The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Chap 32 Comparisons: Information Rejected

Illustrated reading
Milicent talks to her friend Helen about her sister, Esther. She hopes Esther will marry for love, not for money - and that her future husband will be affectionate and respectable. Helen says she is confident that Esther will make a wise choice in this matter. This leads to a frank discussion among the two women about their husbands. Milicent admits to her friend that Hattersley's manners and behaviors are troublesome to her, but she still loves him despite his many flaws. Helen, for her part, makes a big admission by stating that Ralph Hattersley's conduct is preferable to her own husband's. Milicent gives Helen a comforting kiss, as she realizes how painful this is for Helen to say.
Hattersley comes into the room and his daughter runs to greet him playfully. She is so tiny and Ralph plays with her too roughly and she begins to cry and runs back to her mother. Undaunted, Ralph begins to speak admiringly of Annabella - stating what a beautiful form she has and such striking eyes and way of speaking. This hurts Milicent's feelings. Then Hattersley, truly trying to be kind, explains that the difference is he LOVES Milicent, not Annabella, and ADORES Annabella, but not Milicent. Then he tosses Milicent around playfully by pulling at her hair. Milicent is sincerely happy at the attention, gives her husband a heartfelt kiss, and then leaves the room happily announcing she must go and fix her mussed-up hair. After she leaves, Helen tells Hattersley he has caused Milicent to be unhappy. Hattersley admits he sometimes gets drunk and acts badly, but he (untactfully) mentions Huntingdon is far worse than he is. Walter Hargrave has entered the room undetected by Helen and is startled when Hattersley asks Hargrave if he agrees about Huntingdon. Hargrave is noncommittal. Helen tells Hargrave he should forgive Hattersley for his assault when he was drunk. Hargraves shakes hands with Hattersley to please Helen. Ralph leaves the room after that and alone with her, Hargrave tells Helen he has some disturbing news he must tell her - for her ears only! Helen refuses to listen to what he has to say. Hargrave says she must therefore remember he tried to tell her to "soften the blow". She doesn't like this, but brushes it off as probably just another exaggeration of Arthur's exploits when he was in London.
New word from this chapter: TERMAGANT - a harsh-tempered, violent, or overbearing wife
0:00 Introduction
0:58 Reading Chapter 32
4:25 Illustration 1
11:25 Illustration 2
12:35 Illustration 3
15:06 Illustration 4
23:36 Illustration 5
27:55 Illustration 6
28:55 illustration 7
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