Page:The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (emended first edition), Volume 1.djvu/267

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OF WILDFELL HALL.
255

my confidence would be misplaced in you—you are not the man I thought you—Go! I won't care what you think of me!"

She turned away, and I went; for I thought that would torment her as much as anything; and I believe I was right; for, looking back a minute after, I saw her turn half round, as if hoping or expecting to find me still beside her; and then she stood still, and cast one look behind. It was a look less expressive of anger than of bitter anguish and despair; but I immediately assumed an aspect of indifference, and affected to be gazing carelessly round me, and I suppose she went on; for after lingering awhile to see if she would come back or call, I ventured one more glance, and saw her a good way off, moving rapidly up the field with little Arthur running by her side and apparently talking as he went; but she kept her face averted from him, as if to hide some uncontrolable emotion. And I returned to my business.

But I soon began to regret my precipitancy