Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/231

Rh coffee, bringing it to him myself, and before I served either of the ladies, by way of balancing her contempt by my exceeding deference. He took it mechanically from my hand, with a slight inclination, and, next minute, rose and placed it untasted on the table, looking, not at it, but at her.

"Well, Annabella," said he, in a deep and hollow tone, "since my presence is disagreeable to you, I will relieve you of it."

"Are you going back to them, then?" said she, carelessly.

"No," exclaimed he, with harsh and startling emphasis; "I will go back to them! And I will never stay with them one moment longer than I think right, for you or any other tempter! But you needn't mind that—I shall never trouble you again, by intruding my company upon you so unseasonably."

He left the room, I heard the hall door open and shut, and immediately after, on putting aside the curtain, I saw him pacing down the