Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/199

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OF WILDFELL HALL.
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tenant on matters of business, without being assaulted in this manner by—"

"This is no time for business sir!—I'll tell you, now, what I think of your conduct."

"You'd better defer your opinion to a more convenient season," interrupted he in a low tone—"here's the vicar."

And in truth, the vicar was just behind me, plodding homeward from some remote corner of his parish. I immediately released the squire; and he went on his way, saluting Mr. Milward as he passed.

"What, quarrelling Markham?" cried the latter, addressing himself to me,—"and about that young widow I doubt," he added, reproachfully shaking his head. "But let me tell you young man," (here he put his face into mine with an important, confidential air,) "she's not worth it!" and he confirmed the assertion by a solemn nod.

"Mr. Millward!" I exclaimed, in a tone of wrathful menace that made the reverend