Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/275

Rh "I know that my lady; and I think if my little wife were to follow the same plan it would be better for us both."

"I'll tell her."

"No, no, let her be; there's much to be said on both sides—and, now I think upon it, Huntingdon often regrets that you are not more like her—scoundrelly dog that he is—and you see, after all, you can't reform him: he's ten times worse than I—He's afraid of you, to be sure—that is, he's always on his best behaviour in your presence—but—"

"I wonder what his worst behaviour is like, then?" I could not forbear observing.

"Why, to tell you the truth, it's very bad indeed—isn't it, Hargrave?" said he, addressing that gentleman, who had entered the room unperceived by me, for I was now standing near the fire with my back to the door. "Isn't Huntingdon," he continued, "as great a reprobate as ever was d—d?"

"His lady will not hear him censured with