Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/210

200 "I do; but you needn't shrink away from me, as if I were your greatest enemy: I am come to take care of you, and do what none of them would do."

"For God's sake, don't torment me now!" cried he in pitiable agitation; and then he began to mutter bitter curses against me, or the evil fortune that had brought me there; while I put down the sponge and basin, and resumed my seat at the bed-side.

"Where are they?" said he—"have they all left me—servants and all?"

"There are servants within call, if you want them; but you had better lie down now and be quiet: none of them could or would attend you as carefully as I shall do."

"I can't understand it at all," said he, in bewildered perplexity. "Was it a dream that——" and he covered his eyes with his hand, as if trying to unravel the mystery.

"No Arthur, it was not a dream, that your conduct was such as to oblige me to leave you;