The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and its power of pleasing must be regarded, as well as its mere capabilities of force or effect. It is not only the subject of this novel, however, that is objectionable, but the manner of treating it. There is a coarseness of tone throughout the writing of all these Bells [Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë], that puts an offensive subject in its worst point of view, and which generally contrives to dash indifferent things". A critic in "Athenaeum", probably H. F. Chorley, cited "The Tenant" as "the most entertaining novel we have read in a month past". However, he warned
Helen Graham (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall) and is badly injured. As he is unwilling to stop drinking alcohol, Arthur's health deteriorates and he eventually dies. Now unburdened by her marriage to Arthur, Helen and Gilbert marry and have at least two children together. By the end of the novel, Little Arthur is grown up and is residing at Grassdale Manor with his wife, Helen Hattersley (the daughter of Milicent Hargrave and Ralph Hattersley). Helen is described by Gilbert in the first chapter of the novel when he sees her at church: Later he revealed that her eyes were very dark grey, almost black and a 'large,