Читать книгу Незнакомка из Уайлдфелл-Холла. Уровень 2 / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Эмили Бронте, Энн Бронте - Страница 12

Three weeks passed over. Mrs. Graham and I were now friends – or brother and sister. She called me Gilbert, and I called her Helen. I saw her twice a week. I behaved with such propriety that she never had occasion to reprove me once. This assumption of brotherly nonchalance was very hard to sustain, and I often felt myself a hypocrite with it all. I saw too, or rather I felt, that, in spite of herself, I was not indifferent to her.

“Where are you going, Gilbert?” said Rose, one evening, shortly after tea.

“To take a walk,” was the reply.

“You're going to Wildfell Hall, aren't you?”

“So what?”

“It's better not to go there so often.”

“Nonsense, child! I don't go once in six weeks – what do you mean?”

“Well, I've heard so much about her lately, both at the Wilsons' and the vicarage… And don't you remember last winter, Gilbert, all that about the false name to the picture; and how she explained it; and then, how suddenly she started up and left the room when that person came – and who Arthur told us was his mamma's friend?”

“Yes, Rose, I remember it all. But thank God, I know her.”

“Oh, Gilbert! You know nothing of her former life; and last year, at this time, you did not know that such a person existed. But what will mamma say, Gilbert?”

“Mamma needn't know.”

“But she must know some time.”

“Mrs. Graham and I are two friends – and will be.”

“Jane Wilson thinks your visits to the old hall are another proof of her depravity.”

“Confound Jane Wilson!”

“And Eliza Millward is quite grieved about you.”

“How do they know that I go there?”

“They spy out everything.”

“Oh, I never thought of this! And so they dare to turn my friendship into food for further scandal against her! That proves the falsehood of their other lies.”

Just at that moment the vicar entered the room. Just then my mother came in, and offered him a cup of tea.

“I thank you,” replied the vicar; “but I prefer to take a glass of your excellent ale, if it's possible.”

“With pleasure!” cried my mother, pulled the bell and ordered the beverage.

“I've visited Mrs. Graham, you know” continued he.

“Have you, indeed?”

He nodded gravely, and added with awful emphasis. Then he struck his stick on the floor. My “'Mrs. Graham,' said I,” he continued, “'these are terrible reports!' 'What, sir?' says she. 'It is my duty as your pastor,' said I, 'to tell you them.' So I told her!”

“You did, sir?” cried I.

He merely glanced towards me, and continued:

“It was a painful duty, Mrs. Markham – but I told her!”

“And how did she take it?” asked my mother.

“She turned white in the face,” he replied; “and drew her breath through her teeth. But she offered no extenuation or defence. She told me that my remonstrance was unavailing, that my presence was displeasing while I spoke such things. I sadly grieved to find her case so hopeless.

Mrs. Markham, my daughters must not consort with her. As for your sons, as for you, young man…” he continued.

“As for me, sir,” I began, but snatched up my hat and bolted from the room. The next minute I was hurrying in the direction of Wildfell Hall.