35 Cont. Tenant Of Wildfell Hall - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Contrary to early 19th-century norms, she pursues an artist's career and earns an income by selling her pictures. Her strict seclusion soon leads 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, Helen ignores Anabella's request, and slowly manages to distance herself from Arthur's manipulation and emotional blackmail.

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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 Read and abridged by Stephanie Poppins Chapter 35 Continued After dinner I retired to the drawing room as usual and Lady Loba accompanied me but I had the two children with me and I gave them my whole attention and determined to keep them till the gentleman came or till Millicent arrived with her mother. Little Helen however was soon tired of playing and insisted upon going to sleep and while I sat on the sofa with her on my knee and Arthur seated beside me gently playing with her soft flaxen hair Lady Loba composedly came and placed herself on the other side. Tomorrow Mrs Huntington said she you will be delivered from my presence which no doubt you will be very glad of. It is natural you should but do you know I have rendered you a great service. Shall I tell you what it is? I shall be glad to hear of any service you have rendered me. Said I determined to be calm for I knew by the tone of her voice she wanted to provoke me. Well resumed she have you not observed this salutary change in Mr Huntington? Don't you see what a sober temperate man he has become? You saw with regret the sad habits he was contracting I know and I know you did your utmost to deliver him from them but without success until I came to your assistance. I told him in a very few words that I could not bear to see him degrade himself so and that I should cease to no matter what I told him but you see the reformation I have wrought and you ought to thank me for it. I rose and rang for the nurse but I desire no thanks she continued all the return I ask is that you will take care of him when I'm gone and not by harshness neglect driving back to his old courses. I was almost sick with passion but Rachel was now at the door I pointed to the children for I could not trust myself to speak she took them away and I followed well new Helen continued the speaker I gave her a look that blighted the malicious smile on her face or checked it at least for a moment and departed in the ante room I met Mr Hargrave he saw I was in no humor to be spoken to and suffered me to pass without a word but when after a few minutes seclusion in the library I regained my composure and was returning to join Mrs Hargrave and Millicent whom I had just heard come downstairs I found him there still lingering in the dimly lighted apartment and evidently waiting for me Mrs Huntington said he as I passed will you allow me one word what is it then be quick if you please I offended you this morning and I cannot live under your displeasure then go and sin no more replied I turning away no he said hastily setting himself before me pardon me but I must have your forgiveness I leave you tomorrow and may not have an opportunity of speaking to you again I was wrong to forget myself and you as I did but let me implore you to forget and forgive my rash presumption and think of me as if those words had never been spoken for believe me I regret them deeply and the loss of your esteem is too severe a penalty I cannot bear it forgetfulness is not to be purchased with a wish said I and I cannot bestow my esteem on all who desire it unless they deserve it too I shall think my life well spent in laboring to deserve it if you will but pardon this offense will you yes yes but that is coldly spoken give me your hand and I'll believe you you won't then Mrs Huntington you do not forgive me yes here it is my forgiveness with it only sin no more Mr Hargrave pressed my cold hand with sentimental fervor but said nothing and stood aside to let me pass into the room where all the company were now assembled Mr Grimsby was seated near the door on seeing me enter almost immediately followed by Hargrave he leered at me with a glance of intolerable significance as I passed I looked him in the face till he suddenly turned away if not ashamed at least confounded for the moment meantime Hattersley had seized Hargrave by the arm and was whispering something in his ear some coarse joke no doubt for the latter neither laughed nor spoke in answer but turning from him with a slight curl of the lip disengaged himself and went to his mother who was telling Lord Lobra how many reasons she had to be proud of her son thank heaven they are all going tomorrow chapter 36 December the 20th 1824 this is the third anniversary of our felicitous union it is now two months since our guests left us to the enjoyment of each other's society and I have had nine weeks experience of this new phase of conjugal life two persons living together as master and mistress of the house and father and mother of a winsome merry little child with a mutual understanding that there is no love friendship or sympathy between them as far in me lies I endeavored to live peaceably with him I treat him with unimpeachable civility give up my convenience to his wherever it may reasonably be done and consult him in a business-like way on household affairs referring to his pleasure and judgment even when I know the latter to be inferior to my own as for him for the first week or two he was peevish and low fretting I suppose over his dear Annabella's departure and particularly ill tempered to me everything I did was wrong I was cold-hearted hard and sensate my sour pale face was perfectly repulsive my voice made him shudder he knew not how he could live through the winter with me I should kill him by inches again I proposed a separation but it would not do he was not going to be the talk of all the old gossips in the neighborhood he would not have it said that he was such a brute that his wife could not live with him no he must contrive to bear with me I must contrive to bear with you you mean said I for as long as I discharge my functions of steward and housekeeper so conscientiously and well without pay and without thanks you cannot afford to part with me I shall therefore remit these duties when my bondage becomes intolerable this threat I thought would serve to keep him in check if anything would I believe he was much disappointed I did not feel his offensive sayings more acutely but when he had said anything particularly well calculated to hurt my feelings he would stare at me searchingly in the face then grumble against my marble heart or my brutal insensibility if I had bitterly wept and deplored his lost affection he would perhaps have condescended to pity me and take me into favor for a while just to comfort his solitude and console him for the absence of his beloved Annabella until he could meet her again or some more fitting substitute thank heaven I'm not so weak as all that I was infatuated once with a foolish besotted affection that clung to him in spite of his unworthiness but it is fairly gone now wholly crushed and withered away and he has none but himself and his vices to thank for it

Reviews

Ugh, What an odious situation! I can’t wait to hear what finally launches her from this stalemate! Thank you Steph ❤️🙏🏼