Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/233

Rh indeed be a just punishment, as far as you are concerned, if providence should take you at your word, and make you feel what others feel that—" She paused as a sudden burst of loud talking and laughter reached us from the dining room, in which the voice of Hattersley was preeminently conspicuous, even to my unpractised ear.

"What you feel at this moment, I suppose?" said Lady Lowborough, with a malicious smile, fixing her eyes upon her cousin's distressed countenance.

The latter offered no reply, but averted her face and brushed away a tear. At that moment the door opened and admitted Mr. Hargrave; just a little flushed, his dark eyes sparkling with unwonted vivacity.

"Oh, I'm glad you're come, Walter!" cried his sister—"But I wish you could have got Ralph to come too."

"Utterly impossible, dear Milicent," replied he, gaily. "I had much ado to get away