Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/328

318 "This is the last day I shall burden your hospitality," said she, as she seated herself at the table. "Ah, here comes one that will not rejoice at it!" she murmured, half to herself, as Arthur entered the room.

He shook hands with her and wished her good morning: then, looking lovingly in her face, and still retaining her hand in his, murmured pathetically,—

"The last—last day!"

"Yes," said she with some asperity; "and I rose early to make the best of it—I have been here alone this half hour, and you, you lazy creature—"

"Well, I thought I was early too," said he—"but," dropping his voice almost to a whisper, "you see we are not alone."

"We never are," returned she. But they were almost as good as alone, for I was now standing at the window, watching the clouds, and struggling to suppress my wrath.

Some more words passed between them,