TheTenantofWildfellHall：Ifeltstronglytempted，attimes，toenlightenmymotherandsisterontherealcharacterandcircumstancesofthepersecutedtenantofWildfellHall；andatfirstIgreatlyregrettedhavingomittedtoaskthatlady’spermissiontodoso；but，onduereflection，Iconsideredthatifitwereknowntothem，itcouldnotlongremainasecrettotheMillwardsandWilsons，andsuchwasmypresentappreciationofElizaMillward’sdisposition，that，ifonceshegotacluetothestory，IshouldfearshewouldsoonfindmeanstoenlightenMr。Huntingdonupontheplaceofhiswife’sretreat。
Iwouldthereforewaitpatientlytillthesewearysixmonthswereover，andthen，whenthefugitivehadfoundanotherhome，andIwaspermittedtowritetoher，Iwouldbegtobeallowedtoclearhernamefromthesevilecalumnies：atpresentImustcontentmyselfwithsimplyassertingthatIknewthemtobefalse，andwouldproveitsomeday，totheshameofthosewhoslanderedher。Idon’tthinkanybodybelievedme：buteverybodysoonlearnedtoavoidinsinuatingawordagainsther，orevenmentioninghernameinmypresence。TheythoughtIwassomadlyinfatuatedbytheseductionsofthatunhappyladythatIwasdeterminedtosupportherintheveryfaceofreason；andmeantimeIgrewinsupportablymoroseandmisanthropicalfromtheideathateveryoneImetwasharbouringunworthythoughtsofthesupposedMrs。Graham，andwouldexpressthemifhedared。Mypoormotherwasquitedistressedaboutme；butIcouldn’thelpit——atleastIthoughtIcouldnot；thoughsometimesIfeltapangofremorseformyundutifulconducttoher，andmadeanefforttoamend，attendedwithsomepartialsuccess——andindeedIwasgenerallymorehumanizedinmydemeanourtoherthantoanyoneelse，Mr。Lawrenceexcepted。RoseandFergususuallyshunnedmypresence；anditwaswelltheydid，forIwasnotfitcompanyforthem，northeyforme，underthepresentcircumstances。
Mrs。HuntingdondidnotleaveWildfellHalltillabovetwomonthsafterourfarewellinterview。Duringthattimesheneverappearedatchurch，andIneverwentnearthehouse：Ionlyknewshewasstilltherebyherbrother’sbriefanswerstomymanyandvariedenquiriesrespectingher。
Iwasaveryconstantandattentivevisitortohimthroughoutthewholeperiodofhisillnessandconvalescence；notonlyfromtheinterestItookinhisrecovery，andmydesiretocheerhimupandmaketheutmostpossibleamendsformyformer`brutality，’butfrommygrowingattachmenttohimself，andtheincreasingpleasureIfoundinhissociety——partly，fromhisincreasedcordialitytome，butchiefly。onaccountofhiscloseconnection——bothinbloodandinaffection——withmyadoredHelen。IlovedhimforitbetterthanIlikedtoexpress；andItookasecretdelightinpressingthoseslender，whitefingers，somarvellouslylikeherown，considering`hewasnotawoman，andinwatchingthepassingchangesinhisfair，palefeatures，andobservingtheintonationsofhisvoice——detectingresemblanceswhichIwonderedhadneverstruckmebefore。Heprovokedmeattimes，indeed，byhisevidentreluctancetotalktomeabout。hissister，thoughIdidnotquestionthefriendlinessofhismotivesinwishingtodiscouragemyremembranceofher。
Hisrecoverywasnotquitesorapidashehadexpectedittobe：