Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/173

Rh as calmly as I could, though in a tone which betrayed, no doubt, some little of what I felt within,—

"We have had enough of this subject: if we can only speak to slander our betters, let us hold our tongues."

"I think you'd better," observed Fergus; "and so does our good parson: he has been addressing the company in his richest vein all the while, and eyeing you, from time to time, with looks of stern distaste, while you sat there, irreverently whispering and muttering together; and once he paused in the middle of a story—or a sermon, I don't know which, and fixed his eyes upon you, Gilbert, as much as to say—'When Mr. Markham has done flirting with those two ladies I will proceed?'"

What more was said at the tea table I cannot tell; nor how I found patience to sit till the meal was over. I remember, however, that I swallowed with difficulty the remainder of the tea that was in my cup, and eat nothing; and