Anne Bronte: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

10. CHAPTER X (continued)

She smiled, and once more bid me go; and at length I judged it prudent to obey, and she re-entered the house and I went down the hill. But as I went the tramp of horses' hoofs fell on my ear, and broke the stillness of the dewy evening; and, looking towards the lane, I saw a solitary equestrian coming up. Inclining to dusk as it was, I knew him at a glance: it was Mr. Lawrence on his grey pony. I flew across the field, leaped the stone fence, and then walked down the lane to meet him. On seeing me, he suddenly drew in his little steed, and seemed inclined to turn back, but on second thought apparently judged it better to continue his course as before. He accosted me with a slight bow, and, edging close to the wall, endeavoured to pass on; but I was not so minded. Seizing his horse by the bridle, I exclaimed, - 'Now, Lawrence, I will have this mystery explained! Tell me where you are going, and what you mean to do - at once, and distinctly!'

'Will you take your hand off the bridle?' said he, quietly - 'you're hurting my pony's mouth.'

'You and your pony be - '

'What makes you so coarse and brutal, Markham? I'm quite ashamed of you.'

'You answer my questions - before you leave this spot I will know what you mean by this perfidious duplicity!'

'I shall answer no questions till you let go the bridle, - if you stand till morning.'

'Now then,' said I, unclosing my hand, but still standing before him.

'Ask me some other time, when you can speak like a gentleman,' returned he, and he made an effort to pass me again; but I quickly re-captured the pony, scarce less astonished than its master at such uncivil usage.

'Really, Mr. Markham, this is too much!' said the latter. 'Can I not go to see my tenant on matters of business, without being assaulted in this manner by -?'