Wildfell Hall Bedside Lamp. 4: English Learning Reader

Author: Wang Ruoping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The story takes place in the autumn of 1827 in the countryside of England. Young bachelor Lawrence rented an old mansion that had been abandoned for many years. The mysterious lady tenant, Mrs. Huntington, moved in with her young son Arthur and maid Rachel. She was a widow, young and beautiful, and lived a reclusive life. She treated others with coldness, leaving an impression of aloofness and indifference. Mrs. Huntington repeatedly kept silent about her background, which aroused various suspicions among the neighbors. Her origins, family history, and even her way of raising children were shrouded in mystery. Gossiping about her privacy seemed to have become a pastime for the gossipy women. In the end, rumors flew and malicious slander spread. Mrs. Huntington's neighbor, the upright farmer Gilbert Макам, had once been in love with the daughter of a pastor, Eliza. But after several interactions with Mrs. Huntington, he was completely captivated by her noble temperament and kind-hearted qualities hidden beneath her cold exterior, planting a deep seed of love in Gilbert's heart. As for his first love, Eliza, Gilbert felt immense guilt. Gift-giving, outings—through persistent efforts, Gilbert's relationship with Mrs. Huntington began to develop. However, Mrs. Huntington seemed indifferent to Gilbert's passionate feelings and agreed to "only be friends and siblings," leaving Gilbert heartbroken. When people discovered that Mrs. Huntington was secretly meeting the landlord, Lawrence, they concluded that she was a frivolous woman. Rumors even spread that little Arthur was the son of Mrs. Huntington and Lawrence. Gilbert, deeply in love with Mrs. Huntington, firmly believed in her character and believed she was innocent. Gilbert frequently showed his affection for Mrs. Huntington, but she always avoided him, as if she had something difficult to confess, which only deepened Gilbert's doubts. However, an opportunity came by chance, and things took a turn. One summer night, Gilbert saw Mrs. Huntington and Lawrence holding hands and talking tenderly in the shadows. He overheard fragments of their passionate conversation and immediately assumed Lawrence was his rival. Dejected, Gilbert could only vent his frustrations through work. On a rainy day, while heading to town, Gilbert encountered Lawrence by chance. Lawrence's kind advice was taken as provocation, and Gilbert attacked him. But Lawrence kept it a secret, claiming Gilbert had fallen from his horse and injured himself. Seeing her relationship with Gilbert threatened, Mrs. Huntington was forced to give him her diary. Thus, the mystery of the story was finally unraveled, and the truth came to light. Gilbert's feelings for Eliza grew even stronger. Soon, Eliza left to care for her sick husband at home, staying with him until his death. Later, her uncle passed away, leaving her a large inheritance. When Gilbert learned that Eliza was not poor but a very wealthy widow, he hesitated. He feared that his proposal would be mocked by Eliza and feared the gossip. In the end, at Eliza's suggestion, he finally broke free from his constraints and was able to marry her.