butintheforegroundwerepartofthegnarledtrunkandofthespreadingboughsofalargeforesttree，whosefoliagewasofabrilliantgoldengreen——notgoldenfromautumnalmellowness，butfromthesunshine，andtheveryimmaturityofthescarceexpandedleaves。Uponthisbough，thatstoodoutinboldreliefagainstthesombrefirs，wereseatedanamorouspairofturtledoves，whosesoftsad-colouredplumageaffordedacontrastofanothernature；andbeneathit，ayounggirlwaskneelingonthedaisy-spangledturf，withheadthrownbackandmassesoffairhairfallingonhershoulders，herhandsclasped，lipsparted，andeyesintentlygazingupwardinpleased，yetearnestcontemplationofthosefeatheredlovers——toodeeplyabsorbedineachothertonoticeher。
Ihadscarcelysettledtomywork——which，however，wantedbutafewtouchestothefinishing——whenthesportsmenpassedthewindowontheirreturnfromthestables。Itwaspartlyopen，andMrHuntingdonmusthaveseenmeashewentby，forinhalfaminutehecameback，andsettinghisgunagainstthewall，threwupthesash，andsprangin，andsethimselfbeforemypicture。
`Verypretty，i’faith！’saidhe，afterattentivelyregardingitforafewseconds——`andaveryfittingstudyforayounglady——Springjustopeningintosummer——morningjustapproachingnoon——girlhoodjustripeningintowomanhood——andhopejustvergingonfruition。She’sasweetcreature！butwhydidn’tyoumakeherblackhair？’
`Ithoughtlighthairwouldsuitherbetter。YouseeIhavemadeherblue-eyed，andplump，andfairandrosy。’
`Uponmyword——averyHebe！Ishouldfallinlovewithher，ifIhadn’ttheartistbeforeme。Sweetinnocent！she’sthinkingtherewillcomeatimewhenshewillbewooedandwonlikethatprettyhen-dove，byasfondandferventalover；andshe’sthinkinghowpleasantitwillbe，andhowtenderandfaithfulhewillfindher’
`Andperhaps，’suggestedI，`howtenderandfaithfulsheshallfindhim。’
`Perhaps——forthereisnolimittothewildextravaganceofhope’simaginings，atsuchanage。’
`Doyoucallthat，then，oneofherwild，extravagantdelusions？’
`No；myhearttellsmeitisnot。Imighthavethoughtsoonce，butnow，Isay，givemethegirlIlove，andIwillsweareternalconstancytoherandheralone，throughsummerandwinter，throughyouthandage，andlifeanddeath！ifageanddeathmustcome。’
Hespokethisinsuchseriousearnestthatmyheartboundedwithdelight；buttheminuteafterhechangedhistone，andasked，withasignificantsmile，ifIhad`anymoreportraits。’
`No，’repliedI，reddeningwithconfusionandwrath，Butmyportfoliowasonthetable；hetookitup，andcoollysatdowntoexamineitscontents。
`MrHuntingdon，thosearemyunfinishedsketches，’criedI，`andIneverletanyoneseethem。’
AndIplacedmyhandontheportfoliotowrestitfromhim；buthemaintainedhishold，assuringmethathe`likedshedsketchesofallthings。’
`ButIhatethemtobeseen，’returnedI。`Ican’tletyouhaveit，indeed！’
`Letmehaveitsbowelsthen，’saidhe；andjustasIwrenchedtheportfoliofromhishand，hedeftlyabstractedthegreaterpartofitscontents，andafterturningthemoveramoment，hecriedout，——
`Blessmystars，here’sanother！’andslippedasmallovalofivorypaperintohiswaistcoatpocket——acompleteminiatureportrait，thatIhadsketchedwithsuchtolerablesuccess，astobeinducedtocolouritwithgreatpainsandcare。ButIwasdeterminedheshouldnotkeepit。
`MrHuntingdon，’criedI，`Iinsistuponhavingthatback！Itismine，andyouhavenorighttotakeit。Giveitme，directly——I’llneverforgiveyou，ifyoudon’t！’
ButthemorevehementlyIinsisted，themoreheaggravatedmydistressbyhisinsulting，gleefullaugh。Atlength，however，herestoredittome，saying——
`Well，well，sinceyouvalueitsomuch，I’llnotdepriveyouofit。’
ToshowhimhowIvaluedit，Itoreitintwo，andthrewitintothefire。Hewasnotpreparedforthis。Hismerrimentsuddenlyceasing，hestaredinmuteamazementattheconsumingtreasure；andthen，withacareless`Humph！I’llgoandshootnow，’heturnedonhisheel，andvacatedtheapartmentbythewindowashecame，andsettingonhishatwithanair，tookuphisgunandwalkedaway，whistlingashewent——andleavingmenottoomuchagitatedtofinishmypicture；forIwasglad，atthemoment，thatIhadvexedhim。
WhenIreturnedtothedrawing。room，IfoundMrBoarhamhadventuredtofollowhiscomradestothefield；andshortlyafterlunch，towhichtheydidnotthinkofreturning，Ivolunteeredtoaccompanytheladiesinawalk，andshowAnnabellaandMilicentthebeautiesofthecountry。
Wetookalongrambleandreenteredtheparkjustasthesportsmenwerereturningfromtheirexpedition。Toil-spentandtravel-stained，themainbodyofthemcrossedoverthegrasstoavoidus；butMrHuntingdon，allspatteredandsplashedashewas，andstainedwiththebloodofhisprey——tothenosmalloffenceofmyaunt’sstrictsenseofpropriety——cameoutofhiswaytomeetus，withcheerfulsmilesandwordsforallbutme，andplacinghimselfbetweenAnnabellaWilmotandmyself，walkeduptheroadandbegantorelatethevariousexploitsanddisastersoftheday，inamannerthatwouldhaveconvulsedmewithlaughter，ifIhadbeenongoodtermswithhim；butheaddressedhimselfentirelytoAnnabella，andI，ofcourse，leftallthelaughterandallthebadinagetoher，andaffectingtheutmostindifferencetoWhateverpassedbetweenthem，walkedalongafewpacesapart，andlookingeverywaybuttheirs；whilemyauntandMilicentwentbefore，linkedarminarm，andgravelydiscoursingtogether。Atlength，MrHuntingdonturnedtome，andaddressingmeinaconfidentialwhisper，said——
`Helen，whydidyouburnmypicture？’
`BecauseIwishedtodestroyit，’Ianswered，withanasperityitisuselessnowtolament。
`Oh，verygood！’wasthereply；`ifyoudon’tvalueme，Imustturntosomebodythatwill。’
Ithoughtitwaspartlyinjest——ahalf-playfulmixtureofmockresignationandpretendedindifference；butimmediatelyheresumedhisplacebesideMissWilmot，andfromthathourtothis——duringallthatevening，andallthenextday，andthenext，andthenext，andallthismorning(the22nd)，hehasnevergivenmeonekindwordoronepleasantlook-neverspokentome，butfrompurenecessity——neverglancedtowardsme，butwithacold，unfriendlylookIthoughthimquiteincapableofassuming。
Myauntobservesthechange，andthoughshehasnotenquiredthecauseormadeanyremarktomeonthesubject，Iseeitgivesherpleasure。
MissWilmotobservesittoo，andtriumphantlyascribesittoherownsuperiorcharmsandblandishments；butIamtrulymiserable——moresothanIliketoacknowledgetomyself。Priderefusestoaidme。Ithasbroughtmeintothescrape，andwillnothelpmeoutofit。
Hemeantnoharm——itwasonlyhisjoyous，playfulspirit；andI，bymyacrimoniousresentment——soserious，sodisproportionedtotheoffence——havesowoundhisfeelings——sodeeplyoffendedhim，thatIfearhewillneverforgiveme——andallforamerejest！HethinksIdislikehim，——andhemustcontinuetothinkso。Imustlosehimforever；andAnnabellamaywinhim，andtriumphasshewill。
Butitisnotmyloss，norhertriumphthatIdeploresogreatlyasthewreckofmyfondhopesforhisadvantage，andherunworthinessofhisaffection，andtheinjuryhewilldohimselfbytrustinghishappinesstoher。Shedoesnotlovehim：shethinksonlyofherself。Shecannotappreciatethegoodthatisinhim：shewillneitherseeit，norvalueit，norcherishit。Shewillneitherdeplorehisfaultsnorattempttheiramendment，butratheraggravatethembyherown。AndIdoubtwhethershewillnotdeceivehimafterall：IseesheisplayingdoublebetweenhimandLordLowborough，andwhilesheamusesherselfwiththelivelyHuntingdon，shetriesherutmosttoenslavehismoodyfriend；andshouldshesucceedinbringingbothtoherfeet，thefascinatingcommonerwillhavebutlittlechanceagainstthelordlypeer。Ifheobservesherartfulby-play，itgiveshimnouneasiness，butratheraddsnewzesttohisdiversionbyopposingastimulatingchecktohisotherwisetooeasyconquest。
MessrsWilmotandBoarhamhaveseverallytakenoccasionbyhisneglectofmetorenewtheiradvances；andifIwerelikeAnnabellaandsomeothers，Ishouldtakeadvantageoftheirperseverancetoendeavourtopiquehimintoarevivalofaffection；but，justiceandhonestyapart，Icouldnotbeartodoit；Iamannoyedenoughbytheirpresentpersecutionswithoutencouragingthemfarther；——andevenifIdid，itwouldhavepreciouslittleeffectuponhim。Heseesmesufferingunderthecondescendingattentionsandprosaicdiscoursesoftheone，andtherepulsiveobtrusionsoftheother，withoutsomuchasashadowofcommiserationforme，orresentmentagainstmytormentors。Henevercouldhavelovedme，orhewouldnothaveresignedmesowillingly，andhewouldnotgoontalkingtoeverybodyelsesocheerfullyashedoes——laughingandjestingwithLordLowboroughandmyuncle，teasingMilicentHargrave，andflirtingwithAnnabellaWilmot——asifnothingwereonhismind。Oh，whycan’tIhatehim？Imustbeinfatuated，orIshouldscorntoregrethimasIdo！ButImustrallyallthepowersIhaveremaining，andtrytotearhimfrommyheart。Theregoesthedinnerbell——andherecomesmyaunttoscoldmeforsittinghereatmydeskallday，insteadofstayingwiththecompany——I
wishthecompanywere——gone。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter19Chapter19AnIncidentTWENTY-SECOND。Night——WhathaveIdoneandwhatwillbetheendofit？
Icannotcalmlyreflectuponit；Icannotsleep。Imusthaverecoursetomydiaryagain；Iwillcommitittopaperto-nightandseewhatIshallthinkofittomorrow。
Iwentdowntodinnerresolvingtobecheerfulandwellconducted，andkeptmyresolutionverycreditably，consideringhowmyheadached，andhowinternallywretchedIfelt——Idon’tknowwhatiscomeovermeoflate：myveryenergiesbothmentalandphysicalmustbestrangelyimpaired，orIshouldnothaveactedsoweaklyinmanyrespects，asIhavedone；——butIhavenotbeenwellthislastdayortwo：Isupposeitiswithsleepingandeatingsolittle，andthinkingsomuch，andbeingsocontinuallyoutofhumour。Buttoreturn：Iwasexertingmyselftosingandplayfortheamusement，andattherequest，ofmyauntandMilicent，beforethegentlemencameintothedrawing-room(MissWilmotneverlikestowastehermusicaleffortsonladies’earsalone)：MilicenthadaskedforalittleScotchsong，andIwasjustinthemiddleofitwhentheyentered。ThefirstthingMrHuntingdondidwastowalkuptoAnnabella：——
`Now，MissWilmot，won’tyougiveussomemusictonight？’
saidhe。`Donow！Iknowyouwill，whenItellyouthatIhavebeenhungeringandthirstingallday，forthesoundofyourvoice。Come！thepiano’svacant。’
Itwas；forIhadquitteditimmediatelyuponhearinghispetition，HadIbeenendowedwithaproperdegreeofself-possession，Ishouldhaveturnedtotheladymyself，andcheerfullyjoinedmyentreatiestohis；
wherebyIshouldhavedisappointedhisexpectations，iftheaffronthadbeenpurposelygiven，ormadehimsensibleofthewrong，ifithadonlyarisenfromthoughtlessness；butIfeltittoodeeplytodoanythingbutrisefromthemusic-stool，andthrowmyselfbackonthesofa，suppressingwithdifficultytheaudibleexpressionofthebitternessIfeltwithin。
IknewAnnabella’smusicaltalentsweresuperiortomine，butthatwasnoreasonwhyIshouldbetreatedasaperfectnonentity。Thetimeandthemannerofhisaskingherappearedlikeagratuitousinsulttome；andIcouldhaveweptwithpurevexation。
Meantime，sheexultantlyseatedherselfatthepiano，andfavouredhimwithtwoofhisfavouritesongs，insuchsuperiorstylethatevenI
soonlostmyangerinadmiration，andlistenedwithasortofgloomypleasuretotheskilfulmodulationsofherfull-tonedandpowerfulvoice，sojudiciouslyaidedbyherroundedandspiritedtouch；andwhilemyearsdrankinthesound，myeyesrestedonthefaceofherprincipalauditor，andderivedanequalorsuperiordelightfromthecontemplationofhisspeakingcountenance，ashestoodbesideher——thateyeandbrowlightedupwithkeenenthusiasm，andthatsweetsmilepassingandappearinglikegleamsofsunshineonanAprilday。Nowonderheshouldhungerandthirsttohearhersing。Inowforgavehim，frommyheart，hisrecklessslightofme，andIfeltashamedatmypettishresentmentofsuchatrifle——ashamedtooofthosebitterenviouspangsthatgnawedmyinmostheart，inspiteofallthisadmirationanddelight。
`Therenow！’saidshe，playfullyrunningherfingersoverthekeys，whenshehadconcludedthesecondsong。`WhatshallIgiveyounext？’
