`Notlately，’Ireplied。
`Ithoughtnot，’hemuttered，asiftohimself，lookingthoughtfullyontheground。
`AreyounotlatelyreturnedfromLondon？’Iasked。
`Onlyyesterday。’
`Anddidyouseehimthere？’
`Washewell？’
`Yes——thatis，’saidhe，withincreasinghesitationandanappearanceofsuppressedindignation，`hewasaswellas——ashedeservedtobe，butundercircumstancesIshouldhavedeemedincredibleforamansofavouredasheis。’Heherelookedupandpointedthesentencewithaseriousbowtome，Isupposemyfacewascrimson。
`Pardonme，MrsHuntingdon，’hecontinued，`butIcannotsuppressmyindignationwhenIbeholdsuchinfatuatedblindnessandperversionoftaste；——but，perhapsyouarenotaware——`’Hepaused，`Iamawareofnothing，sir——exceptthathedelayshiscominglongerthanIexpected；andifatpresent，heprefersthesocietyofhisfriendstothatofhiswife，andthedissipationsofthetowntothequietofcountrylife，IsupposeIhavethosefriendstothankforit。Theirtastesandoccupationsaresimilartohis，andIdon’tseewhyhisconductshouldawakeneithertheirindignationorsurprise。’
`Youwrongmecruelly，’answeredhe：`IhavesharedbutlittleofMrHuntingdon’ssociety，forthelastfewweeks；andasforhistastesandoccupations，theyarequitebeyondme——lonelywandererasIam。WhereIhavebutsippedandtasted，hedrainsthecuptothedregs；andifeverforamomentIhavesoughttodrownthevoiceofreflectioninmadnessandfolly，orifIhavewastedtoomuchofmytimeandtalentsamongrecklessanddissipatedcompanions，GodknowsIwouldgladlyrenouncetheentirelyandforever，ifIhadbuthalftheblessingsthatmansothanklesslycastsbehindhisback——buthalftheinducementstovirtueanddomestic，orderlyhabitsthathedespises——butsuchahome，andsuchapartnertoshareit！——Itisinfamous！’hemuttered，betweenhisteeth。`Anddon’tthink，MrsHuntingdon，’headded，aloud，`thatIcouldbeguiltyofincitinghimtopersevereinhispresentpursuits：onthecontrary，Ihaveremonstratedwithhimagainandagain；Ihavefrequentlyexpressedmysurpriseathisconductandremindedhimofhisdutiesandhisprivileges——buttonopurpose；
heonly——`’
`Enough，MrHargrave；yououghttobeawarethatwhatevermyhusband’sfaultsmaybe，itcanonlyaggravatetheevilformetohearthemfromastranger’slips。’
`AmIthenastranger？’saidhe，inasorrowfultone。`I
amyournearestneighbour，yourson’sgodfather，andyourhusband’sfriend：
mayInotbeyour’salso？’
`Intimateacquaintancemustprecederealfriendship：Iknowbutlittleofyou，MrHargrave，exceptfromreport。’
`HaveyouthenforgottenthesixorsevenweeksIspentunderyourrooflastautumn？Ihavenotforgottenthem。AndIknowenoughofyou，MrsHuntingdon，tothinkthatyourhusbandisthemostenviablemanintheworld，andIshouldbethenextifyouwoulddeemmeworthyofyourfriendship。’
`Ifyouknewmoreofme，youwouldnotthinkit-orifyoudid，youwouldnotsayit，andexpectmetobeflatteredbythecompliment。’
IsteppedbackwardasIspoke。HesawthatIwishedtheconversationtoend；andimmediatelytakingthehint，hegravelybowed，wishedmegoodevening，andturnedhishorsetowardstheroad。Heappearedgrievedandhurtatmyunkindreceptionofhissympathizingovertures。IwasnotsurethatIhaddonerightinspeakingsoharshlytohim；butatthetime，I
hadfeltirritated——almostinsulted——byhisconduct；itseemedasifhewasprigupontheabsenceandneglectofmyhusband，andinsinuatingevenmorethanthetruthagainsthim。
Rachelhadmovedon，duringourconversation，tosomeyards’distance，Herodeuptoher，andaskedtoseethechild，Hetookitcarefullyintohisarms，lookeduponitwithanalmostpaternalsmile，andIheardhimsay，asIapproached——
`Andthis，too，hehasforsaken！’
Hethentenderlykissedit，andrestoredittothegratifiednurse。
`Areyoufondofchildren，MrHargrave？’saidI，alittlesoftenedtowardshim。
`Notingeneral，’hereplied；`butthatissuchasweetchild——andsolikeitsmother，’headded，inalowertone。
`Youaremistakenthere；itisitsfatheritresembles。’
`AmInotright，nurse？’saidhe，appealingtoRachel。
`Ithink，sir，there’sabitofboth，’shereplied，Hedeparted；andRachelpronouncedhimaverynicegentleman。
Ihadstillmydoubtsonthesubject。
WhenImethimonthemorrow，underhisownroof，hedidnotoffendmewithanymoreofhisvirtuousindignationagainstArthurorunwelcomesympathyforme；and，indeed，whenhismotherbegan，inguardedterms，tointimatehersorrowandsurpriseatmyhusband’sconduct，he，perceivingmyannoyance，instantlycametotherescue，anddelicatelyturnedtheconversation，atthesametimewarningher，byasidelongglance，nottorecurtothesubjectagain。Heseemedbentupondoingthehonoursofhishouseinthemostunexceptionablemanner，andexertingallhispowersfortheentertainmentofhisguest，andthedisplayofhisownqualificationsasahost，agentleman，andacompanion；andactuallysucceededinmakinghimselfveryagreeable——onlythathewastoopolite——Andyet，MrHargrave，Idon’tmuchlikeyou；thereisacertainwantofopennessaboutyouthatdoesnottakemyfancy，andalurkingselfishness，atthebottomofallyourfinequalities，thatI
donotintendtolosesightof。No；for，insteadofcombatingmyslightprejudiceagainstyouasuncharitable，Imeantocherishit，untilIamconvincedthatIhavenoreasontodistrustthiskind，insinuatingfriendshipyouaresoanxioustopushuponme。
Inthecourseofthefollowingsixweeks，Imethimseveraltimes，butalways，saveonce，incompanywithhismotherorhissister，orboth。
WhenIcalleduponthem，healwayshappenedtobeathome，andwhentheycalledonme，itwasalwayshethatdrovethemoverinthephaeton。Hismother，evidently，wasquitedelightedwithhisdutifulattentionsandnewly-acquireddomestichabits。
ThetimethatImethimalonewasonabrightbutnotoppressivelyhotdayinthebeginningofJuly：IhadtakenlittleArthurintothewoodthatskirtsthepark，andthereseatedhimonthemoss-cushionedrootsofanoldoak；and，havinggatheredahandfullofbluebellsandwildroses，Iwaskneelingbeforehim，andpresentingthem，onebyone，tothegraspofhistinyfingers；enjoyingtheheavenlybeautyoftheflowers，throughthemediumofhissmilingeyes；forgetting，forthemoment，allmycares，laughingathisgleefullaughter，anddelightingmyselfwithhisdelight，——whenashadowsuddenlyeclipsedthelittlespaceofsunshineonthegrassbeforeus；and，lookingup，IbeheldWalterHargravestandingandgazinguponus。
`Excuseme，MrsHuntingdon，’saidhe，`butIwasspellbound；I
hadneitherthepowertocomeforwardandinterruptyou，nortowithdrawfromthecontemplationofsuchascene——Howvigorousmylittlegodsongrows！andhowmerryheisthismorning。’Heapproachedthechildandstoopedtotakehishand；but，onseeingthathiscaresseswerelikelytoproducetearsandlamentationsinsteadofareciprocationoffriendlydemonstrations，heprudentlydrewback。
`Whatapleasureandcomfortthatlittlecreaturemustbetoyou，MrsHuntingdon！’heobserved，withatouchofsadnessinhisintonation，asheadmiringlycontemplatedtheinfant。
`Itis，’repliedI；andthenIaskedafterhismotherandsister。
Hepolitelyansweredmyenquiries，andthenreturnedagaintothesubjectIwishedtoavoid；thoughwithadegreeoftimiditythatwitnessedhisfeartooffend。
`YouhavenotheardfromHuntingdonlately？’hesaid。
`Notthisweek，’Ireplied，——Notthesethreeweeks，Imighthavesaid。
`Ihadaletterfromhimthismorning。IwishitweresuchaoneasIcouldshowtohislady。’HehalfdrewfromhiswaistcoatpocketaletterwithArthur’sstillbelovedhandontheaddress，scowledatit，andputitbackagain，adding——`Buthetellsmeheisabouttoreturnnextweek。’
`Hetellsmesoeverytimehewrites。’
`Indeed！——Wellitislikehim——Buttomehealwaysavowedithisintentiontostaytillthepresentmonth。’
Itstruckmelikeablow，thisproofofpremeditatedtransgressionandsystematicdisregardoftruth。
`Itisonlyofapiecewiththerestofhisconduct，’observedMrHargrave，thoughtfullyregardingme，andreading，Isuppose，myfeelingsinmyface。
`Thenheisreallycomingnextweek？’saidI，afterapause。
`Youmayrelyuponit——iftheassurancecangiveyouanypleasure——Andisitpossible，MrsHuntingdon，thatyoucanrejoiceathisreturn？’
heexclaimed，attentivelyperusingmyfeaturesagain。
`Ofcourse，MrHargrave；ishenotmyhusband？’
`Oh，Huntingdon，youknownotwhatyouslight！’hepassionatelymurmured。
Itookupmybabyand，wishinghimgoodmorning，departed，toindulgemythoughtsunscrutinized，withinthesanctumofmyhome。
AndwasIglad？——Yes，delighted；——thoughIwasangeredbyArthur’sconduct，andthoughIfeltthathehadwrongedme，andwasdeterminedheshouldfeelittoo。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter30CHAPTERXXXDomesticScenesONthefollowingmorning，Ireceivedafewlinesfromhimmyself，confirmingHargrave’sintimationsrespectinghisapproachingreturn。Andhedidcomenextweek，butinaconditionofbodyandmindevenworsethanbefore。
Ididnot，however，intendtopassoverhisderelictionsthistimewithoutaremark；——Ifounditwouldnotdo。Butthefirstday，hewaswearywithhisjourney，andIwasgladtogethimback：Iwouldnotupbraidhimthen；
Iwouldwaittilltomorrow。Nextmorning，hewaswearystill：Iwouldwaitalittlelonger。Butatdinner，when，afterbreakfastingattwelveo’clockonabottleofsoda-waterandacupofstrongcoffee，andlunchingattwoonanotherbottleofsodawatermingledwithbrandy，hewasfindingfaultwitheverythingonthetableanddeclaringwemustchangeourcook——Ithoughtthetimewascome。
`Itisthesamecookaswehadbeforeyouwent，Arthur，’saidI。Youweregenerallyprettywellsatisfiedwithherthen。’
`Youmusthavebeenlettinghergetintoslovenlyhabitsthen，whileIwasaway。Itisenoughtopoisonone——eatingsuchadisgustingmess！’Andhepettishlypushedawayhisplate，andleantbackdespairinglyinhischair。
`Ithinkitisyouthatarechanged，notshe，’saidI，butwiththeutmostgentleness，forIdidnotwishtoirritatehim。
`Itmaybeso，’hereplied，carelessly，asheseizedatumblerofwineandwater，adding，whenhehadtosseditoff——`forIhaveaninfernalfireinmyveins，thatallthewatersoftheoceancannotquench！’
`Whatkindledit？’Iwasabouttoask，butatthatmomentthebutlerenteredandbegantotakeawaythethings。
`Bequick，Benson——dohavedonewiththatinfernalclatter！’criedhismaster——`Anddon’tbringthecheese！——unlessyouwanttomakemesickoutright。’
Bensoninsomesurprise，removedthecheese，anddidhisbesttoeffectaquietandspeedyclearanceoftherest，but，unfortunately，therewasarumpleinthecarpet，causedbythehastypushingbackofhismaster’schair，atwhichhetrippedandstumbled，causingaratheralarmingconcussionwiththetrayfulofcrockeryinhishands，butnopositivedamage，savethefallandbreakingofasauce-tureen；——but，tomyunspeakableshameanddismay，Arthurturnedfuriouslyarounduponhim，andsworeathimwithsavagecoarseness。Thepoormanturnedpale，andvisiblytrembledashestoopedtopickupthefragments。
`Hecouldn’thelpit，Arthur，’saidI；`thecarpetcaughthisfoot——andthere’snogreatharmdone。Nevermindthepiecesnow，Benson，youcanclearthemawayafterwards。’
Gladtobereleased，Bensonexpeditiouslysetoutthedessertandwithdrew。
`Whatcouldyoumean，Helen，by`takingtheservant’spartagainstme，’saidArthur，assoonasthedoorwasclosed，`whenyouknewIwasdistracted？’
`Ididnotknowyouweredistracted，Arthur，andthepoormanwasquitefrightenedandhurtatyoursuddenexplosion。’
`Poormanindeed！anddoyouthinkIcouldstoptoconsiderthefeelingsofaninsensatebrutelikethat，whenmyownnerveswererackedandtorntopiecesbyhisconfoundedblunders？’
`Ineverheardyoucomplainofyournervesbefore。’
`Andwhyshouldn’tIhavenervesaswellasyou？’
`Oh，Idon’tdisputeyourclaimtotheirpossession，butInevercomplainofmine。’