Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/277

Rh were not too drunk to be fully conscious of what you were about, and quite responsible for the deed."

"You wanted to interfere between me and my wife," grumbled Hattersley, "and that is enough to provoke any man."

"You justify it then?" said his opponent, darting upon him a most vindictive glance.

"No, I tell you I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been under excitement; and if you choose to bear malice for it, after all the handsome things I've said—do so and be damned!"

I would refrain from such language in a lady's presence, at least," said Mr. Hargrave, hiding his anger under a mask of disgust.

"What have I said?" returned Hattersley, "Nothing but Heaven's truth—he will be damned, won't he, Mrs. Huntingdon, if he doesn't forgive his brother's trespasses?"

"You ought to forgive him, Mr. Hargrave, since he asks you," said I.

"Do you say so? Then I will!" And,