Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/172

160 when you hear ill-natured reports, Miss Eliza, I will thank you—that is, I think you will do well to refrain from repeating them. I presume the person you allude to is Mr. Lawrence; but I think I can assure you that your suspicions, in that respect, are utterly misplaced; and if he has any particular connection with the lady at all, (which no one has a right to assert,) at least, he has (what cannot be said of some others,) sufficient sense of propriety to withhold him from acknowledging anything more than a bowing acquaintance in the presence of respectable persons—he was evidently both surprised and annoyed to find her here."

"Go it!" cried Fergus, who sat on the other side of Eliza, and was the only individual who shared that side of the table with us; "go-it like bricks! mind you don't leave her one stone upon another."

Miss Wilson drew herself up with a look of freezing scorn, but said nothing. Eliza would have replied, but I interrupted her by saying