Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/368

356 best man that ever went to heaven—and as for her happiness, I would sacrifice my body and soul—"

"Body and soul Mr. Huntingdon—sacrifice your soul?"

"Well, I would lay down life—"

"You would not be required to lay it down."

"I would spend it, then—devote my life—and all its powers to the promotion and preservation—"

"Another time, sir, we will talk of this—and I should have felt disposed to judge more favourably of your pretensions, if you too had chosen another time and place, and—let me add—another manner for your declaration."

"Why, you see, Mrs. Maxwell," he began—

"Pardon me, sir," said she, with dignity—"The company are enquiring for you in the other room." And she turned to me.