Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/237

Rh ; but I was sick at heart,—especially when loud bursts of laughter and incoherent songs, pealing through the triple doors of hall and ante-room, startled my ear and pierced my aching temples;—and Milicent partly shared my feelings; so that, to us, the evening appeared a very long one, in spite of Hargrave's apparently, good-natured exertions to give it a contrary effect.

At last, they came; but not till after ten, when tea, which had been delayed for more than half an hour, was nearly over. Much as I had longed for their coming, my heart failed me at the riotous uproar of their approach; and Milicent turned pale and almost started from her seat as Mr. Hattersley burst into the room with a clamorous volley of oaths in his mouth, which Hargrave endeavoured to check by entreating him to remember the ladies.

"Ah! you do well to remind me of the ladies, you dastardly deserter," cried he, shaking hi [sic] formidable fist at his brother-in-law; "if it