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

I nestled up in a corner of the bower, and hoped to stay there alone. But no! Someone was coming down!

It was Mrs. Graham. She was slowly moving down the walk with Arthur, and no one else. Why were they alone? I stepped forward.

“Oh, don't let us disturb you, Mr. Markham!” said she. “We came here to seek retirement ourselves, not to intrude on your seclusion.”

“I am no hermit, Mrs. Graham.”

“I feared you were unwell,” said she.

“Please sit here a little and rest, and tell me how you like this arbour,” said I.

“It is I who have left them,” was the rejoinder. “I am tired.”

It was late in the evening before we came back. I offered to accompany Mrs. Graham home. Mr. Lawrence did not look at us, but he heard her denial.

Mrs. Graham thought there was no danger for herself or her child. It was daylight still, and the people were quiet and harmless.

Soon she left. Mr. Lawrence came to me, but I was blind to his extended hand, and deaf to his good-night till he repeated it a second time.

“What is the matter, Markham?” whispered he. “Are you angry because Mrs. Graham did not let you go home with her?”

“What business is it of yours?” I demanded.

“Why, none,” replied he with quietness; “only let me tell you, Markham, that if you have any designs in that quarter, they will certainly fail. You are cherishing false hopes, and wasting your strength in useless efforts, and it grieves me.

“Hypocrite!” I exclaimed.

He held his breath[12 - held his breath – поперхнулся], turned white and went away without another word. I wounded him; and I was glad of it.

Chapter X

But the vile slander was born. Rose, however, vowed she did not believe it, and my mother made the same declaration.

Anyway, she said one day,

“Well! I always thought there was something odd about her. This is a sad, sad business!”

“Why, mother, you said you didn't believe these tales,” said Fergus.

“No more I do, my dear; but then, you know, there must be some foundation.”

“The foundation is in the wickedness and falsehood of the people,” said I, “and in the fact that Mr. Lawrence went that way once or twice. The scandal-mongers have greedily seized the rumour.”

“Well, but, Gilbert, there must be something in her manner to countenance such reports.