Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/83

Rh thought he looked unnecessarily confused at being so appealed to.

"I, Mrs. Markham!" said he, "you are mistaken—I don't—that is—I have seen her certainly; but I am the last person you should apply to for information respecting Mrs. Graham."

He then immediately turned to Rose, and asked her to favour the company with a song, or a tune on the piano.

"No" said she; "you must ask Miss Wilson: she outshines us all in singing, and music too."

Miss Wilson demurred.

"She'll sing readily enough," said Fergus, "if you'll undertake to stand by her, Mr. Lawrence, and turn over the leaves for her."

"I shall be most happy to do so. Miss Wilson, will you allow me?"

She bridled her long neck and smiled, and suffered him to lead her to the instrument, where she played and sang, in her very best