Andtheydidlookbeautiful，whereatintervalsthelevelraysofthesun，penetratingthethicknessoftreesandshrubsontheoppositesideofthepathbeforeus，relievedtheirduskyverdurebydisplayingpatchesofsemitransparentleavesofresplendentgoldengreen。
`IalmostwishIwerenotapainter，’observedmycompanion。
`Whyso？onewouldthinkatsuchatimeyouwouldmostexultinyourprivilegeofbeingabletoimitatethevariousbrilliantanddelightfultouchesofnature。’
`No；forinsteadofdeliveringmyselfuptothefullenjoymentoftheasothersdo，IamalwaystroublingmyheadabouthowIcouldproducethesameeffectuponcanvas；andasthatcanneverbedone，itismerevanityandvexationofspirit。’
`Perhapsyoucannotdoittosatisfyyourself，butyoumayanddosucceedindelightingotherswiththeresultofyourendeavours。’
`Well，afterallIshouldnotcomplain：perhapsfewpeoplegaintheirlivelihoodwithsomuchpleasureintheirtoilasIdo。Hereissomeonecoming。’
Sheseemedvexedattheinterruption。
`ItisonlyMrLawrenceandMissWilson，’saidI，`comingtoenjoyaquietstroll。Theywillnotdisturbus。’
Icouldnotquitedeciphertheexpressionofherface；butIwassatisfiedtherewasnojealousytherein。WhatbusinesshadItolookforit？
`WhatsortofapersonisMissWilson？’sheasked。
`Sheiselegantandaccomplishedabovethegeneralityofherbirthandstation；andsomesaysheisladylikeandagreeable。’
`Ithoughthersomewhatfrigid，andrathersuperciliousinhermannertoday。’
`Verylikelyshemightbesotoyou。Shehaspossiblytakenaprejudiceagainstyou，forIthinksheregardsyouinthelightofarival。’
`Me？Impossible，MrMarkham！’saidshe，evidentlyastonishedandannoyed。
`Well，Iknownothingaboutit，’returnedI，ratherdoggedly；
forIthoughtherannoyancewaschieflyagainstmyself。
Thepairhadnowapproachedwithinafewpacesofus。Ourarbourwassetsnuglybackinacorner，beforewhichtheavenue，atitstermination，turnedoffintothemoreairywalkalongthebottomofthegarden。Astheyapproachedthis，Isaw，bytheaspectofJaneWilson，thatshewasdirectinghercompanion’sattentiontous；and，aswellbyhercold，sarcasticsmile，asbythefewisolatedwordsofherdiscoursethatreachedme，Iknewfullwellthatshewasimpressinghimwiththeideathatwewerestronglyattachedtoeachother。Inoticedthathecoloureduptothetemples，gaveusonefurtiveglanceinpassing，andwalkedon，lookinggrave，butseeminglyofferingnoreplytoherremarks。
Itwastrue，then，thathehadsomedesignsuponMrsGraham；and，weretheyhonourable，hewouldnotbesoanxioustoconcealthem。Shewasblameless，ofcourse，buthewasdetestablebeyondallcount。
Whilethesethoughtsflashedthroughmymind，mycompanionabruptlyrose，andcallingherson，saidtheywouldnowgoinquestofthecompany，anddeparteduptheavenue。DoubtlessshehadheardorguessedsomethingofMissWilson’sremarks，andtherefore，itwasnaturalenoughsheshouldchoosetocontinuethetê；te-a-tê；tenolonger，especiallyasatthatmomentmycheekswereburningwithindignationagainstmyformerfriend，thetokenofwhichshemightmistakeforablushofstupidembarrassment。
ForthisIowedMissWilsonyetanothergrudge；andstillthemoreIthoughtuponherconduct，themoreIhatedher。
ItwaslateintheeveningbeforeIjoinedthecompany。IfoundMrsGrahamalreadyequippedfordeparture，andtakingleaveoftherest，whowerenowreturnedtothehouse。Ioffered——nay，beggedtoaccompanyherhome。MrLawrencewasstandingbyatthetime，conversingwithsomeoneelse。Hedidnotlookatus，but，onhearingmyearnestrequest，hepausedinthemiddleofasentencetolistenforherreply，andwenton，withalookofquietsatisfaction，themomenthefounditwastobeadenial。
Adenialitwas，decided，thoughnotunkind。Shecouldnotbepersuadedtothinktherewasdangerforherselforherchildintraversingthoselonelylanesandfieldswithoutattendance。Itwasdaylightstill，andsheshouldmeetnoone；orifshedid，thepeoplewerequietandharmlessshewaswellassured。Infact，shewouldnothearofanyone’sputtinghimselfoutofthewaytoaccompanyher，thoughFergusvouchsafedtoofferhisservices，incasetheyshouldbemoreacceptablethanmine，andmymotherbeggedshemightsendoneofthefarming-mentoescorther。
Whenshewasgone，therestwasallablank，orworse。Lawrenceattemptedtodrawmeintoconversation，butIsnubbedhim，andwenttoanotherpartoftheroom。Shortlyafter，theparrybrokeup，andhehimselftookleave。Whenhecametome，Iwasblindtohisextendedhand，anddeaftohisgoodnighttillherepeateditasecondtime；andthen，togetridofhim，Imutteredaninarticulatereplyaccompaniedbyasulkynod。
`Whatisthematter，Markham？’whisperedhe。
Irepliedbyawrathfulandcontemptuousstare。
`AreyouangrybecauseMrsGrahamwouldnotletyougohomewithher？’heasked，withafaintsmilethatnearlyexasperatedmebeyondcontrol。
But，swallowingdownallfierceranswers，Imerelydemanded，——`Whatbusinessisitofyours？’
`Why，none，’repliedhe，withprovokingquietness；`only，’andhereheraisedhiseyestomyface，andspokewithunusualsolemnity，`onlyletmetellyou，Markham，thatifyouhaveanydesignsinthatquartertheywillcertainlyfail；anditgrievesmetoseeyoucherishingfalsehopes，andwastingyourstrengthinuselessefforts，for——`
`Hypocrite！’Iexclaimed，andheheldhisbreath，andlookedveryblank，turnedwhiteaboutthegills，andwentawaywithoutanotherword。
Ihadwoundedhimtothequick；andIwasgladofit。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter10CHAPTER10AContractandaQuarrelWHENallweregone，Ilearnedthatthevileslanderhadindeedbeencirculatedthroughoutthecompany，Intheverypresenceofthevictim。Rose，however，vowedshedidnotandwouldnotbelieveit，andmymothermadethesamedeclaration，thoughnot，Ifear，withthesameamountofreal，unwaveringincredulity。Itseemedtodwellcontinuallyonhermind，andshekeptirritatingmefromtimetotimebysuchexpressionsas——`Dear，dear，whowouldhavethoughtit！——Well！Ialwaysthoughttherewassomethingoddabouther——Youseewhatitisforwomentoaffecttobedifferenttootherpeople。’Andonceitwas，——
`Imisdoubtedthatappearanceofmysteryfromtheveryfirst——Ithoughttherewouldnogoodcomeofit；butthisisasad，sad，businesstobesure！’
`Whymother，yousaidyoudidn’tbelievethesetales，’saidFergus。
`NomoreIdo，mydear；butthen，youknow，theremustbesomefoundation。’
`Thefoundationisinthewickednessandfalsehoodoftheworld，’
saidI，`andinthefactthatMrLawrencehasbeenseentogothatwayonceortwiceofanevening——andthevillagegossipssayhegoestopayhisaddressestothestrangelady，andthescandalmongershavegreedilyseizedtherumour，tomakeitthebasisoftheirowninfernalstructure。’
`Well，butGilbert，theremustbesomethinginhermannertocountenancesuchreports。’
`Didyouseeanythinginhermanner？’
`No，certainly；butthen，youknow，Ialwayssaidtherewassomethingstrangeabouther。’
IbelieveitwasonthatveryeveningthatIventuredonanotherinvasionofWildfellHall。Fromthetimeofourparty，whichwasupwardsofaweekago，Ihadbeenmakingdailyeffortstomeetitsmistressinherwalks；and，alwaysdisappointed(shemusthavemanageditsoonpurpose)，hadnightlykeptrevolvinginmymindsomepretextforanotherAtlength，Iconcludedthattheseparationcouldbeendurednolonger(bythistime，youwillseeIwasprettyfargone)；and，takingfromthebookcaseanoldvolumethatIthoughtshemightbeinterestedin，though，fromitsunsightlyandsomewhatdilapidatedcondition，Ihadnotyetventuredtoofferitforherperusal，Ihastenedaway，——butnotwithoutsundrymisgivingsastohowshewouldreceiveme，orhowIcouldsummoncouragetopresentmyselfwithsoslightanexcuse。ButperhapsImightseeherinthefieldorthegarden，andthentherewouldbenogreatdifficulty：itwastheformalknockingatthedoor，withtheprospectofbeinggravelyusheredin，byRachel，tothepresenceofasurprised，uncordialmistress，thatsogreatlydisturbedme。
Mywish，however，wasnotgratified。MrsGrahamherselfwasnottobeseen；buttherewasArthurplayingwithhisfrolicsomelittledoginthegardenIlookedoverthegateandcalledhimtome。Hewantedmetocomein；butItoldhimIcouldnotwithouthismother’sleave。
`I’llgoandaskher，’saidthechild。
`No，no，Arthur，youmustn’tdothat，——butifshe’snotengaged，justaskhertocomehereaminute：tellherIwanttospeaktoher。’
Herantoperformmybidding，andquicklyreturnedwithhismother。
Howlovelyshelookedwithherdarkringletsstreaminginthelightsummerbreeze，herfaircheekslightlyflushed，andhercountenanceradiantwithsmiles！——Arthur！whatdidInotowetoyouforthisandeveryotherhappymeeting？——Throughhim，Iwasatoncedeliveredfromallformality，andterror，andconstraint。Inloveaffairs，thereisnomediatorlikeamerry，simpleheartedchild——everreadytocementdividedhearts，tospantheunfriendlygulfofcustom，tomelttheiceofcoldreserve，andoverthrowtheseparatingwallsofdreadformalityandpride。
`Well，MrMarkham，whatisit？’saidtheyoungmother，accostingmewithapleasantsmile。
`Iwantyoutolookatthisbook，and，ifyouplease，totakeit，andperuseitatyourleisure。Imakenoapologyforcallingyououtonsuchalovelyevening，thoughitbeforamatterofnogreaterimportance。’
`Tellhimtocomein，mamma，’saidArthur。
`Wouldyouliketocomein？’askedthelady。
`Yes；Ishouldliketoseeyourimprovementsinthegarden。’
`Andhowyoursister’srootshaveprosperedinmycharge，’addedshe，assheopenedthegate。
Andwesaunteredthroughthegarden，andtalkedoftheflowers，thetrees，andthebook，——andthenofotherthings。Theeveningwaskindandgenial，andsowasmycompanion。Bydegrees，Iwaxedmorewarmandtenderthan，perhaps，Ihadeverbeenbefore；butstillIsaidnothingtangible，andsheattemptednorepulse；until，inpassingamossrose-treethatIhadbroughthersomeweekssince，inmysister’sname，shepluckedabeautifulhalf-openbudandbademegiveittoRose。
`MayInotkeepitmyself？’Iasked。
`No；buthereisanotherforyou’
Insteadoftakingitquietly，Ilikewisetookthehandthatofferedit，andlookedintoherface。Sheletmeholditforamoment，andIsawaBashofecstaticbrillianceinhereye，aglowofgladexcitementonherface——Ithoughtmyhourofvictorywascome——butinstantly，apainfulrecollectionseemedtoflashuponher；acloudofanguishdarkenedherbrow，amarblepalenessblanchedhercheekandlip；thereseemedamomentofinwardconflict，——andwithasuddeneffort，shewithdrewherhand，andretreatedasteportwoback。
`NowMrMarkham，’saidshe，withakindofdesperatecalmness，Imusttellyouplainly，thatIcannotdowiththis。Ilikeyourcompany，becauseIamalonehere，andyourconversationpleasesmemorethanthatofanyotherperson；butifyoucannotbecontenttoregardmeasafriend——aplain，cold，motherly，orsisterlyfriend，Imustbegyoutoleavemenow，andletmealonehereafter——infact，wemustbestrangersforthefuture。’
`Iwill，then——beyourfriend，——orbrother，oranythingyouwish，ifyouwillonlyletmeContinuetoseeyou；buttellmewhyIcannotbeanythingmore？’
Therewasaperplexedandthoughtfulpause。
`Isitinconsequenceofsomerashvow？’
`Itissomethingofthekind，’sheanswered——`somedayImaytellyou，but，atpresentyouhadbetterleaveme；andnever，Gilbert，putmetothepainfulnecessityofrepeatingwhatIhavejustnowsaidtoyou！’——sheearnestlyadded，givingmeherhandinseriouskindness。Howsweet，howmusicalmyownnamesoundedinhermouth！
`Iwillnot，’Ireplied。`Butyoupardonthisoffence？’
`Onconditionthatyouneverrepeatit。’
`AndmayIcometoseeyounowandthen？’
`Perhaps，——occasionally；providedyouneverabusetheprivilege。’
`Imakenoemptypromises，butyoushallsee。’
`Themomentyoudo，ourintimacyisatanend，that’sall。’
`AndwillyoualwayscallmeGilbert？——itsoundsmoresisterly，anditwillservetoremindmeofourcontract。’
