Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/179

Rh lest my appearance should drive her away; and when I did step forward, she stood still and seemed inclined to turn back as it was.

"Oh, don't let us disturb you Mr. Markham!" said she. "We came here to seek retirement ourselves; not to intrude on your seclusion."

"I am no hermit, Mrs. Graham—though I own it looks rather like it, to absent myself in this uncourteous fashion from my guests."

"I feared you were unwell," said she with a look of real concern.

"I was rather, but it's over now. Do sit here a little, and rest, and tell me how you like this arbour," said I, and lifting Arthur by the shoulders, I planted him in the middle of the seat by way of securing his mamma, who, acknowledging it to be a tempting place of refuge, threw herself back in one corner, while I took possession of the other.

But that word refuge disturbed me. Had their unkindness then really driven her to seek for peace in solitude?