Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/210

198 conduct, and all I have reason to suspect, and what others tell me concerning you.'—So I told her!"

"You did sir?" cried I, starting from my seat, and striking my fist on the table. He merely glanced towards me, and continued—addressing his hostess;—

"It was a painful duty, Mrs. Markham—but I told her!"

"And how did she take it?" asked my mother.

"Hardened, I fear—hardened!" he replied, with a despondent shake of the head; "and at the same time, there was a strong display of unchastened, misdirected passions. She turned white in the face, and drew her breath through her teeth in a savage sort of way;—but she offered no extenuation or defence; and with a kind of shameless calmness—shocking indeed to witness, in one so young—as good as told me that my remonstrance was unavailing, and my pastoral advice quite thrown away upon her—nay, that my very presence was displeasing