Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/242

230 conversable humour myself, the two ladies between them managed to keep up a pretty continuous fire of small talk. But Eliza took advantage of the first convenient pause to ask if I had lately seen Mrs. Graham, in a tone of merely casual inquiry, but with a sidelong glance—intended to be playfully mischievous—really, brimful and running over with malice.

"Not lately," I replied, in a careless tone, but sternly repelling her odious glances with my eyes; for I was vexed to feel the colour mounting to my forehead, despite my strenuous efforts to appear unmoved.

"What! are you beginning to tire already? I thought so noble a creature would have power to attach you for a year at least!"

"I would rather not speak of her now."

"Ah! then you are convinced at last, of your mistake—you have at length discovered that your divinity is not quite the immaculate—"

"I desired you not to speak of her, Miss Eliza."