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

It was hardly four o'clock when I got home, but my mother gravely accosted me with,

“Oh, Gilbert! Such an accident! Rose was shopping in the village, and she heard that Mr. Lawrence was thrown from his horse. He is dying!”

This shocked me.

“You must go and see him tomorrow,” said my mother.

“Or today,” suggested Rose: “there's plenty of time; and you can have the pony, as your horse is tired.”

“Fergus may go.”

“Why not you?”

“He has more time. I am busy just now.”

“Oh! Gilbert, how can you be so indifferent? Your friend is dying!”

“He is not, I tell you.

I sent Fergus next morning, with my mother's compliments, to make the requisite inquiries. The young squire had a broken head and a severe cold; but there were no broken bones.

Chapter XV

That day was rainy like its predecessor, and the next morning was fair and promising. I was out on the hill with the reapers. While I stood with folded arms, something gently pulled my shirt.

“Mr. Markham, mamma wants to see you.”

“Wants to see me, Arthur?”

“Yes. Why do you look so queer?” said he. “Come! Won't you come?”

“I'm busy just now,” I replied.

He looked up in childish bewilderment. But before I spoke again, the lady herself was at my side.

“Gilbert, I must speak with you!” said she.

I looked at her pale cheek and glittering eye, but answered nothing.

“Only for a moment,” pleaded she. “Just step aside into this other field.

I accompanied her through the gap.

“Arthur, darling, run and gather those bluebells,” said she.

The child hesitated.

“Go, Arthur!” repeated she more urgently.

“Well, Mrs. Graham?” said I, calmly and coldly.

She fixed her eyes upon me with a look that pierced me to the heart.

“I don't ask the reason of this change, Gilbert,” said she, with bitter calmness. “I know it too well. But though I can be condemned by everyone else, and bear it with calmness, I cannot endure it from you.

“Because I learned everything – and a trifle more, I imagine.”

“Impossible!” cried she, passionately. “I wanted to tell you everything, but I won't now. I see you are not worthy of it!”

And her pale lips quivered with agitation.

“Why not, may I ask?”

“Because you never understood me. Because you listened to my traducers.