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，alwaysdisappointedshemusthavemanageditsoonpurpose，hadnightlykeptrevolvinginmymindsomepretextforanotherAtlength，Iconcludedthattheseparationcouldbeendurednolongerbythistime，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。’