Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/358

348 offended him. Tell me what it is, that I may be your mediator, and make you friends again."

"I have done nothing willingly to offend him," said I. "If he is offended, he can best tell you himself what it is about."

"I'll ask him," cried the giddy girl, springing up and putting her head out of the window; "he's only in the garden—Walter!"

"No, no, Esther! you will seriously displease me if you do; and I shall leave you immediately, and not come again for months—perhaps years."

"Did you call, Esther?" said her brother, approaching the window from without.

"Yes; I wanted to ask you—"

"Good morning, Esther," said I, taking her hand and giving it a severe squeeze.

"To ask you," continued she, "to get me a rose for Mrs. Huntingdon." He departed. "Mrs. Huntingdon," she exclaimed, turning to me and still holding me fast by the hand,