`What，goingalready，Lowborough？’saidhe。`Well，goodmorning。’
Hesmilinglyofferedhishand。
Ithinktheotherwouldhaveknockedhimdown，hadhenotinstinctivelystartedbackbeforethatbonyfistquiveringwithrageandclenchedtilltheknucklesgleamedwhiteandglisteningthroughtheskin。Lookinguponhimwithacountenancelividwithfurioushate，LordLowboroughmutteredbetweenhisclosedteeth，adeadlyexecrationhewouldnothaveutteredhadhebeencalmenoughtochoosehiswords，anddeparted。
`Icallthatanunchristianspiritnow，’saidthevillain。`ButI’dnevergiveupanoldfriendforthesakeofawife。Youmayhavemineifyoulike，andIcallthathandsome——Icandonomorethanofferrestitution，canI？’
ButLowboroughhadgainedthebottomofthestairs，andwasnowcrossingthehall；andMr。Huntingdon，leaningoverthebanisters，calledout，——`GivemylovetoAnnabella！——andIwishyoubothahappyjourney，’
andwithdrewlaughingtohischamber。
Hesubsequentlyexpressedhimselfrathergladshewasgone：`Shewassodeucedimperiousandexacting，’saidhe：`nowIshallbemyownmanagain，andfeelrathermoreatmyease。’
IknownothingmoreofLordLowborough’ssubsequentproceedingsbutwhatIhaveheardfromMilicent，who，thoughsheisignorantofthecauseofhisseparationfromhercousin，hasinformedmethatsuchisthecase；thattheykeepentirelyseparateestablishments；thatsheleadsagay，dashinglifeintownandcountry，whilehelivesinstrictseclusionathisoldcastleinthenorth。Therearetwochildren，bothofwhomhekeepsunderhisownprotection。ThesonandheirisapromisingchildnearlytheageofmyArthur，andnodoubtasourceofsomehopeandcomforttohisfather；buttheother，alittlegirlbetweenoneandtwo，withblueeyesandlightauburnhair，heprobablykeepsfromconscientiousmotivesalone，thinkingitwrongtoabandonhertotheteachingandexampleofsuchawomanashermother。Thatmotherneverlovedchildren，andhassolittlenaturalaffectionforherownthatIquestionwhethershewillnotregarditasarelieftobethusentirelyseparatedfromthem，anddeliveredfromthetroubleandresponsibilityoftheircharge。
NotmanydaysafterthedepartureofLordandLadyLowborough，therestoftheladieswithdrewthelightoftheirpresencefromGrassdale。
Perhapstheymighthavestayedlonger，butneitherhostnorhostesspressedthemtoprolongtheirvisit——infact，theformershowedtooplainlythatheshouldbegladtogetridofthem；——andMrs。Hargraveretiredwithherdaughtersandhergrand-childrentherearethreeofthemnowtotheGrove。
Butthegentlemenremained：Mr。Huntingdon，asIintimatedbefore，wasdeterminedtokeepthemaslongashecould；and，beingthusdeliveredfromrestraint，theygavealoosetoalltheirinnatemadness，folly，andbrutality，andmadethehousenightafternightonesceneofriot，uproar，andconfusion。Whoamongthembehavedtheworst，orwhothebest，Icannotdistinctlysay；for，fromthemomentIdiscoveredhowthingswouldbe，IformedtheresolutionofretreatingupstairsorlockingmyselfintothelibrarytheinstantIwithdrewfromthedining-room，andnotcomingnearthemagaintillbreakfast；——butthisImustsayforMr。Hargrave，thatfromallIcouldseeofhim，hewasamodelofdecency，sobriety，andgentlemanlymannersincomparisonwiththerest。
Hedidnotjointhepartytillaweekortendaysafterthearrivaloftheotherguests；forhewasstillonthecontinentwhentheycame，andIcherishedthehopethathewouldnotaccepttheinvitation。Acceptithedid，however，buthisconducttowardsme，forthefirstfewweeks，wasexactlywhatIshouldhavewishedittobe——perfectlycivilandrespectfulwithoutanyaffectationofdespondencyordejection，andsufficientlydistantwithouthaughtiness，oranyofsuchremarkablestiffnessoricinessordemeanourasmightbecalculatedtodisturborpuzzlehissister，orcallforththeinvestigationofhismother。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter39CHAPTERXXXIXASCHEMEOFESCAPEMygreatestsourceofuneasiness，inthistimeoftrial，wasmyson，whomhisfatherandhisfather’sfriendsdelightedtoencourageinalltheembryovicesalittlechildcanshow，andtoinstructinalltheevilhabitshecouldacquireinaword，to`makeamanofhim’wasoneoftheirstapleamusements；andIneedsaynomoretojustifymyalarmonhisaccount，andmydeterminationtodeliverhimatanyhazardfromthehandsofsuchinstructors。Ifirstattemptedtokeephimalwayswithmeorinthenursery，andgaveRachelparticularinjunctionsnevertolethimcomedowntodessertaslongasthese`gentlemen’stayed；butitwasnouse；theseorderswereimmediatelycountermandedandover-ruledbyhisfather：hewasnotgoingtohavethelittlefellowmopedtodeathbetweenanoldnurseandacursedfoolofamother。Sothelittlefellowcamedowneveryevening，inspiteofhiscrossmamma，andlearnttotipplewinelikepapa，toswearlikeMr。Hattersley，andtohavehisownwaylikeaman，andsentmammatothedevilwhenshetriedtopreventhim。Toseesuchthingsdonewiththeroguishnaiveteofthatprettylittlechildandhearsuchthingsspokenbythatsmallinfantilevoice，wasaspeculiarlypiquantandirresistiblydrolltothemasitwasinexpressiblydistressingandpainfultome；andwhenhehadsetthetableinaroar，’hewouldlookrounddelightedlyuponthemall，andaddhisshrilllaughtotheirs。Butifthatbeamingblueeyerestedonme，itslightwouldvanishforamoment，andhewouldsay，insomeconcern，——`Mamma，whydon’tyoulaugh？Makeherlaugh，papa——sheneverwill。’
Hence，wasIobligedtostayamongthesehumanbrutes，watchinganopportunitytogetmychildawayfromthem，insteadofleavingthemimmediatelyaftertheremovalofthecloth，asIshouldalwaysotherwisehavedone。Hewasneverwillingtogo，andIfrequentlyhadtocarryhimawaybyforce；forwhichhethoughtmeverycruelandunjust；andsometimeshisfatherwouldinsistuponmylettinghimremain；——andthen，336Iwouldleavehimtohiskindfriends，andretiretoindulgemybitternessanddespairaloneortorackmybrainsforaremedytothisgreatevil。
Buthereagain，ImustdoMr。HargravethejusticetoacknowledgethatIneversawhimlaughatthechild’smisdemeanours，norheardhimutterawordofencouragementtohisaspirationsaftermanlyaccomplishments。
Butwhenanythingveryextraordinarywassaidordonebytheinfantprofligate，Inoticed，attimes，apeculiarexpressioninhisface，thatIcouldneitherinterpretnordefinedslighttwitchingaboutthemusclesofthemouthssuddenflashintheeye，ashedartedasuddenglanceatthechildandthenatme；andthen，Icouldfancytherearoseagleamofhard，keen，sombresatisfactioninhiscountenanceatthelookofimpotentwrathandanguishhewastoocertaintobeholdinmine。Butononeoccasion，whenArthurhadbeenbehavingparticularlyill，andMr。Huntingdonandhisguestshadbeenparticularlyprovokingandinsultingtomeintheirencouragementofhim，andIparticularlyanxioustogethimoutoftheroom，andontheverypointofdemeaningmyselfbyaburstofuncontrollablepassion——Mr。
Hargravesuddenlyrosefromhisseat，withanaspectofsterndetermination，liftedthechildfromhisfather’sknee，wherehewassittinghalftipsy，cockinghisheadandlaughingatme，andexecratingmewithwordshelittleknewthemeaningof，——handedhimoutoftheroom，andsettinghimdowninthehall，heldthedooropenforme，gravelybowedasIwithdrew，andcloseditafterme。Iheardhighwordsexchangedbetweenhimandhisalreadyhalf-inebriatedhostasIdeparted，leadingawaymybewilderedanddisconcertedboy，Butthisshouldnotcontinue；mychildmustnotbeabandonedtothiscorruption：betterfarthatheshouldliveinpovertyandobscuritywithafugitivemother，thaninluxuryandaffluencewithsuchafather。
Theseguestsmightnotbewithuslong，buttheywouldreturnagain；andhe，themostinjuriousofthewhole，hischild’sworstenemy，wouldstillremain。Icouldendureitformyself，butformysonitmustbebornenolonger：theworld’sopinionandthefeelingsofmyfriendsmustbealikeunheededhere，atleast，alikeunabletodetermefrommyduty。ButwhereshouldIfindanasylum，andhowobtain337subsistenceforusboth？Oh，Iwouldtakemypreciouschargeatearlydawn，takethecoachtoM——，fleetotheportofcrosstheAtlantic，andseekaquiet，humblehomeinNewEngland，whereIwouldsupportmyselfandhimbythelabourofmyhands。Thepaletteandtheeasel，mydarlingplaymatesonce，mustbemysobertoil-fellowsnow。ButwasIsufficientlyskilfulasanartisttoobtainmylivelihoodinastrangeland，withoutfriendsandwithoutrecommendation？No；Imustwaitalittle；Imustlabourhardtoimprovemytalentandtoproducesomethingworthwhileasaspecimenofmypowers，somethingtospeakfavourablyforme，whetherasanactualpainterorateacher。Brilliantsuccess，ofcourse，Ididnotlookfor，butsomedegreeofsecurityfrompositivefailurewasindispensable——Imustnottakemysontostarve。AndthenImusthavemoneyforthejourney，thepassage，andsomelittletosupportusinourretreatincaseIshouldbeunsuccessfulatfirst；andnottoolittleeither，forwhocouldtellhowlongImighthavetostrugglewiththeindifferenceorneglectofothers，ormyowninexperience，orinabilitytosuittheirtastes？
WhatshouldIdothen？Applytomybrother，andexplainmycircumstancesandmyresolvestohim？No，no；evenifItoldhimallmygrievances，whichIshouldbeveryreluctanttodo，hewouldbecertaintodisapproveofthestep：itwouldseemlikemadnesstohim，asitwouldtomyuncleandaunt，ortoMilicent。No；Imusthavepatienceandgatherahoardofmyown。Rachelshouldbemyonlyconfidant——IthoughtIcouldpersuadeherintothescheme；andsheshouldhelpme，firsttofindoutapicturedealerinsomedistanttown；then，throughhermeans，IwouldprivatelysellwhatpicturesIhadonhandthatwoulddoforsuchapurpose，andsomeofthoseIshouldthereafterpaint。Besidesthis，Iwouldcontrivetodisposeofmyjewels——notthefamilyjewels，butthefewIbroughtwithmefromhome，andthosemyunclegavemeonmymarriage。Afewmonths’
arduoustoilmightwellbebornebyme，withsuchanendinview；andintheinterim，mysoncouldnotbemuchmoreinjuredthanhewasalready。
Havingformedthisresolution，Iimmediatelysettoworktoaccomplishit。Imightpossiblyhavebeeninducedtowaxcool338uponitafterwards，orperhaps，tokeepweighingtheprosandconsinmymindtillthelatteroverbalancedtheformer，andIwasdriventorelinquishtheprojectaltogether，ordelaytheexecutionofittoanindefiniteperiod，——hadnotsomethingoccurredtoconfirmmeinthatdeterminationtowhichIstilladhere，whichIstillthinkIdidwelltoform，andshalldobettertoexecute。
SinceLordLowborough’sdeparture，Ihadregardedthelibraryasentirelymyown，asecureretreatatallhoursoftheday。Noneofourgentlemenhadthesmallestpretensionstoaliterarytaste，exceptMr。
Hargrave；andhe，atpresent，wasquitecontentedwiththenewspapersandperiodicalsoftheday。Andif，byanychance，heshouldlookinhere，Ifeltassuredhewouldsoondepartonseeingme，forinsteadofbecominglesscoolanddistanttowardsme，hehadbecomedecidedlymoresosincethedepartureofhismotherandsisters，whichwasjustwhatIwished。
Here，then，Isetupmyeasel，andhereIworkedatmycanvassfromdaylighttilldusk，withverylittleintermissionsavingwhenpurenecessity，ormydutiestolittleArthurcalledmeaway——forIstillthoughtpropertodevotesomeportionofeverydayexclusivelytohisinstructionandamusement。
Butcontrarytomyexpectation，onthethirdmorning，whileIwasthusemployed，Mr。Hargravedidlookin，anddidnotimmediatelywithdrawonseeingme。Heapologizedforhisinstrusion，andsaidhewasonlycomeforabook；butwhenhehadgotit，hecondescendedtocastaglanceovermypicture。Beingamanoftaste，hehadsomethingtosayonthissubjectaswellasanother，andhavingmodestlycommentedonit，withoutmuchencouragementfromme，heproceededtoexpatiateontheartingeneral。
Receivingnoencouragementinthateither，hedroppedit，butdidnotdepart。
`Youdon’tgiveusmuchofyourcompany，Mrs。Huntingdon，’observedhe，afterabriefpause，duringwhichIwentoncoollymixingandtemperingmycolours；`andIcannotwonderatit，foryoumustbeheartilysickofusall。Imyselfamsothoroughlyashamedofmycompanions，andsowearyoftheirirrationalconversationandpursuits——nowthatthereisnoonetohumanizethemandkeepthemincheck，sinceyouhavejustlyabandonedustoourowndevices——thatIthinkI339shallpresentlywithdrawfromamongstthem——probablywithinthisweekendIcannotsupposeyouwillregretmydeparture。
Hepaused。Ididnotanswer。
`Probably，’headded，withasmile，`youronlyregretonthesubjectwillbe，thatIdonottakeallmycompanionsalongwithme。Iflattermyself，attimes，thatthoughamongthem，Iamnotofthem；butitisnaturalthatyoushouldbegladtogetridofme。Imayregretthis，butIcannotblameyouforit。’
`Ishallnotrejoiceatyourdeparture，foryoucanconductyourselflikeagentleman，’saidI，thinkingitbutrighttomakesomeacknowledgmentforhisgoodbehaviour，`butImustconfessIshallrejoicetobidadieutotherest，inhospitableasitmayappear。