`Shethinksmeanimpudentpuppy，’thoughtI。`Humph！——shehallchangehermindbeforelong，ifIthinkitworthwhile。’
　　Butthen，itflasheduponmethatthesewereveryimproperthoughtsforaplaceofworship，andthatmybehaviour，onthepresentoccasion，wasanythingbutwhatitoughttobe。Previous，however，todirectingmymindtotheservice，Iglancedroundthechurchtoseeifanyonehadbeenobservingme；——butno，——allwhowerenotattendingtotheirprayer-books，wereattendingtohestrangelady，——mygoodmotherandsisteramongtherest，anddrsWilsonandherdaughter；andevenElizaMillwardwasslylylancingfromthecornersofhereyestowardstheobjectofgeneralattraction。
　　Then，sheglancedatme，simperedalittle，andblushed，modestlylookedatherprayer-book，andendeavouredtocomposeherfeatures。
　　HereIwastransgressingagain；andthistimeIwasmadesensibleofitbyasuddendigintheribs，fromtheelbowofmypertother。Forthepresent，Icouldonlyresenttheinsultbypressingmyfootuponhistoes，deferringfurthervengeancetillwegotoutchurch。
　　Now，Halford，beforeIclosethisletter，I’lltellyouwhoElizaMillwardwas；shewasthevicar’syoungerdaughter，andaveryengaginglittlecreature，forwhomIfeltnosmalldegreeofpartiality；——andsheknewit，thoughIhadnevercometoanydirectplanation，andhadnodefiniteintentionofsodoing，formymother，whomaintainedtherewasnoonegoodenoughforme，withintwentymilesround，couldnotbearthethoughtofmymarryingthatinsignificantlittlething，who，inadditiontohernumerousotherdisqualifications，hadnottwentypoundstocallherown。Eliza’sfigurewasatonceslightandplump，herfacesmall，andnearlyasroundasmysister’s，——complexion，somethingsimilartohers，butmoredelicateandlessdecidedlyblooming，——nose，retroussé；，——features，generallyirregular；——and，altogether，shewasrathercharmingthanpretty。
　　Buthereyes——Imustnotforgetthoseremarkablefeatures，forthereinherchiefattractionlay——inoutwardaspectatleast；——theywerelongandnarrowinshape，theiridsblack，orverydarkbrown，theexpressionvarious，andeverchanging，butalwayseitherpreternaturally——Ihadalmostsaiddiabolically——wicked，orirresistiblybewitching——oftenboth。Hervoicewasgentleandchildish，hertreadlightandsoftasthatofacat；——buthermannersmorefrequentlyresembledthoseofapretty，playfulkitten，thatisnowpertandroguish，nowtimidanddemure，accordingtoitsownsweetwill。
　　Hersister，Mary，wasseveralyearsolder，severalinchestaller，andofalarger，coarserbuild——aplain，quiet，sensiblegirl，whohadpatientlynursedtheirmotherthroughherlastlong，tediousillness，andbeenthehousekeeperandfamilydrudgefromthencetothepresenttime。
　　Shewastrustedandvaluedbyherfather，lovedandcourtedbyalldogs，cats，children，andpoorpeople，andslightedandneglectedbyeverybodyelse。
　　TheReverendMichaelMillwardhimselfwasatall，ponderous，elderlygentleman，whoplacedashovelhatabovehislarge，square，massive-featuredface，carriedastoutwalkingstickinhishand，andencasedhisstillpowerfullimbsinkneebreechesandgaiters，——orblacksilkstockingsonstateoccasions。Hewasamanoffixedprinciples，strongprejudices，andregularhabits，——intolerantofdissentinanyshape，actingunderafirmconviCtionthathisopinionswerealwaysright，andwhoeverdifferedfromthem，mustbe，eithermostdeplorablyignorant，orwilfullyblind。
　　Inchildhood，Ihadalwaysbeenaccustomedtoregardhimwithafeelingofreverentialawe——butlately，evennow，surmounted，for，thoughhehadafatherlykindnessforthewell-behaved，hewasastrictdisciplinarian，andhadoftensternlyprovedourjuvenilefailingsandpeccadillos；andmoreover，inthosedayswheneverhecalleduponourparents，wehadtostandupbeforehim，andsayourcatechism，orrepeat`Howdoththelittlebusybee，orsomeotherhymn，or——worsethanall——bequestionedabouthislasttextandtheheadsofthediscourse，whichwenevercouldremember。
　　Sometimes，theworthygentlemanwouldreprovemymotherforbeingoverindulgenttohersons，withareferencetooldEli，orDavidandAbsalom，whichwasparticularlygallingtoherfeelings；and，veryhighlyassherespectedhim，andallhissayings，Ionceheardherexclaim，`Iwishtogoodnesshehadasonhimself！Hewouldn’tbesoreadywithhisadvicetootherpeoplethen；——he’dseewhatitistohaveacoupleofboystokeepinorder。’
　　Hehadalaudablecareforhisownbodilyhealth——keptveryearlyhours，regularlytookawalkbeforebreakfast，wasvastlyparticularaboutwarmanddryclothing，hadneverbeenknowntopreachasermonwithoutpreviouslyswallowingarawegg——albeithewasgiftedwithgoodlungsandapowerfulvoice，——andwas，generally，extremelyparticularaboutwhatheateanddrank，thoughbynomeansabstemious，andhavingamodeofdietarypeculiartohimself，——beingagreatdespiserofteaandsuchslops，andapatronofmaltliquors，baconandeggs，ham，hungbeef，andotherstrongmeats，whichagreedwellenoughwithhisdigestiveorgans，andthereforeweremaintainedbyhimtobegoodandwholesomeforeverybody，andconfidentlyrecommendedtothemostdelicateconvalescentsordyspeptics，who，iftheyfailedtoderivethepromisedbenefitfromhisprescriptions，weretolditwasbecausetheyhadnotpersevered，andiftheycomplainedofinconvenientresultstherefrom，wereassureditwasallfancy。
　　IwilljusttouchupontwootherpersonswhomIhavementioned，andthenbringthislonglettertoaclose。TheseareMrsWilsonandherdaughter。Theformerwasthewidowofasubstantialfarmer，anarrow-minded，tattlingoldgossip，whosecharacterisnotworthdescribing。Shehadtwosons，Robert，aroughcountrifiedfarmer，andRichard，aretiring，studiousyoungman，whowasstudyingtheclassicswiththevicar’sassistance，proparingforcollege，withaviewtoenterthechurch。
　　TheirsisterJanewasayoungladyofsometalentsandmoreambition。
　　Shehad，atherowndesire，receivedaregularboarding。schooleducation，superiortowhatanymemberofthefamilyhadobtainedbefore。Shehadtakenthepolishwell，acquiredconsiderableeleganceofmanners，quitelostherprovincialaccent，andcouldboastofmoreaccomplishmentsthanthevicar’sdaughters。Shewasconsideredabeautybesides；butneverforamomentcouldshenumbermeamongstheradmirers。Shewasaboutsixandtwenty，rathertallandveryslender，herhairwasneitherchestnutnorauburn，butamostdecidedbright，lightred，hercomplexionwasremarkablyfairandbrilliant，herheadsmall，necklong，chinwellturned，butveryshort，lipsthinandred，eyesclearhazel，quickandpenetrating，butentirelydestituteofpoetryorfeeling。Shehad，ormight`havehad，manysuitorsinherownrankoflife，butscornfullyrepulsedorrejectedthemall；fornonebutagentlemancouldpleaseherrefinedtaste，andnonebutarichonecouldsatisfyhersoaringambition。Onegentlemantherewas，fromwhomshehadlatelyreceivedsomeratherpointedattentions，anduponwhoseheart，name，andfortune，itwaswhispered，shehadseriousdesigns。ThiswasMrLawrence，theyoungsquirewhosefamilyhadformerlyoccupiedWildfellHall，buthaddesertedit，somefifteenyearsago，foramoremodernandcommodiousmansionintheneighbouringparish。
　　Now，Halford，Ibidyouadieuforthepresent。Thisisthefirstinstalmentofmydebt。Ifthecoinsuitsyou，tellmeso，andI’llsendyoutherestatmyleisure：ifyouwouldratherremainmycreditorthanstuffyourpursewithsuchungainlyheavypieces，——tellmestill，andI’llpardonyourbadtaste，andwillinglykeepthetreasuretomyself。
　　Yoursimmutably，GILBERTMARKHAM。
　　TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter2CHAPTER2AnInterviewIPERCEIVE，withjoy，mymostvaluedfriend，thatthecloudofyourdispleasurehaspassedaway；thelightofyourcountenanceblessesmeoncemore，andyoudesirethecontinuationofmystory：therefore，withoutmoreado，youshallhaveit。
　　IthinkthedayIlastmentionedwasacertainSunday，thelatestintheOctoberof1827。OnthefollowingTuesdayIwasoutwithmydogandgun，inpursuitofsuchgameasIcouldfindwithintheterritoryofLinden-Car；butfindingnoneatall，Iturnedmyarmsagainstthehawksandcarrioncrows，whosedepredations，asIsuspected，haddeprivedmeofbetterprey。Tothisend，Ileftthemorefrequentedregions，thewoodedvalleys，thecornfields，andthemeadowlands，andproceededtomountthesteepacclivityofWildfell，thewildestandtheloftiesteminenceinourneighbourhood，where，asyouascend，thehedges，aswellastheflees，becomescantyandstunted，theformer，atlength，givingplacetoroughstonefences，partlygreenedoverwithivyandmoss，thelattertolarchesandScotchfir-trees，orisolatedblackthorns。Thefields，beingroughandstonyandwhollyunfitfortheplough，weremostlydevotedtothepasturingofsheepandcattle；thesoilwasthinandpoor：bitsofgreyrockhereandtherepeepedoutfromthegrassyhillocks；bilberryplantsandheather——relicsofmoresavagewildness——grewunderthewalls；andinmanyoftheenclosures，ragweedsandrushesusurpedsupremacyoverthescantyherbage；——butthesewerenotmyproperty。
　　Nearthetopofthishill，abouttwomilesfromLinden-Car，stoodWildfellHall，asuperannuatedmansionoftheElizabethanera，builtofdarkgreystone，——venerableandpicturesquetolookat，but，doubtless，coldandgloomyenoughtoinhabit，withitsthickstonemullionsandlittlelatticedpanes，itstime-eatenair-holes，anditstoolonely，toounshelteredsituation，——onlyshieldedfromthewarofwindandweatherbyagroupofScotchfirs，themselveshalfblightedwithstorms，andlookingassternandgloomyasthehallitself。Behinditlayafewdesolatefields，andthen，thebrown，heath-cladsummitofthehill；beforeitenclosedbystonewalls，andenteredbyanirongatewithlargeballsofgreygranite——similartothosewhichdecoratedtheroofandgables——surmountingthegate-posts，wasagarden，——once，stockedwithsuchhardyplantsandflowersascouldbestbrookthesoilandclimate，andsuchtreesandshrubsascouldbestendurethegardener’storturingshears，andmostreadilyassumetheshapeshechosetogivethem，——now，havingbeenleftsomanyyears，untilledanduntrimmed，abandonedtotheweedsandthegrass，tothefrostandthewind，therainandthedrought，itpresentedaverysingularappearanceindeed。
　　Theclosegreenwallsofprivet，thathadborderedtheprincipalwalk，weretwothirdswitheredaway，andtherestgrownbeyondallreasonablebounds；theoldboxwoodswan，thatsatbesidethescraper，hadlostitsneckandhalfitsbody；thecastellatedtowersoflaurelinthemiddleofthegarden，thegiganticwarriorthatstoodononesideofthegateway，andthelionthatguardedtheother，weresproutedintosuchfantasticshapesasresemblednothingeitherinheavenorearth，orinthewatersundertheearth；but，tomyyoungimagination，theypresentedallofthemagoblinishappearance，thatharmonizedwellwiththeghostlylegendsanddarktraditionsouroldnursehadtoldusrespectingthehauntedhallanditsdepartedoccupants。
　　IhadsucceededinkillingahawkandtwocrowswhenIcamewithinsightofthemansion；andthen，relinquishingfurtherdepredations，Isaunteredon，tohavealookattheoldplace，andseewhatchangeshadbeenwroughtinitbyitsnewinhabitant。Ididnottogoquitetothefrontandstareinatthegate；butIpausedbesidethegardenwall，andlooked，andsawnochange——exceptInonewing，wherethebrokenwindowsanddilapidatedroofhadevidentlybeenrepaired，andwhereathinwreathofsmokewascurlingupfromthestackofchimneys。
　　WhileIthusstood，leaningonmygun，andlookingupatthedarkgables，sunkinanidlereverie，weavingatissueofwaywardfancies，inwhicholdassociationsandthefairyounghermit，nowwithinthosewalls，boreanearlyequalpart，Iheardaslightrustlingandscramblingjustwithinthegarden；and，glancinginthedirectionwhencethesoundproceeded，Ibeheldatinyhandelevatedabovethewall：itclungtothetopmoststone，andthenanotherlittlehandwasraisedtotakeafirmerhold，andthenappearedasmallwhiteforehead，surmountedwithwreathsoflightbrownhair，withapairofdeepblueeyesbeneath，andtheupperportionofadiminutiveivorynose。
　　Theeyesdidnotnoticeme，butsparkledwithgleeonbeholdingSancho，mybeautifulblackandwhitesetter，thatwascoursingaboutthefieldwithitsmuzzletotheground。Thelittlecreatureraiseditsfaceandcalledaloudtothedog。Thegood-naturedanimalpaused，lookedup，andwaggedhistail，butmadenofurtheradvances。Thechildalittleboy，apparentlyaboutfiveyearsoldscrambleduptothetopofthewallandcalledagainandagain；butfindingthisofnoavail，apparentlymadeuphismind，likeMahomet，togotothemountain“sincethemountainwouldnotcometohim，andattemptedtogetover；butacrabbedoldcherrytree，thatgrewhardby，caughthimbythefrockinoneofitscrooked，scraggyarmsthatstretchedoverthewall。Inattempt-mpgtodisengagehimself，hisfootslipped，anddownbetumbled——butnottotheearth；——thetreestillkepthimsuspended。Therewasasilentstruggle，andthenapiercingshriek；——but，inaninstant，Ihaddroppedmygunonthegrass，andcaughtthelittlefellowinarms。
　　Iwipedhiseyeswithhisfrock，toldhimhewasallright，andedSanchotopacifyhim。Hewasjustputtinghislittlehandondog’sneckandbeginningtosmilethroughhistears，whenIheardbehindme，aclickoftheirongateandarustleoffemalegarments，andlo！MrsGrahamdarteduponme，——herneckuncovered，herblacklocksstreaminginthewind。
　　`Givemethechild！’shesaid，inavoicescarcelouderthanawhisper，butwithatoneofstartlingvehemence，and，seizingtheboy，shesnatchedhimfromme，asifsomedirecontaminationwereinmytouch，andthenstoodwithonehandfirmlyClaspinghis，theotheronhisshoulder，fixinguponmeherlarge，luminous，darkeyes——pale，breathless，quiveringwithagitation。
　　`Iwasnotharmingthechild，madam，’saidI，scarceknowingwhethertobemostastonishedordispleased；`hewastumblingoffthewallthere；
　　andIwassofortunateastocatchhim，hungsuspendedheadlongfromthattree，andpreventIknownotwhatcatastrophe。’