Незнакомка из Уайлдфелл-Холла. Уровень 2 / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

She started and replied, -

“Oh, hush! Don't speak so loud.”

“Well, tell me then,” I answered, “what is it you mean? I hate enigmas.”

She went to the window, where she stood for some time. I was astounded, provoked, ashamed. Shortly after we came to the tea-table.

“May I sit by you?” said a soft voice at my elbow.

“If you like,” was the reply; and Eliza slipped into the vacant chair.

“You're so stern, Gilbert. What have I done to offend you?”

“Take your tea, Eliza, and don't be foolish,” responded I.

Just then Miss Wilson wanted to negotiate an exchange of seats with Rose.

“Will you be so good as to exchange places with me, Miss Markham?” said she; “for I don't like to sit by Mrs. Graham. Your mamma invites such persons to her house!..”

“Will you be so good as to tell me what you mean, Miss Wilson?” said I.

The question startled her a little, but not much.

“Why, Mr. Markham,” replied she, coolly, “it surprises me rather that Mrs.

“Will you explain me…”

“This is scarcely the time or the place for such explanations. I think you can hardly be so ignorant as you pretend – you must know her as well as I do.”

“I think I do, perhaps a little better; so what?”

“Can you tell me, then, who was her husband, or if she ever had any? ”

Indignation kept me silent.

“Have you never observed,” said Eliza, “what a strange likeness there is between that child of hers and – ”

“And whom?” demanded Miss Wilson.

Eliza was startled.

“Oh, I beg your pardon!” pleaded she; “I may be mistaken – perhaps I was mistaken.”

I stared at Arthur Graham, who sat beside his mother on the opposite side of the table. Then I stared at Mr. Lawrence. There was some likeness, indeed!

Both, it is true, had more delicate features and smaller bones than commonly fall to the lot of individuals of rougher sex.

But did I not know Mrs. Graham? Was I not certain that she was immeasurably superior to any of her detractors; that she was, in fact, the noblest, the most adorable woman here?

Meantime, my brain was on fire with indignation. At length, I rose and left the table and the guests without a word of apology – I could endure their company no longer. I rushed out to the garden.