Anne Bronte: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

9. CHAPTER IX (continued)

'Why, none,' replied he with provoking quietness; 'only,' - and he raised his eyes to my face, and spoke with unusual solemnity, - 'only let me tell you, Markham, that if you have any designs in that quarter, they will certainly fail; and it grieves me to see you cherishing false hopes, and wasting your strength in useless efforts, for - '

'Hypocrite!' I exclaimed; and he held his breath, and looked very blank, turned white about the gills, and went away without another word.

I had wounded him to the quick; and I was glad of it.