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

My mother regretted she was not there, and explained to the Millwards and Wilsons the reasons.

“She is a very strange lady, Mr. Lawrence,” added she; “we don't know what to think of her. But you can tell us something about her, for she is your tenant, you know. And she said she knew you a little.”

All eyes were turned to Mr. Lawrence.

“I, Mrs. Markham!” said he; “you are mistaken. I don't – that is – I have seen her, certainly; but I can't tell anything about Mrs. Graham.”

He then immediately turned to Rose, and asked her to favour the company with a song, or a tune on the piano.

“No,” said she, “you must ask Miss Wilson: she plays and sings much better.”

Miss Wilson demurred.

“She'll sing readily enough,” said Fergus, “if you stand by her, Mr. Lawrence, and turn over the leaves[9 - turn over the leaves – переворачивать ноты] for her.”

“I shall be most happy to do so, Miss Wilson; will you allow me?”

She bridled her long neck and smiled.

After that she played and sang, one piece after another; while he stood patiently by, and turned over the leaves of her book.

“I don't take wine, Mrs. Markham,” said Mr. Millward; “I'll take a little of your home-brewed ale[10 - home-brewed ale – домашний эль]. I always prefer your home-brewed to anything else. There's nothing like this, Mrs. Markham!” said he. “I always maintain that there's nothing to compare with your home-brewed ale.

These things are all blessings and mercies, if we only knew how to make use of them.”

“But Mrs. Graham doesn't think so. You'll just hear now what she told us the other day,” said my mother

And my mother favoured the company with a particular account of that lady's ideas,

“Now, don't you think it is wrong?”

“Wrong!” repeated the vicar, with more than common solemnity, “criminal, I say, criminal! She is making a fool of the boy, despising the gifts of Providence, and teaching him to trample them under his feet.

”

Mr. Lawrence sat with his elbow on the table, and covertly smiled to himself.

“But don't you think, Mr. Millward,” suggested he, “that when a child may be naturally prone to intemperance – by the fault of its parents or ancestors, for instance – some precautions are advisable?” (Mr. Lawrence's father shortened his days by intemperance).