Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/266

254 She fixed her eyes upon me with a look that pierced me to the heart;—and yet, it made me smile.

"I don't ask the reason of this change, Gilbert," said she with bitter calmness.—"I know it too well; but though I could see myself suspected and condemned by every one else, and bear it with calmness, I cannot endure it from you—Why did you not come to hear my explanation on the day I appointed to give it?"

"Because, I happened, in the interim, to learn all you would have told me,—and a trifle more I imagine."

"Impossible, for I would have told you all!" cried she, passionately—"But I won't now, for I see you are not worthy of it!"

And her pale lips quivered with agitation.

"Why not, may I ask?"

She repelled my mocking smile with a glance of scornful indignation.

"Because, you never understood me, or you would not soon have listened to my traducers—