Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/247

Rh Because if there is any doubt, and if you should find yourself mistaken after all, when it is too late to turn—"

"It would be rather awkward, to be sure," said he; "but don't bother me now—I'm not going to die yet.—I can't and won't," he added vehemently, as if suddenly struck with the appalling aspect of that terrible event, "Helen, you must save me!" And he earnestly seized my hand, and looked into my face with such imploring eagerness that my heart bled for him, and I could not speak for tears." The next letter brought intelligence that the malady was fast increasing; and the poor sufferer's horror of death was still more distressing than his impatience of bodily pain. All his friends had not forsaken him, for Mr. Hattersley, hearing of his danger, had come to see him from his distant home in the north. His wife had accompanied him, as much for the pleasure of seeing her dear friend, from whom she had