Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/293

Rh the son of a late friend of my uncle's. He asked me to dance. I gladly consented, of course; and he was my companion during the remainder of my stay, which was not long, for my aunt, as usual, insisted upon an early departure.

I was sorry to go, for I had found my new acquaintance a very lively and entertaining companion. There was a certain, graceful ease and freedom about all he said and did, that gave a sense of repose and expansion to the mind, after so much constraint and formality as I had been doomed to suffer. There might be, it is true, a little too much careless boldness in his manner and address, but I was in so good a humour, and so grateful for my late deliverance from Mr. Boarham, that it did net [sic] anger me.

"Well, Helen, how do you like Mr. Boarham now?" said my aunt, as we took our seats in the carriage and drove away.

"Worse than ever," I replied.

She looked displeased but said no more on that subject.