Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 2.djvu/53

Rh I can't bear my own thoughts.' And he folded his arms and leant back in his chair; so we let him be. But I left the glass by him; and after a while, Grimsby directed my attention towards it, by a significant wink; and, on turning my head, I saw it was drained to the bottom. He made me a sign to replenish, and quietly pushed up the bottle. I willingly complied; but Lowborough detected the pantomime, and, nettled at the intelligent grins that were passing between us, snatched the glass from my hand, dashed the contents of it in Grimsby's face, threw the empty tumbler at me, and then bolted from the room."

"I hope he broke your head," said I.

"No, love," replied he, laughing immoderately at the recollection of the whole affair, "he would have done so,—and perhaps spoilt my face, too, but providentially, this forest of curls," (taking off his hat and shewing his luxuriant chestnut locks,) "saved my skull, and prevented the glass from breaking till it reached the table."