Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/140

130 ever dwelling on my absent child, and on the dreadful possibility of finding him gone when I return; and surely God in his mercy will preserve me from so severe a trial: for my child's own sake, if not for mine, He will not suffer him to be torn away.

November 3rd.—I have made some further acquaintance with my neighbours. The fine gentleman and beau of the parish and its vicinity (in his own estimation, at least,) is a young.... * *  *  * Here it ended. The rest was torn away. How cruel—just when she was going to mention me! for I could not doubt it was your humble servant she was about to mention, though not very favourably of course—I could tell that, as well by those few words as by the recollection of her whole aspect and demeanour towards me in the commencement of our acquaintance. Well! I could readily forgive her