Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/97

Rh. Vain hope, I fear! but still, till such a time of trial comes, I will forbear to think of my quiet asylum in the beloved old hall.

Mr. and Mrs. Hattersley have been staying at the Grove a fortnight; and as Mr. Hargrave is still absent, and the weather was remarkably fine, I never passed a day without seeing my two friends, Milicent and Esther, either there or here. On one occasion, when Mr. Hattersley had driven them over to Grass-dale in the phaeton, with little Helen and Ralph, and we were all enjoying ourselves in the garden—I had a few minutes conversation with that gentleman, while the ladies were amusing themselves with the children.

"Do you want to hear anything of your husband, Mrs, Huntingdon?" said he.

"No, unless you can tell me when to expect him home."

"I can't.—You don't want him, do you?" said he with a broad grin.