The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

Helen attends a dinner at Mr. Wilmot’s, where there are two other young ladies present: Annabella Wilmot, Mr. Wilmot’s niece, described as very dashing, and Millicent Hargrave, of whom Helen is fond. Mr. Huntingdon attends, and Helen is piqued by his attentions to Annabella. She basks in his attention when it turns to her, noting that his cleverness seems enhanced by his wit and charm. Luring her away from a discussion of Millicent’s drawings and the drunken advances of Mr. Wilmot, Huntingdon tells Helen that she is a sweet angel and he adores her.

Her aunt interrupts this discussion. When they are home, she informs Helen that Arthur Huntingdon is a “merry, thoughtless profligate” (165), not at all a man of sense or principle. There are rumors he had an affair with a married lady, but Helen refuses to hear slanders against him. She insists she could work toward his salvation and save him from companions who might be leading him into vice and other reckless behavior, declaring, “I should think my life well spent in the effort to preserve so noble a nature from destruction” (166). Helen’s aunt persuades Helen’s uncle to return to the country, hoping Helen will forget Mr. Huntingdon.

In an entry for August 25, Helen has considered her aunt’s advice, her feelings have not lessened, and she still believes she could deliver Huntingdon from “the baneful influence of corrupting and wicked companions” (168). Helen is excited when her uncle throws a house party and invites Mr. Wilmot, Mr. Boarham, Mr. Huntingdon, and Lord Lowborough. Mr. Wilmot will bring Annabella and Millicent Hargrave.

Helen eagerly awaits Huntingdon’s arrival but, the first evening, is embarrassed when he looks through her sketches and sees one she made of him. Huntingdon flirts with Annabella to make Helen jealous. He admires a painting Helen is making of a young girl in a sunny forest glade, but when he finds a miniature portrait of himself in her portfolio, Helen rips it up and throws it into the fire. She dislikes having her feelings exposed, though she attributes his teasing to “his joyous, playful spirit” (178). Helen fears she has turned Huntingdon away from her and bitterly reflects that Annabella does not love Huntingdon as she does, because she intends to marry Lord Lowborough for his title, rank, and estate.

After dinner, Huntingdon hangs over Annabella at the piano, and Helen goes to the library to hide her tears. Huntingdon follows and tells Helen he does not care for Annabella; he says she is “like a flaunting peony compared with a sweet, wild rosebud gemmed with dew” (184). Helen confesses that she loves him, but when Huntingdon sweeps her into his arms, her aunt opens the door and catches them. Huntingdon insists he was proposing marriage. Her aunt sends Helen to her room and says they will talk in the morning.

This chapter ends the first volume of the 1848 edition by Newby.

September 1821. When Helen tells Huntingdon that her aunt will object to their marriage, he laughs and says he will be on his best behavior and that he will even go to church. Helen tries to persuade her aunt that she will be able to help Huntingdon become his best self and let his genuine goodness shine. She insists his only vice is thoughtlessness. When her uncle asks if she wishes to accept Huntingdon, Helen says she does, unreservedly. The only details left are to write for permission from her father, who is still living, and set the wedding date.

Millicent is surprised that Helen has accepted Huntingdon; she thinks him bold and reckless, although handsome, and there is nothing noble or lofty about him. What Millicent thinks is redness of face, Helen says is a pleasant glow. Annabella says she wishes she could combine Huntingdon’s handsome face, good temper, wit, mirth, and charm with Lowborough’s pedigree. Huntingdon’s friends Grimsby, Hattersley, and Walter Hargrave complain that he will break up their fun by marrying, and Hattersley threatens to marry the first woman he can find. Helen is simply overjoyed that he will become “her Arthur.”

October. Helen writes in her journal that she cannot shut her eyes to Arthur’s faults. She is troubled to find that his heart is “less warm and generous than [she] thought” (200). Arthur tells Helen that Annabella is leading Lowborough on, only pretending not to care about his title. He describes how Lowborough spent his fortune gambling, unable to stop himself from playing even when he lost. Then he turned to drink as solace until, one riotous night at their club, he vowed he would give that up, too. After that, he turned to laudanum. Arthur scoffs that Lowborough never could do anything in moderation, but he assures Helen that he himself will never have an addiction; he likes his own comfort too much.

While Lowborough struggled to overcome his addictive behaviors, Arthur teased him about becoming sober and boring. Helen disapproves of this treatment and thinks he should tell his friend that Annabella does not care about him. Arthur insists his friend “will be just as happy in the illusion as if it were reality” (212). When they return from their ride, Annabella reports that Lowborough has offered marriage and says she hopes Helen will be happy with her choice of Huntingdon. After the house party is over Arthur writes letters, but they are never serious. Helen wonders if she will be able to be her full self with him.