Anne Bronte: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

38. CHAPTER XXXVIII (continued)

'I have so long been aware of - ' I paused in time, and added, 'of my husband's character, that nothing shocks me.'

'But this - how long have you been aware of this?' demanded he, laying his clenched hand on the table beside him, and looking me keenly and fixedly in the face.

I felt like a criminal.

'Not long,' I answered.

'You knew it!' cried he, with bitter vehemence - 'and you did not tell me! You helped to deceive me!'

'My lord, I did not help to deceive you.'

'Then why did you not tell me?'

'Because I knew it would be painful to you. I hoped she would return to her duty, and then there would be no need to harrow your feelings with such - '

'O God! how long has this been going on? How long has it been, Mrs. Huntingdon? - Tell me - I must know!' exclaimed, with intense and fearful eagerness.

'Two years, I believe.'

'Great heaven! and she has duped me all this time!' He turned away with a suppressed groan of agony, and paced the room again in a paroxysm of renewed agitation. My heart smote me; but I would try to console him, though I knew not how to attempt it.

'She is a wicked woman,' I said. 'She has basely deceived and betrayed you. She is as little worthy of your regret as she was of your affection. Let her injure you no further; abstract yourself from her, and stand alone.'

'And you, Madam,' said he sternly, arresting himself, and turning round upon me, 'you have injured me too by this ungenerous concealment!'