Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/52

42 the effects of it, such cruel torments that they know it to be indeed reality—But what can you do in the cold, rough world alone? you, a young and inexperienced woman, delicately nurtured, and utterly—"

"In a word, you would advise me to stay where I am," interrupted I. "Well, I'll see about it."

"By all means, leave him!" cried he earnestly, " but alone! Helen! let me protect you!"

"Never!—while heaven spares my reason," replied I, snatching away the hand he had presumed to seize and press between his own. But he was in for it now; he had fairly broken the barrier: he was completely roused, and determined to hazard all for victory.

"I must not be denied!" exclaimed he vehemently; and seizing both my hands, he held them very tight, but dropped upon his knee, and looked up in my face with a half-imploring, half-imperious gaze. "You have no