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；andIchargeyouuponyourhonourasagentlemanifyouhaveany，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；