Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/68

58 CHAPTER III.

10th, 1827. While writing the above, yesterday evening, I sat in the drawing-room. Mr. Huntingdon was present, but, as I thought, asleep on the sofa behind me. He had risen however, unknown to me, and, actuated by some base spirit of curiosity, been looking over my shoulder for I know not how long; for when I had laid aside my pen, and was about to close the book, he suddenly placed his hand upon it, and saying—"With your leave, my dear, I'll have a look at this," forcibly wrested