Незнакомка из Уайлдфелл-Холла. Уровень 2 / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

I called Arthur to me, and he and I and Sancho amused ourselves very pleasantly together. Fergus was interrupting the conversation, or filling up a pause with some impertinent question or remark. At one time it was,

“It, amazes me, Mrs. Graham, how you can choose such a dilapidated, rickety old place as this to live in. If you can't afford to occupy the whole house, why can't you take a neat little cottage?”

“Perhaps this romantic, old-fashioned place, Mr. Fergus,” replied she, “has many advantages over a cottage.

You see, the rooms are larger and more airy. The unoccupied apartments, which I don't pay for, may serve as lumber-rooms. They are very useful for my little boy to run about in on rainy days when he can't go out. Then there is the garden for him to play in, and for me to work in.”

“But then how can you bear such a situation – your nearest neighbours two miles distant, and nobody passes by? Rose will go mad in such a place.”

“The loneliness of the place was one of its chief recommendations.

I like to be quiet.”

“Oh! Do you want to tell us to leave you alone?”

“No, I dislike an extensive acquaintance; but if I have a few friends, of course I am glad to see them occasionally. No one can be happy in eternal solitude. Therefore, Mr. Fergus, if you choose to enter my house as a friend, I will make you welcome. If not, I will keep you away.”

“And, Mrs. Graham,” said he again, five minutes after, “we were disputing something.

Well, the question, or questions for you to answer – ”

“Hold your tongue, Fergus!” cried Rose.

“I won't! The questions are these: first, concerning your birth, extraction, and previous residence. Some people say that you are a foreigner, and some an Englishwoman; some a native of the north country, and some of the south; some say – ”

“Well, Mr. Fergus, I'll tell you. I'm an Englishwoman. I was born in the country, neither in the extreme north nor south of our happy isle.

In the country I have passed my life, and now I hope you are satisfied.”

“Except this – ”

“No, not one more!” laughed she, and, to escape my brother's persecutions, drew me into conversation.

“Mr. Markham,” said she, “have you forgotten the fine sea-view we were speaking of some time ago? I think I must trouble you, now, to tell me the nearest way to it. I shall, perhaps, be able to walk there, and take my sketch. I want to see it.