SometimebeforeMr。Huntingdon’sdeath，LadyLowboroughelopedwithanothergallanttothecontinent，where，havinglivedawhileinrecklessgaietyanddissipation，theyquarrelledandparted。Shewentdashingonforaseason，butyearscameandmoneywent：shesunk，atlength，indifficultyanddebt，disgraceandmisery；anddiedatlast，asIhaveheard，inpenury，neglect，andutterwretchedness。Butthismightbeonlyareport：shemaybelivingyetforanythingI，oranyofherrelativesorformeracquaintancescantell；fortheyhavealllostsightofherlongyearsago，andwouldasthoroughlyforgetheriftheycould。Herhusband，however，uponthissecondmisdemeanour，immediatelysoughtandobtainedadivorce，and，notlongafter，marriedagain。Itwaswellhedid，forLordLowborough，moroseandmoodyasheseemed，wasnotthemanforabachelor’slife。Nopublicinterests，noambitiousprojects，oractivepursuits，——ortiesoffriendshipevenifhehadhadanyfriends，couldcompensatetohimfortheabsenceofdomesticcomfortsandendearments。Hehadasonandanominaldaughter，itistrue，buttheytoopainfullyremindedhimoftheirmother，andtheunfortunatelittleAnnabellawasasourceofperpetualbitternesstohissoul。Hehadobligedhimselftotreatherwithpaternalkindness：hehadforcedhimselfnottohateher，andeven，perhaps，tofeelsomedegreeofkindlyregardforher，atlast，inreturnforherartlessandunsuspectingattachmenttohimself；butthebitternessofhisself-condemnationforhisinwardfeelingstowardsthatinnocentbeing，hisconstantstrugglestosubduetheevilpromptingsofhisnatureforitwasnotagenerousone，thoughpartlyguessedatbythosewhoknewhim，couldbeknowntoGodandhisownheartalone；——soalsowasthehardnessofhisconflictswiththetemptationtoreturntotheviceofhisyouth，andseekoblivionforpastcalamities，anddeadnesstothepresentmiseryofablightedheart，ajoyless，friendlesslife，andamorbidlydisconsolatemind，byyieldingagaintothatinsidiousfoetohealth，andsense，andvirtue，whichhadsodeplorablyenslavedanddegradedhimbefore。
Thesecondobjectofhischoicewaswidelydifferentfromthefirst。Somewonderedathistaste；someevenridiculedit——butinthistheirfollywasmoreapparentthanhis。Theladywasabouthisownage——i。e。
betweenthirtyandforty——remarkableneitherforbeautynorwealth，norbrilliantaccomplishments；noranyotherthingthatIeverheardof，exceptgenuinegoodsense，unswervingintegrity，activepiety，warmheartedbenevolence，andafundofcheerfulspirits。Thesequalitieshowever，asyoumayreadilyimagine，combinedtorenderheranexcellentmothertothechildren，andaninvaluablewifetohislordship。He，withhisusualself-depreciationorappreciation？thoughtheraworldtoogoodforhim，andwhilehewonderedatthekindnessofProvidenceinconferringsuchagiftuponhim，andevenathertasteinpreferringhimtoothermen，hedidhisbesttoreciprocatethegoodshedidhim，andsofarsucceededthatshewas，andIbelievestillis，oneofthehappiestandfondestwivesinEngland；andallwhoquestionthegoodtasteofeitherpartner，maybethankfuliftheirrespectiveselectionsaffordthemhalfthegenuinesatisfactionintheend，orrepaytheirpreferencewithaffectionhalfaslastingandsincere。
Ifyouareatallinterestedinthefateofthatlowscoundrel，Grimsby，Icanonlytellyouthathewentfrombadtoworse，sinkingfrombathostobathosofviceandvillany，consortingonlywiththeworstmembersofhisclubandthelowestdregsofsociety——happilyfortherestoftheworld——andatlastmethisendinadrunkenbrawlfromthehands，itissaid，ofsomebrotherscoundrelhehadcheatedatplay。
AsforMr。Hattersley，hehadneverwhollyforgottenhisresolutionto`comeoutfromamongthem，’andbehavelikeamanandaChristian，andthelastillnessanddeathofhisoncejollyfriendHuntingdon，sodeeplyandseriouslyimpressedhimwiththeeviloftheirformerpractices，thatheneverneededanotherlessonofthekind。Avoidingthetemptationsofthetown，hecontinuedtopasshislifeinthecountryimmersedintheusualpursuitsofahearty，activecountrygentleman；hisoccupationsbeingthoseoffarming，andbreedinghorsesandcattle，diversifiedwithalittlehuntingandshooting，andenlivenedbytheoccasionalcompanionshipofhisfriendsbetterfriendsthanthoseofhisyouth，andthesocietyofhishappylittlewifenowcheerfulandconfidingasheartcouldwish
andhisfinefamilyofstalwartsonsandbloomingdaughters。Hisfather，thebanker，havingdiedsomeyearsagoandlefthimallhisriches，hehasnowfullscopefortheexerciseofhisprevailingtastes，andIneednottellyouthatRalphHattersley，Esqr。，iscelebratedthroughoutthecountryforhisnoblebreedofhorses。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter51CHAPTERLIANUNEXPECTEDOCCURRENCEWewillnowturntoacertainstill，cold，cloudyafternoonaboutthecommencementofDecember，whenthefirstfallofsnowlaythinlyscatteredovertheblightedfieldsandfrozenroads，orstoredmorethicklyinthehollowsofthedeepcartrutsandfootstepsofmenandhorses，impressedinthenowpetrifiedmireoflastmonth’sdrenchingrains。Irememberitwell，forIwaswalkinghomefromthevicarage，withnolessremarkableapersonagethanMissElizaMillwardbymyside。Ihadbeentocalluponheriather，——asacrificetocivilityundertakenentirelytopleasemymother，notmyself，forIhatedtogonearthehouse；notmerelyonaccountofmyantipathytotheoncesobewitchingEliza，butbecauseIhadnothalfforgiventheoldgentlemanhimselfforhisillopinionofMrs。Huntingdon；forthoughnowconstrainedtoacknowledgehimselfmistakeninhisformerjudgment，hestillmaintainedthatshehaddonewrongtoleaveherhusband；itwasaviolationofhersacreddutiesasawife，andatemptingofProvidencebylayingherselfopentotemptation；andnothingshortofbodilyill-usageandthatofnotriflingnaturecouldexcusesuchastep——oreventhat，forinsuchacasesheoughttoappealtothelawsforprotection。ButitwasnotofhimIintendedtospeak；itwasofhisdaughterEliza。JustasIwastakingleaveofthevicar，sheenteredtheroom，readyequippedforawalk。
`Iwasjustcomingtoseeyoursister，Mr。Markham，’saidshe；
`andsoifyouhavenoobjection，I’llaccompanyyouhome。IlikecompanywhenI’mwalkingout——don’tyou？’
`Yes，whenit’sagreeable。’
`Thatofcourse，’rejoinedtheyounglady，smilingarchly。Soweproceededtogether。
`ShallIfindRoseathome，doyouthink？’saidshe，asweclosedthegardengate，andsetourfacestowardsLirden-car。
`Ibelieveso。’
`ItrustIshall，forI’vealittlebitofnewsforher——ifyouhaven’tforestalledme。’
`I？’
`Yes：doyouknowwhatMr。Lawrenceisgonefor？’Shelookedupanxiouslyformyreply。
`Ishegone？’saidI，andherfacebrightened。
`Ah！thenhehasn’ttoldyouabouthissister？’
`Whatofher？’Idemanded，interrorlestsomeevilshouldhavebefallenher。
`Oh，Mr。Markham，howyoublush！’criedshewithatormentinglaugh。`Ha，ha，youhavenotforgottenheryet！Butyouhadbetterbequickaboutit，Icantellyou，foralas，alas！——she’sgoingtobemarriednextThursday！’
`No，MissEliza！that’sfalse。’
`Doyouchargemewithafalsehood，sir？’
`Youaremisinformed。’
`AmI？Doyouknowbetterthen？’
`IthinkIdo。’
`Whatmakesyoulooksopalethen？’saidshe，smilingwithdelightatmyemotion。`Isitangeratpoormefortellingsuchafib？Well，I
only“tellthetaleas’twastoldtome：“Idon’tvouchforthetruthofit；butatthesametime，Idon’tseewhatreasonSarahshouldhavefordeceivingme，orherinformantfordeceivingher；andthatwaswhatshetoldmethefootmantoldher：——thatMrs。HuntingdonwasgoingtobemarriedonThursday，andMr。Lawrencewasgonetothewedding。Shedidtellmethenameofthegentleman，butI’veforgottenthat。Perhapsyoucanassistmetorememberit。Istherenotsomeonethatlivesnear——orfrequentlyvisitstheneighbourhood，thathaslongbeenattachedtoher？aMr——ohdear！——Mr——’
`Hargrave？’suggestedI，withabittersmile。
`You’reright！’criedshe，`thatwastheveryname。’
`Impossible，MissEliza！’Iexclaimedinatonethatmadeherstart。
`Well，youknow，that’swhattheytoldme，’saidshe，composedlystaringmeintheface。Andthenshebrokeoutintoalongshrilllaughthatputmetomywits’endwithfury。
`Really，youmustexcuseme，’criedshe：`Iknowit’sveryrude，butha，ha，ha！——Didyouthinktomarryheryourself？Dear，dear，whatapity！ha，ha，ha！——Gracious，Mr。Markham！areyougoingtofaint？Omercy！
shallIcallthisman？Here，Jacob——’Butcheckingthewordonherlips，Iseizedherarmandgaveit，Ithink，aprettyseveresqueeze，forsheshrankintoherselfwithafaintcryofpainorterror；butthespiritwithinherwasnotsubdued：instantlyrallying，shecontinued，withwellfeignedconcern——
`WhatcanIdoforyou？Willyouhavesomewater——somebrandy？——I
daresaytheyhavesomeinthepublic-housedownthere，ifyou’llletmerun。’
`Havedonewiththisnonsense！’criedIsternly。Shelookedconfounded——almostfrightenedagain，foramoment。`YouknowIhatesuchjests，’Icontinued。
`Jestsindeed！Iwasn’tjesting！’
`Youwerelaughing，atallevents；andIdon’tliketobelaughedat，’returnedI，makingviolenteffortstospeakwithproperdignityandcomposure，andtosaynothingbutwhatwascoherentandsensible。`Andsinceyouareinsuchamerrymood，MissEliza，youmustbegoodenoughcompanyforyourself，andthereforeIshallleaveyoutofinishyourwalkalone——for，nowIthinkofit，Ihavebusinesselsewhere；sogoodevening。’
WiththatIlefthersmotheringhermaliciouslaughterandturnedasideintothefields，springingupthebank，andpushingthroughthenearestgapinthehedge。Determinedatoncetoprovethetruth——orratherthefalsehoodofherstory，IhastenedtoWoodfordasfastasmylegscouldcarryme——first，veeringroundbyacircuitouscourse，butthemomentI
wasoutofsightofmyfairtormentor，cuttingawayacrossthecountry，justasabirdmightfly——overpasturelandandfallow，andstubble，andlane——clearinghedgesandditches，andhurdles，tillIcametotheyoungsquire’sgates。NevertillnowhadIknownthefullfervourofmylove——thefullstrengthofmyhopes，notwhollycrushedeveninmyhoursofdeepestdespondency，alwaystenaciouslyclingingtothethoughtthatonedayshemightbemine——orifnotthat，atleastthatsomethingofmymemory，someslightremembranceofourfriendshipandourlovewouldbeforevercherishedinherheart。Imarcheduptothedoor，determinedifIsawthemaster，toquestionhimboldlyconcerninghissister，towaitandhesitatenolonger，butcastfalsedelicacyandstupidpridebehindmyback，andknowmyfateatonce。
`IsMr。Lawrenceathome？’Ieagerlyaskedoftheservantthatopenedthedoor。
`Nosir，masterwentyesterday，’repliedhe，lookingveryalert。
`Wentwhere？’
`ToGrassdale，sir——wasn’tyouaware，sir？He’sveryclose，ismaster，’saidthefellowwithafoolish，simperinggrin。`Isuppose，sir——’
ButIturnedandlefthim，withoutwaitingtohearwhathesupposed。
Iwasnotgoingtostandtheretoexposemytorturedfeelingstotheinsolentlaughterandimpertinentcuriosityofafellowlikethat。
Butwhatwastobedonenow？Coulditbepossiblethatshehadleftmeforthatman？Icouldnotbelieveit。Meshemightforsake，butnottogiveherselftohim！Well，Iwouldknowthetruth——tonoconcernsofdailylifecouldIattend；whilethistempestofdoubtanddread，ofjealousyandragedistractedme。IwouldtakethemorningcoachfromL——theeveningonewouldbealreadygone，andflytoGrassdale，Imustbetherebeforethemarriage。Andwhy？Becauseathoughtstruckme，thatperhapsImightpreventit——thatifIdidnot，sheandImightbothlamentittothelatestmomentofourlives。Itstruckmethatsomeonemighthavebeliedmetoher：perhapsherbrother——yes，nodoubtherbrotherhadpersuadedherthatIwasfalseandfaithless，andtakingadvantageofhernaturalindignation，andperhapsherdespondingcarelessnessaboutherfuturelife，hadurgedher，artfully，cruellyon，tothisothermarriageinordertosecureherfromme。Ifthiswasthecase，andifsheshouldonlydiscoverhermistakewhentoolatetorepairit——towhatalifeofmiseryandvainregretmightshebedoomedaswellasme！andwhatremorseforme，tothinkmyfoolishscrupleshadinduceditall！Oh，Imustseeher——shemustknowmytruthevenifItolditatthechurchdoor！Imightpassforamadmanoranimpertinentfool——evenshemightbeoffendedatsuchaninterruption，oratleastmighttellmeitwasnowtoolat——butifIcouldsaveher！ifshemightbemintwastoorapturousathought！