Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/369

Rh "Then you must plead for me, Helen," said he, and at length withdrew.

"You had better retire to your room, Helen," said my aunt, gravely. "I will discuss this matter with you, too, to-morrow."

"Don't be angry, aunt," said I.

"My dear, I am not angry," she replied: "I am surprised. If it is true that you told him you could not accept his offer without our consent—"

"It is true," interrupted I.

"Then how could you permit—"

"I could'nt help it, aunt," I cried bursting into tears. They were not altogether the tears of sorrow, or of fear for her displeasure, but rather the outbreak of the general tumultuous excitement of my feelings. But my good aunt was touched at my agitation. In a softer tone, she repeated her recommendation to retire, and gently kissing my forehead, bade me goodnight, and put her candle in my hand; and I