighinglikeafurnace，andfullofthesavourandunctionofdearMrBlatant’sdiscourse——’
`MrLeighton，’saidI，dryly。
`IsMrLeightona“sweetpreacher“，Helen——a“dear，delightful，heavenly-mindedman“？’