`Allaprejudice，Helen——amerewoman’santipathy。’
`No；Ihavesolidgroundsformydislike。Andisthatall？’
`Why，yes，Ithinkso。Hattersleywillbetoobusybillingandcooingwithhisbridetohavemuchtimetospareforgunsanddogs，atpresent，’hereplied——AndthatremindsmethatIhavehadseverallettersfromMilicentsincehermarriage，andthatsheeitherisorpretendstobequitereconciledtoherlot。Sheprofessestohavediscoverednumberlessvirtuesandperfectionsinherhusband，someofwhich，Ifear，lesspartialeyeswouldfailtodistinguish，thoughtheysoughtthemcarefullywithtears；andnowthatsheisaccustomedtohisloudvoiceandabrupt，uncourteousmanners，sheaffirmsshefindsnodifficultyinlovinghimasawifeshoulddo，andbegsIwillburnthatletterwhereinshespokesounadvisedlyagainsthim。SothatItrustshemayyetbehappy；butifsheis，itwillheentirelytherewardofherowngoodnessofheart；forhadshechosentoconsiderherselfthevictimoffate，orofhermother’sworldlywisdom，shemighthavebeenthoroughlymiserable；and，if，forduty’ssake，shehadnotmadeeveryefforttoloveherhusband，shewoulddoubtlesshavehatedhimtotheendofherdays。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter26CHAPTER26TheGuestsSept。23rd。Ourguestsarrivedaboutthreeweeksago。LordandLadyLowboroughhavenowbeenmarriedaboveeightmonths；andIwilldotheladythecredittosaythatherhusbandisquiteanalteredman：hislooks，hisspirits，andhistemperareallperceptiblychangedforthebettersinceIlastsawhim。Butthereisroomforimprovementstill。Heisnotalwayscheerfulnoralwayscontented，andsheoftencomplainsofhisillhumour，which，however，ofallpersons，sheoughttobethelasttoaccusehimof，asheneverdisplaysitagainsther，exceptforsuchconductaswouldprovokeasaintHeadoresherstill，andwouldgototheworld’sendtopleaseher，Sheknowsherpower，andsheusesittoo；butwellknowingthattowheedleandcoaxissaferthantocommand，shejudiciouslytempersherdespotismwithflatteryandblandishmentsenoughtomakehimdeemhimselfafavouredandahappyman。Andyet，attimes，asombreshadowovercloudshisbrowevenInherpresence，butevidentlytheresultofdespondencyratherthanofillhumour，andgenerallyoccasionedbysomedisplayofherill-regulatedtemperormisguidedmind——somewantontramplinguponhismostcherishedopinions——somesecklessdisregardofprinciplethatmakeshimbitterlyregretthatsheisnotasgoodassheischarmingandbeloved。Ipityhimfrommyheart，forIknowthemiseryofsuchregrets。
Butshehasanotherwayoftormentinghim，InwhichIamafellow-sufferer——ormightbe，ifIchosetoregardmyselfassuch。ThisisbyopenlybutnottooglaringlycoquettingwithMrHuntingdon，whoisquitewillingtobeherpartnerinthegame；butIdon’tcareforit，becausewithhim，Iknowthereisnothingbutpersonalvanityandamischievousdesiretoexcitemyjealousy，andperhapstotormenthisfriend；andshe，nodoubt，isactuatedbymuchthesamemotives；onlythereismoreofmaliceandlessofplayfulnessinhermanoeuvres。Itisobviously，therefore，myinteresttodisappointthemboth，asfarasIamconcerned，bypreservingacheerful，undisturbedserenitythroughout；andaccordinglyIendeavourtoshowthefullestconfidenceInmyhusbandandthegreatestindifferencetotheartsofmyattractiveguest。Ihaveneverreproachedtheformerbutonce，andthatwasforlaughingatLordLowborough’sdepressedandanxiouscountenanceoneevening，whentheyhadbothbeenparticularlyprovoking；andthen，indeed，Isaidagooddealonthesubject，andrebukedhimsternlyenough；butheonlylaughed，andsaid——
`Youcanfeelforhim，Helen——can’tyou？’
`Icanfeelforanyonethatisunjustlytreated，’Ireplied，`andIcanfeelforthosethatinjurethemtoo，’
`WhyHelen，youareasjealousasheis！’criedhe，laughingstillmore；andIfounditimpossibletoconvincehimofhismistake。SofromthattimeIhavecarefullyrefrainedfromanynoticeofthesubjectwhatever，andleftLordLowboroughtotakecareofhimself。Heeitherhasnotthesenseorthepowertofollowmyexample，thoughhedoestrytoconcealhisuneasinessaswellashecan；butstill，itwillappearinhisface，andhisillhumourwillpeepoutatintervals，thoughnotintheexpressionofopenresentment——theynevergofarenoughforthat。ButIconfessI
dofeeljealousattimes——mostpainfully，bitterlyso——whenshesingsandplaystohim，andhehangsovertheinstrumentanddwellsuponhervoicewithnoaffectedinterest；forthen，Iknowheisreallydelighted，andIhavenopowertoawakensimilarfervour。Icanamuseandpleasehimwithmysimplesongs，butnotdelighthimthus。
Imightretaliateifchose，forMrHargraveisdisposedtobeverypoliteandattentivetomeashishostess——especiallysowhenArthuristhemostneglectful，whetherinmistakencompassionforme，orambitioustoshowoffhisowngoodbreedingbycomparisonwithhisfriend’sremissness，Icannottell；butineithercase，hiscivilitiesarehighlydistastefultome。IfArthurisalittlecareless，ofcourseitisunpleasanttohavethefaultexaggeratedbycontrast；andtobepitiedasaneglectedwifewhenIamnotsuch，isaninsultIcanillendure。Butforhospitality’ssake，Iendeavourtosuppressmyimpulseofscarcelyreasonableresentment，andbehavewithdecentcivilitytoourguest，who，togivehimhisdue，isbynomeansadisagreeablecompanion：hehasgoodconversationalpowersandconsiderableInformationandtaste，andtalksaboutthingsthatArthurnevercouldbebroughttodiscuss，ortofeelanyinterestin。ButArthurdislikesmetotalktohim，andisvisiblyannoyedbyhiscommonestactsofpoliteness：notthatmyhusbandhasanyunworthysuspicionsofme——orofhisfriendeither，asIbelieve——buthedislikesmetohaveanypleasurebutinhimself，anyshadowofhomageorkindnessbutsuchashechoosestovouchsafe：heknowsheismysun，butwhenhechoosestowithholdhislight，hewouldhavemyskytobealldarkness；hecannotbearthatIshouldhaveamoontomitigatethedeprivation。Thisisunjust；andIamsometimestemptedtoteasehimaccordingly；butIwon’tyieldtothetemptation：
ifheshouldcarryhistriflingwithmyfeelingstoofar，Ishallfindsomeothermeansofcheckinghim。
28th——YesterdayweallwenttotheGrove，MrHargrave’smuchneglectedhome。HismotherfrequentlyasksusoverthatshemayhavethepleasureofherdearWalter’scompany；andthistimeshehadinvitedustoadinner-party，andgottogetherasmanyofthecountrygentryaswerewithinreachtomeetus。Theentertainmentwasverywellgotup；butI
couldnothelpthinkingaboutthecostofitallthetime。Idon’tlikeMrsHargrave；sheisahard，pretentious，worldly-mindedwoman。Shehasmoneyenoughtoliveverycomfortably，ifsheonlyknewhowtouseitjudiciously，andhadtaughthersontodothesame；butsheiseverstrainingtokeepupappearances，withthatdespicablepridethatshunsthesemblanceofpovertyasofashamefulcrime。Shegrindsherdependants，pinchesherservants，anddeprivesevenherdaughtersandherselfoftherealcomfortsoflife，becauseshewillnotconsenttoyieldthepalminoutwardshowtothosewhohavethreetimesherwealth，and，aboveall，becausesheisdeterminedhercherishedsonshallbeenabledto`holduphisheadwiththehighestgentlemanintheland。’Thissameson，Iimagine，isamanofexpensivehabits——norecklessspendthrift，andnoabandonedsensualist，butonewholikestohave`everythinghandsomeabouthim，’andtogotoacertainlengthinyouthfulindulgences——notsomuchgratifyhisowntastesastomaintainhisreputationasamanoffashionIntheworld，andarespectablefellowamonghisownlawlesscompanions；whileheistooselfishtoconsiderhowmanycomfortsmightbeobtainedforhisfondmotherandsisterswiththemoneyhethuswastesuponhimself：aslongastheycancontrivetomakearespectableappearanceonceayearwhentheycometotown，hegiveshimselflittleconcernabouttheirprivatestintingsandstrugglesathome。
Thisisaharshjudgmenttoformof`dear，noble-minded，generous-heartedWalter，’butIfearitistoojust。
MrsHargrave’sanxietytomakegoodmatchesforherdaughtersispartlythecauseandpartlytheresultoftheseerrors：bymakingafigureintheworldandshowingthemofftoadvantage，shehopestoobtainbetterchancesforthem；andbythuslivingbeyondherlegitimatemeansandlavishingsomuchontheirbrother，sherendersthemportionless，andmakesthemburdensonherhands。PoorMilicent，Ifear，hasalreadyfallenasacrificetothemanoeuvringsofthismistakenmother，whocongratulatesherselfonhavingsosatisfactorilydischargedhermaternalduty，andhopestodoaswellforEsther。ButEstherisachildasyet——alittlemerryrompoffourteen：ashonest-hearted，andasguilelessandsimpleashersister，butwithafearlessspiritofherown，that，Ifancy，hermotherwillfindsomedifficultyinbendingtoherpurposes。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter27CHAPTER27AMisdemeanourOCTOBER9th——WhilethegentlemenarerangingthewoodsandLadyLowboroughisbusywritingherletters，Iwillreturntomychronicleforthepurposeofrecordingsayingsanddoings，thelastofthekindIhopeIshalleverhavecausetodescribe。
Itwasonthenightofthe4th，alittleaftertea，thatAnnabellahadbeensingingandplaying，withArthurasusualatherside：shehadendedhersong，butstillshesatattheinstrument；andhestoodleaningonthebackofherchair，conversinginscarcelyaudibletones，withhisfaceinverycloseproximitywithhers。IlookedatLordLowborough。Hewasattheotherendoftheroom，talkingwithMessrsHargraveandGrimsby；
butIsawhimdart，towardshisladyandhishost，aquick，impatientglance，expressiveofintensedisquietude，atwhichGrimsbysmiled。Determinedtointerruptthetê；te-a-tê；te，Irose，andselectingapieceofmusicfromthemusicstand，steppeduptothepiano，intendingtoasktheladytoplayit；butIstoodtransfixedandspeechlessinseeingherseatedthere，listeningwithwhatseemedanexultantsmileonherflushedface，tohissoftmurmurings，withherhandquietlysurrenderedtohisclasp。Thebloodrushedfirsttomyheartandthentomyhead——fortherewasmorethanthis；almostatthemomentofmyapproach，hecastahurriedglanceoverhisshouldertowardstheotheroccupantsoftheroom，andthenardentlypressedtheunresistinghandtohislips。Onraisinghiseyeshebeheldmeanddroppedthemagain，confoundedanddismayed。Shesawmetoo，andconfrontedmewithalookofharddefianceIlaidthemusiconthepiano，andretired。Ifeltill；butIdidnotleavetheroom：happily，itwasgettinglateandcouldnotbelongbeforethecompanydispersed。
Iwenttothefireandleantmyheadagainstthechimney-piece。inaminuteortwo，someoneaskedmeifIfeltunwell。Ididnotanswer——indeed，atthetimeIknewnotwhatwassaid——butImechanicallylookedup，andsawMrHargravestandingbesidemeontherug。
`ShallIgetyouaglassofwine？’saidhe。
`No，thankyou，’Ireplied；andturningfromhim，Ilookedround。
LadyLowboroughwasbesideherhusband，bendingoverhimashesat，withherhandonhisshoulder，softlytalkingandsmilinginhisface；andArthurwasatthetableturningoverabookofengravings。Iseatedmyselfinthenearestchair；andMrHargrave，findinghisserviceswerenotdesired，judiciouslywithdrew。Shortlyafter，thecompanybrokeup，andastheguestswereretiringtotheirrooms，Arthurapproachedme，smilingwiththeutmostassurance。
`Areyouveryangry，Helen？’murmuredhe。
`Thisisnojest，Arthur，’saidI，seriously，butascalmlyasIcould——`unlessyouthinkitajesttolosemyaffectionforever。’
`What！sobitter？’heexclaimed，laughinglyclaspingmyhandbetweenbothhis；butIsnatcheditaway，inindignation——almostindisgust，forhewasobviouslyaffectedwithwine。
`ThenImustgodownonmyknees，’saidhe；andkneelingbeforemewithclaspedhandsupliftedinmockhumiliation，hecontinuedimploringly——`Forgiveme，Helen！——dearHelen，forgiveme，andI’llneverdoitagain！’
andburyinghisfaceinhishandkerchief，heaffectedtosobaloud。
Leavinghimthusemployed，Itookmycandle，andslippingquietlyfromtheroom，hastenedupstairsasfastasIcould。ButhesoondiscoveredthatIhadlefthim，andrushingupafterme，caughtmeinhisarms，justasIhadenteredthechamber，andwasabouttoshutthedoorinhisface。
`No，no，byHeaven，youshan’tescapemeso！’hecried。Then，alarmedatmyagitation，hebeggedmenottoputmyselfinsuchapassion，tellingmeIwaswhiteintheface，andshouldkillmyselfifIdidso。
`Letmegothen，’Imurmured；andimmediatelyhereleasedme——anditwaswellhedid，forIwasreallyinapassion。Isunkintotheeasy-hairandendeavouredtocomposemyself，forIwantedtospeaktohimcalmly。
Hestoodbesideme，butdidnotventuretotouchmeortospeak，forafewseconds；thenapproachingalittlenearer，hedroppedononeknee——notinmockhumility，buttobringhimselfnearermylevel，andleaninghishandonthearmofthechair，hebeganinalowvoice——
`Itisallnonsense，Helen——ajest，amerenothing——notworthathought。Willyouneverlearn？’hecontinued，moreboldly，`thatyouhavenothingtofearfromme？thatIloveyouwhollyandentirely？——orif，’headded，withalurkingsmile，`Ievergiveathoughttoanother，youmaywellspareit，forthosefanciesarehereandgonelikeaflashoflightning，whilemyloveforyouburnsonsteadily，andforeverlikethesun。Youlittleexorbitanttyrant，willnotthat——’
`Bequietamoment，willyou，Arthur，’saidI，`andlistentome——anddon’tthinkI’minajealousfury：Iamperfectlycalm。Feelmyhand。’AndIgravelyextendedittowardshim——butclosedituponhiswithanenergythatseemedtodisprovetheassertion，andmadehimsmile。`Youneedn’tsmile，sir，’saidI，stilltighteningmygrasp，andlookingsteadfastlyonhimtillhealmostquailedbeforeme。`Youmaythinkitallveryfine，MrHuntingdon，toamuseyourselfwithrousingmyjealousy；buttakecareyoudon’trousemyhateinstead。Andwhenyouhaveonceextinguishedmylove，youwillfinditnoeasymattertokindleitagain。’