35 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, Lady Lowborough leaves amidst bad feeling.

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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 Provocations In proportion as Lady Lobra finds she has nothing to fear from me and as the time of departure draws nigh the more audacious and insolent she becomes. She does not scruple to speak to my husband with affectionate familiarity in my presence when no one else is by and is particularly fond of displaying her interest in his health and welfare when anything that concerns him as if for the purpose of contrasting her kind solicitude with my cold indifference and he rewards her by such smiles and glances such whispered words or boldly spoken insinuations indicative of his sense of her goodness and my neglect as makes the blood rush into my face in spite of myself for I would be utterly regardless of it all deaf and blind to everything that passes between them since the more I show myself sensible of their wickedness the more she triumphs in her victory and the more he flatters himself I'd love him devotedly still in spite of my pretended indifference. On such occasions I have sometimes been startled by a subtle fiendish suggestion inciting me to show him the contrary by a seeming encouragement of Hargrave's advances but such ideas are banished in a moment with horror and self-abasement and then I hate him tenfold more than ever for having brought me to this. God pardon me for it and all my sinful thoughts. Instead of being humbled and purified by my afflictions I feel they are turning my nature into gall. This must be my fault as much as theirs that wrong me. No true Christian could cherish such bitter feelings as I do against him and her especially the latter. Him I still feel I could pardon freely gladly on the slightest token of repentance but she words cannot utter my abhorrence. Reason forbids but passion urges strongly and I must pray and struggle long ere I subdue it. It is well that she is leaving tomorrow for I could not well endure her presence for another day. This morning she rose earlier than usual. I found her in the room alone when I went down to breakfast. Oh Helen is it you? Said she turning as I entered. I gave an involuntary start back on seeing her at which she uttered a short laugh observing I think we are both disappointed. I came forward and busied myself with the breakfast things. This is the last day I shall burden your hospitality said she as she seated herself at the table. Now here comes one that would not rejoice at it she murmured after herself as Arthur entered the room. He shook hands with her and wished her good morning then looking lovingly in her face and still retaining her hand in his murmured pathetically the last day. Yes she said with some asperity and I rose early to make the best of it and I've been here alone this half hour and you you lazy creature. Well I thought I was early too said he but dropping his voice almost to whisper you see we are not alone. We never are returned she but they were almost as good as alone for I was now standing at the window watching the clouds and struggling to suppress my wrath. Some more words passed between them which happily I did not overhear but Annabella had the audacity to come and place herself beside me and even to put her hand upon my shoulder and say softly you need not grudge him to me Helen for I love him more than ever you could do. This put me beside myself. I took her hand and violently dashed it from me with an expression of abhorrence and indignation that could not be suppressed. Startled almost appalled by this sudden outbreak she recoiled in silence. I would have given way to my fury and said more but Arthur's low laugh recalled me to myself. I checked the half-uttered invective and scornfully turned away regretting that I had given him so much amusement. He was still laughing when Mr Hargrave made his appearance. How much of the scene he had witnessed I do not know for the door was ajar when he entered. He greeted his host and his cousin both coldly and me with a glance intended to express the deepest sympathy mingled with high admiration and esteem. How much allegiance do you owe to that man? He asked below his breath as he stood beside me at the window affecting to be making observations on the weather. None I answered and immediately returning to the table I employed myself in making the tea. He followed and would have entered into some kind of conversation with me but the other guests were now beginning to assemble and I took no more notice of him except to giving his coffee. After breakfast determined to pass as little of the day as possible in company with Lady Loberer I quietly stole away from the company and retired to the library. Mr Hargrave followed me thither under pretense of coming for a book and first turning to the shelves he selected a volume and then quietly but by no means timidly approaching me he stood beside me resting his hand on the back of my chair and said softly and you so consider yourself free at last? Yes said I without moving or raising my eyes from my book free to do anything but offend God and my conscience. There was a momentary pause very right said he provided your conscience be not too morbidly tender and your ideas of God not too erroneously severe but can you suppose it would offend that benevolent being to make the happiness of one who would die for yours? This was spoken in a low earnest melting tone as he bent over me. I now raised my head and steadily confronting his gaze I answered calmly Mr Hargrave do you mean to insult me? He was not prepared for this. He paused a moment to recover from the shock then drawing himself up and moving his hand from my chair he answered with proud sadness. That was not my intention. I glanced towards the door with a slight movement of the head then returned to my book. He immediately withdrew this was better than if I had answered with more words and in the passionate silence spirit to which my first impulse would have prompted. What a good thing it is to be able to command one's temper. I must labour to cultivate this inestimable quality. God only knows how often I shall need it in this rough dark road that lies ahead. In the course of the morning I drove over to the grove with the two ladies to give me listen to an opportunity for bidding farewell to her mother and sister. They persuaded her to stay with them the rest of the day. Mrs Hargrave promising to bring her back in the evening and remain till the party broke up on the morrow. Consequently Lady Lobra and I had the pleasure of returning tete-a-tete in the carriage together. For the first mile or two we kept silence. I looking out of my window and she leaning back in her corner. But I was not going to restrict myself to any particular position for her. When I was tired of leaning forward with a cold raw wind in my face and surveying the russet hedges and the damp tangled grass of their banks I gave it up and lent back too. With her usual impudence my companion then made some attempts to get up a conversation but the modest syllables yes or no or who were the utmost her several remarks could elicit from me. At last on her asking my opinion about some immaterial point of discussion I answered. Why do you wish to talk to me Lady Lobra? You must know what I think of you. Well if you will be so bitter against me replied she I can't help it but I'm not going to sulk for anybody. Our short drive was now at an end. As soon as the carriage door was opened she sprang out and went down the park to meet the gentlemen who were just returning from the woods. And I of course did not follow.

Reviews

Can’t imagine how unbearable… I thought my ex- husband was terrible 😅😓 her strength will come. Thank you, Steph!❤️🙏🏼