`Ibegyourpardon，sir，’stammeredshe，——suddenlycalmingdown，——thelightofreasonseemingtobreakuponherbecloudedspiritandafaintblushmantlingonhercheek——`Ididnotknowyou；——andIthought——’
　　Shestoopedtokissthechild，andfondlyclaspedherarmroundhisneck。
　　`YouthoughtIwasgoingtokidnapyourson，Isuppose？’
　　Shestrokedhisheadwithahalf-embarrassedlaugh，andreplied，——
　　`Ididnotknowhehadattemptedtoclimbthewall——IhavethepleasureofaddressingMrMarkham，Ibelieve？’sheadded，somewhatabruptly。
　　Ibowed，butventuredtoaskhowsheknewme。
　　`Yoursistercalledhere，afewdaysago，withMrsMarkham。’
　　`Istheresemblancesostrongthen？’Iasked，insomesurprise，andnotsogreatlyBatteredattheideaasIoughttohavebeen。
　　`Thereisalikenessabouttheeyesandcomplexion，Ithink，’
　　repliedshe，somewhatdubiouslysurveyingmyface；——`andIthinkIsawyouatchurchonSunday。’
　　Ismiled——Therewassomethingeitherinthatsmileortherecollectionsitawakenedthatwasparticularlydispleasingtoher，forshesuddenlyassumedagainthatproud，chillylookthathadsounspeakablyrousedmycorruptionatchurch——alookofrepellentscorn，soeasilyassumed，andsoentirelywithouttheleastdistortionofasinglefeaturethat，whilethere，itseemedlikethenaturalexpressionoftheface，andwasthemoreprovokingtome，becauseIcouldnotthinkitaffected。
　　`Goodmorning，MrMarkham，’saidshe；andwithoutanotherwordorglance，shewithdrewwithherchildintothegarden；andIreturnedhome，angryanddissatisfied——Icouldscarcelytellyouwhy——andthereforewillnotattemptit。
　　Ionlystayedtoputawaymygunandpowder-horn，andgivesomerequisitedirectionstooneofthefarming-men，andthenrepairedtothevicarage，tosolacemyspiritandsoothemyruffledtemperwiththecompanyandconversationofElizaMillward。
　　Ifoundher，asusual，busywithsomepieceofsoftembroiderythemaniaforBerlinwoolshadnotyetcommenced，whilehersisterwasseatedatthechimney-corner，withthecatonherknee，mendingaheapofstockings。
　　`Mary——Mary！putthemaway！’Elizawashastilysaying，justasIenteredtheroom。
　　`NotI，indeed！’wasthephlegmaticreply；andmyappearancepreventedfurtherdiscussion。
　　`You’resounfortunate，MrMarkham！’observedtheyoungersister，withoneofherarch，sidelongglances。`Papa’sjustgoneoutintotheparish，andnotlikelytobebackforanhour！’
　　`Nevermind；Icanmanagetospendafewminuteswithhisdaughters，ifthey’llallowme，’saidI，bringingachairtothefire，andseatingmyselftherein，withoutwaitingtobeasked。
　　`Well，ifyou’llbeverygoodandamusing，weshan’tobject。’
　　`Letyourpermissionbeunconditional，pray；forIcamenottogivepleasure，buttoseekit，’Ianswered。
　　However，Ithoughtitbutreasonabletomakesomeslightexertiontorendermycompanyagreeable；andwhatlittleeffortImadewasapparentlyprettysuccessful，forMissElizawasneverinabetterhumour。Weseemed，indeed，tobemutuallypleasedwitheachother，andmanagedtomaintainbetweenusacheerfulandanimated，thoughnotveryprofoundconversation。
　　Itwaslittlebetterthanatê；te-à；-tê；te，forMissMillwardneveropenedherlips，exceptoccasionallytocorrectsomerandomassertionorexaggeratedexpressionofhersister’s，andoncetoaskhertopickuptheballofcotton，thathadrolledunderthetable。Ididthismyself，however，asindutybound。
　　`Thankyou，MrMarkham，’saidshe，asIpresentedittoher。`I
　　wouldhavepickeditupmyself；onlyIdidnotwanttodisturbthecat。’
　　`Mary，dear，thatwon’texcuseyouinMrMarkham’seyes，’saidEliza；`hehatescats，Idaresay，ascordiallyashedoesoldmaids——likeallothergentlemen——Don’tyou，MrMarkham？’
　　`Ibelieveitisnaturalforourunamiablesextodislikethecreatures，’repliedI；`foryouladieslavishsomanycaressesuponthem’
　　`Blessthem——littledarlings！’criedshe，inasuddenburstofenthusiasm，turningroundandoverwhelminghersister’spetwithashowerofkisses。
　　`Don’t，Eliza！’saidMissMillward，somewhatgrufflyassheimpatientlypushedheraway。
　　Butitwastimeformetobegoing：makewhathasteIwould，I
　　shouldstillbetoolatefortea；andmymotherwasthesouloforderandpunctuality。
　　Myfairfriendwasevidentlyunwillingtobidmeadieu。Itenderlysqueezedherlittlehandatparting；andsherepaidmewithoneofhersoftestsmilesandmostbewitchingglances。Iwenthomeveryhappy，withaheartbrimfulofcomplacencyformyself，andoverflowingwithloveforEliza。
　　TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter3CHAPTER3AControversyTwodaysafter，MrsGrahamcalledatLinden-Car，contrarytotheexpectationofRose，whoentertainedanideathatthemysteriousoccupantofWildfellHallwouldwhollydisregardthecommonobservancesofcivilizedlife，——inwhichopinionshewassupportedbytheWilsons，whotestifiedthatneithertheircallnortheMillwards’hadbeenreturnedasyet。Now，however，thecauseofthatomissionwasexplained，thoughnotentirelytothesatisfactionofRose。MrsGrahamhadbroughtherchildwithher，andonmymother’sexpressingsurprisethathecouldwalksofar，shereplied，——
　　`Itisalongwalkforhim；butImusthaveeithertakenhimwithme，orrelinquishedthevisitaltogether：forIneverleavehimalone；
　　andIthink，MrsMarkham，ImustbegyoutomakemyexcusestotheMillwardsandMrsWilson，whenyouseethem，asIfearIcannotdomyselfthepleasureofcallinguponthemtillmylittleArthurisabletoaccompanyme。’
　　`Butyouhaveaservant，’saidRose；`couldyounotleavehimwithher？’
　　`Shehasherownoccupationstoattendto；andbesides，sheistoooldtorunafterachild，andheistoomercurialtobetiedtoanelderlywoman。
　　`Butyoulefthimtocometochurch。’
　　`Yes，once；butIwouldnothavelefthimforanyotherpurpose；
　　andIthink，infuture，Imustcontrivetobringhimwithme，orstayathome。’
　　`Ishesomischievous？’askedmymother，considerablyshocked。
　　`No，’repliedthelady，sadlysmiling，asshestrokedthewavylocksofherson，whowasseatedonalowstoolatherfeet，`butheismyonlytreasure；andIamhisonlyfriend，sowedon’tliketobeseparated。’
　　`Butmydear，Icallthatdoting，’saidmyplain-spokenparent。
　　`Youshouldtrytosuppresssuchfoolishfondness，aswelltosaveyoursonfromruinasyourselffromridicule。’
　　`Ruin，MrsMarkham？’
　　`Yes；itisspoilingthechild。Evenathisage，heoughtnottobealwaystiedtohismother’sapronstring；heshouldlearntobeashamedofit。’
　　`MrsMarkham，Ibegyouwillnotsaysuchthingsinhispresence，atleast。Itrustmysonwillneverbeashamedtolovehismother！’
　　saidMrsGraham，withaseriousenergythatstartledthecompany。
　　Mymotherattemptedtoappeaseherbyanexplanation；butsheseemedtothinkenoughhadbeensaidonthesubject，andabruptlyturnedtheconversation。
　　`JustasIthought，’saidItomyself：`thelady’stemperisnoneofthemildest，notwithstandinghersweet，palefaceandloftybrow，wherethoughtandsufferingseemequallytohavestampedtheirimpress。’
　　Allthistime，Iwasseatedatatableontheothersideoftheroom，apparentlyimmersedintheperusalofavolumeofthe`Farmer’sMagazine’，whichIhappenedtohavebeenreadingatthemomentofourvisitor’sarrival；
　　and，notchoosingtobeovercivil，Ihadmerelybowedassheentered，andcontinuedmyoccupationasbefore。
　　Inalittlewhile，however，Iwassensiblethatsomeonewasapproachingme，withalight，butslowandhesitatingtread。ItwaslittleArthur，irresistiblyattractedbymydogSancho，thatwaslyingatmyfeet。Onlookingup，Ibeheldhimstandingabouttwoyardsoff，withhisclearblueeyeswistfullygazingonthedog，transfixedtothespot，notbyfearoftheanimal，butbyatimiddisinclinationtoapproachitsmaster。Alittleencouragement，however，inducedhimtocomeforward。Thechild，thoughshy，wasnotsullen。Inaminutehewaskneelingonthecarpet，withhisarmsroundSancho’sneck，andinaminuteortwomore，thelittlefellowwasseatedonmyknee，surveyingwitheagerinterestthevariousspecimensofhorses，cattle，pigs，andmodelfarmsportrayedinthevolumebeforeme。Iglancedathismothernowandthen，toseehowsherelishedthenew-sprungintimacy；andIsaw，bytheunquietaspectofhereye，thatforsomereasonorother，shewasuneasyatthechild’sposition。
　　`Arthur，’saidshe，atlength，`comehere。YouaretroublesometoMrMarkham：hewishestoread。’
　　`Bynomeans，MrsGraham；praylethimstay。Iamasmuchamusedasheis，’pleadedI。Butstill，withhandandeye，shesilentlycalledhimtoherside。
　　`No，mamma，’saidthechild；`letmelookatthesepicturesfirst；
　　andthenI’llcome，andtellyouallaboutthem。’
　　`WearegoingtohaveasmallpartyonMonday，thefifthofNovember，’
　　saidmymother；`andIhopeyouwillnotrefusetomakeone，MrsGraham。
　　Youcanbringyourlittleboywithyou，youknow——Idaresayweshallbeabletoamusehim；——andthenyoucanmakeyourownapologiestotheMillwardsandWilsons，——theywillallbehereIexpect。’
　　`Thankyou，Inevergotoparties。’
　　`Oh！butthiswillbequiteafamilyconcern——earlyhours，andnobodyherebutourselves，andjusttheMillwardsandWilsons，mostofwhomyoualreadyknow，andMrLawrence，yourlandlord，whomyououghttomakeacquaintancewith。’
　　`Idoknowsomethingofhim——butyoumustexcusemethistime；
　　fortheevenings，now，aredarkanddamp，andArthur，Ifear，istoodelicatetoriskexposuretotheirinfluencewithimpunity。Wemustdefertheenjoymentofyourhospitality，tillthereturnoflongerdaysandwarmernights。’
　　Rose，now，atahintfrommymother，producedadecanterofwine，withaccompanimentsofglassesandcake，fromthecupboardundertheoaksideboard，andtherefreshmentwasdulypresentedtotheguests。Theybothpartookofthecake，butobstinatelyrefusedthewine，inspiteoftheirhostess’shospitableattemptstoforceituponthem。Arthur，especially，shrankfromtherubynectarasifinterroranddisgust，andwasreadytocrywhenurgedtotakeit。
　　`Nevermind，Arthur，’saidhismamma，`MrsMarkhamthinksitwilldoyougood，asyouweretiredwithyourwalk；butshewillnotobligeyoutotakeit；——Idaresayyouwilldoverywellwithout。Hedeteststheverysightofwine，’sheadded，`andthesmellofitalmostmakeshimsick。
　　Ihavebeenaccustomedtomakehimshallowalittlewineorweakspirits-and-water，bywayofmedicinewhenhewassick，and，infact，Ihavedonewhatcouldtomakehimhatethem。’
　　Everybodylaughed，excepttheyoungwidowandherson。
　　`Well，MrsGraham，’saidmymother，wipingthetearsofmerrimentfromherbright，blueeyes——`well，yousurpriseme！Ireallygaveyoucreditforhavingmoresense——Thepoorchildwillbetheveriestmilksopthateverwassopped！Onlythinkwhatamanyouwillmakeofhim，ifyoupersistin——’
　　`Ithinkitaveryexcellentplan，’interruptedMrsGraham，withimperturbablegravity。`BythatmeansIhopetosavehimfromonedegradingviceatleast。IwishIcouldrendertheincentivestoeveryotherequallyinnoxiousinhiscase。’
　　`Butbysuchmeans，’saidI，`youwillneverrenderhimvirtuous——Whatisitthatconstitutesvirtue，MrsGraham？Isitthecircumstanceofbeingableandwillingtoresisttemptation；orthatofhavingnotemptationstoresist？——Isheastrongmanthatovercomesgreatobstaclesandperformssurprisingachievements，thoughbydintofgreatmuscularexertion，andattheriskofsomesubsequentfatigue，orhethatsitsinhischairallday，withnothingtodomorelaboriousthanstirringthefire，andcarryinghisfoodtohismouth？Ifyouwouldhaveyoursontowalkhonourablythroughtheworld，youmustnotattempttoclearthestonesfromhispath，butteachhimtowalkfirmlyoverthem——notinsistuponleadinghimbythehand，butlethimlearntogoalone。’
　　`Iwillleadhimbythehand，MrMarkham，tillhehasstrengthtogoalone；andIwillclearasmanystonesfromhispathasIcan，andteachhimtoavoidtherest——orwalkfirmlyoverthemasyousay；——forwhenIhavedonemyutmost，inthewayofclearance，therewillstillbeplentylefttoexercisealltheagility，steadiness，andcircumspectionhewilleverhave——Itisallverywelltotalkaboutnobleresistance，andtrialsofvirtue；butforfifty——orfivehundredmenthathaveyieldedtotemptation，showmeonethathashadvirtuetoresist。AndwhyshouldItakeitforgrantedthatmysonwillbeoneinathousand？——andnotratherpreparefortheworst，andsupposehewillbelikehis——liketherestofmankind，unlessItakecaretopreventit？’
　　`Youareverycomplimentarytousall，’Iobserved。