Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/248

238 "But you can say 'yes' or 'no' as well as 'I can't tell'—Come!"

"Yes," she whispered, hanging her head and blushing at the awful acknowledgement.

"Curse you for an impertinent huzzy then!" cried he, throwing her from him with such violence that she fell on her side; but she was up again before either I or her brother could come to her assistance, and made the best of her way out of the room and, I suppose, up stairs, without loss of time.

The next object of assault was Arthur, who sat opposite, and had no doubt richly enjoyed the whole scene.

"Now Huntingdon," exclaimed his irascible friend, I have you sitting there and laughing like an idiot!"

"Oh, Hattersley!" cried he, wiping his swimming eyes—"you'll be the death of me."

"Yes I will, but not as you suppose: I'll have the heart out of your body, man, if you irritate me with any more of that imbecile