The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Anne BrontĂ« (librera reader .txt) đ
- Author: Anne Brontë
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âYes, Rose, I remember it all; and I can forgive your uncharitable conclusions; for, perhaps, if I did not know her myself, I should put all these things together, and believe the same as you do; but thank God, I do know her; and I should be unworthy the name of a man, if I could believe anything that was said against her, unless I heard it from her own lips.â âI should as soon believe such things of you, Rose.â
âOh, Gilbert!â
âWell, do you think I could believe anything of the kindâ âwhatever the Wilsons and Millwards dared to whisper?â
âI should hope not indeed!â
âAnd why not?â âBecause I know youâ âWell, and I know her just as well.â
âOh, no! you know nothing of her former life; and last year, at this time, you did not know that such a person existed.â
âNo matter. There is such a thing as looking through a personâs eyes into the heart, and learning more of the height, and breadth, and depth of anotherâs soul in one hour than it might take you a lifetime to discover, if he or she were not disposed to reveal it, or if you had not the sense to understand it.â
âThen you are going to see her this evening?â
âTo be sure I am!â
âBut what would mamma say, Gilbert!â
âMamma neednât know.â
âBut she must know some time, if you go on.â
âGo on!â âthereâs no going on in the matter. Mrs. Graham and I are two friendsâ âand will be; and no man breathing shall hinder itâ âor has a right to interfere between us.â
âBut if you knew how they talk you would be more careful, for her sake as well as for your own. Jane Wilson thinks your visits to the old hall but another proof of her depravityâ ââ
âConfound Jane Wilson!â
âAnd Eliza Millward is quite grieved about you.â
âI hope she is.â
âBut I wouldnât, if I were you.â
âWouldnât what?â âHow do they know that I go there?â
âThereâs nothing hid from them: they spy out everything.â
âOh, I never thought of this!â âAnd so they dare to turn my friendship into food for further scandal against her!â âThat proves the falsehood of their other lies, at all events, if any proof were wanting.â âMind you contradict them, Rose, whenever you can.â
âBut they donât speak openly to me about such things: it is only by hints and innuendoes, and by what I hear others say, that I knew what they think.â
âWell, then, I wonât go today, as itâs getting latish. But oh, deuce take their cursed, envenomed tongues!â I muttered, in the bitterness of my soul.
And just at that moment the vicar entered the room: we had been too much absorbed in our conversation to observe his knock. After his customary cheerful and fatherly greeting of Rose, who was rather a favourite with the old gentleman, he turned somewhat sternly to me:â â
âWell, sir!â said he, âyouâre quite a stranger. It isâ âletâ âmeâ âsee,â he continued, slowly, as he deposited his ponderous bulk in the armchair that Rose officiously brought towards him; âit is justâ âsix-weeksâ âby my reckoning, since you darkenedâ âmyâ âdoor!â He spoke it with emphasis, and struck his stick on the floor.
âIs it, sir?â said I.
âAy! It is so!â He added an affirmatory nod, and continued to gaze upon me with a kind of irate solemnity, holding his substantial stick between his knees, with his hands clasped upon its head.
âI have been busy,â I said, for an apology was evidently demanded.
âBusy!â repeated he, derisively.
âYes, you know Iâve been getting in my hay; and now the harvest is beginning.â
âHumph!â
Just then my mother came in, and created a diversion in my favour by her loquacious and animated welcome of the reverend guest. She regretted deeply that he had not come a little earlier, in time for tea, but offered to have some immediately prepared, if he would do her the favour to partake of it.
âNot any for me, I thank you,â replied he; âI shall be at home in a few minutes.â
âOh, but do stay and take a little! it will be ready in five minutes.â
But he rejected the offer with a majestic wave of the hand.
âIâll tell you what Iâll take, Mrs. Markham,â said he: âIâll take a glass of your excellent ale.â
âWith pleasure!â cried my mother, proceeding with alacrity to pull the bell and order the favoured beverage.
âI thought,â continued he, âIâd just look in upon you as I passed, and taste your home-brewed ale. Iâve been to call on Mrs. Graham.â
âHave you, indeed?â
He nodded gravely, and added with awful emphasisâ ââI thought it incumbent upon me to do so.â
âReally!â ejaculated my mother.
âWhy so, Mr. Millward?â asked I.
He looked at me with some severity, and turning again to my mother, repeatedâ ââI thought it incumbent upon me!â and struck his stick on the floor again. My mother sat opposite, an awestruck but admiring auditor.
âââMrs. Graham,â said I,â he continued, shaking his head as he spoke, âââthese are terrible reports!â âWhat, sir?â says she, affecting to be ignorant of my meaning. âIt is myâ âdutyâ âasâ âyour pastor,â said I, âto tell you both everything that I myself see reprehensible in your conduct, and all I have reason to suspect, and what others tell me concerning you.ââ âSo I told her!â
âYou did, sir?â cried I, starting from my seat and striking my fist on the table. He merely glanced towards me, and continuedâ âaddressing his hostess:â â
âIt was a painful duty, Mrs. Markhamâ âbut I told her!â
âAnd how did she take it?â asked my mother.
âHardened, I fearâ âhardened!â he replied, with a
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