Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/22

12 old and ugly before your time, and had already made his fire-side as comfortless as a convent cell—You smile Mrs. Huntingdon—nothing moves you. I wish my nature were as calm as yours!"

"My nature was not originally calm," said I: "I have learned to appear so by dint of hard lessons, and many repeated efforts."

At this juncture Mr. Hattersley burst into the room.

"Hallow, Lowborough!" he began—"Oh! I beg your pardon," he exclaimed on seeing me; "I didn't know it was a tête-à-tête. Cheer up, man!" he continued, giving Lord Lowborough a thump on the back, which caused the latter to recoil from him with looks of ineffable disgust and irritation. "Come, I want to speak with you a bit."

"Speak, then."

"But I'm not sure it would be quite agreeable to the lady, what I have to say."

"Then it would not be agreeable to me," said his lordship, turning to leave the room.