CHAPTER SEVEN

The Journey

Not many days after this, on a sunny morning, I was outside, enjoying the good weather when I saw Eliza Millward, Fergus and Rose. They were going to Wildfell Hall, and I offered to go along, walking next to Eliza.

When we arrived, I do not think Mrs Graham was delighted to see us. I did not talk much to her. I was seated near the window with Arthur and Sancho. Fergus was quite impolite during the visit.

"I do not understand, Mrs Graham, why you chose such a terrible old house to live in. If you couldn't afford to fix up the entire house, why didn't you find a nice little cottage?"

"Perhaps, I was too proud, Mr Fergus," she replied, "perhaps I am quite fond of this place."

"And, Mrs Graham," he said again, "we had some questions about your past. We sometimes discuss our neighbours, as we have little else to talk about—"

"Don't speak, Fergus!" cried Rose, in embarrassment.

"First, where are you from? Some say you are a foreigner, and some say an Englishwoman. Some say—"

"Well, Mr Fergus, I'll tell you. I'm an Englishwoman—I was born in the countryside. I hope, now, you are satisfied; for I will not answer any more questions at present."

"Except this—"

"No, not one more!" she laughed, and stood up from her seat, and came to sit near me by the window.

"Mr Markham," said she, "I've heard there is a beautiful view of the sea nearby. Now, could you please tell me how to get there? I would like to walk there some day, and paint the scenery."

Rose quickly interrupted, "Oh, don't tell her Gilbert! She shall go with us. Mrs Graham, it is a very long walk, certainly too far for little Arthur to walk to. We were thinking of going there one afternoon for a picnic. If you will wait till the weather is a bit warmer, we shall all go."

Poor Mrs Graham did not look pleased to hear this. She declined the offer many times, but Rose insisted that she would join them, so she finally agreed.

But this was only March, and April was quite cold and rainy. Finally, in May, we went for the picnic.

I had invited Mr Lawrence, but he declined. I mentioned that Miss Wilson would be going, and he seemed eager to go, but when I told him that Mrs Graham would also be attending, he quickly refused the offer. So, we went—Mrs Graham and her son, Mary and Eliza Millward, Jane and Richard Wilson, and Rose, Fergus, and I.

We arrived, and Mrs Graham requested that Mary Millward look after her child while she walk off to paint the sea views. When she was gone, I became quite bored.

Soon enough, I went to find her, sitting alone on a nearby hill. She did not look too pleased to see me.

"What did you come for?" she asked as I arrived.

"I came to sit and watch you draw."

"Oh, but you know I don't like that," she told me.

"Well then, I'll sit with you and admire the view."

For some time, she drew in silence, but soon spoke, "Why don't you go and amuse yourself with your friends?"

"Because I am tired of them, like you. I see them often, but I do not know when I will see you again."

"Will you tell Arthur that I shall come in a few minutes?"

"I will wait, if you do not mind, and return with you."

I noticed she was not pleased that I was near her, although I ignored her suggestions to leave her.

The journey home was not pleasant, as Mrs Graham did not walk next to me. Instead, Eliza Millward walked close to me, although she seemed upset that I had given Mrs Graham my attention during the picnic. We soon arrived at Wildfell Hall; Mrs Graham and her son said goodbye.

(end of section)