42 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 neighboring village, and she becomes a social outcast. Refusing to believe anything scandalous about her, Gilbert befriends her and discovers her past.

In this episode, after an unwelcome visitor arrives, Helen, Rachel, and Little Arthur leave at last.

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 Having prepared everything the day before we were given two whole days to the preparation for our departure that Frederick may have more time to prepare the rooms and Rachel to pack up the things for the latter task must be done with the utmost caution and secrecy and there is no one but me to assist her. I can help to get the articles together but I do not understand the art of stowing them into the boxes so as to take up the smallest possible space and of course there are Rachel's own things to do as well as mine and Arthur's. I can ill afford to leave anything behind since I have no money except a few guineas in my purse and besides as Rachel observed whatever I left would be most likely becoming the property of Miss Myers and I should not relish that. But what trouble I have had throughout these two days struggling to appear calm and collected to meet him and her as usual when I was obliged to meet them and forcing myself to leave my little Arthur in her hands for hours together. But I trust these trials are over now. I have laid him in my bed for better security and never more I trust shall his innocent lips be defiled by their contaminating kisses or his young ears polluted by their words. But shall I escape in safety? Oh that the morning would come and we were on our way at least. This evening when I'd given Rachel all the assistance I could and had nothing left but to wait and wish and tremble I became so greatly agitated I knew not what to do. I went down to dinner but I could not force myself to eat. Mr Huntington remarked the circumstance. What's to do with you now? Said he when the removal of the second course gave him time to look about. I'm not well, I replied. I think I must lie down a little. You won't miss me much? Not in the least. If you leave your chair it'll do just as well. Better a trifle, He muttered as I left the room for I can fancy somebody else fills it. Somebody else may fill it tomorrow, I thought but I did not say. There I've seen the last of you I hope, I muttered as I closed the door upon him. Rachel then urged me to seek repose at once to recruit my strength for tomorrow's journey as we must be gone before the dawn. But in my present state of nervous excitement that was entirely out of the question. It was equally out of the question to sit to wander about my room counting the hours and the minutes between me and the appointed time of action straining my ears and trembling at every sound lest someone should discover and betray us all. I took up a book and tried to read. My eyes wandered over the pages but it was impossible to bind my thoughts to their contents. Why not have recourse to the old expedient and add this last event to my chronicle? I opened its pages once more and wrote to the above account with difficulty at first but gradually my mind became more calm and steady. Thus several hours have passed away, The time is drawing near and now my eyes feel heavy and my frame exhausted. Little Arthur sleeps soundly, All the house is still, There can be no one watching. The boxes were all corded by Benson and quietly conveyed down the back stairs after dusk and sent away in a cart. The name upon the cards was Mrs Graham which appellation I mean henceforth to adopt. My mother's maiden name was Graham and therefore I fancy I have some claim to it and I prefer it to any other except my own which I dare not resume. October 24th. Thank heaven I am free and safe at last. Early we rose swiftly and quietly dressed, Slowly and stealthily descended to the hall where Benson stood ready with a light to open the door and fasten it after us. We were obliged to let one man into our secret on account of the boxes. All the servants were but too well acquainted with their master's conduct and either Benson or John would have been willing to serve me but as the former was more staid and elderly and a crony of Rachel's besides I of course directed her to make choice of him as her assistant and confidant on the occasion. I only hope he may not be brought into trouble thereby. What trembling joy it was when the little wicked closed behind us as we issued from the park then for one moment I paused to inhale one draught of that cool bracing air and venture one look back upon the house. All was dark and still, No light glimmered in the windows, No wreath of smoke obscured the stars that sparkled above it in the frosty sky. I felt glad I had not left it before for now there was no doubt upon the propriety of such a step, No shadow of remorse for him I left behind. There was nothing to disturb my joy but the fear of detection and every step removed us further from the chance of that. We had left Grasdale many miles behind us before the round red sun arose to welcome our deliverance and if any inhabitant of its vicinity had chance to see us then as we bowled along on the top of the coach I scarcely think they would have suspected our identity. As I intended to be taken for a widow I thought it advisable to enter my new abode in mourning. I was therefore attired in plain black silk dress and mantle and a black veil. Oh what delight it was to be thus seated aloft rumbling along the broad sunshiny road with a fresh morning breeze in my face surrounded by an unknown country all smiling cheerfully gloriously smiling in the yellow luster of those early beams with my darling child in my arms almost as happy as myself and my faithful friend beside me. But the journey was a very long one and we were all very weary before the close of it. It was far into the night when we reached the town and we were still several miles from our journey's end. There was no more coaching nor any conveyance to be had except a common cart and that with difficulty for half the town was in bed. At last we began to ascend a terribly steep and stony lane which in spite of the darkness Rachel said she remembered well. She'd often walked there with me in her arms and a little thought to come again so many years after. At length the lane conducted us round by the back way and we entered the desolate court and in breathless anxiety surveyed the ruinous mass that was Wildfell Hall. Was it all blackness and desolation? No one faint red glimmer cheered us from a window where the lattice was in good repair. The door was fastened but after due knocking and waiting and some parlaying with a voice from the upper window we were admitted by an old woman who'd been commissioned to air and keep the house till our arrival. Here she procured us a light, Roused the fire to a cheerful blaze and soon prepared a simple repast for our refreshment. Whilst we disencumbered ourselves of our travelling gear we took a hasty survey of our newer abode. Besides the kitchen there were two bedrooms, A good-sized parlour and another smaller one which I'd destined for my studio, All well aired and seemingly in good repair but only partly furnished with a few old articles, Chiefly of ponderous black oak, The veritable ones that had been there before and which had been kept as antiquarian relics in my brother's present residence and now in haste transported back again. The old woman brought my supper and offers into the parlour and told me the master desired his compliments to Mrs Graham and he prepared the rooms as well as he could upon so short a notice but he would do himself the pleasure of calling upon you tomorrow to receive further commands. I was glad to ascend the stern-looking stone staircase and lie down in the gloomy old-fashioned bed beside my little Arthur. He was asleep in the minute but weary as I was my excited feelings and restless cogitations kept me awake until dawn.

Reviews

Waiting for the next reading just like a child waiting for their birthday! Thank you🌸