TheTenantofWildfellHall：Ifeltstronglytempted，attimes，toenlightenmymotherandsisterontherealcharacterandcircumstancesofthepersecutedtenantofWildfellHall；andatfirstIgreatlyregrettedhavingomittedtoaskthatlady’spermissiontodoso；but，onduereflection，Iconsideredthatifitwereknowntothem，itcouldnotlongremainasecrettotheMillwardsandWilsons，andsuchwasmypresentappreciationofElizaMillward’sdisposition，that，ifonceshegotacluetothestory，IshouldfearshewouldsoonfindmeanstoenlightenMr。Huntingdonupontheplaceofhiswife’sretreat。
　　Iwouldthereforewaitpatientlytillthesewearysixmonthswereover，andthen，whenthefugitivehadfoundanotherhome，andIwaspermittedtowritetoher，Iwouldbegtobeallowedtoclearhernamefromthesevilecalumnies：atpresentImustcontentmyselfwithsimplyassertingthatIknewthemtobefalse，andwouldproveitsomeday，totheshameofthosewhoslanderedher。Idon’tthinkanybodybelievedme：buteverybodysoonlearnedtoavoidinsinuatingawordagainsther，orevenmentioninghernameinmypresence。TheythoughtIwassomadlyinfatuatedbytheseductionsofthatunhappyladythatIwasdeterminedtosupportherintheveryfaceofreason；andmeantimeIgrewinsupportablymoroseandmisanthropicalfromtheideathateveryoneImetwasharbouringunworthythoughtsofthesupposedMrs。Graham，andwouldexpressthemifhedared。Mypoormotherwasquitedistressedaboutme；butIcouldn’thelpit——atleastIthoughtIcouldnot；thoughsometimesIfeltapangofremorseformyundutifulconducttoher，andmadeanefforttoamend，attendedwithsomepartialsuccess——andindeedIwasgenerallymorehumanizedinmydemeanourtoherthantoanyoneelse，Mr。Lawrenceexcepted。RoseandFergususuallyshunnedmypresence；anditwaswelltheydid，forIwasnotfitcompanyforthem，northeyforme，underthepresentcircumstances。
　　Mrs。HuntingdondidnotleaveWildfellHalltillabovetwomonthsafterourfarewellinterview。Duringthattimesheneverappearedatchurch，andIneverwentnearthehouse：Ionlyknewshewasstilltherebyherbrother’sbriefanswerstomymanyandvariedenquiriesrespectingher。
　　Iwasaveryconstantandattentivevisitortohimthroughoutthewholeperiodofhisillnessandconvalescence；notonlyfromtheinterestItookinhisrecovery，andmydesiretocheerhimupandmaketheutmostpossibleamendsformyformer`brutality，’butfrommygrowingattachmenttohimself，andtheincreasingpleasureIfoundinhissociety——partly，fromhisincreasedcordialitytome，butchiefly。onaccountofhiscloseconnection——bothinbloodandinaffection——withmyadoredHelen。IlovedhimforitbetterthanIlikedtoexpress；andItookasecretdelightinpressingthoseslender，whitefingers，somarvellouslylikeherown，considering`hewasnotawoman，andinwatchingthepassingchangesinhisfair，palefeatures，andobservingtheintonationsofhisvoice——detectingresemblanceswhichIwonderedhadneverstruckmebefore。Heprovokedmeattimes，indeed，byhisevidentreluctancetotalktomeabout。hissister，thoughIdidnotquestionthefriendlinessofhismotivesinwishingtodiscouragemyremembranceofher。
　　Hisrecoverywasnotquitesorapidashehadexpectedittobe：
　　hewasnotabletomounthisponytillafortnightafterthedateofourreconciliation；andthefirstusehemadeofhisreturningstrength，wastorideoverbynighttoWildfellHall，toseehissister。Itwasahazardousenterprisebothforhimandforher，buthethoughtitnecessarytoconsultwithheronthesubjectofherprojecteddeparture，ifnottocalmherapprehensionsrespectinghishealth，andtheworstresultwasaslightrelapseofhisillness；fornooneknewofthevisit，buttheinmatesoftheoldHall——exceptmyself，andIbelieveithadnotbeenhisintentiontomentionittome，forwhenIcametoseehimthenextday，andobservedhewasnotsowellasheoughttohavebeen，hemerelysaidhehadcaughtcoldbybeingouttoolateintheevening。
　　`You’llneverbeabletoseeyoursister，ifyoudon’ttakecareofyourself，’saidI，alittleprovokedatthecircumstanceonheraccount，insteadofcommiseratinghim。
　　`I’veseenheralready，’saidhe，quietly。
　　`You’veseenher！’criedI，inastonishment。
　　`Yes。’Andthenhetoldmewhatconsiderationshadimpelledhimtomaketheventure，andwithwhatprecautionshehadmadeit。
　　`Andhowwasshe？’Ieagerlyasked。
　　`Asusual，’wasthebriefthoughsadreply。
　　`Asusual——thatis，farfromhappyandfarfromstrong。’
　　`Sheisnotpositivelyill，’returnedhe；`andshewillrecoverherspiritsinawhileIhavenodoubt——Butsomanytrialshavebeenalmosttoomuchforher。Howthreateningthosecloudslook！’continuedhe，turningtowardsthewindow。`Weshallhavethundershowersbeforenight，Iimagine；
　　andtheyarejustinthemidstofstackingmycorn。Haveyougotyoursallinyet？’
　　`No——AndLawrence，didshe——didyoursistermentionme？’
　　`SheaskedifIhadseenyoulately。’
　　`Andwhatelsedidshesay？’
　　`Icannottellyouallshesaid，’repliedhewithaslightsmile，`forwetalkedagooddeal，thoughmystaywasbutshort；butourconversationwaschieflyonthesubjectofherintendeddeparture，whichIbeggedhertodelaytillIwasbetterabletoassistherinhersearchafteranotherhome。’
　　`Butdidshesaynomoreaboutme？’
　　`Shedidnotsaymuchaboutyou，Markham。Ishouldnothaveencouragedhertodoso，hadshebeeninclined；buthappilyshewasnot：sheonlyaskedafewquestionsconcerningyou，andseemedsatisfiedwithmybriefanswers；whereinsheshowedherselfwiserthanherfriend——andImaytellyoutoo，thatsheseemedtobefarmoreanxiouslestyoushouldthinktoomuchofher，thanlestyoushouldforgether。’
　　`Shewasright。’
　　`ButIfearyouranxietyisquitetheotherway，respectingher。’
　　`No，itisnot：Iwishhertobehappy；butIdon’twishhertoforgetmealtogether。SheknowsitisimpossiblethatIshouldforgether；andsheisrighttowishmenottorememberhertoowell。Ishouldnotdesirehertoregretmetoodeeply；butIcanscarcelyimagineshewillmakeherselfveryunhappyaboutme，becauseIknowIamnotworthyofit，exceptinmyappreciationofher。’
　　`Youareneitherofyouworthyofabrokenheart，——norofallthesighs，andtears，andsorrowfulthoughtsthathavebeen，andIfearwillbewasteduponyouboth；butatpresent，eachhasamoreexaltedopinionoftheotherthan，Ifear，heorshedeserves；andmysister’sfeelingsarenaturallyfullaskeenasyours，andIbelievemoreconstant；
　　butshehasthegoodsenseandfortitudetostriveagainsttheminthisparticular；andItrustshewillnotresttillshehasentirelyweanedherthoughts——’hehesitated。
　　`Fromme，’saidI。
　　`AndIwishyouwouldmakethelikeexertions，’continuedhe。
　　`Didshetellyouthatthatwasherintention？’
　　`No；thequestionwasnotbroachedbetweenus：therewasnonecessityforit，forIhadnodoubtthatsuchwasherdetermination。
　　`Toforgetme？’
　　`YesMarkham！Whynot？’
　　`Oh！well，’wasmyonlyaudiblereply；butIinternallyanswered，——`No，Lawrence，you’rewrongthere，sheisnotdeterminedtoforgetme。
　　Itwouldbewrongtoforgetonesodeeplyandfondlydevotedtoher，whocansothoroughlyappreciateherexcellenciesandsympathizewithallherthoughtsasIcando，anditwouldbewronginmetoforgetsoexcellentanddivineapieceofGod’screationasshe，whenIhaveoncesotrulylovedandknownher。’ButIsaidnomoretohimonthatsubject。
　　Iinstantlystartedanewtopicofconversation，andsoontookleaveofmy。companion，withafeelingoflesscordialitytowardshimthanusual。
　　PerhapsIhadnorighttobeannoyedathim，butIwassonevertheless。
　　Inlittlemorethanaweekafterthis，ImethimreturningfromavisittotheWilsons；andInowresolvedtodohimagoodturn，thoughattheexpenseofhisfeelings，and，perhaps，attheriskofincurringthatdispleasurewhichissocommonlytherewardofthosewhogivedisagreeableinformationortendertheiradviceunasked。Inthis，believeme，IwasactuatedbynomotivesofrevengefortheoccasionalannoyancesIhadlatelysustainedfromhim，——noryetbyanyfeelingofmalevolentenmitytowardsMissWilson，butpurelybythefactthatIcouldnotendurethatsuchawomanshouldbeMrs。Huntingdon’ssister，andthat，aswellforhisownsakeasforhers，Icouldnotbeartothinkofhisbeingdeceivedintoaunionwithonesounworthyofhim，andsoutterlyunfittedtobethepartnerofhisquiethome，andthecompanionofhislife。Hehadhaduncomfortablesuspicionsonthatheadhimself，Iimagined，butsuchwashisinexperience，andsuchwerethelady’spowersofattractionandherskillinbringingthemtobearuponhisyoungimagination，thattheyhadnotdisturbedhimlong，andIbelievetheonlyeffectualcauseofthevacillatingindecisionthathadpreservedhimhithertofrommakinganactualdeclarationoflove，wastheconsiderationofherconnections，andespeciallyofhermother，whomhecouldnotabide。Hadtheylivedatadistance，hemighthavesurmountedtheobjection，butwithintwoorthreemilesofWoodford，itwasreallynolightmatter。
　　`You’vebeentocallontheWilsons，Lawrence，’saidIasIwalkedbesidehispony。
　　`Yes，’repliedhe，slightlyavertinghisface：`Ithoughtitbutciviltotakethefirstopportunityofreturningtheirkindattentions，sincetheyhavebeensoveryparticularandconstantintheirenquiries，throughoutthewholecourseofmyillness。’
　　`It’sallMissWilson’sdoing。’
　　`Andifitis，’returnedhe，withaveryperceptibleblush，`isthatanyreasonwhyIshouldnotmakeasuitableacknowledgment？’
　　`Itisareasonwhyyoushouldnotmaketheacknowledgmentshelooksfor。’
　　`Letusdropthatsubjectifyouplease，’saidheinevidentdispleasure。
　　`No，Lawrence，withyourleavewe’llcontinueitawhilelonger；
　　andI’lltellyousomething，nowwe’reaboutit，whichyoumaybelieveornotasyouchoose——onlypleasetorememberthatitisnotmycustomtospeakfalsely，andthatinthiscase，Icanhavenomotiveformisrepresentingthetruth——’
　　`Well，Markham！whatnow？’
　　`MissWilsonhatesyoursister。Itmaybenaturalenoughthat，inherignoranceoftherelationship，sheshouldfeelsomedegreeofenmityagainsther，butnogoodoramiablewomanwouldbecapableofevincingthatbitter，cold-blooded，designingmalicetowardsafanciedrivalthatIhaveobservedinher。’
　　`Markham！！’
　　`Yes——anditismybeliefthatElizaMillwardandshe，ifnottheveryoriginatorsoftheslanderousreportsthathavebeenpropagated，weredesignedlytheencouragersandchiefdisseminatorsofthem。Shewasnotdesiroustomixupyournameinthematter，ofcourse，butherdelightwas，andstillis，toblackenyoursister’scharactertotheutmostofherpowerwithoutriskingtoogreatlytheexposureofherownmalevolence！’
　　`Icannotbelieveit，’interruptedmycompanion，hisfaceburningwithindignation。
　　`Well，asIcannotproveit，Imustcontentmyselfwithassertingthatitissotothebestofmybelief，butasyouwouldnotwillinglymarryMissWilsonifitmereso，youwilldowelltobecautious，tillyouhaveprovedittobeotherwise。’
　　`Inevertoldyou，Markham，thatIintendedtomarryMissWilson，’saidheproudly。
　　`No，butwhetheryoudoornot，sheintendstomarryyou。’
　　`Didshetellyouso？’
　　`No，but——’
　　`Thenyouhavenorighttomakesuchanassertionrespectingher。’
　　Heslightlyquickenedhispony’space，butIlaidmyhandonitsmane，determinedheshouldnotleavemeyet。
　　`Waitamoment，Lawrence，andletmeexplainmyself，anddon’tbesovery——Idon’tknowwhattocallit——inaccessibleasyouare。aknowwhatyouthinkofJaneWilson；andIbelieveIknowhowfaryouaremistakeninyouropinion：youthinksheissingularlycharming，elegant，sensible，andrefined：youarenotawarethatsheisselfish，cold-hearted，ambitious，artful，shallow-minded——’
　　`Enough，Markham，enough。’
　　`No；letmefinish——Youdon’tknowthat，ifyoumarriedher，yourhomewouldberaylessandcomfortless；anditwouldbreakyourheartatlasttofindyourselfunitedtoonesowhollyincapableofsharingyourtastes，feelings，andideas——soutterlydestituteofsensibility，goodfeeling，andtruenobilityofsoul。’