Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/276

266 impunity," replied Mr. Hargrave, coming forward, "but I must say, I thank God I am not such another."

"Perhaps it would become you better," said I, "to look at what you are, and say, "God be merciful to me a sinner."

"You are severe," returned he, bowing slightly and drawing himself up with a proud yet injured air. Hattersley laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder. Moving from under his hand with a gesture of insulted dignity, Mr. Hargrave took himself away to the other end of the rug.

"Isn't it a shame, Mrs. Huntingdon?" cried his brother-in-law—"I struck Walter Hargrave when I was drunk, the second night after we came, and he's turned a cold shoulder on me ever since; though I asked his pardon the very morning after it was done!"

"Your manner of asking it," returned the other, "and the clearness with which you remembered the whole transaction, showed you