Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/207

Rh tongues!" I muttered in the bitterness of my soul.

And just at that moment, the vicar entered the room: we had been too much absorbed in our conversation to observe his knock. After his customary, cheerful and fatherly greeting of Rose, who was rather a favourite with the old gentleman, he turned somewhat sternly to me:—

"Well sir!" said he, "you're quite a stranger. It is—let—me—see," he continued slowly, as he deposited his ponderous bulk in the arm chair that Rose officiously brought towards him, "it is just—six—weeks—by my reckoning, since you darkened—my—door!" He spoke it with emphasis, and struck his stick on the floor.

"Is it sir?" said I.

"Ay! It is so!" He added an affirmatory nod, and continued to gaze upon me with a kind of irate solemnity, holding his substantial stick between his knees, with his hands clasped upon its head.