Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/23

Rh Our parent soothingly stroked his stiff, short curls. He growled, and tried to look sulky, and then, we all took our seats at the table, in obedience to the thrice repeated summons of Rose.

"Now take your tea," said she; "and I'll tell you what I've been doing. I've been to call on the Wilsons; and it's a thousand pities you didn't go with me, Gilbert, for Eliza Millward was there!"

"Well! what of her?"

"Oh nothing!—I'm not going to tell you about her;—only that she's a nice, amusing little thing, when she is in a merry humour, and I shouldn't mind calling her"

"Hush, hush, my dear! your brother has no such idea!" whispered my mother earnestly, holding up her finger.

"Well," resumed Rose; "I was going to tell you an important piece of news I heard there—I've been bursting with it ever since. You know it was reported a month ago, that some