Chapter 2-The tenant of wildfell hall

The second chapter of “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” titled “An Interview” begins with the narrator, Gilbert Markham, reflecting joyfully on the restoration of his friendship with his listener, eager to continue sharing his story. The story picks up on a Tuesday following the last mentioned Sunday in October of 1827. Markham was out hunting near Linden-Car with his dog and gun but, finding no game, he turned his attention to hunting hawks and carrion-crows around the steep and rugged terrain of Wildfell, a desolate place marked by its stony and rough pastures.

As Markham ascends towards Wildfell Hall, a decrepit mansion from the Elizabethan era, he describes the transformation of the landscape into a wilder, barren terrain. The mansion itself is characterized by its grim and austere appearance, surrounded by a neglected garden filled with overgrown and misshapen plants, presenting a spectral scene in line with the haunted stories Markham remembers from childhood.

Upon nearing the mansion, Markham refrains from approaching directly but observes signs of habitation, such as repaired windows and smoke from chimneys. While lost in thought and observation, he hears a rustle and discovers a young boy attempting to climb the garden wall. After the boy falls and is caught by Markham, the boy’s mother, Mrs. Graham, hastily appears, initially reacting with vehement protectiveness but quickly calming down and apologizing once she realizes Markham’s intentions were benign.

Their interaction is awkward; Mrs. Graham, the new inhabitant of Wildfell Hall, appears both grateful and wary, while Markham is left feeling confused and intrigued by her abrupt, mysterious demeanor. Following this encounter, he leaves, pondering over the brief and unsettling meeting, then seeks the company of Eliza Millward to distract from the unnerving experience.

The chapter concludes with Markham spending time with Eliza and her sister at the vicarage, trying to shake off the disquietude from his encounter with Mrs. Graham by engaging in light-hearted conversation, which serves as a stark contrast to the earlier tension and mystery surrounding Wildfell Hall and its inhabitants.