`Allaprejudice，Helen——amerewoman’santipathy。’
`No；Ihavesolidgroundsformydislike。Andisthatall？’
`Why，yes，Ithinkso。Hattersleywillbetoobusybillingandcooingwithhisbridetohavemuchtimetospareforgunsanddogs，atpresent，’hereplied——AndthatremindsmethatIhavehadseverallettersfromMilicentsincehermarriage，andthatsheeitherisorpretendstobequitereconciledtoherlot。Sheprofessestohavediscoverednumberlessvirtuesandperfectionsinherhusband，someofwhich，Ifear，lesspartialeyeswouldfailtodistinguish，thoughtheysoughtthemcarefullywithtears；andnowthatsheisaccustomedtohisloudvoiceandabrupt，uncourteousmanners，sheaffirmsshefindsnodifficultyinlovinghimasawifeshoulddo，andbegsIwillburnthatletterwhereinshespokesounadvisedlyagainsthim。SothatItrustshemayyetbehappy；butifsheis，itwillheentirelytherewardofherowngoodnessofheart；forhadshechosentoconsiderherselfthevictimoffate，orofhermother’sworldlywisdom，shemighthavebeenthoroughlymiserable；and，if，forduty’ssake，shehadnotmadeeveryefforttoloveherhusband，shewoulddoubtlesshavehatedhimtotheendofherdays。
TheTenantofWildfellHall：Chapter26CHAPTER26TheGuestsSept。23rd。Ourguestsarrivedaboutthreeweeksago。LordandLadyLowboroughhavenowbeenmarriedaboveeightmonths；andIwilldotheladythecredittosaythatherhusbandisquiteanalteredman：hislooks，hisspirits，andhistemperareallperceptiblychangedforthebettersinceIlastsawhim。Butthereisroomforimprovementstill。Heisnotalwayscheerfulnoralwayscontented，andsheoftencomplainsofhisillhumour，which，however，ofallpersons，sheoughttobethelasttoaccusehimof，asheneverdisplaysitagainsther，exceptforsuchconductaswouldprovokeasaintHeadoresherstill，andwouldgototheworld’sendtopleaseher，Sheknowsherpower，andsheusesittoo；butwellknowingthattowheedleandcoaxissaferthantocommand，shejudiciouslytempersherdespotismwithflatteryandblandishmentsenoughtomakehimdeemhimselfafavouredandahappyman。Andyet，attimes，asombreshadowovercloudshisbrowevenInherpresence，butevidentlytheresultofdespondencyratherthanofillhumour，andgenerallyoccasionedbysomedisplayofherill-regulatedtemperormisguidedmind——somewantontramplinguponhismostcherishedopinions——somesecklessdisregardofprinciplethatmakeshimbitterlyregretthatsheisnotasgoodassheischarmingandbeloved。Ipityhimfrommyheart，forIknowthemiseryofsuchregrets。
Butshehasanotherwayoftormentinghim，InwhichIamafellow-sufferer——ormightbe，ifIchosetoregardmyselfassuch。ThisisbyopenlybutnottooglaringlycoquettingwithMrHuntingdon，whoisquitewillingtobeherpartnerinthegame；butIdon’tcareforit，becausewithhim，Iknowthereisnothingbutpersonalvanityandamischievousdesiretoexcitemyjealousy，andperhapstotormenthisfriend；andshe，nodoubt，isactuatedbymuchthesamemotives；onlythereismoreofmaliceandlessofplayfulnessinhermanoeuvres。Itisobviously，therefore，myinteresttodisappointthemboth，asfarasIamconcerned，bypreservingacheerful，undisturbedserenitythroughout；andaccordinglyIendeavourtoshowthefullestconfidenceInmyhusbandandthegreatestindifferencetotheartsofmyattractiveguest。Ihaveneverreproachedtheformerbutonce，andthatwasforlaughingatLordLowborough’sdepressedandanxiouscountenanceoneevening，whentheyhadbothbeenparticularlyprovoking；andthen，indeed，Isaidagooddealonthesubject，andrebukedhimsternlyenough；butheonlylaughed，andsaid——