Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/199

Rh "What a shame it is," said I, as I took the empty glass from his hand, "for a strong young man like you to reduce yourself to such a state!"

"If you knew all, my girl, you'd say rather, 'What a wonder it is you can bear it so well as you do.' I've lived more in these four months, Helen, than you have in the whole course of your existence, or will to the end of your days, if they numbered a hundred years;—so I must expect to pay for it in some shape."

"You will have to pay a higher price tha [sic] you anticipate, if you don't take care—there will be the total loss of your own health, and of my affection too—if that is of any value to you."

"What, you're at that game of threatening me with the loss of your affection again, are you? I think it couldn't have been very genuine stuff to begin with, if it's so easily demolished. If you don't mind, my pretty