Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 3.djvu/116

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THE TENANT

missis can?—surely I'm not so proud and so dainty as that comes to—and my little master too, God bless him?"

"But I'm young, Rachel; I shan't mind it; and Arthur is young too—it will be nothing to him."

"Nor me either: I'm not so old but what I can stand hard fare and hard work, if it's only to help and comfort them as I've loved like my own barns—for all I'm too old to bide the thoughts o' leaving 'em in trouble and danger, and going amongst strangers myself."

"Then you shan't, Rachel!" cried I, embracing my faithful friend. "We'll all go together, and you shall see how the new life suits you."

"Bless you, honey!" cried she affectionately returning my embrace. "Only let us get shut of this wicked house and we'll do right enough, you'll see."

"So think I," was my answer;—and so that point was settled.