Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/279

Rh something to reveal to you which you ought to know, and which, yet, it pains me inexpressibly—"

"Then don't trouble yourself to reveal it!'

"But it is of importance—"

"If so, I shall hear it soon enough—especially if it is bad news, as you seem to consider it. At present, I am going to take the children to the nursery."

"But can't you ring, and send them?"

"No; I want the exercise of a run to the top of the house—Come Arthur."

"But you will return?"

"Not yet; don't wait."

"Then, when may I see you again?"

"At lunch," said I, departing with little Helen in one arm, and leading Arthur by the hand.

He turned away, muttering some sentence of impatient censure or complaint, in which "heartless" was the only distinguishable word.

"What nonsense is this Mr. Hargrave?"