第1章

TheTenantofWildfellHallAnnBrontë；：TheTenantofWildfellHallTheTenantofWildfellHallADiscoveryYoumustgobackwithmetotheautumnof

Myfather，asyouknow，wasasortofgentlemanfarmerin——shire；

andI，byhisexpressdesire，succeededhiminthesamequietoccupation，notverywillingly，forambitionurgedmetohigheraims，andself-conceitassuredmethat，indisregardingitsvoice，Iwasburyingmytalentintheearth，andhidingmylightunderabushel。Mymotherhaddoneherutmosttopersuade’methatIwascapableofgreatachievements；butmyfather，whothoughtambitionwasthesurestroadtoruin，andchangebutanotherwordfordestruction，wouldlistentonoschemeforbetteringeithermyowncondition，orthatofmyfellowmortals。Heassuredmeitwasallrubbish，andexhortedme，withhisdyingbreath，tocontinueinthegoodoldway，tofollowhissteps，andthoseofhisfatherbeforehim，andletmyhighestambitionbe，towalkhonestlythroughtheworld，lookingneithertotherighthandnortotheleft，andtotransmitthepaternalacrestomychildrenin，atleast，asflourishingaconditionasheleftthemtome。

`Well！——anhonestandindustriousfarmerisoneofthemostusefulmembersofsociety；andifIdevotemytalentstothecultivationofmyfarm，andtheimprovementofagricultureingeneral，Ishalltherebybenefit，notonlymyownimmediateconnectionsanddependants，butinsomedegree，mankindatlarge：——henceIshallnothavelivedinvain。’

Withsuchreflectionsasthese，Iwasendeavouringtoconsolemyself，asIploddedhomefromthefield，onecold，damp，cloudyeveningtowardsthecloseofOctober。Butthegleamofabrightredfirethroughtheparlourwindowhadmoreeffectincheeringmyspirits，andrebukingmythanklessrepinings，thanallthesagereflectionsandgoodresolutionsIhadforcedmymindtoframe；——forIwasyoungthen，remember——onlyfourandtwenty——andhadnotacquiredhalftheruleovermyownspirit，thatInowpossess，——triflingasthatmaybe。

However，thathavenofblissmustnotbeenteredtillIhadexchangedmymirybootsforacleanpairofshoes，andmyroughsurtoutforarespectablecoat，andmademyselfgenerallypresentablebeforedecentsociety；formymother，withallherkindness，wasvastlyparticularoncertainpoints。

Inascendingtomyroom，Iwasmetuponthestairsbyasmart，prettygirlofnineteen，withatidy，dumpyfigure，aroundface，bright，bloomingcheeks，glossy，clusteringcurls，andlittlemerrybrowneyes。

IneednottellyouthiswasmysisterRose。Sheis，Iknow，acomelymatronstill，and，doubtless，nolesslovely——inyoureyes——thanonthehappydayyoufirstbeheldher。Nothingtoldmethen，thatshe，afewyearshence，wouldbethewifeofone——entirelyunknowntomeasyet，butdestined，hereafter，tobecomeacloserfriendthanevenherself，moreintimatethanthatunmannerlyladofseventeen，bywhomIwascollaredinthepassage，oncomingdown，andwellnighjerkedoffmyequilibrium，andwho，incorrectionforhisimpudence，receivedaresoundingwhackoverthesconce，which，however，sustainednoseriousinjuryfromtheinfliction；asbesidesbeingmorethancommonlythick，itwasprotectedbyaredundantshockofshort，reddishcurls，thatmymothercalledauburn。

Onenteringtheparlour，wefoundthathonouredladyseatedinherarmchairatthefireside，workingawayatherknitting，accordingtoherusualcustom，whenshehadnothingelsetodo。Shehadsweptthehearth，andmadeabrightblazingfireforourreception；theservanthadjustbroughtinthetea-tray；andRosewasproducingthesugar-basinandtea-caddyfromthecupboardintheblack，oaksideboard，thatshonelikepolishedebonyinthecheerfulparlourtwilight。

`Well！heretheybothare，’criedmymother，lookingrounduponuswithoutretardingthemotionofhernimblefingersandglitteringneedles。

`Nowshutthedoor，andcometothefire，whileRosegetstheteaready；

I’msureyoumustbestarved；——andtellmewhatyou’vebeenaboutallday；

Iliketoknowwhatmychildrenhavebeenabout。’

`I’vebeenbreakinginthegreycolt——noeasybusinessthat——directingtheploughingofthelastwheatstubble——fortheploughboyhasnotthesensetodirecthimself——andcarryingoutaplanfortheextensiveandefficientdrainingofthelowmeadow-lands。’

`That’smybraveboy！——andFergus——whathaveyoubeendoing？’

`Badger-baiting。’

Andhereheproceededtogiveaparticularaccountofhissport，andtherespectivetraitsofprowessevincedbythebadgerandthedogs；

mymotherpretendingtolistenwithdeepattention，andwatchinghis。animatedcountenancewithadegreeofmaternaladmirationIthoughthighlydisproportionedtoitsobject。

`It’stimeyoushouldbedoingsomethingelse，Fergus，’saidI，assoonasamomentarypauseinhisnarrationallowedmetogetinaword。

`WhatcanIdo？’repliedhe；`mymotherwon’tletmegotoseaorenterthearmy；andI’mdeterminedtodonothingelse——exceptmakemyselfsuchanuisancetoyouall，thatyouwillbethankfultogetridofme，onanyterms。’

Ourparentsoothinglystrokedhisstiff。，shortcurls。Hegrowled，andtriedtolooksulky，andthen，wealltookourseatsatthetable，inobediencetothethricerepeatedsummonsofRose。

`Nowtakeyourtea，’saidshe；`andI’lltellyouwhatI’vebeendoing。I’vebeentocallontheWilsons；andit’sathousandpitiesyoudidn’tgowithme，Gilbert，forElizaMillwardwasthere！’

`Well！whatofher？’

`Ohnothing！——I’mnotgoingtotellyouabouther；——onlythatshe’sanice，amusinglittlething，whensheisinamerryhumour，andIshouldn’tmindcallingher——`

`Hush，hush，mydear！yourbrotherhasnosuchidea！’whisperedmymother，earnestly，holdingupherfinger。

`Well，’resumedRose；`IwasgoingtotellyouanimportantpieceofnewsIheardthere——I’vebeenburstingwithiteversince。Youknowitwasreportedamonthago，thatsomebodywasgoingtotakeWildfellHall——and——whatdoyouthink？Ithasactuallybeeninhabitedaboveaweek！——andweneverknew！’

`Impossible！’criedmymother。

`Preposterous！！！’shriekedFergus。

`Ithasindeed！——andbyasinglelady！’

`Goodgracious，mydear！Theplaceisinruins！’

`Shehashadtwoorthreeroomsmadehabitable；andthereshelives，allalone——exceptanoldwomanforaservant！’

`Ohdear！thatspoilsit——I’dhopedshewasawitch，’observedFergus，whilecarvinghisinch-thicksliceofbreadandbutter。

`Nonsense，Fergus！Butisn’titstrange，mamma？’

`Strange！Icanhardlybelieveit。’

`Butyoumaybelieveit；forJaneWilsonhasseenher。Shewentwithhermother，who，ofcourse，whensheheardofastrangerbeingintheneighbourhood，wouldbeonpinsandneedlestillshehadseenherandgotallshecouldoutofher。SheiscalledMrsGraham，andsheisinmourning——notwidow’sweeds，butslightishmourning——andsheisquiteyoung，theysay，——notabovefiveorsixandtwenty，——butsoreserved！Theytriedalltheycouldtofindoutwhoshewas，andwhereshecamefrom，andallabouther，butneitherMrsWilson，withherpertinaciousandimpertinenthomethrusts，norMissWilson，withherskilfulmanoeuvering，couldmanagetoelicitasinglesatisfactoryanswer，orevenacasualremark，orchanceexpressioncalculatedtoallaytheircuriosity，orthrowthefaintestrayoflightuponherhistory，circumstances，orconnexions。Moreover，shewasbarelyciviltothem，andevidentlybetterpleasedtosay“goodbye。”than“howdoyoudo。”ButElizaMillwardsaysherfatherintendstocalluponhersoon，tooffersomepastoraladvice，whichhefearssheneeds，asthoughsheisknowntohaveenteredtheneighbourhoodearlylastweek，shedidnotmakeherappearanceatchurchonSunday；andshe——Eliza，thatis——willbegtoaccompanyhim，andissureshecansucceedinwheedlingsomethingoutofher——youknow，Gilbert，shecandoanything。Andweshouldcallsometime，mamma；it’sonlyproper，youknow。’

`Ofcourse，mydear。Poorthing！howlonelyshemustfeel！’

`Andpraybequickaboutit；andmindyoubringmewordhowmuchsugarsheputsinhertea，andwhatsortofcapsandapronsshewears，andallaboutit；forIdon’tknowhowIcanlivetillIknow，’saidFergus，verygravely。

Butifheintendedthespeechtobehailedasamaster-strokeofwit，hesignallyfailed，fornobodylaughed。However，hewasnotmuchdisconcertedatthat；forwhenhehadtakenamouthfulofbreadandbutter，andwasabouttoswallowagulpoftea，thehumourofthethingburstuponhimwithsuchirresistibleforce，thathewasobligedtojumpupfromthetable，andrushsnortingandchokingfromtheroom；andaminuteafter，washeardscreaminginfearfulagonyinthegarden。

Asforme，Iwashungry，andcontentedmyselfwithsilentlydemolishingthetea，ham，andtoast，whilemymotherandsisterwentontalking，andcontinuedtodiscusstheapparent，ornon-apparentcircumstances，andprobable，orimprobablehistoryofthemysteriouslady；butImustconfessthat，aftermybrother’smisadventure，Ionceortwiceraisedthecuptomylips，andputitdownagainwithoutdaringtotastethecontents，lestIshouldinjuremydignitybyasimilarexplosion。

Thenextday，mymotherandRosehastenedtopaytheircomplimentstothefairrecluse；andcamebackbutlittlewiserthantheywent；thoughmymotherdeclaredshedidnotregretthejourney，forifshehadnotgainedmuchgood，sheflatteredherselfshehadimpartedsome，andthatwasbetter：

shehadgivensomeusefuladvice，which，shehoped，wouldnotbethrownaway；forMrsGraham，thoughshesaidlittletoanypurpose，andappearedsomewhatself-opinionated，seemednotincapableofreflection，——thoughshedidnotknowwhereshehadbeenallherlife，poorthing，forshebetrayedalamentableignoranceoncertainpoints，andhadnoteventhesensetobeashamedofit。

`Onwhatpoints，mother？’askedI。

`Onhouseholdmatters，andallthelittlenicetiesofcookery，andsuchthings，thateveryladyoughttobefamiliarwith，whethersheberequiredtomakeapracticaluseofherknowledgeornot。Igavehersomeusefulpiecesofinformation，however，andseveralexcellentreceipts，thevalueofwhich，sheevidentlycouldnotappreciate，forshebeggedIwouldnottroublemyself，asshelivedinsuchaplain，quietway，thatshewas。suresheshouldnevermakeuseofthem。“Nomatter，mydear。”

saidI；“itiswhateveryrespectablefemaleoughttoknow；——andbesides，thoughyouarelonenow，youwillnotbealwaysso；youhavebeenmarried，andprobably——Imightsayalmostcertainly——willbeagain。”“Youaremistakenthere，ma’am。”saidshe，almosthaughtily；“Iamcertainnevershall。”——ButItoldherIknewbetter。’

`Someromanticyoungwidow，Isuppose，’saidI，`cometheretoendherdaysinsolitude，andmourninsecretforthedeardeparted——butitwon’tlastlong。’

`No，Ithinknot，’observedRose，`forshedidn’tseemverydisconsolateafterall；andshe’sexcessivelypretty——handsomerather——youmustseeher，Gilbert；youwillcallheraperfectbeauty，thoughyoucouldhardlypretendtodiscoveraresemblanceb~tweenherandElizaMillward。’

`Well，IcanimaginemanyfacesmorebeautifulthanEliza’s，thoughnotmorecharming。Iallowshehassmallclaimstoperfection；butthen，Imaintainthat，ifsheweremoreperfect，shewouldbelessinteresting。’

`Andsoyoupreferherfaultstootherpeople’sperfections？’

`Justso——savingmymother’spresence。’

`Oh，mydearGilbert，whatnonsenseyoutalk！——Iknowyoudon’tmeanit；it’squiteoutofthequestion，’saidmymother，gettingup，andbustlingoutoftheroom，underpretenceofhouseholdbusiness，inordertoescapethecontradictionthatwastremblingonmytongue。

Afterthat，RosefavouredmewithfurtherparticularsrespectingMrsGraham。Herappearance，manners，anddress，andtheveryfurnitureoftheroomsheinhabited，wereallsetbeforeme，withrathermoreclearnessandprecisionthanIcaredtoseethem；but，asIwasnotaveryattentivelistener，IcouldnotrepeatthedescriptionifIwould。

ThenextdaywasSaturday；and，onSunday，everybodywonderedwhetherornotthefairunknownwouldprofitbythevicar’sremonstrance，andcometochurch。Iconfess，Ilookedwithsomeinterestmyselftowardstheoldfamilypew，appertainingtoWildfellHall，wherethefadedcrimsoncushionsandlininghadbeenunpressedandunrenewedsomanyyears，andthegrimescutcheons，withtheirlugubriousbordersofrustyblackcloth，frownedsosternlyfromthewallabove。

AndthereIbeheldatall，lady-likefigure，cladinblack。Herfacewastowardsme，andtherewassomethinginit，which，onceseen，invitedmetolookagain。Herhairwasravenblack，anddisposedinlongglossyringlets，astyleofcoiffureratherunusualinthosedays，butalwaysgracefulandbecoming；hercomplexionwasclearandpale，hereyesIcouldnotsee，forbeingbentupon，herprayerbooktheywereconcealedbytheirdroopinglidsandlongblacklashes，butthebrowsabovewereexpressiveandwelldefined，theforeheadwasloftyandintellectual，thenose，aperfectaquiline，andthefeaturesingeneral，unexceptionable——onlytherewasaslighthollownessaboutthecheeksandeyes，andthelips，thoughfinelyformed，werealittletoothin，alittletoofirmlycompressed，andhadsomethingaboutthemthatbetokened，Ithought，noverysoftoramiabletemper；andIsaidinmyheart——

`Iwouldratheradmireyoufromthisdistance，fairlady，thanbethepartnerofyourhome。’

Justthen，shehappenedtoraisehereyes，andtheymetmine；

Idl~dnotchoosetowithdrawmygaze，andsheturnedagaintoherbook，butwithamomentary，indefinableexpressionofquietscorn，thatwasinexpressiblyprovokingtome。