ButIwasnotleftlongalone，forMrWilmot，ofallmentheleastwelcome，tookadvantageofmyisolatedpositiontocomeandplantbesideme。IhadflatteredmyselfthatIhadsoeffectuallyrepulsedhisadvancesonallformeroccasions，thatIhadnothingmoretoapprehendfromhisunfortunatepredilection；butitseemsIwasmistaken：sogreatwashisconfidence，eitherinhiswealthorhisremainingpowersofattraction，andsofirmhisconvictionoffeminineweakness，thathethoughthimselfwarrantedtoreturntothesiege，whichhedidwithrenovatedardour，enkindledbythequantityofwinehehaddrunk——acircumstancethatrenderedhiminfinitelythemoredisgusting；butgreatlyasIabhorredhimatthatmoment，Ididnotliketotreathimwithrudeness，asIwasnowhisguestandhadjustbeenenjoyinghishospitality；andIwasnohandatapolitebutdeterminedrejection，norwouldithavegreatlyavailedmeifIhad；forhewastoocoarse-mindedtotakeanyrepulsethatwasnotasplainandpositiveashisowneffrontery。Theconsequencewas，thathewaxedmorefulsomelytender，andmorerepulsivelywarm，andIwasdriventotheveryvergeofdesperationandabouttosay，Iknownotwhat，whenIfeltmyhand，thathungoverthearmofthesofa，suddenlytakenbyanotherandgentlybutferventlypressed。Instinctively，Iguessedwhoitwas，andonlookingup，waslesssurprisedthandelighted，toseeMrHuntingdonsmilinguponme。Itwasliketurningfromsomepurgatorialfiendtoanangeloflight，cometoannouncethattheseasonoftormentwaspast。
`Helen，’saidhehefrequentlycalledmeHelen，andIneverresentedthefreedom，`Iwantyoutolookatthispicture：MrWilmotwillexcuseyouamoment，I’msure。’
Irosewithalacrity。Hedrewmyarmwithinhis，andledmeacrosstheroomtoasplendidpaintingofVandyke’sthatIhadnoticedbefore，butnotsufficientlyexamined。Afteramomentofsilentcontemplation，Iwasbeginningtocommentonitsbeautiesandpeculiarities，when，playfullypressingthehandhestillretainedwithinhisarm，heinterruptedmewith——
`Nevermindthepicture，itwasnotforthatIbroughtyouhere；
itwastogetyouawayfromthatscoundrellyoldprofligateyonder，whoislookingasifhewouldliketochallengemefortheaffront。’