31 Cont. Tenant Of Wildfell Hall- By Stephanie Poppins

Contrary to the early 19th-century norms, she pursues an artist's career and makes an income by selling her pictures. Her strict seclusion soon gives rise to gossip in the neighbouring village and she becomes a social outcast. Refusing to believe anything scandalous about her, Gilbert befriends her and discovers her past.

In this episode: Anabella shows her true colours.

Transcript

Hello. Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph, A romantic bedtime podcast guaranteed to help you drift off into a calm, Relaxing sleep. Come with me as we travel back to a time long ago where Helen Huntingdon is sacrificing everything she knows in order to protect her son. But before we begin let us take a moment to focus on where we are now. Take a deep breath in through your nose then let it out on a long sigh. It is time to relax and really let go. Feel your shoulders melt away from your ears as you sink into the support beneath you. Feel the pressure seep away from your cheeks as your breath drops into a natural rhythm. There is nothing you need to be doing right now and nowhere you need to go. We are together and it is time for sleep. The Tenant of Wildfelm Hall by Red and Abridged by Stephanie Poppins Chapter 31 continued Those two detestable men, Grimsby and Hattersley, Have destroyed all my labour against Arthur's love of wine. They encourage him daily to overstep the bounds of moderation and not unfrequently to disgrace himself by positive excess. I shall not soon forget the second night after their arrival. Just as I had retired from the dining room with the ladies before the door was closed upon us, Arthur exclaimed, Now then, My lads, What say you to a regular jollification? Jollification! Millicent glanced at me with a half-reproachful look as if I could hinder it, But her countenance changed when she heard Hattersley's voice shouting through door and wall, I'm your man, Send for more wine, There isn't half enough. We had scarcely entered the drawing room before we were joined by Lord Lobra. What can induce you to come so soon? Exclaimed Lady Lobra with a most ungracious air of dissatisfaction. You know I never drink cannabella, Replied he seriously. Well, You might just stay with them a little, It looks so silly to be always dangling after the women. I wonder you can, Said she. He approached her with a look of mingled bitterness and surprise. And sinking into a chair, He suppressed a very heavy sigh, Bit his pale lips and fixed his eyes upon the door. You did right to leave them, Lord Lobra, Said I. I trust you will always continue to honour us so early with your company, And if Annabella knew the value of true wisdom and the misery of folly and impertinence, She would not talk such nonsense, Even in jest. He raised his eyes while I spoke and gravely turned them upon me with a half-surprised, Half-abstracted look, Then bent them on his wife. At least, Said she, I know the value of a warm heart and a bold, Manly spirit. And she pointed her words with a glance of triumph at me, Which seemed to say, And that is more than you do, And a look of scorn at her husband that entered into his soul. I was intensely exasperated, But it was not for me to reprove her, Or, As it seemed, To express my sympathy with her husband, Without insulting his feelings. All I could do to obey my inward impulse was to hand him a cup of coffee, Bringing it to him myself, And before I served either of the ladies, By way of balancing her contempt by my exceeding deference. He took it mechanically from my hand, With a slight inclination, And next minute he rose and placed it untasted on the table, Looking not at it, But at her. Well, Annabella, Said he, In a deep and hollow tone, Since my presence is disagreeable to you, I will relieve you of it. Are you going back to them, Then? She said, Carelessly. No, Exclaimed he, With a harsh and startling emphasis. I will not go back to them, And I will never stay with them one moment longer than I think right for you or any other tempter. But you needn't mind that. I shall never trouble you again, By intruding my company upon you so unseasonably. He left the room. I heard the hall door open and shut, And immediately after, On putting aside the curtain, I saw him pacing down the park, In the comfortless gloom of the damp, Cloudy twilight. Such scenes as this are always disagreeable to witness. Our little party was completely silenced for a moment. Millicent played with her teaspoon and looked confounded and uncomfortable. If Annabella felt any shame or uneasiness, She attempted to hide it by a short, Reckless laugh, And calmly betook herself to her coffee. It would serve you right, Annabella, Said I, At length. If Lord Lobro were to return to his old habits, Which had so nearly affected his ruin, And which cost him such an effort to break, You would then see cause to repent such conduct as this. Not at all, My dear. I should not mind if his lordship were to see fit to intoxicate himself every day. I should only the sooner be rid of him. Oh, Annabella, Cried Millicent, How could you say such wicked things? It would indeed be a just punishment, As far as you're concerned, If Providence should take you at your word and make you feel what others feel, That. . . She paused, As a sudden burst of loud talking and laughter reached us from the dining room, In which the voice of Hattersley was pre-eminently conspicuous, Even to my unpractised ear. What you feel at this moment, I suppose, Said Lady Lowbury, With a malicious smile fixing her eyes upon her cousin's distressed countenance. The latter offered no reply, But averted her face and brushed away a tear. At that moment the door opened and admitted Mr Hargrave, Just a little flushed, His eye sparkling with unwanted vivacity. Oh, I'm glad you've come, Walter, Cried his sister, But I wish you could have got Ralph to come too. Utterly impossible, Dear Millicent, Replied he gaily, I had much ado to get away myself. Ralph attempted me to keep me by violence, Hunted and threatened me with the eternal loss of friendship, And Grimsby, Worse of all, Endeavoured to make me ashamed of my virtue by such galling sarcasms and innuendos as he knew would wound me the worst. So you see, Ladies, You ought to make me welcome when I've braved and suffered so much for the favour of your sweet society. He smilingly turned to me and bowed as he finished the sentence. Isn't he handsome now, Helen? Whispered Millicent, Her sisterly pride overcoming for the moment all other considerations. He would be, I returned, If that brilliance of eye and lip and cheek were natural to him, But look again a few hours hence. Here the gentleman took a seat near me at the table and petitioned for a cup of coffee. I consider this apt illustration of heaven taken by storm, Said he, As I handed one to him. I'm in paradise now, But I fought my way through flood and fire to win it. Ralph Hattersley's last resort was to set his back against the door, And I swear I should find no passage but through his body, A pretty substantial one too. Happily, However, That wasn't the only door, And I effected my escape by the side entrance through the butler's pantry to the infinite amazement of Benson, Who was cleaning the plate. At last the other men came, But not till after ten, When tea, Which had been delayed for more than half an hour, Was nearly over. Much as I longed for their coming, My heart failed me at the riotous uproar of their presence. Millicent turned pale and almost started from her seat as Mr. Hattersley burst into the room with a clamorous volley of oats in his mouth, Which Hargrave endeavoured to check by entreating him to remember the ladies. Mr. Grimsby seated himself by me, In the chair vacated by Mr. Hargrave as he entered, And gravely stated he would thank me for a cup of tea, And Arthur placed himself beside poor Millicent. Confidentially pushing his head into her face and drawing in closer to her as she shrunk away from him. He was not so noisy as Hattersley, But his face was exceedingly flushed. He laughed incessantly, And while I blushed for all I saw and heard of him, I was glad he chose to talk to his companion in so low a tone that no one could hear what he said but herself. It must have been intolerable nonsense at best, For she looked excessively annoyed, First going red in the face, Then indignantly she pushed back her chair and finally took refuge beside me on the sofa. Arthur's sole intention seemed to have been to produce some such disagreeable effects. He laughed immoderately on finding he'd driven her away, Then drawing his chair up to the table, He lent his folded arms upon it and delivered himself to a paroxysm of weak, Low, Foolish laughter. When he was tired of this exercise, He lifted his head and called aloud to Hattersley. What fools they are, Drooled Mr Grimsby, Who'd been talking away at my elbow with sententious gravity all the time. But I'd been too much absorbed in contemplating the deplorable state of the other two, Especially Arthur. Did you ever hear such nonsense as they taught Mrs Huntington? He continued, I'm quite ashamed of them for my part. They can't take so much as a bottle between them without it getting into their heads. You are pouring the cream into your saucer, Mr Grimsby, Said I in reply. Such disgraceful scenes, Or nearly such, Have been repeated more than once. I don't say much to Arthur about it, For if I did it would do more harm than good, But I let him know I intensely dislike such exhibitions, And each time he has promised they should never again be repeated, But I fear he is losing the little self-command and respect he once possessed. His friend Hargrave, With a prudence and self-government that I envy for him, Never disgraces himself by taking more than sufficient to render him a little elevated, And he's always the first to leave the table after Lord Lobra, Who, Wiser still, Perseveres in vacating the dining room immediately after us, But never once since Annabella offended him as he entered the drawing room before the rest, Always spending the interim in the library, Which I take care to have lighted for his accommodation. I think she regrets her misconduct, For she has never repeated it since. And of late she's comported herself with wonderful propriety towards him, Treating him with more uniform kindness and consideration than ever I've observed her to do before. I date the time of this improvement from the period when she ceased to hope and strive for Arthur's admiration.