Theystillcontinuedtoliveatthevicarage，theladydividinghertimebetweenherfather，herhusband，andtheirpoorparishioners，——andsubsequently，herrisingfamily；andnowthattheReverendMichaelMillwardhasbeengatheredtohisfathers，fullofyearsandhonours，’theReverendRichardWilsonhassucceededhimtothevicarageofLindenhope，greatlytothesatisfactionofitsinhabitants，whohadsolongtriedandfullyprovedhismerits，andthoseofhisexcellentandwell-lovedpartner。
Ifyouareinterestedintheafterfateofthatlady’ssister，Icanonlytellyou——whatperhapsyouhaveheardfromanotherquarter——thatsometwelveorthirteenyearsago，sherelievedthehappycoupleofherpresencebymarryingawealthytradesmanofL；andIdon’tenvyhimhisbargain。Ifearsheleadshimaratheruncomfortablelife，though，happilyheistoodulltoperceivetheextentofhismisfortune。Ihavelittleenoughtodowithhermyself：wehavenotmetformanyyears；but，Iamwellassured，shehasnotyetforgottenorforgiveneitherherformerloverortheladywhosesuperiorqualitiesfirstopenedhiseyestothefollyofhisboyishattachment。
AsforRichardWilson’ssister，she，havingbeenwhollyunabletore-captureMr。LawrenceorobtainanypartnerrichandelegantenoughtosuitherideasofwhatthehusbandofJaneWilsonoughttobe，isyetinsingleblessedness。Shortlyafterthedeathofhermother，shewithdrewthelightofherpresencefromRyecoteFarm，findingitimpossibleanylongertoenduretheroughmannersandunsophisticatedhabitsofherhonestbrotherRobertandhisworthywife，ortheideaofbeingidentifiedwithsuchvulgarpeopleintheeyesoftheworld，——andtooklodgingsinthecountytown，whereshelived，andstilllives，Isuppose，inakindofclosefisted，cold，uncomfortablegentility，doingnogoodtoothersandbutlittletoherself；spendingherdaysinfancy-workandscandal；referringfrequentlytoher`brotherthevicar’andher`sisterthevicar’slady，’
butnevertoherbrotherthefarmerandhersisterthefarmer’swife；seeingasmuchcompanyasshecanwithouttoomuchexpense，butlovingnooneandbelovedbynone——acold-hearted，supercilious，keenly，insidiouslycensoriousoldmaid。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter49CHAPTERXLIX`Theraindescended，andthefloodscame，andthewindsblew，andbestuponthathouse；anditfell：andgreatwasthefallofit。”ThoughMr。Lawrence’shealthwasnowquitere-established，myvisitstoWoodfordwereasunremittingasever；thoughoftenlessprotractedthanbefore。WeseldomtalkedaboutMrs。Huntingdon；butyetwenevermetwithoutmentioningher，forIneversoughthiscompanybutwiththehopeofhearingsomethingabouther，andheneversoughtmineatall，becausehesawmeoftenenoughwithout。ButIalwaysbegantotalkofotherthings，andwaitedfirsttoseeifhewouldintroducethesubject。Ifhedidnot，Iwouldcasuallyask，`Haveyouheardfromyoursisterlately？’
Ifhesaid，`No，’thematterwasdropped：ifhesaid`Yes，’Iwouldventuretoenquire，`Howisshe？’butnever`Howisherhusband？’thoughImightbeburningtoknow；because，Ihadnotthehypocrisytoprofessanyanxietyforhisrecovery，andIhadnotthefacetoexpressanydesireforacontraryresult。HadIanysuchdesire？IfearImustpleadguilty：butsinceyouhaveheardmyconfession，youmusthearmyjustificationaswellsfewoftheexcuses，atleast，wherewithIsoughttopacifymyownaccusingconscience：
Inthefirstplace，yousee，hislifedidharmtoothers，andevidentlynogoodtohimself，andthoughIwishedittoterminate，Iwouldnothavehasteneditscloseif，bytheliftingofafinger，Icouldhavedoneso，orifaspirithadwhisperedinmyearthatasingleeffortofthewillwouldbeenough，——unless，indeed，Ihadthepowertoexchangehimforsomeothervictimofthegrave，whoselifemightbeofservicetohisrace，andwhosedeathwouldbelamentedbyhisfriends。Butwasthereanyharminwishingthat，amongthemanythousandswhosesoulswouldcertainlyberequiredofthembeforetheyearwasover，thiswretchedmortalmightbeone？Ithoughtnot；andthereforeIwishedwithallmyheartthatitmightpleaseHeaventoremovehimtoabetterworld，orifthatmightnotbe，still，totakehimoutofthis，forifhewereunfittoanswerthesummonsnow，afterawarningsickness，andwithsuchanangelbyhisside，itseemedbuttoocertainthatheneverwouldbe——that，onthecontrary，returninghealthwouldbringreturninglustandvillany，andashegrewmorecertainofrecovery，moreaccustomedtohergenerousgoodness，hisfeelingswouldbecomemorecallous，hisheartmoreflintyandimpervioustoherpersuasivearguments——ButGodknewbest。Meantime，however，IcouldnotbutbeanxiousfortheresultofHisdecrees；knowing，asIdid，thatleavingmyselfentirelyoutofthequestionhoweverHelenmightfeelinterestedinherhusband’swelfare，howevershemightdeplorehisfate，still，whilehelived，shemustbemiserable。
Afortnightpassedaway，andmyenquirieswerealwaysansweredinthenegative。Atlengthawelcome`yes’drewfrommethesecondquestion。
Lawrencedivinedmyanxiousthoughts，andappreciatedmyreserve。Ifearedatfirst，hewasgoingtotorturemebyunsatisfactoryreplies，andeitherleavemequiteinthedarkconcerningwhatIwantedtoknow，orforcemetodragtheinformationoutofhim，morselbymorsel，bydirectinquiries——andserveyouright，’youwillsay；buthewasmoremerciful；andinalittlewhile，heputhissister’sletterintomyhand。Isilentlyreadit，andrestoredittohimwithoutcommentorremark。Thismodeofproceduresuitedhimsowellthatthereafterhealwayspursuedtheplanofshowingmeherlettersatonce，whenIenquiredafterher，iftherewereanytoshow：
itwassomuchlesstroublethantotellmetheircontents；andIreceivedsuchconfidencessoquietlyanddiscreetlythathewasneverinducedtodiscontinuethem。
ButIdevouredthosepreciousletterswithmyeyes，andneverletthemgotilltheircontentswerestampeduponmymind；andwhenIgothome，themostimportantpassageswereenteredinmydiaryamongtheremarkableeventsoftheday。
ThefirstofthesecommunicationsbroughtintelligenceofaseriousrelapseinMr。Huntingdon’sillness，entirelytheresultofhisowninfatuationinpersistingintheindulgenceofhisappetiteforstimulatingdrink。
Invainhadsheremonstrated，invainshehadmingledhiswinewithwater：
herargumentsandentreatieswereanuisance，herinterferencewasaninsultsointolerablethatatlength，onfindingshehadcovertlydilutedthepaleportthatwasbroughthim，hethrewthebottleoutofthewindow，swearinghewouldnotbecheatedlikeababy，orderedthebutler，onpainofinstantdismissal，tobringabottleofthestrongestwineinthecellar，and，affirmingthatheshouldhavebeenwelllongagoifhehadbeenlettohavehisownway，butshewantedtokeephimweakinorderthatshemighthavehimunderherthumb——ButbytheLordHarry，hewouldhavenomorehumbug——seizedaglassinonehandandthebottleintheother，andneverrestedtillhehaddrunkitdry。Alarmingsymptomsweretheimmediateresultofthis`imprudence’asshemildlytermedit——symptomswhichhadratherincreasedthandiminishedsince；andthiswasthecauseofherdelayinwritingtoherbrother。Everyformerfeatureofhismaladyhadreturnedwithaugmentedvirulence：theslightexternalwound，half-healed，hadbrokenoutafresh；internalinflammationhadtakenplace，whichmightterminatefatallyifnotsoonremoved。Ofcourse，thewretchedsufferer’stemperwasnotimprovedbythiscalamity——infact，Isuspectitwaswellnighinsupportable，thoughhiskindnursedidnotcomplain；butshesaidshehadbeenobliged，atlast，togivehersoninchargetoEstherHargrave，asherpresencewassoconstantlyrequiredinthesickroomthatshecouldnotpossiblyattendtohimherself，andthoughthechildhadbeggedtobeallowedtocontinuewithherthere，andtohelphertonursehispapa，andthoughshehadnodoubthewouldhavebeenverygoodandquiet，shecouldnotthinkofsubjectinghisyoungandtenderfeelingstothesightofsomuchsuffering，orofallowinghimtowitnesshisfather’simpatience，orhearthedreadfullanguagehewaswonttouseinhisparoxysmsofpainorirritation。
`Thelatter，’continuedshe，`mostdeeplyregretsthestepthathasoccasionedhisrelapse，——But，asusual，hethrowstheblameuponme。
IfIhadreasonedwithhimlikearationalcreature，hesays，itneverwouldhavehappened；buttobetreatedlikeababyorafool，wasenoughtoputanymanpasthispatience，anddrivehimtoasserthisindependenceevenatthesacrificeofhisowninterest——heforgetshowoftenIhadreasonedhim“pasthispatience“before。Heappearstobesensibleofhisdanger；
butnothingcaninducehimtobeholditintheproperlight。TheothernightwhileIwaswaitingonhim，andjustasIhadbroughthimadraughttoassuagehisburningthirst——heobserved，withareturnofhisformersarcasticbitterness，——
`“Yes，you’remightyattentivenow！——Isupposethere’snothingyouwouldn’tdoformenow？’
“Youknow。”saidI，alittlesurprisedathismanner，“thatI
amwillingtodoanythingIcantorelieveyou。”
`“Yes，no“’，myimmaculateangel；butwhenonceyouhavesecuredyourreward，andfindyourselfsafeinHeaven，andmehowlinginhell-fire，catchyouliftingafingertoservemethen！——No，you’lllookcomplacentlyon，andnotsomuchasdipthetipofyourfingerinwatertocoolmytongue！”’
`“Ifso，itwillbebecauseofthegreatgulfoverwhichIcannotpass；andifIcouldlookcomplacentlyoninsuchacase，itwouldbeonlyfromtheassurancethatyouwerebeingpurifiedfromyoursins，andfittedtoenjoythehappinessIfelt。hutareyoudetermined，Arthur，thatIshallnotmeetyouinHeaven？”
`“Humph！WhatshouldIdothere，Ishouldliketoknow？”
`“Indeed，Icannottell；andIfearitistoocertainthatyourtastesandfeelingsmustbewidelyalteredbeforeyoucanhaveanyenjoymentthere。Butdoyouprefersinking，withoutaneffort，intothestateoftormentyoupicturetoyourself？”
“Oh，it’sallafable。”saidhe，contemptuously。
`“Areyousure，Arthur？areyouquitesure？Becauseifthereisanydoubt，andifyoushouldfindyourselfmistakenafterall，whenitistoolatetoturn——“
`“Itwouldberatherawkward，tobesure。”saidhe；“butdon’tbothermenow——I’mnotgoingtodieyet——Ican’tandwon’t。”headdedvehemently，asifsuddenlystruckwiththeappallingaspectofthatterribleevent，“Helen，youmustsaveme！”Andheearnestlyseizedmyhand，andlookedintomyfacewithsuchimploringeagernessthatmyheartbledforhim，andIcouldnotspeakfortears。’
Thenextletterbroughtintelligencethatthemaladywasfastincreasing；
andthepoorsufferer’shorrorofdeathwasstillmoredistressingthanhisimpatienceofbodilypain。Allhisfriendshadnotforsakenhim，forMr。Hattersley，hearingofhisdanger，hadcometoseehimfromhisdistanthomeinthenorth。Hiswifehadaccompaniedhim，asmuchforthepleasureofseeingherdearfriend，fromwhomshehadbeenpartedsolong，astovisithermotherandsister。
Mrs。HuntingdonexpressedherselfgladtoseeMilicentoncemore，andpleasedtobeholdhersohappyandwell。`SheisnowattheGrove，’
continuedtheletter，`butsheoftencallstoseeme。Mr。HattersleyspendsmuchofhistimeatArthur’sbedside。WithmoregoodfeelingthanIgavehimcreditfor，heevincesconsiderablesympathyforhisunhappyfriend，andisfarmorewillingthanabletocomforthim。Sometimeshetriestojokeandlaughwithhim，butthatwillnotdo：sometimesheendeavourstocheerhimwithtalkaboutoldtimes；andthis，atonetime，mayservetodivertthesuffererfromhisownsadthoughts；atanother，itwillonlyplungehimintodeepermelancholythanbefore；andthenHattersleyisconfounded，andknowsnotwhattosay，——unlessitbeatimidsuggestionthattheclergymanmightbesentfor。ButArthurwillneverconsenttothat：heknowshehasrejectedtheclergyman’swell-meantadmonitionswithscoffinglevityatothertimes，andcannotdreamofturningtohimforconsolationnow。
`Mr。Hattersleysometimesoffershisservicesinsteadofmine，butArthurwillnotletmego：thatstrangewhimstillincreases，ashisstrengthdeclines——thefancytohavemealwaysbyhisside。Ihardlyeverleavehim，excepttogointothenextroom，whereIsometimessnatchanhourorsoofsleepwhenheisquiet；buteventhen，thedoorisleftajarthathemayknowmetobewithincall。Iamwithhimnow，whileIwrite；
andIfearmyoccupationannoyshim；thoughIfrequentlybreakofftoattendtohim，andthoughMr。Hattersleyisalsobyhisside。Thatgentlemancame，ashesaid，tobegaholidayforme，thatImighthavearuninthepark，thisfine，frostymorning，withMilicent，andEsther，andlittleArthur，whomhehaddrivenovertoseeme。Ourpoorinvalidevidentlyfeltitaheartlessproposition，andwouldhavefeltitstillmoreheartlessinmetoaccedetoit。IthereforesaidIwouldonlygoandspeaktothemaminute，andthencomeback。Ididbutexchangeafewwordswiththem，justoutsidetheportico——inhalingthefresh，bracingairasIstood——andthen，resistingtheearnestandeloquententreatiesofallthreetostayalittlelonger，andjointheminawalkroundthegarden，——Itoremyselfawayandreturnedtomypatient。Ihadnotbeenabsentfiveminutes，buthereproachedmebitterlyformylevityandneglect。Hisfriendespousedmycause：——
`“Nay，nay，Huntingdon。”saidhe，“you’retooharduponher——shemusthavefoodandsleep，andamouthfuloffreshairnowandthen，orshecan’tstanditItellyou。Lookather，man，she’sworntoashadowalready。”
“Whatarehersufferingstomine？”saidthepoorinvalid。“Youdon’tgrudgemetheseattentions，doyou，Helen？”
`“No，Arthur，ifIcouldreallyserveyoubythem。Iwouldgivemylifetosaveyou，ifImight。”
`“Wouldyouindeed？——No！”
`“Mostwillingly，Iwould。”