Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/146

136 Hargrave, finding his services were not desired, judiciously withdrew. Shortly after, the company broke up, and as the guests were retiring to their rooms, Arthur approached me, smiling with the utmost assurance.

"Are you very angry, Helen?" murmured he.

"This is no jest, Arthur," said I seriously, but as calmly as I could—"unless you think it a jest to lose my affection for ever."

"What! so bitter?" he exclaimed, laughingly clasping my hand between both his; but I snatched it away, in indignation—almost in disgust, for he was obviously affected with wine.

"Then I must go down on my knees," said he; and kneeling before me with clasped hands uplifted in mock humiliation, he continued imploringly—"Forgive me, Helen!—dear Helen forgive me, and I'll never do it again!" and burying his face in his handkerchief, he affected to sob aloud.

Leaving him thus employed, I took my