Suppressinganewburstofmerriment，Hattersleypointedtotheouterdoor。Itwashalfopen。Hisbrother-in-lawwasstandingonthefrontwithout。
`Mr。Hargrave，willyoupleasetostepthisway？’saidI。Heturnedandlookedatmeingravesurprise。`Stepthisway，ifyouplease！’Irepeated，insodeterminedamannerthathecouldnot，ordidnotchoosetoresistitsauthority。Somewhatreluctantlyheascendedthestepsandadvancedapaceortwointothehall。
`Andtellthosegentlemen，’Icontinued——`thesemenwhetherornotIyieldedtoyoursolicitations。’
`Idon’tunderstandyou，Mrs。Huntingdon。’
`Youdounderstandme，sir；andIchargeyouuponyourhonourasagentleman(ifyouhaveany)，toanswertruly。DidI，ordidInot？’
`No，’mutteredhe，turningaway。
`Speakupsir；theycan’thearyou。DidIgrantyourrequest？’
`Youdidnot。’
`No，I’llbeswornshedidn’t，’saidHattersley，`orhe’dneverlooksoblack。’
`I’mwillingtograntyouthesatisfactionofagentleman，Huntingdon，’
saidMr。Hargrave，calmlyaddressinghishost，butwithabittersneeruponhiscountenance。
`Gotothedeuce！’repliedthelatter，withanimpatientjerkofthehead。Hargravewithdrewwithalookofcolddisdain，saying，——
`Youknowwheretofindme，shouldyoufeeldisposedtosendafriend。’
Mutteredoathsandcurseswerealltheanswerthisintimationobtained。
`NowHuntingdon，yousee！’saidHattersley，`clearastheday。’
`Idon’tcarewhathesees，’saidI，`orwhatheimagines；
butyou，Mr。Hattersley，whenyouhearmynamebeliedandslandered，willyoudefendit？’
`Iwill。BlastmeifIdon’t！’
Iinstantlydeparted，andshutmyselfintothelibrary。Whatcouldpossessmetomakesucharequestofsuchaman？I346cannottell，butdrowningmencatchatstraws：theyhaddrivenmedesperatebetweenthem；
IhardlyknewwhatIsaid。Therewasnoothertopreservemynamefrombeingblackenedandaspersedamongthisnestofbooncompanions，andthroughthem，perhapsintotheworld；andbesidemyabandonedwretchofahusband，thebase，malignantGrimsby，andthefalsevillainHargrave，thisboarishruffian，coarseandbrutalashewas，shonelikeaglow-worminthedark，amongitsfellowworms。
Whatascenewasthis！CouldIeverhaveimaginedthatIshouldbedoomedtobearsuchinsultsundermyownroof——tohearsuchthingsspokeninmypresence——nayspokentomeandofme——andbythosewhoarrogatedtothemselvesthenameofgentlemen？AndcouldIhaveimaginedthatIshouldhavebeenabletoendureitascalmly，andtorepeltheirinsultsasfirmlyandasboldlyasIhaddone？Ahardnesssuchasthis，istaughtbyroughexperienceanddespairalone。
Suchthoughtsasthese，chasedoneanotherthroughmymind，asIpacedtoandfrotheroom，andlonged——oh，howIlongedtotakemychildandleavethemnow，withoutanhour’sdelay！Butitcouldnotbe：therewasworkbeforeme——hardwork，thatmustbedone。
`Thenletmedoit，’saidI，`andlosenotamomentinvainrepinings，andidlechafingsagainstmyfate，andthosewhoinfluenceit。’
Andconqueringmyagitationwithapowerfuleffort，Iimmediatelyresumedmytask，andlabouredhardallday。
Mr。Hargravediddepartonthemorrow；andIhaveneverseenhimsince。Theothersstayedonfortwoorthreeweekslonger；butIkeptalooffromthemasmuchaspossible，andstillcontinuedmylabour，andhavecontinuedit，withalmostunabatedardour，tothepresentday。IsoonacquaintedRachelwithmydesign，confidingallmymotivesandintentionstoherear，andmuchtomyagreeablesurprise，foundlittledifficultyinpersuadinghertoenterintomyviews。Sheisasober，cautiouswoman，butshesohateshermaster，andsoloveshermistressandhernursling，thatafterseveralejaculations，afewfaintobjections，andmanytearsandlamentationsthatIshouldbebroughttosuchapass，sheapplaudedmyresolutionandconsentedtoaidmewithallhermight——ononecondition，347
only——thatshemightsharemyexile：otherwise，shewasutterlyinexorable，regardingitasperfectmadnessformeandArthurtogoalone。
Withtouchinggenerosity，shemodestlyofferedtoaidmewithherlittlehoardofsavings，hopingIwould`excuseherfortheliberty，butreallyifIwoulddoherthefavourtoacceptitasaloan，sheshouldbeveryhappy。’OfcourseIcouldnotthinkofsuchathing；——butnow，thankHeaven，Ihavegatheredalittlehoardofmyown，andmypreparationsaresofaradvanced，thatIamlookingforwardtoaspeedyemancipation。Onlyletthestormyseverityofthiswinterweatherbesomewhatabated，andthen，somemorningMr。Huntingdonwillcomedowntoasolitarybreakfast-table，andperhapsbeclamouringthroughthehouseforhisinvisiblewifeandchild，whentheyaresomefiftymilesontheirwaytothewesternworld——oritmaybemore，forweshallleavehimhoursbeforethedawn，anditisnotprobablehewilldiscoverthelossofboth，untilthedayisfaradvanced。
Iamfullyalivetotheevilsthatmay，andmustresultuponthestepIamabouttotake；butIneverwaverinmyresolution，becauseI
neverforgetmyson。Itwasonlythismorning——whileIpursuedmyusualemployment，hewassittingatmyfeet，quietlyplayingwiththeshredsofcanvassIhadthrownuponthecarpet——buthismindwasotherwiseoccupied，for，inawhile，helookedupwistfullyinmyface，andgravelyasked——
`Mamma，whyareyouwicked？’
`WhotoldyouIwaswicked，love？’
`Rachel。’
`NoArthur，Rachelneversaidso，Iamcertain。’
`Wellthen，itwaspapa，’repliedhethoughtfully。Then，afterareflectivepause，headded，`Atleast，I’lltellyouhowitwasIgottoknow：whenI’mwithpapa，ifIsaymammawantsme，ormammasaysI’mnottodosomethingthathetellsmetodo——healwayssays，“Mammabedamned，’——andRachelsaysit’sonlywickedpeoplethataredamned。Somamma，that’swhyIthinkyoumustbewicked——andIwishyouwouldn’t。’
`Mydearchild，Iamnot。Thosearebadwords，andwickedpeopleoftensaythemofothersbetterthanthemselves。Thosewordscannotmakepeoplebedamned，norshowthattheydeserveit。Godwilljudgeusbyourownthoughtsanddeeds，348notbywhatotherssayaboutus。Andwhenyouhearsuchwordsspoken，Arthur，remembernevertorepeatthem：itiswickedtosaysuchthingsofothers，nottohavethemsaidagainstyou。
`Thenit’spapathat’swicked，’saidhe，ruefully。
`Papaiswrongtosaysuchthings，andyouwillbeverywrongtoimitatehim，nowthatyouknowbetter。’
`Whatisimitate？’
`Todoashedoes。’
`Doesheknowbetter？’
`Perhapshedoes；butthatisnothingtoyou。’
`Ifhedoesn’t，yououghttotellhim，mamma。’
`Ihavetoldhim。’
ThelitHemoralistpausedandpondered。Itriedinvaintodiverthismindfromthesubject。
`I’msorrypapa’swicked，’saidhemournfully，atlength，`forIdon’twanthimtogotohell。’Andsosayingheburstintotears。
Iconsoledhimwiththehopethatperhapshispapawouldalterandbecomegoodbeforehedied——butisitnottimetodeliverhimfromsuchaparent？
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter40CHAPTERXLAMISADVENTUREJan。10th，1827。Whilewritingtheabove，yesterdayevening，Isatinthedrawing-room。Mr。Huntingdonwaspresent，but，asIthought，asleeponthesofabehindme。Hehadrisenhowever，unknowntome，and，actuatedbysomebasespiritofcuriosity，beenlookingovermyshoulderforIknownothowlong；forwhenIhadlaidasidemypen，andwasabouttoclosethebook，hesuddenlyplacedhishanduponit，andsaying——Withyourleave，mydear，I’llhavealookatthis，’forciblywresteditfromme，and，drawingachairtothetable，composedlysatdowntoexamineit——turningbackleafafterleaftofindanexplanationofwhathehadread。Unluckilyforme，hewasmoresoberthatnightthanheusuallyisatsuchanhour。
OfcourseIdidnotleavehimtopursuethisoccupationinquiet：
Imadeseveralattemptstosnatchthebookfromhishands，butheheldittoofirmlyforthat；Iupbraidedhiminbitternessandscornforhismeananddishonourableconduct，butthathadnoeffectuponhim；and，finally，Iextinguishedboththecandles，butheonlywheeledroundtothefire，andraisingablazesufficientforhispurposes，calmlycontinuedtheinvestigation。
Ihadseriousthoughtsofgettingapitcherofwaterandextinguishingthatlighttoo；butitwasevidenthiscuriositywastookeenlyexcitedtobequenchedbythat，andthemoreImanifestedmyanxietytobafflehisscrutiny，thegreaterwouldbehisdeterminationtopersistinit——besidesitwastoolate。
`Itseemsveryinteresting，love，’saidhe，liftinghisheadandturningtowhereIstoodwringingmyhandsinsilentrageandanguish；
`butit’sratherlong；I’lllookatitsomeothertime；——andmeanwhile，I’lltroubleyouforyourkeys，mydear。’
`Whatkeys？’
`Thekeysofyourcabinet，desk，drawers，andwhateverelseyoupossess，’saidhe，risingandholdingouthishand。
`I’venotgotthem，’Ireplied。Thekeyofmydesk，infact，was，atthatmoment，inthelock，andtheotherswereattachedtoit。
`Thenyoumustsendforthem，’saidhe；`andifthatoldbitch，Rachel，doesn’timmediatelydeliverthemup，shetrampsbagandbaggageto-morrow。’
`Shedoesn’tknowwheretheyare，’Ianswered，quietlyplacingmyhanduponthem，andtakingthemfromthedesk，asIthought，unobserved。`Iknow，butIshallnotgivethemupwithoutareason。’
`AndIknow，too，’saidhe，suddenlyseizingmyclosedhandandrudelyabstractingthemfromit。Hethentookuponeofthecandlesandrelighteditbythrustingitintothefire。
`Nowthen，’sneeredhe，`wemusthaveaconfiscationofproperty。
Butfirst，letustakeapeepintothestudio。’
Andputtingthekeysintohispocket，hewalkedintothelibrary。
Ifollowed，whetherwiththedimideaofpreventingmischieforonlytoknowtheworstIcanhardlytell。Mypaintingmaterialswerelaidtogetheronthecornertable，readyforto-morrow’suse，andonlycoveredwithacloth。Hesoonspiedthemout，andputtingdownthecandle，deliberatelyproceededtocastthemintothefire——palette，paints，bladders，pencils，brushes，varnish——Isawthemallconsumed——thepaletteknivessnappedintwo——theoilandturpentinesenthissingandroaringupthechimney。Hethenrangthebell。
`Benson，takethosethingsaway，’saidhe，pointingtotheeasel，canvass，andstretcher；’`andtellthehousemaidshemaykindlethefirewiththem：yourmistresswon’twantthemanymore。’
Bensonpausedaghastandlookedatme。
`Takethemaway，Benson，’saidI；andhismastermutteredanoath。
`Andthisandall，sir？’saidtheastonishedservantreferringtothehalf-finishedpicture。
`Thatandall，’repliedthemaster；andthethingswereclearedaway。
Mr。Huntingdonthenwentupstairs。Ididnotattempttofollowhim，butremainedseatedinthearm-chair，speechless，tearless，andalmostmotionless，tillhereturnedabouthalfanhourafter，andwalkinguptome，heldthecandleinmyfaceandpeeredintomyeyeswithlooksandlaughtertooinsultingtobeborne。Withasuddenstrokeofmyhand，Idashedthecandletothefloor。
`Hal-lo！’mutteredhe，startingback——`She’stheverydevilforspite！Dideveranymortalseesucheyes？——Theyshineinthedarklikeacat’s。Oh，you’reasweetone！’Sosaying，hegatheredupthecandleandthecandlestick。Theformerbeingbrokenaswellasextinguished，herangforanother。
`Benson，yourmistresshasbrokenthecandle：bringanother。’
`Youexposeyourselffinely，’observedIasthemandeparted。
`Ididn’tsayI’dbrokenit，didI？’returnedhe。Hethenthrewmykeysintomylap，saying，——`There！you’llfindnothinggonebutyourmoney，andthejewels——andafewlittletriflesIthoughtitadvisabletotakeintomyownpossession，lestyourmercantilespiritshouldbetemptedtoturnthemintogold。I’veleftyouafewsovereignsinyourpurse，whichIexpecttolastyouthroughthemonth——atallevents，whenyouwantmoreyouwillbesogoodastogivemeanaccountofhowthat’sspent。Ishallputyouuponasmallmonthlyallowance，infuture，foryourownprivateexpenses；andyouneedn’ttroubleyourselfanymoreaboutmyconcerns；
