Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/288

278 forgotten that. Perhaps you can assist me to remember it. Is there not some one that lives near—or frequently visits the neighbourhood, that has long been attached to her? a Mr.— oh dear!—Mr.—"

"Hargrave?" suggested I, with a bitter smile.

"You're right!" cried she, "that was the very name."

"Impossible, Miss Eliza!!" I exclaimed in a tone that made her start.

"Well, you know, that's what they told me," said she, composedly staring me in the face. And then she broke out into a long shrill laugh that put me to my wits' end with fury.

"Really, you must excuse me," cried she: "I know it's very rude, but ha, ha, ha!—did you think to marry her yourself? Dear, dear, what a pity! ha, ha, ha!—Gracious, Mr. Markham! are you going to faint? O mercy! shall I call this man? Here, Jacob—" But checking the word on her lips, I seized her arm and gave