`Heisagoodman，MrHuntingdon。IwishIcouldsayhalfasmuchforyou。’
`Oh，Iforgot，youareasaint，too。Icraveyourpardon，dearest——butdon’tcallmeMrHuntingdon，mynameisArthur。’
`I’llcallyounothing——forI’llhavenothingatalltodowithyou，ifyoutalkinthatwayanymore。Ifyoureallymeantodeceivemyauntasyousay，youareverywicked；andifnot，youareverywrongtojestonsuchasubject。’
`Istandcorrected，’saidhe，concludinghislaughwithasorrowfulsigh。`Now，’resumedhe，afteramomentarypause，`letustalkaboutsomethingelse。Andcomenearertome，Helen，andtakemyarm；andthenI’llletyoualone。Ican’tbequietwhileIseeyouwalkingthere。’
Icomplied；butsaidwemustsoonreturntothehouse。
`Noonewillbedowntobreakfastyet，forlongenough，’heanswered。
`Youspokeofyourguardiansjustnow，Helen；butisnotyourfatherstillliving？’
`Yes，butIalwayslookuponmyuncleandauntasmyguardians，fortheyareso，indeed，thoughnotinname，Myfatherhasentirelygivenmeuptotheircare。IhaveneverseenhimsincedearmammadiedwhenI
wasaverylittlegirl，andmyaunt，atherrequest，offeredtotakechargeofme，andtookmeawaytoStaningley，whereIhaveremainedeversince；
andIdon’tthinkhewouldobjecttoanythingforme，thatshethoughtpropertosanction。’
`Butwouldhesanctionanythingtowhichshethoughtpropertoobject？’
`No，Idon’tthinkhecaresenoughaboutme。’
`Heisverymuchtoblame——buthedoesn’tknowwhatanangelhehasforhisdaughter——whichallthebetterforme，as，ifhedid，hewouldnotbewillingtopartwithsuchatreasure。’
`AndMrHuntingdon，’saidI，`IsupposeyouknowIamnotanheiress？’
Heprotestedhehadnevergivenitathought，andbeggedIwouldnotdisturbhispresentenjoymentbythementionofsuchuninterestingsubjects，Iwasgladofthisproofofdisinterestedaffection；forAnnabellaWilmotistheprobableheiresstoallheruncle’swealth，inadditiontoherlatefather’sproperty，whichshehasalreadyinpossession。
Inowinsisteduponretracingourstepstothehouse；butwewalkedslowly，andwentontalkingasweproceeded。Ineednotrepeatallwesaid：
letmeratherrefertowhatpassedbetweenmyauntandme，afterbreakfast，whenMrHuntingdoncalledmyuncleaside，nodoubttomakehisproposals，andshebeckonedmeintoanotherroom，wheresheoncemorecommencedasolemnremonstrancewhich，however，entirelyfailedtoconvincemethatherviewofthecasewaspreferabletomyown。
`Youjudgehimuncharitably，aunt，Iknow，’saidI。`Hisveryfriendsarenothalfsobadasyourepresentthem。ThereisWalterHargrave，Milicent’sbrother，forone：heisbutalittlelowerthantheangels，ifhalfshesaysofhimistrue。Sheiscontinuallytalkingtomeabouthim，andlaudinghismanyvirtuestotheskies。’
`Youwillformaveryinadequateestimateofaman’scharacter，’
repliedshe，`ifyoujudgebywhatafondsistersaysofhim。Theworstofthemgenerallyknowhowtohidetheirmisdeedsfromtheirsister’seyes，andtheirmother’stoo。’
`AndthereisLordLowborough，’continuedI，`quiteadecentman。’
`Whotoldyouso？LordLowboroughisadesperateman。Hehasdissipatedhisfortuneingamblingandotherthings，andisnowseekinganheiresstoretrieveit。ItoldMissWilmotso；butyou’reallalike：
shehaughtilyansweredshewasverymuchobligedtome，butshebelievedsheknewwhenamanwasseekingherforherfortune，andwhenforherself；
sheflatteredherselfshehadhadexperienceenoughinthosematterstobejustifiedintrustingtoherownjudgment——andasforhislordship’slackoffortune，shecarednothingaboutthat，asshehopedherownwouldsufficeforboth；andasforhiswildness，shesupposedhewasnoworsethanothers——besideshewasreformednow——Yes，theycanallplaythehypocritewhentheywanttotakeinafond，misguidedwoman！’
`Well，Ithinkhe’saboutasgoodassheis，’saidI。ButwhenMrHuntingdonismarried，hewon’thavemanyopportunitiesofconsortingwithhisbachelorfriends；——andtheworsetheyare，themoreIlongtodeliverhimfromthem。’
`Tobesure，mydear；andtheworseheis，Isuppose，themoreyoulongtodeliverhimfromhimself。’
`Yes，providedheisnotincorrigible——thatis，themoreIlongtodeliverhimfromhisfaults——togivehimanopportunityofshakingofftheadventitiousevilgotfromcontactwithothersworsethanhimself，andshiningoutintheuncloudedlightofhisowngenuinegoodness——todomyutmosttohelphisbetterselfagainsthisworse，andmakehimwhathewouldhavebeenifhehadnot，fromthebeginning，hadabad，selfish，miserlyfather，who，togratifyhisownsordidpassions，restrictedhiminthemostinnocentenjoymentsofchildhoodandyouth，andsodisgustedhimwitheverykindofrestraint；——andafoolishmotherwhoindulgedhimtothetopofhisbent，deceivingherhusbandforhim，anddoingherutmosttoencouragethosegermsoffollyandviceitwasherdutytosuppress，——andthen，suchasetofcompanionsasyourepresenthisfriendstobe——’
`Poorman！’saidshe，sarcastically，`hiskindhavegreatlywrongedhim！’
`Theyhave！’criedI——`andtheyshallwronghimnomore——wifeshallundowhathismotherdid！’
`Well！’saidshe，afterashortpause。“Imustsay，Helen，Ithoughtbetterofyourjudgmentthanthis——andyourtastetoo。HowyoucanlovesuchamanIcannottell，orwhatpleasureyoucanfindinhiscompany：
for“Whatfellowshiphathlightwithdarkness？orhethatbelievethwithaninfidel？”’
`Heisnotaninfidel；——andIamnotlight，andheisnotdarkness，hisworstandonlyviceisthoughtlessness。’
`Andthoughtlessness，’pursuedmyaunt，mayleadtoeverycrime，andwillbutpoorlyexcuseourerrorsinthesightofGod。MrHuntingdon，Isuppose，isnotwithoutthecommonfacultiesofmen：heisnotsolightheadedastobeirresponsible：hisMakerhasendowedhimwithreasonandconscienceaswellastherestofus；theScripturesareopentohimaswellastoothers；——and“Ifhehearnotthem，neitherwillhehearthoughonerosefromthedead。”And，remember，Helen，’continuedshe，solemnly，`“Thewickedshallbeturnedintohell，andtheythatforgetGod“！’Andsuppose，even，thatheshouldcontinuetoloveyou，andyouhim，andthatyoushouldpassthroughlifetogetherwithtolerablecomfort，——howwillitbeintheend，whenyouseeyourselvespartedforever：you，perhaps，takenintoeternalbliss，andhecastintothelakethatburnethwithunquenchablefire——thereforeverto——’
`Notforever，’Iexclaimed，`“onlytillhehaspaidtheuttermostfarthing“；for“Ifanyman’sworkabidenotthefire，heshallsufferloss，yethimselfshallbesaved，butsoasbyfire。”andHethat“isabletosubdueallthingstoHimself，willhaveallmentobesaved。”and“willinthefulnessoftime，gathertogetherinoneallthingsinChristJesus，whotasteddeathforeveryman，andinwhomGodwillreconcileallthingstoHimself，whethertheybethingsinearthorthingsinheaven。”’
`Oh，Helen！wheredidyoulearnallthis？’
`IntheBible，aunt。Ihavesearcheditthrough，andfoundnearlythirtypassages，alltendingtosupportthesametheory。’
`AndisthattheuseyoumakeofyourBible？Anddidyoufindnopassagestendingtoprovethedangerandthefalsityofsuchabelief？’
`No：Ifound，indeed，somepassagesthat，takenbythemselves，mightseemtocontradictthatopinion；buttheywillallbearadifferentconstructiontothatwhichiscommonlygiven，andinmosttheonlydifficultyisinthewordwhichwetranslate“everlasting“or“eternal“：Idon’tknowtheGreek，butIbelieveitstrictlymeans“forages。”andmightsignifyeither“endless“or“long-enduring。”Andasforthedangerofthebelief，Iwouldnotpublishitabroad，ifIthoughtanypoorwretchwouldbelikelytopresumeuponittohisowndestruction，butitisagloriousthoughttocherishinone’sownheart，andIwouldnotpartwithitforalltheworldcangive！’
Hereourconferenceended，foritwasnowhightimetoprepareforchurch。Everyoneattendedthemorningservice，exceptmyuncle，whohardlyevergoes，andMrWilmot，whostayedathomewithhimtoenjoyaquietgameofcribbage。IntheafternoonMissWilmotandLordLowboroughlikewiseexcusedthemselvesfromattending；butMrHuntingdonvouchsafedtoaccompanyusagain。WhetheritwastoingratiatehimselfwithmyauntIcannottell，but，ifso，hecertainlyshouldhavebehavedbetter。Imustconfess，Ididnotlikehisconductduringserviceatall。Holdinghisprayer-bookupsidedown，oropenatanyplacebuttheright，hedidnothingbutstareabouthim，unlesshehappenedtocatchmyaunt’seyeormine，andthenhewoulddrophisownonhisbook，withapuritanicalairofmocksolemnitythatwouldhavebeenludicrous，ifithadnotbeentooprovoking。
Once，duringthesermon，afterattentivelyregardingMrLeightonforafewminutes，hesuddenlyproducedhisgoldpencilcaseandsnatchedupaBible。PerceivingthatIobservedthemovement，hewhisperedhewasgoingtomakeanoteofthesermon；butinsteadofthat——asIsatnexthim——I
couldnothelpseeingthathewasmakingacaricatureofthepreacher，givingtotherespectable，pious，elderlygentleman，theairandaspectofamostabsurdoldhypocrite。Andyet，uponhisreturn，hetalkedtomyauntaboutthesermonwithadegreeofmodest，seriousdiscriminationthattemptedmetobelievehehadreallyattendedandprofitedbythediscourse。
Justbeforedinnermyunclecalledmeintothelibraryforthediscussionofaveryimportantmatter，whichwasdismissedinfewwords。
`Now，Nell，’saidhe，`thisyoungHuntingdonhasbeenaskingforyou：whatmustIsayaboutit？Yourauntwouldanswer“No“——butwhatsayyou？’
`Isayyes，uncle，’repliedI，withoutamoment’shesitation；
forIhadthoroughlymadeupmymindonthesubject。
`Verygood！’criedhe。`Nowthat’sagoodhonestanswer——wonderfulforagirl！——Well，I’llwritetoyourfathertomorrow，He’ssuretogivehisconsent；soyoumaylookonthematterassettled。You’dhavedoneadealbetterifyou’dtakenWilmot，Icantellyou；butthatyouwon’tbelieve。Atyourtimeoflife，it’slovethatrulestheroast：atmine，it’ssolid，serviceablegold。Isupposenow，you’dneverdreamoflookingintothestateofyourhusband’sfinances，ortroublingyourheadaboutsettlements，oranythingofthatsort？’
`Idon’tthinkIshould。’
`Well，bethankful，then，thatyou’vewiserheadstothinkforyou。Ihaven’thadtime，yet，toexaminethoroughlyintothisyoungrascal’saffairs，butIseethatagreatpartofhisfather’sfinepropertyhasbeensquanderedaway；——butstill，Ithinkthere’saprettyfairshareofitleft，andalittlecarefulnursingmaymakeahandsomethingofityet；
andthenwemustpersuadeyourfathertogiveyouadecentfortune，ashehasonlyonebesidesyourselftocarefor；——and，ifyoubehavewell，whoknowsbutwhatImaybeinducedtorememberyouinmywill？’continuedbe，puttinghisfingertohisnose，withaknowingwink。
`Thanksuncle，forthatandallyourkindness，’repliedI。
`Well，andIquestionedthisyoungsparkonthematterofsettlements，’
continuedhe；andheseemeddisposedtobegenerousenoughonthatpoint——’
`Iknewhewould！’saidI。`Butpraydon’ttroubleyourhead——orhis，ormineaboutthat；forallIhavewillbehis，andallhehaswillbemine；andwhatmorecouldeitherofusrequire？’AndIwasabouttomakemyexit，buthecalledmeback。
`Stop，stop！’criedhe——`Wehaven’tmentionedthetimeyet。Whenmustitbe？YourauntwouldputitofftilltheLordknowswhen，butheisanxioustobeboundassoonasmaybe：he`won’thearofwaitingbeyondnextmonth；andyou，Iguess，willbeofthesamemind，so——’
`Notatall，uncle；onthecontrary，IshouldliketowaittillafterChristmas，atleast。’
`Oh！pooh，pooh！nevertellmethattale——Iknowbetter，’criedhe；andhepersistedinhisincredulity。Nevertheless，itisquitetrue。
Iaminnohurryatall。HowcanIbe，whenIthinkofthemomentouschangethatawaitsme，andofallIhavetoleave？Itishappinessenough，toknowthatwearetobeunited；andthathereallylovesme，andImaylovehimasdevotedly，andthinkofhimasoftenasIplease。
However，Iinsisteduponconsultingmyauntaboutthetimeofthewedding，forIdeterminedhercounselsshouldnotbeutterlydisregarded；
andnoconclusionsonthatparticulararecometoyet。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter21CHAPTER21OpinionsOCTOBER1st——Allissettlednow。Myfatherhasgivenhisconsent，andthetimeisfixedforChristmas，byasortofcompromisebetweentherespectiveadvocatesforhurryanddelay。MilicentHargraveistobeonebridesmaid，andAnnabellaWilmottheother——notthatIamparticularlyfondofthelatter，butsheisanintimateofthefamily，andIhavenotanotherfriend。
WhenItoldMilicentofmyengagement，sheratherprovokedmebyhermanneroftakingit。AlterstaringamomentInmutesurprise，shesaid——
`Well，Helen，IsupposeIoughttocongratulateyou——andIamgladtoseeyousohappy；butIdidnotthinkyouwouldtakehim；andI
can’thelpfeelingsurprisedthatyoushouldlikehimsomuch。’
`Whyso？’