Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/32

22 the villain. "But I'd never give up an old friend for the sake of a wife. You may have mine if you like, and I call that handsome—I can do no more than offer restitution, can I?"

But Lowborough had gained the bottom of the stairs, and was now crossing the hall; and Mr. Huntingdon, leaning over the banisters, called out,—"Give my love to Annabella!—and I wish you both a happy journey," and withdrew laughing to his chamber.

He subsequently expressed himself rather glad she was gone: "She was so deuced imperious and exacting," said he: "now I shall be my own man again, and feel rather more at my ease."

I know nothing more of Lord Lowborough's subsequent proceedings but what I have heard from Milicent, who, though she is ignorant of the cause of his separation from her cousin, has informed me that such is the case; that they keep entirely separate establishments; that she leads a gay, dashing life in town and country,