Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/325

Rh gladness, and the bright locks clustering beneath his cap.

"Am I not grown?" said he, stretching himself up to his full height.

"Grown! three inches upon my word?"

"I was seven last birthday," was the proud rejoinder. "In seven years more, I shall be as tall as you, nearly."

"Arthur," said his mother, "tell him to come in. Go on Richard."

There was a touch of sadness as well as coldness in her voice, but I knew not to what to ascribe it. The carriage drove on and entered the gates before us. My little companion led me up the park, discoursing merrily all the way. Arrived at the hall door, I paused on the steps and looked round me, waiting to recover my composure, if possible—or at any rate, to remember my new formed resolutions and the principles on which they were founded; and it was not till Arthur had been for some time gently pulling my coat, and repeating his