Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/257

Rh him, you would not exchange him for another; but then you would gladly exchange some of his qualities for those of better men."

"Yes; just as I would gladly exchange some of my own qualities for those of better women; for neither he nor I are perfect, and I desire his improvement as earnestly as my own. And he will improve—don't you think so Helen?—he's only six and twenty yet."

"He may," I answered.

"He will—he !" repeated she.

"Excuse the faintness of my acquiescence, Milicent; I would not discourage your hopes for the world, but mine have been so often disappointed, that I am become as cold and doubtful in my expectations as the flattest of octogenarians."

"And yet you do hope, still—even for Mr. Huntingdon?"

"I do, I confess—'even' for him; for it seems as if life and hope must cease together. And is he so much worse, Milicent, than Mr. Hattersley?"