Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/183

Rh "You've seen her!" cried I, in astonishment.

"Yes." And then he told me what considerations had impelled him to make the venture, and with what precautions he had made it.

"And how was she?" I eagerly asked.

"As usual," was the brief though sad reply.

"As usual—that is, far from happy and far from strong."

"She is not positively ill," returned he; "and she will recover her spirits in a while I have no doubt—but so many trials have been almost too much for her. How threatening those clouds look!" continued he, turning towards the window. "We shall have thunder showers before night, I imagine; and they are just in the midst of stacking my corn. Have you got yours all in yet?"

"No.—And Lawrence, did she— did your sister mention me?"

"She asked if I had seen you lately."