Friends Who Warn You — The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

By October the engagement is fixed for Christmas, and Helen learns how alone she is on the winning side. Her father consents from a distance; Milicent Hargrave congratulates her with open surprise that she can prefer Huntingdon to steadier men, and Annabella Wilmot masks disappointment with talk of becoming Lady Lowborough. Helen's satisfaction survives both conversations because she believes Arthur loves her best and she envies no one. His friends send a different verdict. Letters full of curses and mock lament arrive at breakfast: Grimsby is sullen, Hargrave claims he meant to marry Helen himself, Hattersley rages and vows revenge by marrying some old maid. Arthur laughs, calls himself the life of a dissolute "community," and tells Helen their union has broken up the jovial band.

Helen answers that she will not stand between him and his happiness, but she doubts those men ever did him good. He insists he has chosen love over the club. Out shooting, the older gentlemen outshine the younger; Arthur and Lowborough prefer riding with the women, and the house party is almost pleasant now that Boarham and Wilmot no longer torment Helen and Annabella no longer monopolizes Arthur's attention. The chapter closes on Helen's foreshadowing dread: the merry days are ending, the guests will leave within a fortnight, and she already asks what she will do without him when separation comes. Engagement has resolved nothing about the life he will lead once marriage replaces courtship.