Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/89

Rh thoroughly disgusted with them without having suffered from their effects."

"And is that right, sir? Have I not proven to you how wrong it is—how contrary to Scripture and to reason to teach a child to look with contempt and disgust upon the blessings of Providence, instead of to use them aright?"

"You may consider laudanum a blessing of Providence, sir," replied Mr. Lawrence, smiling; "and yet, you will allow that most of us had better abstain from it, even in moderation; but," added he, "I would not desire you to follow out my simile too closely—in witness whereof I finish my glass."

"And take another I hope, Mr. Lawrence," said my mother, pushing the bottle towards him.

He politely declined, and pushing his chair a little away from the table, leant back towards me—I was seated a trifle behind, on the sofa beside Eliza Millward—and carelessly asked me if I knew Mrs. Graham.