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diff --git a/2505-8.txt b/2505-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e1816a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/2505-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,26972 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Heir of Redclyffe, by Charlotte M. Yonge + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Heir of Redclyffe + +Author: Charlotte M. Yonge + +Posting Date: December 31, 2008 [EBook #2505] +Release Date: February, 2001 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE *** + + + + +Produced by Sandra Laythorpe + + + + + +THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE + +By Charlotte Yonge + + + + +CHAPTER 1 + + In such pursuits if wisdom lies, + Who, Laura, can thy taste despise? + --GAY + + +The drawing-room of Hollywell House was one of the favoured apartments, +where a peculiar air of home seems to reside, whether seen in the middle +of summer, all its large windows open to the garden, or, as when our +story commences, its bright fire and stands of fragrant green-house +plants contrasted with the wintry fog and leafless trees of November. +There were two persons in the room--a young lady, who sat drawing at +the round table, and a youth, lying on a couch near the fire, surrounded +with books and newspapers, and a pair of crutches near him. Both looked +up with a smile of welcome at the entrance of a tall, fine-looking young +man, whom each greeted with 'Good morning, Philip.' + +'Good morning, Laura. Good morning, Charles; I am glad you are +downstairs again! How are you to-day?' + +'No way remarkable, thank you,' was the answer, somewhat wearily given +by Charles. + +'You walked?' said Laura. + +'Yes. Where's my uncle? I called at the post-office, and brought a +letter for him. It has the Moorworth post-mark,' he added, producing it. + +'Where's that?' said Charles. + +'The post-town to Redclyffe; Sir Guy Morville's place.' + +'That old Sir Guy! What can he have to do with my father?' + +'Did you not know,' said Philip, 'that my uncle is to be guardian to the +boy--his grandson?' + +'Eh? No, I did not.' + +'Yes,' said Philip; 'when old Sir Guy made it an especial point that my +father should take the guardianship, he only consented on condition +that my uncle should be joined with him; so now my uncle is alone in +the trust, and I cannot help thinking something must have happened at +Redclyffe. It is certainly not Sir Guy's writing.' + +'It must wait, unless your curiosity will carry you out in search of +papa,' said Charles; 'he is somewhere about, zealously supplying the +place of Jenkins.' + +'Really, Philip,' said Laura, 'there is no telling how much good you +have done him by convincing him of Jenkins' dishonesty. To say nothing +of the benefit of being no longer cheated, the pleasure of having to +overlook the farming is untold.' + +Philip smiled, and came to the table where she was drawing. 'Do you know +this place?' said she, looking up in his face. + +'Stylehurst itself! What is it taken from?' + +'From this pencil sketch of your sister's, which I found in mamma's +scrap book.' + +'You are making it very like, only the spire is too slender, and that +tree--can't you alter the foliage?--it is an ash.' + +'Is it? I took it for an elm.' + +'And surely those trees in the foreground should be greener, to throw +back the middle distance. That is the peak of South Moor exactly, if it +looked further off.' + +She began the alterations, while Philip stood watching her progress, +a shade of melancholy gathering on his face. Suddenly, a voice called +'Laura! Are you there? Open the door, and you will see.' + +On Philip's opening it, in came a tall camellia; the laughing face, +and light, shining curls of the bearer peeping through the dark green +leaves. + +'Thank you! Oh, is it you, Philip? Oh, don't take it. I must bring my +own camellia to show Charlie.' + +'You make the most of that one flower,' said Charles. + +'Only see how many buds!' and she placed it by his sofa. Is it not a +perfect blossom, so pure a white, and so regular! And I am so proud of +having beaten mamma and all the gardeners, for not another will be out +this fortnight; and this is to go to the horticultural show. Sam would +hardly trust me to bring it in, though it was my nursing, not his.' + +'Now, Amy,' said Philip, when the flower had been duly admired, 'you +must let me put it into the window, for you. It is too heavy for you.' + +'Oh, take care,' cried Amabel, but too late; for, as he took it from +her, the solitary flower struck against Charles's little table, and was +broken off. + +'O Amy, I am very sorry. What a pity! How did it happen?' + +'Never mind,' she answered; 'it will last a long time in water.' + +'It was very unlucky--I am very sorry--especially because of the +horticultural show.' + +'Make all your apologies to Sam,' said Amy, 'his feelings will be more +hurt than mine. I dare say my poor flower would have caught cold at the +show, and never held up its head again.' + +Her tone was gay; but Charles, who saw her face in the glass, betrayed +her by saying, 'Winking away a tear, O Amy!' + +'I never nursed a dear gazelle!' quoted Amy, with a merry laugh; and +before any more could be said, there entered a middle-aged gentleman, +short and slight, with a fresh, weather-beaten, good-natured face, gray +whiskers, quick eyes, and a hasty, undecided air in look and movement. +He greeted Philip heartily, and the letter was given to him. + +'Ha! Eh? Let us look. Not old Sir Guy's hand. Eh? What can be the +matter? What? Dead! This is a sudden thing.' + +'Dead! Who? Sir Guy Morville?' + +'Yes, quite suddenly--poor old man.' Then stepping to the door, he +opened it, and called, 'Mamma; just step here a minute, will you, +mamma?' + +The summons was obeyed by a tall, handsome lady, and behind her crept, +with doubtful steps, as if she knew not how far to venture, a little +girl of eleven, her turned-up nose and shrewd face full of curiosity. +She darted up to Amabel; who, though she shook her head, and held up her +finger, smiled, and took the little girl's hand, listening meanwhile to +the announcement, 'Do you hear this, mamma? Here's a shocking thing! Sir +Guy Morville dead, quite suddenly.' + +'Indeed! Well, poor man, I suppose no one ever repented or suffered more +than he. Who writes?' + +'His grandson--poor boy! I can hardly make out his letter.' Holding it +half a yard from his eyes, so that all could see a few lines of hasty, +irregular writing, in a forcible hand, bearing marks of having been +penned under great distress and agitation, he read aloud:-- + + +'"DEAR MR. EDMONSTONE,-- + +My dear grandfather died at six this morning. He had an attack of +apoplexy yesterday evening, and never spoke again, though for a short +time he knew me. We hope he suffered little. Markham will make all +arrangements. We propose that the funeral should take place on Tuesday; +I hope you will be able to come. I would write to my cousin, Philip +Morville, if I knew his address; but I depend on you for saying all that +ought to be said. Excuse this illegible letter,--I hardly know what I +write. + + '"Yours, very sincerely, + '"Guy Morville."' + + +'Poor fellow!' said Philip, 'he writes with a great deal of proper +feeling.' + +'How very sad for him to be left alone there!' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Very sad--very,' said her husband. 'I must start off to him at +once--yes, at once. Should you not say so--eh, Philip?' + +'Certainly. I think I had better go with you. It would be the correct +thing, and I should not like to fail in any token of respect for poor +old Sir Guy.' + +'Of course--of course,' said Mr. Edmonstone; 'it would be the correct +thing. I am sure he was always very civil to us, and you are next heir +after this boy.' + +Little Charlotte made a sort of jump, lifted her eyebrows, and stared at +Amabel. + +Philip answered. 'That is not worth a thought; but since he and I +are now the only representatives of the two branches of the house of +Morville, it shall not be my fault if the enmity is not forgotten.' + +'Buried in oblivion would sound more magnanimous,' said Charles; at +which Amabel laughed so uncontrollably, that she was forced to hide +her head on her little sister's shoulder. Charlotte laughed too, an +imprudent proceeding, as it attracted attention. Her father smiled, +saying, half-reprovingly--'So you are there, inquisitive pussy-cat?' And +at her mother's question,--'Charlotte, what business have you here?' She +stole back to her lessons, looking very small, without the satisfaction +of hearing her mother's compassionate words--'Poor child!' + +'How old is he?' asked Mr. Edmonstone, returning to the former subject. + +'He is of the same age as Laura--seventeen and a half,' answered Mrs. +Edmonstone. 'Don't you remember my brother saying what a satisfaction +it was to see such a noble baby as she was, after such a poor little +miserable thing as the one at Redclyffe?' + +'He is grown into a fine spirited fellow,' said Philip. + +'I suppose we must have him here,' said Mr. Edmonstone. Should you not +say so--eh, Philip?' + +'Certainly; I should think it very good for him. Indeed, his +grandfather's death has happened at a most favourable time for him. The +poor old man had such a dread of his going wrong that he kept him--' + +'I know--as tight as a drum.' + +'With strictness that I should think very bad for a boy of his impatient +temper. It would have been a very dangerous experiment to send him at +once among the temptations of Oxford, after such discipline and solitude +as he has been used to.' + +'Don't talk of it,' interrupted Mr. Edmonstone, spreading out his hands +in a deprecating manner. 'We must do the best we can with him, for I +have got him on my hands till he is five-and-twenty--his grandfather +has tied him up till then. If we can keep him out of mischief, well and +good; if not, it can't be helped.' + +'You have him all to yourself,' said Charles. + +'Ay, to my sorrow. If your poor father was alive, Philip, I should be +free of all care. I've a pretty deal on my hands,' he proceeded, looking +more important than troubled. 'All that great Redclyffe estate is no +sinecure, to say nothing of the youth himself. If all the world will +come to me, I can't help it. I must go and speak to the men, if I am to +be off to Redclyffe tomorrow. Will you come, Philip?' + +'I must go back soon, thank you,' replied Philip. 'I must see about my +leave; only we should first settle when to set off.' + +This arranged, Mr. Edmonstone hurried away, and Charles began by saying, +'Isn't there a ghost at Redclyffe?' + +'So it is said,' answered his cousin; 'though I don't think it is +certain whose it is. There is a room called Sir Hugh's Chamber, over +the gateway, but the honour of naming it is undecided between Hugo de +Morville, who murdered Thomas a Becket, and his namesake, the first +Baronet, who lived in the time of William of Orange, when the quarrel +began with our branch of the family. Do you know the history of it, +aunt?' + +'It was about some property,' said Mrs Edmonstone, 'though I don't know +the rights of it. But the Morvilles were always a fiery, violent race, +and the enmity once begun between Sir Hugh and his brother, was kept +up, generation after generation, in a most unjustifiable way. Even I +can remember when the Morvilles of Redclyffe used to be spoken of in our +family like a sort of ogres.' + +'Not undeservedly, I should think,' said Philip. 'This poor old man, who +is just dead, ran a strange career. Stories of his duels and mad freaks +are still extant.' + +'Poor man! I believe he went all lengths,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'What was the true version of that horrible story about his son?' said +Philip. 'Did he strike him?' + +'Oh, no! it was bad enough without that.' + +'How?' asked Laura. + +'He was an only child, and lost his mother early. He was very ill +brought up, and was as impetuous and violent as Sir Guy himself, though +with much kindliness and generosity. He was only nineteen when he made a +runaway marriage with a girl of sixteen, the sister of a violin player, +who was at that time in fashion. His father was very much offended, and +there was much dreadfully violent conduct on each side. At last, the +young man was driven to seek a reconciliation. He brought his wife to +Moorworth, and rode to Redclyffe, to have an interview with his father. +Unhappily, Sir Guy was giving a dinner to the hunt, and had been +drinking. He not only refused to see him, but I am afraid he used +shocking language, and said something about bidding him go back to +his fiddling brother in-law. The son was waiting in the hall, heard +everything, threw himself on his horse, and rushed away in the dark. His +forehead struck against the branch of a tree, and he was killed on the +spot.' + +'The poor wife?' asked Amabel, shuddering. + +'She died the next day, when this boy was born.' + +'Frightful!' said Philip. 'It might well make a reformation in old Sir +Guy.' + +'I have heard that nothing could be more awful than the stillness +that fell on that wretched party, even before they knew what had +happened--before Colonel Harewood, who had been called aside by the +servants, could resolve to come and fetch away the father. No wonder Sir +Guy was a changed man from that hour.' + +'It was then that he sent for my father,' said Philip. + +'But what made him think of doing so?' + +'You know Colonel Harewood's house at Stylehurst? Many years ago, when +the St. Mildred's races used to be so much more in fashion, Sir Guy and +Colonel Harewood, and some men of that stamp, took that house amongst +them, and used to spend some time there every year, to attend to +something about the training of the horses. There were some malpractices +of their servants, that did so much harm in the parish, that my brother +was obliged to remonstrate. Sir Guy was very angry at first, but behaved +better at last than any of the others. I suspect he was struck by +my dear brother's bold, uncompromising ways, for he took to him to a +certain degree--and my brother could not help being interested in him, +there seemed to be so much goodness in his nature. I saw him once, and +never did I meet any one who gave me so much the idea of a finished +gentleman. When the poor son was about fourteen, he was with a tutor in +the neighbourhood, and used to be a good deal at Stylehurst, and, after +the unhappy marriage, my brother happened to meet him in London, heard +his story, and tried to bring about a reconciliation.' + +'Ha!' said Philip; 'did not they come to Stylehurst? I have a dim +recollection of somebody very tall, and a lady who sung.' + +'Yes; your father asked them to stay there, that he might judge of her, +and wrote to Sir Guy that she was a little, gentle, childish thing, +capable of being moulded to anything, and representing the mischief of +leaving them to such society as that of her brother, who was actually +maintaining them. That letter was never answered, but about ten days +or a fortnight after this terrible accident, Colonel Harewood wrote to +entreat my brother to come to Redclyffe, saying poor Sir Guy had eagerly +caught at the mention of his name. Of course he went at once, and he +told me that he never, in all his experience as a clergyman, saw any one +so completely broken down with grief.' + +I found a great many of his letters among my father's papers,' said +Philip; 'and it was a very touching one that he wrote to me on my +father's death. Those Redclyffe people certainly have great force of +character.' + +'And was it then he settled his property on my uncle?' said Charles. + +'Yes,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'My brother did not like his doing so, but +he would not be at rest till it was settled. It was in vain to put him +in mind of his grandchild, for he would not believe it could live; and, +indeed, its life hung on a thread. I remember my brother telling me how +he went to Moorworth to see it--for it could not be brought home--in +hopes of bringing, back a report that might cheer its grandfather, but +how he found it so weak and delicate, that he did not dare to try to +make him take interest in it. It was not till the child was two or three +years old, that Sir Guy ventured to let himself grow fond of it.' + +'Sir Guy was a very striking person,' said Philip; 'I shall not easily +forget my visit to Redclyffe four years ago. It was more like a scene in +a romance than anything real--the fine old red sandstone house crumbling +away in the exposed parts, the arched gateway covered with ivy; the +great quadrangle where the sun never shone, and full of echoes; the +large hall and black wainscoted rooms, which the candles never would +light up. It is a fit place to be haunted.' + +'That poor boy alone there!' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'I am glad you and +your uncle are going to him.' + +'Tell us about him,' said Laura. + +'He was the most incongruous thing there,' said Philip. 'There was a +calm, deep melancholy about the old man added to the grand courtesy +which showed he had been what old books call a fine gentleman, that made +him suit his house as a hermit does his cell, or a knight his castle; +but breaking in on this "penseroso" scene, there was Guy--' + +'In what way?' asked Laura. + +'Always in wild spirits, rushing about, playing antics, provoking the +solemn echoes with shouting, whooping, singing, whistling. There was +something in that whistle of his that always made me angry.' + +'How did this suit old Sir Guy?' + +'It was curious to see how Guy could rattle on to him, pour out the +whole history of his doings, laughing, rubbing his hands, springing +about with animation--all with as little answer as if he had been +talking to a statue.' + +'Do you mean that Sir Guy did not like it?' + +'He did in his own way. There was now and then a glance or a nod, to +show that he was attending; but it was such slight encouragement, that +any less buoyant spirits must have been checked.' + +'Did you like him, on the whole?' asked Laura. 'I hope he has not +this tremendous Morville temper? Oh, you don't say so. What a grievous +thing.' + +'He is a fine fellow,' said Philip; 'but I did not think Sir Guy managed +him well. Poor old man, he was quite wrapped up in him, and only thought +how to keep him out of harm's way. He would never let him be with other +boys, and kept him so fettered by rules, so strictly watched, and so +sternly called to account, that I cannot think how any boy could stand +it.' + +'Yet, you say, he told everything freely to his grandfather,' said Amy. + +'Yes,' added her mother, 'I was going to say that, as long as that went +on, I should think all safe. + +'As I said before,' resumed Philip, 'he has a great deal of frankness, +much of the making of a fine character; but he is a thorough Morville. I +remember something that will show you his best and worst sides. You know +Redclyffe is a beautiful place, with magnificent cliffs overhanging the +sea, and fine woods crowning them. On one of the most inaccessible +of these crags there was a hawk's nest, about half-way down, so that +looking from the top of the precipice, we could see the old birds fly +in and out. Well, what does Master Guy do, but go down this headlong +descent after the nest. How he escaped alive no one could guess; and his +grandfather could not bear to look at the place afterwards--but climb +it he did, and came back with two young hawks, buttoned up inside his +jacket.' + +'There's a regular brick for you!' cried Charles, delighted. + +'His heart was set on training these birds. He turned the library upside +down in search of books on falconry, and spent every spare moment on +them. At last, a servant left some door open, and they escaped. I shall +never forget Guy's passion; I am sure I don't exaggerate when I say he +was perfectly beside himself with anger.' + +'Poor boy!' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Served the rascal right,' said Charles. + +'Nothing had any effect on him till his grandfather came out, and, at +the sight of him, he was tamed in an instant, hung his head, came up to +his grandfather, and said--"I am very sorry," Sir Guy answered, "My poor +boy!" and there was not another word. I saw Guy no more that day, and +all the next he was quiet and subdued. But the most remarkable part of +the story is to come. A couple of days afterwards we were walking in +the woods, when, at the sound of Guy's whistle, we heard a flapping and +rustling, and beheld, tumbling along, with their clipped wings, these +two identical hawks, very glad to be caught. They drew themselves up +proudly for him to stroke them, and their yellow eyes looked at him with +positive affection.' + +'Pretty creatures!' said Amabel. 'That is a very nice end to the story.' + +'It is not the end,' said Philip. 'I was surprised to see Guy so sober, +instead of going into one of his usual raptures. He took them home; but +the first thing I heard in the morning was, that he was gone to offer +them to a farmer, to keep the birds from his fruit.' + +'Did he do it of his own accord?' asked Laura. + +'That was just what I wanted to know; but any hint about them brought +such a cloud over his face that I thought it would be wanton to irritate +him by questions. However, I must be going. Good-bye, Amy, I hope your +Camellia will have another blossom before I come back. At least, I shall +escape the horticultural meeting.' + +'Good-bye,' said Charles. 'Put the feud in your pocket till you can +bury it in old Sir Guy's grave, unless you mean to fight it out with his +grandson, which would be more romantic and exciting.' + +Philip was gone before he could finish. Mrs. Edmonstone looked annoyed, +and Laura said, 'Charlie, I wish you would not let your spirits carry +you away.' + +'I wish I had anything else to carry me away!' was the reply. + +'Yes,' said his mother, looking sadly at him. 'Your high spirits are a +blessing; but why misuse them? If they are given to support you through +pain and confinement, why make mischief with them?' + +Charles looked more impatient than abashed, and the compunction seemed +chiefly to rest with Amabel. + +'Now,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'I must go and see after my poor little +prisoner.' + +'Ah!' said Laura, as she went; 'it was no kindness in you to encourage +Charlotte to stay, Amy, when you know how often that inquisitive temper +has got her into scrapes.' + +'I suppose so,' said Amy, regretfully; 'but I had not the heart to send +her away.' + +'That is just what Philip says, that you only want bones and sinews in +your character to--' + +'Come, Laura,' interrupted Charles, 'I won't hear Philip's criticisms +of my sister, I had rather she had no bones at all, than that they stuck +out and ran into me. There are plenty of angles already in the world, +without sharpening hers.' + +He possessed himself of Amy's round, plump, childish hand, and spread +out over it his still whiter, and very bony fingers, pinching her 'soft +pinky cushions,' as he called them, 'not meant for studying anatomy +upon.' + +'Ah! you two spoil each other sadly,' said Laura, smiling, as she left +the room. + +'And what do Philip and Laura do to each other?' said Charles. + +'Improve each other, I suppose,' said Amabel, in a shy, simple tone, at +which Charles laughed heartily. + +'I wish I was as sensible as Laura!' said she, presently, with a sigh. + +'Never was a more absurd wish,' said Charles, tormenting her hand still +more, and pulling her curls; 'unwish it forthwith. Where should I be +without silly little Amy? If every one weighed my wit before laughing, I +should not often be in disgrace for my high spirits, as they call them.' + +'I am so little younger than Laura,' said Amy, still sadly, though +smiling. + +'Folly,' said Charles; 'you are quite wise enough for your age, while +Laura is so prematurely wise, that I am in constant dread that nature +will take her revenge by causing her to do something strikingly +foolish!' + +'Nonsense!' cried Amy, indignantly. 'Laura do anything foolish!' + +'What I should enjoy,' proceeded Charles, 'would be to see her over head +and ears in love with this hero, and Philip properly jealous.' + +'How can you say such things, Charlie?' + +'Why? was there ever a beauty who did not fall in love with her father's +ward?' + +'No; but she ought to live alone with her very old father and horribly +grim maiden aunt.' + +'Very well, Amy, you shall be the maiden, aunt.' And as Laura returned +at that moment, he announced to her that they had been agreeing that no +hero ever failed to fall in love with his guardian's beautiful daughter. + +'If his guardian had a beautiful daughter,' said Laura, resolved not to +be disconcerted. + +'Did you ever hear such barefaced fishing for compliments?' said +Charles; but Amabel, who did not like her sister to be teased, and +was also conscious of having wasted a good deal of time, sat down to +practise. Laura returned to her drawing, and Charles, with a yawn, +listlessly turned over a newspaper, while his fair delicate features, +which would have been handsome but that they were blanched, sharpened, +and worn with pain, gradually lost their animated and rather satirical +expression, and assumed an air of weariness and discontent. + +Charles was at this time nineteen, and for the last ten years had been +afflicted with a disease in the hip-joint, which, in spite of the +most anxious care, caused him frequent and severe suffering, and had +occasioned such a contraction of the limb as to cripple him completely, +while his general health was so much affected as to render him an object +of constant anxiety. His mother had always been his most devoted and +indefatigable nurse, giving up everything for his sake, and watching him +night and day. His father attended to his least caprice, and his sisters +were, of course, his slaves; so that he was the undisputed sovereign of +the whole family. + +The two elder girls had been entirely under a governess till a month +or two before the opening of our story, when Laura was old enough to +be introduced; and the governess departing, the two sisters became +Charles's companions in the drawing-room, while Mrs. Edmonstone, who had +a peculiar taste and talent for teaching, undertook little Charlotte's +lessons herself. + + + + +CHAPTER 2 + + If the ill spirit have so fair a house, + Good things will strive to dwell with't. + --THE TEMPEST + + +One of the pleasantest rooms at Hollywell was Mrs. Edmonstone's +dressing-room--large and bay-windowed, over the drawing-room, having +little of the dressing-room but the name, and a toilet-table with a +black and gold japanned glass, and curiously shaped boxes to match; her +room opened into it on one side, and Charles's on the other; it was a +sort of up-stairs parlour, where she taught Charlotte, cast up accounts, +spoke to servants, and wrote notes, and where Charles was usually to +be found, when unequal to coming down-stairs. It had an air of great +snugness, with its large folding-screen, covered with prints and +caricatures of ancient date, its book-shelves, its tables, its +peculiarly easy arm-chairs, the great invalid sofa, and the grate, which +always lighted up better than any other in the house. + +In the bright glow of the fire, with the shutters closed and curtains +drawn, lay Charles on his couch, one Monday evening, in a gorgeous +dressing-gown of a Chinese pattern, all over pagodas, while little +Charlotte sat opposite to him, curled up on a footstool. He was not +always very civil to Charlotte; she sometimes came into collision with +him, for she, too, was a pet, and had a will of her own, and at other +times she could bore him; but just now they had a common interest, and +he was gracious. + +'It is striking six, so they must soon be here. I wish mamma would let +me go down; but I must wait till after dinner.' + +'Then, Charlotte, as soon as you come in, hold up your hands, and +exclaim, "What a guy!" There will be a compliment!' + +'No, Charlie; I promised mamma and Laura that you should get me into no +more scrapes.' + +'Did you? The next promise you make had better depend upon yourself +alone.' + +'But Amy said I must be quiet, because poor Sir Guy will be too +sorrowful to like a racket; and when Amy tells me to be quiet, I know +that I must, indeed.' + +'Most true,' said Charles, laughing. + +'Do you think you shall like Sir Guy?' + +'I shall be able to determine,' said Charles, sententiously, 'when I +have seen whether he brushes his hair to the right or left.' + +'Philip brushes his to the left.' + +'Then undoubtedly Sir Guy will brush his to the right.' + +'Is there not some horrid story about those Morvilles of Redclyffe?' +asked Charlotte. 'I asked Laura, and she told me not to be curious, so +I knew there was something in it; and then I asked Amy, and she said it +would be no pleasure to me to know.' + +'Ah! I would have you prepared.' + +'Why, what is it? Oh! dear Charlie! are you really going to tell me?' + +'Did you ever hear of a deadly feud?' + +'I have read of them in the history of Scotland. They went on hating +and killing each other for ever. There was one man who made his enemy's +children eat out of a pig-trough, and another who cut off his head.' + +'His own?' + +'No, his enemy's, and put it on the table, at breakfast, with a piece of +bread in its mouth.' + +'Very well; whenever Sir Guy serves up Philip's head at breakfast, with +a piece of bread in his mouth, let me know.' + +Charlotte started up. 'Charles, what do you mean? Such things don't +happen now.' + +'Nevertheless, there is a deadly feud between the two branches of the +house of Morville.' + +'But it is very wrong,' said Charlotte, looking frightened.' + +'Wrong? Of course it is.' + +'Philip won't do anything wrong. But how will they ever get on?' + +'Don't you see? It must be our serious endeavour to keep the peace, and +prevent occasions of discord.' + +'Do you think anything will happen?' + +'It is much to be apprehended,' said Charles, solemnly. + +At that moment the sound of wheels was heard, and Charlotte flew off to +her private post of observation, leaving her brother delighted at having +mystified her. She returned on tip-toe. 'Papa and Sir Guy are come, but +not Philip; I can't see him anywhere.' + +'Ah you have not looked in Sir Guy's great-coat pocket.' + +'I wish you would not plague me so! You are not in earnest?' + +The pettish inquiring tone was exactly what delighted him. And he +continued to tease her in the same style till Laura and Amabel came +running in with their report of the stranger. + +'He is come!' they cried, with one voice. + +'Very gentlemanlike!' said Laura. + +'Very pleasant looking,' said Amy. 'Such fine eyes!' + +'And so much expression,' said Laura. 'Oh!' + +The exclamation, and the start which accompanied it, were caused by +hearing her father's voice close to the door, which had been left partly +open. 'Here is poor Charles,' it said, 'come in, and see him; get over +the first introduction--eh, Guy?' And before he had finished, both he +and the guest were in the room, and Charlotte full of mischievous glee +at her sister's confusion. + +'Well, Charlie, boy, how goes it?' was his father's greeting. 'Better, +eh? Sorry not to find you down-stairs; but I have brought Guy to +see you.' Then, as Charles sat up and shook hands with Sir Guy, he +continued--'A fine chance for you, as I was telling him, to have a +companion always at hand: a fine chance? eh, Charlie?' + +'I am not so unreasonable as to expect any one to be always at hand,' +said Charles, smiling, as he looked up at the frank, open face, and +lustrous hazel eyes turned on him with compassion at the sight of +his crippled, helpless figure, and with a bright, cordial promise of +kindness. + +As he spoke, a pattering sound approached, the door was pushed open, +and while Sir Guy exclaimed, 'O, Bustle! Bustle! I am very sorry,' there +suddenly appeared a large beautiful spaniel, with a long silky black and +white coat, jetty curled ears, tan spots above his intelligent eyes, and +tan legs, fringed with silken waves of hair, but crouching and looking +beseeching at meeting no welcome, while Sir Guy seemed much distressed +at his intrusion. + +'O you beauty!' cried Charles. 'Come here, you fine fellow.' + +Bustle only looked wistfully at his master, and moved nothing but his +feather of a tail. + +'Ah! I was afraid you would repent of your kindness,' said Sir Guy to +Mr. Edmonstone. + +'Not at all, not at all!' was the answer; 'mamma never objects to +in-door pets, eh, Amy?' + +'A tender subject, papa,' said Laura; 'poor Pepper!' + +Amy, ashamed of her disposition to cry at the remembrance of the dear +departed rough terrier, bent down to hide her glowing face, and held out +her hand to the dog, which at last ventured to advance, still creeping +with his body curved till his tail was foremost, looking imploringly at +his master, as if to entreat his pardon. + +'Are you sure you don't dislike it?' inquired Sir Guy, of Charles. + +'I? O no. Here, you fine creature.' + +'Come, then, behave like a rational dog, since you are come,' said Sir +Guy; and Bustle, resuming the deportment of a spirited and well-bred +spaniel, no longer crouched and curled himself into the shape of a +comma, but bounded, wagged his tail, thrust his nose into his master's +hand and then proceeded to reconnoitre the rest of the company, paying +especial attention to Charles, putting his fore-paws on the sofa, and +rearing himself up to contemplate him with a grave, polite curiosity, +that was very diverting. + +'Well, old fellow,' said Charles, 'did you ever see the like of such a +dressing-gown? Are you satisfied? Give me your paw, and let us swear an +eternal friendship.' + +'I am quite glad to see a dog in the house again,' said Laura, and, +after a few more compliments, Bustle and his master followed Mr. +Edmonstone out of the room. + +'One of my father's well-judged proceedings,' murmured Charles. 'That +poor fellow had rather have gone a dozen, miles further than have been +lugged in here. Really, if papa chooses to inflict such dressing-gowns +on me, he should give me notice before he brings men and dogs to make me +their laughing-stock!' + +'An unlucky moment,' said Laura. 'Will my cheeks ever cool?' + +'Perhaps he did not hear,' said Amabel, consolingly. + +'You did not ask about Philip?' said Charlotte, with great earnestness. + +'He is staying at Thorndale, and then going to St. Mildred's,' said +Laura. + +'I hope you are relieved,' said her brother; and she looked in doubt +whether she ought to laugh. + +'And what do you think of Sir Guy?' + +'May he only be worthy of his dog!' replied Charles. + +'Ah!' said Laura, 'many men are neither worthy of their wives, nor of +their dogs.' + +'Dr. Henley, I suppose, is the foundation of that aphorism,' said +Charles. + +'If Margaret Morville could marry him, she could hardly be too worthy,' +said Laura. 'Think of throwing away Philip's whole soul!' + +'O Laura, she could not lose that,' said Amabel. + +Laura looked as if she knew more; but at that moment, both her father +and mother entered, the former rubbing his hands, as he always did when +much pleased, and sending his voice before him, as he exclaimed, 'Well, +Charlie, well, young ladies, is not he a fine fellow--eh?' + +'Rather under-sized,' said Charles. + +'Eh? He'll grow. He is not eighteen, you know; plenty of time; a very +good height; you can't expect every one to be as tall as Philip; but +he's a capital fellow. And how have you been?--any pain?' + +'Hem--rather,' said Charles, shortly, for he hated answering kind +inquiries, when out of humour. + +'Ah, that's a pity; I was sorry not to find you in the drawing-room, but +I thought you would have liked just to see him,' said Mr. Edmonstone, +disappointed, and apologizing. + +'I had rather have had some notice of your intention,' said Charles, 'I +would have made myself fit to be seen.' + +'I am sorry. I thought you would have liked his coming,' said poor Mr. +Edmonstone, only half conscious of his offence; 'but I see you are not +well this evening.' + +Worse and worse, for it was equivalent to openly telling Charles he was +out of humour; and seeing, as he did, his mother's motive, he was still +further annoyed when she hastily interposed a question about Sir Guy. + +'You should only hear them talk about him at Redclyffe,' said Mr +Edmonstone. 'No one was ever equal to him, according to them. Every one +said the same--clergyman, old Markham, all of them. Such attention to +his grandfather, such proper feeling, so good-natured, not a bit of +pride--it is my firm belief that he will make up for all his family +before him.' + +Charles set up his eyebrows sarcastically. + +'How does he get on with Philip?' inquired Laura. + +'Excellently. Just what could be wished. Philip is delighted with him; +and I have been telling Guy all the way home what a capital friend he +will be, and he is quite inclined to look up to him.' Charles made an +exaggerated gesture of astonishment, unseen by his father. 'I told him +to bring his dog. He would have left it, but they seemed so fond of each +other, I thought it was a pity to part them, and that I could promise it +should be welcome here; eh, mamma?' + +'Certainly. I am very glad you brought it.' + +'We are to have his horse and man in a little while. A beautiful +chestnut--anything to raise his spirits. He is terribly cut up about his +grandfather. + +It was now time to go down to dinner; and after Charles had made faces +of weariness and disgust at all the viands proposed to him by his +mother, almost imploring him to like them, and had at last ungraciously +given her leave to send what he could not quite say he disliked, he was +left to carry on his teasing of Charlotte, and his grumbling over the +dinner, for about the space of an hour, when Amabel came back to him, +and Charlotte went down. + +'Hum!' he exclaimed. 'Another swan of my father's.' + +'Did not you like his looks?' + +'I saw only an angular hobbetyhoy.' + +'But every one at Redclyffe speaks so well of him.' + +'As if the same things were not said of every heir to more acres than +brains! However, I could have swallowed everything but the disposition +to adore Philip. Either it was gammon on his part, or else the work of +my father's imagination.' + +'For shame, Charlie.' + +'Is it within the bounds of probability that he should be willing, at +the bidding of his guardian, to adopt as Mentor his very correct and +sententious cousin, a poor subaltern, and the next in the entail? Depend +upon it, it is a fiction created either by papa's hopes or Philip's +self-complacency, or else the unfortunate youth must have been brought +very low by strait-lacing and milk-and-water.' + +'Mr. Thorndale is willing to look up to Philip,' + +'I don't think the Thorndale swan very--very much better than a tame +goose,' said Charles, 'but the coalition is not so monstrous in his +case, since Philip was a friend of his own picking and choosing, and +so his father's adoption did not succeed in repelling him. But that +Morville should receive this "young man's companion," on the word of a +guardian whom he never set eyes on before, is too incredible--utterly +mythical I assure you, Amy. And how did you get on at dinner?' + +'Oh, the dog is the most delightful creature I ever saw, so sensible and +well-mannered.' + +'It was of the man that I asked.' + +'He said hardly anything, and sometimes started if papa spoke to him +suddenly. He winced as if he could not bear to be called Sir Guy, so +papa said we should call him only by his name, if he would do the same +by us. I am glad of it, for it seems more friendly, and I am sure he +wants to be comforted.' + +'Don't waste your compassion, my dear; few men need it less. With his +property, those moors to shoot over, his own master, and with health to +enjoy it, there are plenty who would change with him for all your pity, +my silly little Amy.' + +'Surely not, with that horrible ancestry.' + +'All very well to plume oneself upon. I rather covet that ghost myself.' + +'Well, if you watched his face, I think you would be sorry for him.' + +'I am tired of the sound of his name. One fifth of November is enough in +the year. Here, find something to read to me among that trumpery.' + +Amy read till she was summoned to tea, when she found a conversation +going on about Philip, on whose history Sir Guy did not seem fully +informed. Philip was the son of Archdeacon Morville, Mrs. Edmonstone's +brother, an admirable and superior man, who had been dead about five +years. He left three children, Margaret and Fanny, twenty-five and +twenty-three years of age, and Philip, just seventeen. The boy was at +the head of his school, highly distinguished for application and good +conduct; he had attained every honour there open to him, won golden +opinions from all concerned with him, and made proof of talents +which could not have failed to raise him to the highest university +distinctions. He was absent from home at the time of his father's death, +which took place after so short an illness, that there had been no time +to summon him back to Stylehurst. Very little property was left to be +divided among the three; and as soon as Philip perceived how small +was the provision for his sisters, he gave up his hopes of university +honours, and obtained a commission in the army. + +On hearing this, Sir Guy started forward: 'Noble!' he cried, 'and yet +what a pity! If my grandfather had but known it--' + +'Ah! I was convinced of _that_,' broke in Mr. Edmonstone, 'and so, I am +sure, was Philip himself; but in fact he knew we should never have given +our consent, so he acted quite by himself, wrote to Lord Thorndale, and +never said a word, even to his sisters, till the thing was done. I never +was more surprised in my life.' + +'One would almost envy him the opportunity of making such a sacrifice,' +said Sir Guy, yet one must lament it. + +'It was done in a hasty spirit of independence,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; +'I believe if he had got a fellowship at Oxford, it would have answered +much better.' + +'And now that poor Fanny is dead, and Margaret married, there is all +his expensive education thrown away, and all for nothing,' said Mr. +Edmonstone. + +'Ah,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'he planned for them to go on living at +Stylehurst, so that it would still have been his home. It is a +great pity, for his talent is thrown away, and he is not fond of his +profession.' + +'You must not suppose, though, that he is not a practical man,' said Mr. +Edmonstone; 'I had rather take his opinion than any one's, especially +about a horse, and there is no end to what I hear about his good sense, +and the use he is of to the other young men.' + +'You should tell about Mr. Thorndale, papa,' said Laura. + +'Ah that is a feather in master Philip's cap; besides, he is your +neighbour--at least, his father is.' + +'I suppose you know Lord Thorndale?' said Mrs. Edmonstone, in +explanation. + +'I have seen him once at the Quarter Sessions,' said Sir Guy; 'but he +lives on the other side of Moorworth, and there was no visiting.' + +'Well, this youth, James Thorndale, the second son, was Philip's fag.' + +'Philip says he was always licking him!' interposed Charlotte.' + +'He kept him out of some scrape or other, continued Mr. Edmonstone. +'Lord Thorndale was very much obliged to him, had him to stay at his +house, took pretty much to him altogether. It was through him that +Philip applied for his commission, and he has put his son into the same +regiment, on purpose to have him under Philip's eye. There he is at +Broadstone, as gentlemanlike a youth as I would wish to see. We will +have him to dinner some day, and Maurice too--eh, mamma? Maurice--he is +a young Irish cousin of my own, a capital fellow at the bottom, but a +regular thoroughgoing rattle. That was my doing. I told his father that +he could not do better than put him into the --th. Nothing like a steady +friend and a good example, I said, and Kilcoran always takes my advice, +and I don't think he has been sorry. Maurice has kept much more out of +scrapes of late.' + +'O papa,' exclaimed Charlotte, 'Maurice has been out riding on a hired +horse, racing with Mr. Gordon, and the horse tumbled down at the bottom +of East-hill, and broke its knees.' + +'That's the way,' said Mr. Edmonstone, 'the instant my back is turned.' + +Thereupon the family fell into a discussion of home affairs, and thought +little more of their silent guest. + + + + +CHAPTER 3 + + The hues of bliss more brightly glow + Chastised by sober tints of woe. + --GRAY + + +'What use shall I make of him?' said Charles to himself, as he studied +Sir Guy Morville, who sat by the table, with a book in his hand. + +He had the unformed look of a growing boy, and was so slender as to +appear taller than he really was. He had an air of great activity; and +though he sat leaning back, there was no lounging in his attitude, and +at the first summons he roused up with an air of alert attention that +recalled to mind the eager head of a listening greyhound. He had no +pretension to be called handsome; his eyes were his best feature; they +were very peculiar, of a light hazel, darker towards the outside of +the iris, very brilliant, the whites tinted with blue, and the lashes +uncommonly thick and black; the eyebrows were also very dark, and of +a sharply-defined angular shape, but the hair was much lighter, loose, +soft, and wavy; the natural fairness of the complexion was shown by +the whiteness of the upper part of the forehead, though the rest of +the face, as well as the small taper hands, were tanned by sunshine and +sea-breezes, into a fresh, hardy brown, glowing with red on the cheeks. + +'What use shall I make of him?' proceeded Charles's thoughts. 'He +won't be worth his salt if he goes on in this way; he has got a graver +specimen of literature there than I ever saw Philip himself read on +a week-day; he has been puritanized till he is good for nothing; I'll +trouble myself no more about him!' He tried to read, but presently +looked up again. 'Plague! I can't keep my thoughts off him. That sober +look does not sit on that sun-burnt face as if it were native to it; +those eyes don't look as if the Redclyffe spirit was extinguished.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone came in, and looking round, as if to find some +occupation for her guest, at length devised setting him to play at chess +with Charles. Charles gave her an amiable look, expressing that neither +liked it; but she was pretty well used to doing him good against his +will, and trusted to its coming right in time. Charles was a capital +chess-player, and seldom found any one who could play well enough to +afford him much real sport, but he found Sir Guy more nearly a match +than often fell to his lot; it was a bold dashing game, that obliged +him to be on his guard, and he was once so taken by surprise as to be +absolutely check-mated. His ill-humour evaporated, he was delighted to +find an opponent worth playing with, and henceforth there were games +almost every morning or evening, though Sir Guy seemed not to care much +about them, except for the sake of pleasing him. + +When left to himself, Guy spent his time in reading or in walking about +the lanes alone. He used to sit in the bay-window of the drawing-room +with his book; but sometimes, when they least expected it, the +girls would find his quick eyes following them with an air of amused +curiosity, as Amabel waited on Charles and her flowers, or Laura +drew, wrote letters, and strove to keep down the piles of books and +periodicals under which it seemed as if her brother might some day be +stifled--a vain task, for he was sure to want immediately whatever she +put out of his reach. + +Laura and Amabel both played and sung, the former remarkably well, and +the first time they had any music after the arrival of Sir Guy, his look +of delighted attention struck everyone. He ventured nearer, stood by the +piano when they practised, and at last joined in with a few notes of +so full and melodious a voice, that Laura turned round in surprise, +exclaiming, 'You sing better I than any of us!' + +He coloured. 'I beg your pardon,' he said, 'I could not help it; I know +nothing of music.' + +'Really!' said Laura, smiling incredulously. + +'I don't even know the notes.' + +'Then you must have a very good ear. Let us try again.' + +The sisters were again charmed and surprised, and Guy looked gratified, +as people do at the discovery of a faculty which they are particularly +glad to possess. It was the first time he appeared to brighten, and +Laura and her mother agreed that it would do him good to have plenty of +music, and to try to train that fine voice. He was beginning to interest +them all greatly by his great helpfulness and kindness to Charles, as +he learnt the sort of assistance he required, as well as by the +silent grief that showed how much attached he must have been to his +grandfather. + +On the first Sunday, Mrs. Edmonstone coming into the drawing-room at +about half-past five, found him sitting alone by the fire, his dog lying +at his feet. As he started up, she asked if he had been here in the dark +ever since church-time? + +'I have not wanted light,' he answered with a sigh, long, deep, and +irrepressible, and as she stirred the fire, the flame revealed to her +the traces of tears. She longed to comfort him, and said-- + +'This Sunday twilight is a quiet time for thinking.' + +'Yes,' he said; 'how few Sundays ago--' and there he paused. + +'Ah! you had so little preparation.' + +'None. That very morning he had done business with Markham, and had +never been more clear and collected.' + +'Were you with him when he was taken ill?' asked Mrs. Edmonstone, +perceiving that it would be a relief to him to talk. + +'No; it was just before dinner. I had been shooting, and went into the +library to tell him where I had been. He was well then, for he spoke, +but it was getting dark, and I did not see his face. I don't think I +was ten minutes dressing, but when I came down, he had sunk back in his +chair. I saw it was not sleep--I rang--and when Arnaud came, we knew how +it was.' His, voice became low with strong emotion.' + +'Did he recover his consciousness?' + +'Yes, that was _the_ comfort,' said Guy, eagerly. 'It was after he had +been bled that he seemed to wake up. He could not speak or move, but he +looked at me--or--I don't know what I should have done.' The last words +were almost inaudible from the gush of tears that he vainly struggled +to repress, and he was turning away to hide them, when he saw that Mrs. +Edmonstone's were flowing fast. + +'You had great reason to be attached to him!' said she, as soon as she +could speak. + +'Indeed, indeed I had.' And after a long silence--'He was everything to +me, everything from the first hour I can recollect. He never let me +miss my parents. How he attended to all my pleasures and wishes, how he +watched and cared for me, and bore with me, even I can never know.' + +He spoke in short half sentences of intense feeling, and Mrs. Edmonstone +was much moved by such affection in one said to have been treated with +an excess of strictness, much compassionating the lonely boy, who had +lost every family tie in one. + +'When the first pain of the sudden parting has passed,' said she, 'you +will like to remember the affection which you knew how to value.' + +'If I had but known!' said Guy; 'but there was I, hasty, reckless, +disregarding his comfort, rebelling against--O, what would I not give to +have those restraints restored!' + +'It is what we all feel in such losses,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'There is +always much to wish otherwise; but I am sure you can have the happiness +of knowing you were his great comfort.' + +'It was what I ought to have been.' + +She knew that nothing could have been more filial and affectionate than +his conduct, and tried to say something of the kind, but he would not +listen. + +'That is worst of all,' he said; 'and you must not trust what they say +of me. They would be sure to praise me, if I was anything short of a +brute.' + +A silence ensued, while Mrs. Edmonstone was trying to think of some +consolation. Suddenly Guy looked up, and spoke eagerly:-- + +'I want to ask something--a great favour--but you make me venture. You +see how I am left alone--you know how little I can trust myself. Will +you take me in hand--let me talk to you--and tell me if I am wrong, as +freely as if I were Charles? I know it is asking a great deal, but you +knew my grandfather, and it is in his name.' + +She held out her hand; and with tears answered-- + +'Indeed I will, if I see any occasion.' + +'You will let me trust to you to tell me when I get too vehement? above +all, when you see my temper failing? Thank you; you don't know what a +relief it is!' + +'But you must not call yourself alone. You are one of us now.' + +'Yes; since you have made that promise,' said Guy; and for the first +time she saw the full beauty of his smile--a sort of sweetness and +radiance of which eye and brow partook almost as much as the lips. It +alone would have gained her heart. + +'I must look on you as a kind of nephew,' she added, kindly. 'I used to +hear so much of you from my brother.' + +'Oh!' cried Guy, lighting up, 'Archdeacon Morville was always so kind to +me. I remember him very well!' + +'Ah! I wish--' there she paused, and added,--tête-à-tête 'it is not +right to wish such things--and Philip is very like his father.' + +'I am very glad his regiment is so near. I want to know him better.' + +'You knew him at Redclyffe, when he was staying there?' + +'Yes,' said Guy, his colour rising; 'but I was a boy then, and a +very foolish, headstrong one. I am glad to meet him again. What a +grand-looking person he is!' + +'We are very proud of him,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling. 'I don't +think there has been an hour's anxiety about him since he was born.' + +The conversation was interrupted by the sound of Charles's crutches +slowly crossing the hall. Guy sprang to help him to his sofa, and then, +without speaking, hurried up-stairs. + +'Mamma, tete-a-tete with the silent one!' exclaimed Charles. + +'I will not tell you all I think of him,' said she, leaving the room. + +'Hum!' soliloquised Charles. 'That means that my lady mother has adopted +him, and thinks I should laugh at her, or straightway set up a dislike +to him, knowing my contempt for heroes and hero-worship. It's a treat +to have Philip out of the way, and if it was but possible to get out of +hearing of his perfection, I should have some peace. If I thought this +fellow had one spice of the kind, I'd never trouble my head about him +more; and yet I don't believe he has such a pair of hawk's eyes for +nothing!' + +The hawk's eyes, as Charles called them, shone brighter from that +day forth, and their owner began to show more interest in what passed +around. Laura was much amused by a little conversation she held with +him one day when a party of their younger neighbours were laughing and +talking nonsense round Charles's sofa. He was sitting a little way off +in silence, and she took advantage of the loud laughing to say: + +'You think this is not very satisfactory?' And as he gave a quick glance +of inquiry--'Don't mind saying so. Philip and I often agree that it is a +pity spend so much time in laughing at nothing--at such nonsense.' + +'It is nonsense?' + +'Listen--no don't, it is too silly.' + +'Nonsense must be an excellent thing if it makes people so happy,' said +Guy thoughtfully. 'Look at them; they are like--not a picture--that has +no life--but a dream--or, perhaps a scene in a play.' + +'Did you never see anything like it?' + +'Oh, no! All the morning calls I ever saw were formal, every one stiff, +and speaking by rote, or talking politics. How glad I used to be to get +on horseback again! But to see these--why, it is like the shepherd's +glimpse at the pixies!--as one reads a new book, or watches what one +only half understands--a rook's parliament, or a gathering of sea-fowl +on the Shag Rock.' + +'A rook's parliament?' + +'The people at home call it a rook's parliament when a whole cloud of +rooks settle on some bare, wide common, and sit there as if they were +consulting, not feeding, only stalking about, with drooping wings, and +solemn, black cloaks.' + +'You have found a flattering simile,' said Laura, 'as you know that +rooks never open their mouths without cause.' + +Guy had never heard the riddle, but he caught the pun instantly, and the +clear merry sound of his hearty laugh surprised Charles, who instantly +noted it as another proof that was some life in him. + +Indeed, each day began to make it evident that he had, on the whole, +rather a superabundance of animation than otherwise. He was quite +confidential with Mrs. Edmonstone, on whom he used to lavish, with +boyish eagerness, all that interested him, carrying her the passages +in books that pleased him, telling her about Redclyffe's affairs, and +giving her his letters from Markham, the steward. His head was full +of his horse, Deloraine, which was coming to him under the charge of a +groom, and the consultations were endless about the means of transport, +Mr. Edmonstone almost as eager about it as he was himself. + +He did not so quickly become at home with the younger portion of the +family, but his spirits rose every day. He whistled as he walked in the +garden, and Bustle, instead of pacing soberly behind him, now capered, +nibbled his pockets, and drew him into games of play which Charles and +Amabel were charmed to overlook from the dressing-room window. There was +Guy leaping, bounding, racing, rolling the dog over, tripping him up, +twitching his ears, tickling his feet, catching at his tail, laughing at +Bustle's springs, contortions, and harmless open-mouthed attacks, while +the dog did little less than laugh too, with his intelligent amber eyes, +and black and red mouth. Charles began to find a new interest in his +listless life in the attempt to draw Guy out, and make him give one of +his merry laughs. In this, however, he failed when his wit consisted +in allusions to the novels of the day, of which Guy knew nothing. One +morning he underwent a regular examination, ending in-- + +'Have you read anything?' + +'I am afraid I am very ignorant of modern books.' + +'Have you read the ancient ones?' asked Laura. + +'I've had nothing else to read.' + +'Nothing to read but ancient books!' exclaimed Amabel, with a mixture of +pity and astonishment. + +'Sanchoniathon, Manetho, Berosus, and Ocellus Lucanus!' said Guy, +smiling. + +'There, Amy,' said Charles, 'if he has the Vicar of Wakefield among his +ancient books, you need not pity him.' + +'It is like Philip,' said Laura; 'he was brought up on the old standard +books, instead of his time being frittered away on the host of idle +modern ones.' + +'He was free to concentrate his attention on Sir Charles Grandison,' +said Charles. + +'How could any one do so?' said Guy. 'How could any one have any +sympathy with such a piece of self-satisfaction?' + +'Who could? Eh, Laura?' said Charles. + +'I never read it,' said Laura, suspecting malice. + +'What is your opinion of perfect heroes?' continued Charles. + +'Here comes one,' whispered Amy to her brother, blushing at her piece of +naughtiness, as Philip Morville entered the room. + +After the first greetings and inquiries after his sister, whom he had +been visiting, Laura told him what they had been saying of the advantage +of a scanty range of reading. + +'True,' said Philip; 'I have often been struck by finding how ignorant +people are, even of Shakspeare; and I believe the blame chiefly rests on +the cheap rubbish in which Charlie is nearly walled up there.' + +'Ay,' said Charles, 'and who haunts that rubbish at the beginning of +every month? I suppose to act as pioneer, though whether any one but +Laura heeds his warnings, remains to be proved.' + +'Laura does heed?' asked Philip, well pleased. + +'I made her read me the part of Dombey that hurts women's feelings +most, just to see if she would go on--the part about little Paul--and +I declare, I shall think the worse of her ever after--she was so stony +hearted, that to this day she does not know whether he is dead or +alive.' + +'I can't quite say I don't know whether he lived or died,' said Laura, +'for I found Amy in a state that alarmed me, crying in the green-house, +and I was very glad to find it was nothing worse than little Paul.' + +'I wish you would have read it,' said Amy; and looking shyly at Guy, she +added--'Won't you?' + +'Well done, Amy!' said Charles. 'In the very face of the young man's +companion!' + +'Philip does not really think it wrong,' said Amy. + +'No,' said Philip; 'those books open fields of thought, and as their +principles are negative, they are not likely to hurt a person well armed +with the truth.' + +'Meaning,' said Charles, 'that Guy and Laura have your gracious +permission to read Dombey.' + +'When Laura has a cold or toothache.' + +'And I,' said Guy. + +'I am not sure about, the expediency for you,' said Philip 'it would be +a pity to begin with Dickens, when there is so much of a higher grade +equally new to you. I suppose you do not understand Italian?' + +'No,' said Guy, abruptly, and his dark eyebrows contracted. + +Philip went on. 'If you did, I should not recommend you the translation +of "I promessi Sponsi," one of the most beautiful books in any language. +You have it in English, I think, Laura.' + +Laura fetched it; Guy, with a constrained 'thank you,' was going to take +it up rather as if he was putting a force upon himself, when Philip +more quickly took the first volume, and eagerly turned over the pages--I +can't stand this,' he said, 'where is the original?' + +It was soon produced; and Philip, finding the beautiful history of Fra +Cristoforo, began to translate it fluently and with an admirable choice +of language that silenced Charles's attempts to interrupt and criticise. +Soon Guy, who had at first lent only reluctant attention, was entirely +absorbed, his eyebrows relaxed, a look of earnest interest succeeded, +his countenance softened, and when Fra Cristoforo humbled himself, +exchanged forgiveness, and received "il pane del perdono," tears hung on +his eyelashes. + +The chapter was finished, and with a smothered exclamation of +admiration, he joined the others in begging Philip to proceed. The story +thus read was very unlike what it had been to Laura and Amy, when they +puzzled it out as an Italian lesson, or to Charles, when he carelessly +tossed over the translation in search of Don Abbondio's humours; +and thus between reading and conversation, the morning passed very +agreeably. + +At luncheon, Mr. Edmonstone asked Philip to come and spend a day or two +at Hollywell, and he accepted the invitation for the next week. 'I will +make Thorndale drive me out if you will give him a dinner.' + +'Of course, of course,' said Mr. Edmonstone, 'we shall be delighted. We +were talking of asking him, a day or two ago; eh, mamma?' + +'Thank you,' said Philip; 'a family party is an especial treat to him,' +laying a particular stress on the word 'family party,' and looking at +his aunt. + +At that moment the butler came in, saying, 'Sir Guy's servant is come, +and has brought the horse, sir.' + +'Deloraine come!' cried Guy, springing up. 'Where?' + +'At the door, sir.' + +Guy darted out, Mr. Edmonstone following. In another instant, however, +Guy put his head into the room again. 'Mrs. Edmonstone, won't you come +and see him? Philip, you have not seen Deloraine.' + +Off he rushed, and the others were just in time to see the cordial look +of honest gladness with which William, the groom, received his young +master's greeting, and the delighted recognition between Guy, Bustle, +and Deloraine. Guy had no attention for anything else till he had heard +how they had prospered on the journey; and then he turned to claim +his friend's admiration for the beautiful chestnut, his grandfather's +birthday present. The ladies admired with earnestness that compensated +for want of knowledge, the gentlemen with greater science and +discrimination; indeed, Philip, as a connoisseur, could not but, for the +sake of his own reputation, discover something to criticise. Guy's brows +drew together again, and his eyes glanced as if he was much inclined +to resent the remarks, as attacks at once on Deloraine and on his +grandfather; but he said nothing, and presently went to the stable with +Mr. Edmonstone, to see about the horse's accommodations. Philip stood in +the hall with the ladies. + +'So I perceive you have dropped the title already,' observed he to +Laura. + +'Yes,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, replying for her daughter, 'it seemed to +give him pain by reminding him of his loss, and he was so strange and +forlorn just at first, that we were glad to do what we could to make him +feel himself more at home.' + +'Then you get on pretty well now?' + +The reply was in chorus with variations--'Oh, excellently!' + +'He is so entertaining,' said Charlotte. + +'He sings so beautifully,' said Amabel. + +'He is so right-minded,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'So very well informed,' said Laura. + +Then it all began again. + +'He plays chess so well,' said Amy. + +'Bustle is such a dear dog,' said Charlotte. + +'He is so attentive to Charlie,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, going into the +drawing-room to her son. + +'Papa says he will make up for the faults of all his ancestors,' said +Amabel. + +'His music! oh, his music!' said Laura. + +'Philip,' said Charlotte, earnestly, 'you really should learn to like +him.' + +'Learn, impertinent little puss?' said Philip, smiling, 'why should I +not like him?' + +'I was sure you would try,' said Charlotte, impressively. + +'Is it hard?' said Amy. 'But, oh, Philip! you could not help liking his +singing.' + +'I never heard such a splendid voice,' said Laura; 'so clear and +powerful, and yet so wonderfully sweet in the low soft notes. And a very +fine ear: he has a real talent for music.' + +'Ah! inherited, poor fellow,' said Philip, compassionately. + +'Do you pity him for it?' said Amy, smiling. + +'Do you forget?' said Philip. 'I would not advise you to make much of +this talent in public; it is too much a badge of his descent.' + +'Mamma did not think so,' said Amy. 'She thought it a pity he should not +learn regularly, with such a talent; so the other day, when Mr. Radford +was giving us a lesson, she asked Guy just to sing up and down the +scale. I never saw anything so funny as old Mr Radford's surprise, +it was almost like the music lesson in "La Figlia del Reggimento"; he +started, and looked at Guy, and seemed in a perfect transport, and now +Guy is to take regular lessons. + +'Indeed.' + +'But do you really mean,' said Laura, 'that if your mother had been a +musician's daughter, and you had inherited her talent, that you would be +ashamed of it.' + +'Indeed, Laura,' said Philip, with a smile, 'I am equally far from +guessing what I should do if my mother had been anything but what she +was, as from guessing what I should do if I had a talent for music.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone here called her daughters to get ready for their walk, +as she intended to go to East-hill, and they might as well walk with +Philip as far as their roads lay together. + +Philip and Laura walked on by themselves, a little in advance of the +others. Laura was very anxious to arrive at a right understanding of her +cousin's opinion of Guy. + +'I am sure there is much to like in him,' she said. + +'There is; but is it the highest praise to say there is much to like? +People are not so cautious when they accept a man in toto.' + +'Then, do you not?' + +Philip's answer was-- + + + 'He who the lion's whelp has nurst, + At home with fostering hand, + Finds it a gentle thing at first, + Obedient to command,' + + +'Do you think him a lion's whelp?' + +'I am afraid I saw the lion just now in his flashing eyes and contracted +brow. There is an impatience of advice, a vehemence of manner that I +can hardly deem satisfactory. I do not speak from prejudice, for I think +highly of his candour, warmth of heart, and desire to do right; but from +all I have seen, I should not venture as yet to place much dependence on +his steadiness of character or command of temper.' + +'He seems to have been very fond of his grandfather, in spite of his +severity. He is but just beginning to brighten up a little.' + +'Yes; his disposition is very affectionate,--almost a misfortune to one +so isolated from family ties. He showed remarkably well at Redclyffe, +the other day; boyish of course, and without much self-command, but very +amiably. It is very well for him that he is removed from thence, for +all the people idolize him to such a degree that they could not fail to +spoil him.' + +'It would be a great pity if he went wrong.' + +'Great, for he has many admirable qualities, but still they are just +what persons are too apt to fancy compensation for faults. I never +heard that any of his family, except perhaps that unhappy old Hugh, +were deficient in frankness and generosity, and therefore these do not +satisfy me. Observe, I am not condemning him; I wish to be perfectly +just; all I say is, that I do not trust him till I have seen him tried.' + +Laura did not answer, she was disappointed; yet there was a justice and +guardedness in what Philip said, that made it impossible to gainsay +it, and she was pleased with his confidence. She thought how cool and +prudent he was, and how grieved she should be if Guy justified his +doubts; and so they walked on in such silence as is perhaps the +strongest proof of intimacy. She was the first to speak, led to do so +by an expression of sadness about her cousin's mouth. 'What are you +thinking of, Philip?' + +'Of Locksley Hall. There is nonsense, there is affectation in that, +Laura, there is scarcely poetry, but there is power, for there is +truth.' + +'Of Locksley Hall! I thought you were at Stylehurst.' + +'So I was, but the one brings the other.' + +'I suppose you went to Stylehurst while you were at St. Mildred's? Did +Margaret take you there?' + +'Margaret? Not she; she is too much engaged with her book-club, and her +soirées, and her societies of every sort and kind.' + +'How did you get on with the Doctor?' + +'I saw as little of him as I could, and was still more convinced that he +does not know what conversation is. Hem!' Philip gave a deep sigh. 'No; +the only thing to be done at St. Mildred's is to walk across the moors +to Stylehurst. It is a strange thing to leave that tumult of gossip, and +novelty, and hardness, and to enter on that quiet autumnal old world, +with the yellow leaves floating silently down, just as they used to do, +and the atmosphere of stillness round the green churchyard.' + +'Gossip!' repeated Laura.' Surely not with Margaret?' + +'Literary, scientific gossip is worse than gossip in a primary sense, +without pretension.' + +'I am glad you had Stylehurst to go to. How was the old sexton's wife?' + +'Very well; trotting about on her pattens as merrily as ever.' + +'Did you go into the garden?' + +'Yes; Fanny's ivy has entirely covered the south wall, and the acacia is +so tall and spreading, that I longed to have the pruning of it. Old Will +keeps everything in its former state.' + +They talked on of the old home, till the stern bitter look of regret and +censure had faded from his brow, and given way to a softened melancholy +expression. + + + + +CHAPTER 4 + + A fig for all dactyls, a fig for all spondees, + A fig for all dunces and dominie grandees. + --SCOTT + + +'How glad I am!' exclaimed Guy, entering the drawing-room. + +'Wherefore?' inquired Charles. + +'I thought I was too late, and I am very glad to find no one arrived, +and Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone not come down.' + +'But where have you been?' + +'I lost my way on the top of the down; I fancied some one told me there +was a view of the sea to be had there.' + +'And can't you exist without a view of the sea?' + +Guy laughed. 'Everything looks so dull--it is as if the view was dead or +imprisoned--walled up by wood and hill, and wanting that living ripple, +heaving and struggling.' + +'And your fine rocks?' said Laura. + +'I wish you could see the Shag stone,--a great island mass, sloping on +one side, precipitous on the other, with the spray dashing on it. If you +see it from ever so far off, there is still that white foam coming and +going--a glancing speck, like the light in an eye.' + +'Hark! a carriage.' + +'The young man and the young man's companion,' said Charles. + +'How can you?' said Laura. 'What would any one suppose Mr. Thorndale to +be?' + +'Not Philip's valet,' said Charles, 'if it is true that no man is a hero +to his "valley-de-sham"; whereas, what is not Philip to the Honourable +James Thorndale?' + +'Philip, Alexander, and Bucephalus into the bargain,' suggested Amy, +in her demure, frightened whisper, sending all but Laura into a fit of +laughter, the harder to check because the steps of the parties concerned +were heard approaching. + +Mr. Thorndale was a quiet individual, one of those of whom there is +least to be said, so complete a gentleman that it would have been an +insult, to call him gentleman-like; agreeable and clever rather than +otherwise, good-looking, with a high-bred air about him, so that it +always seemed strange that he did not make more impression. + +A ring at the front-door almost immediately followed their arrival. + +'Encore?' asked Philip, looking at Laura with a sort of displeased +surprise. + +'Unfortunately, yes,' said Laura, drawing aside. + +'One of my uncle's family parties,' said Philip. 'I wish I had not +brought Thorndale. Laura, what is to be done to prevent the tittering +that always takes place when Amy and those Harpers are together?' + +'Some game?' said Laura. He signed approval; but she had time to say no +more, for her father and mother came down, and some more guests entered. + +It was just such a party that continually grew up at Hollywell, for +Mr. Edmonstone was so fond of inviting, that his wife never knew in the +morning how many would assemble at her table in the evening. But she was +used to it, and too good a manager even to be called so. She liked to +see her husband enjoy himself in his good-natured, open-hearted way. The +change was good for Charles, and thus it did very well, and there were +few houses in the neighbourhood more popular than Hollywell. + +The guests this evening were Maurice de Courcy, a wild young Irishman, +all noise and nonsense, a great favourite with his cousin, Mr. +Edmonstone; two Miss Harpers, daughters of the late clergyman, +good-natured, second-rate girls; Dr. Mayerne, Charles's kind old +physician, the friend and much-loved counsellor at Hollywell, and the +present vicar, Mr. Ross with his daughter Mary. + +Mary Ross was the greatest friend that the Miss Edmonstones possessed, +though, she being five-and-twenty, they had not arrived at perceiving +that they were on the equal terms of youngladyhood. + +She had lost her mother early, and had owed a great deal to the kindness +of Mrs. Edmonstone, as she grew up among her numerous elder brothers. +She had no girlhood; she was a boy till fourteen, and then a woman, and +she was scarcely altered since the epoch of that transition, the same +in likings, tastes, and duties. 'Papa' was all the world to her, and +pleasing him had much the same meaning now as then; her brothers were +like playfellows; her delights were still a lesson in Greek from papa, a +school-children's feast, a game at play, a new book. It was only a pity +other people did not stand still too. 'Papa,' indeed, had never grown +sensibly older since the year of her mother's death: but her brothers +were whiskered men, with all the cares of the world, and no holidays; +the school-girls went out to service, and were as a last year's brood to +an old hen; the very children she had fondled were young ladies, as old, +to all intents and purposes, as herself, and here were even Laura and +Amy Edmonstone fallen into that bad habit of growing up! though little +Amy had still much of the kitten in her composition, and could play +as well as Charlotte or Mary herself, when they had the garden to +themselves. + +Mary took great pains to amuse Charles, always walking to see him in +the worst weather, when she thought other visitors likely to fall, and +chatting with him as if she was the idlest person in the world, though +the quantity she did at home and in the parish would be too amazing +to be recorded. Spirited and decided, without superfluous fears and +fineries, she had a firm, robust figure, and a rosy, good-natured face, +with a manner that, though perfectly feminine, had in it an air of +strength and determination. + +Hollywell was a hamlet, two miles from the parish church of East-hill, +and Mary had thus seen very little of the Edmonstone's guest, having +only been introduced to him after church on Sunday. The pleasure on +which Charles chiefly reckoned for that evening was the talking him over +with her when the ladies came in from the dining-room. The Miss Harpers, +with his sisters, gathered round the piano, and Mrs. Edmonstone sat at +Charles's feet, while Mary knitted and talked. + +'So you get on well with him?' + +'He is one of those people who are never in the way, and yet you never +can forgot their presence,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'His manners are quite the pink of courtesy,' said Mary. + +'Like his grandfather's,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'that old-school +deference and attention is very chivalrous, and sits prettily and +quaintly on his high spirits and animation; I hope it will not wear +off.' + +'A vain hope,' said Charles. 'At present he is like that German myth, +Kaspar Hauser, who lived till twenty in a cellar. It is lucky for mamma +that, in his green state, he is courtly instead of bearish.' + +'Lucky for you, too, Charlie; he spoils you finely.' + +'He has the rare perfection of letting me know my own mind. I never knew +what it was to have my own way before.' + +'Is that your complaint, Charlie? What next?' said Mary. + +'So you think I have my way, do you, Mary? That is all envy, you see, +and very much misplaced. Could you guess what a conflict it is every +time I am helped up that mountain of a staircase, or the slope of +my sofa is altered? Last time Philip stayed here, every step cost an +argument, till at last, through sheer exhaustion, I left myself a dead +weight on his hands, to be carried up by main strength. And after all, +he is such a great, strong fellow, that I am afraid he did not mind it; +so next time I _crutched_ myself down alone, and I hope that did provoke +him.' + +'Sir Guy is so kind that I am ashamed,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'It seems +as if we had brought him for the sole purpose of waiting on Charles.' + +'Half his heart is in his horse,' said Charles. 'Never had man such +delight in the "brute creation."' + +'They have been his chief playfellows,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'The +chief of his time was spent in wandering in the woods or on the beach, +watching them and their ways.' + +'I fairly dreamt of that Elysium of his last night,' said Charles: +'a swamp half frozen on a winter's night, full of wild ducks. Here, +Charlotte, come and tell Mary the roll of Guy's pets.' + +Charlotte began. 'There was the sea-gull, and the hedgehog, and the fox, +and the badger, and the jay, and the monkey, that he bought because it +was dying, and cured it, only it died the next winter, and a toad, and a +raven, and a squirrel, and--' + +'That will do, Charlotte.' + +'Oh! but Mary has not heard the names of all his dogs. And Mary, he has +cured Bustle of hunting my Puss. We held them up to each other, and Puss +hissed horribly, but Bustle did not mind it a bit; and the other day, +when Charles tried to set him at her, he would not take the least +notice.' + +'Now, Charlotte,' said Charles, waving his hand, with a provoking mock +politeness, 'have the goodness to return to your friends. + +Tea over, Laura proposed the game of definitions. 'You know it. Philip,' +said she, 'you taught us.' + +'Yes I learnt it of your sisters, Thorndale,' said Philip. + +'O pray let us have it. It must be charming!' exclaimed Miss Harper, on +this recommendation. + +'Definitions!' said Charles, contemptuously. 'Dr. Johnson must be the +hand for them.' + +'They are just the definitions not to be found in Johnson,' said Mr. +Thorndale. 'Our standing specimen is adversity, which may be differently +explained according to your taste, as "a toad with a precious jewel in +its head," or "the test of friendship."' + +'The spirit of words,' said Guy, looking eager and interested. + +'Well, we'll try,' said Charles, 'though I can't say it sounds to me +promising. Come, Maurice, define an Irishman.' + +'No, no, don't let us be personal,' said Laura; 'I had thought of the +word "happiness". We are each to write a definition on a slip of paper, +then compare them.' + +The game was carried on with great spirit for more than an hour. It was +hard to say, which made most fun, Maurice, Charles, or Guy; the last +no longer a spectator, but an active contributor to the sport. When the +break-up came, Mary and Amabel were standing over the table together, +collecting the scattered papers, and observing that it had been very +good fun. 'Some so characteristic,' said Amy, 'such as Maurice's +definition of happiness,--a row at Dublin.' + +'Some were very deep, though,' said Mary; 'if it is not treason, I +should like to make out whose that other was of happiness.' + +'You mean this,' said Amy: '"Gleams from a brighter world, too soon +eclipsed or forfeited." I thought it was Philip's, but it is Sir Guy's +writing. How very sad! I should not like to think so. And he was so +merry all the time! This is his, too, I see; this one about riches being +the freight for which the traveller is responsible.' + +'There is a great deal of character in them,' said Mary. 'I should not +have wondered at any of us, penniless people, philosophizing in the fox +and grapes style, but, for him, and at his age--' + +'He has been brought up so as to make the theory of wisdom come early,' +said Philip, who was nearer than she thought. + +'Is that intended for disparagement?' she asked quickly. + +I think very highly of him; he has a great deal of sense and right +feeling,' was Philip's sedate answer; and he turned away to say some +last words to Mr. Thorndale. + +The Rosses were the last to depart, Mary in cloak and clogs, while Mr. +Edmonstone lamented that it was in vain to offer the carriage; and Mary +laughed, and thanked, and said the walk home with Papa was the greatest +of treats in the frost and star-light. + +'Don't I pity you, who always go out to dinner in a carriage!' were her +last words to Laura. + +'Well, Guy,' said Charlotte, 'how do you like it?' + +'Very much, indeed. It was very pleasant.' + +'You are getting into the fairy ring,' said Laura, smiling. + +'Ay' he said, smiling too; 'but it does not turn to tinsel. Would it if +I saw more of it?' and he looked at Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'It would be no compliment to ourselves to say so,' she answered. + +'I suppose tinsel or gold depends on the using,' said he, thoughtfully; +'there are some lumps of solid gold among those papers, I am sure, one, +in particular, about a trifle. May I see that again? I mean-- + + + 'Little things + On little wings + Bear little souls to heaven.' + + +'Oh! that was only a quotation,' said Amy, turning over the definitions +again with him, and laughing at some of the most amusing; while, in the +mean time, Philip went to help Laura, who was putting some books away in +the ante-room. + +'Yes, Laura,' he said, 'he has thought, mind, and soul; he is no mere +rattle.' + +'No indeed. Who could help seeing his superiority over Maurice?' + +'If only he does not pervert his gifts, and if it is not all talk. I +don't like such excess of openness about his feelings; it is too like +talking for talking's sake.' + +'Mamma says it in the transparency of youthfulness. You know he has +never been at school; so his thoughts come out in security of sympathy, +without fear of being laughed at. But it is very late. Good night.' + + +The frost turned to rain the next morning, and the torrents streamed +against the window, seeming to have a kind of attraction for Philip and +Guy, who stood watching them. + +Guy wondered if the floods would be out at Redclyffe and his cousins +were interested by his description of the sudden, angry rush of the +mountain streams, eddying fiercely along, bearing with them tree and +rock, while the valleys became lakes, and the little mounds islets; and +the trees looked strangely out of proportion when only their branches +were visible. 'Oh! a great flood is famous fun,' said he. + +'Surely,' said Philip, 'I have heard a legend of your being nearly +drowned in some flood. + +'Yes,' said Guy, 'I had a tolerable ducking.' + +'Oh, tell us about it!' said Amy. + +'Ay! I have a curiosity to hear a personal experience of drowning,' said +Charles. 'Come, begin at the beginning.' + +'I was standing watching the tremendous force of the stream, when I saw +an unhappy old ram floating along, bleating so piteously, and making +such absurd, helpless struggles, that I could not help pulling off my +coat and jumping in after him. It was very foolish, for the stream was +too strong--I was two years younger then. Moreover, the beast was very +heavy, and not at all grateful for any kind intentions, and I found +myself sailing off to the sea, with the prospect of a good many rocks +before long; but just then an old tree stretched out its friendly +arms through the water; it stopped the sheep, and I caught hold of the +branches, and managed to scramble up, while my friend got entangled in +them with his wool'-- + + + 'Omne quum Proteus pecus egit altos + Visere montes,' + +quoted Philip. + + + 'Ovium et summa, genus haesit ulmo,' + +added Guy. + +'_Ovium_,' exclaimed Philip, with a face of horror. 'Don't you know that +_O_ in _Ovis_ is short? Do anything but take liberties with Horace!' + +'Get out of the tree first, Guy,' said Charles, 'for at present your +history seems likely to end with a long ohone!' + +'Well, Triton--not Proteus--came to the rescue at last,' said Guy, +laughing; 'I could not stir, and the tree bent so frightfully with the +current that I expected every minute we should all go together; so I +had nothing for it but to halloo as loud as I could. No one heard but +Triton, the old Newfoundland dog, who presently came swimming up, so +eager to help, poor fellow, that I thought he would have throttled me, +or hurt himself in the branches. I took off my handkerchief and threw it +to him, telling him to take it to Arnaud, who I knew would understand it +as a signal of distress.' + +'Did he? How long had you to wait?' + +'I don't know--it seemed long enough before a most welcome boat +appeared, with some men in it, and Triton in an agony. They would never +have found me but for him, for my voice was gone; indeed the next thing +I remember was lying on the grass in the park, and Markham saying, +'Well, sir, if you do wish to throw away your life, let it be for +something better worth saving than Farmer Holt's vicious old ram!' + +'In the language of the great Mr. Toots,' said Charles 'I am afraid you +got very wet.' + +'Were you the worse for it?' said Amy. + +'Not in the least. I was so glad to hear it was Holt's! for you must +know that I had behaved very ill to Farmer Holt. I had been very angry +at his beating our old hound, for, as he thought, worrying his sheep; +not that Dart ever did, though. + +'And was the ram saved?' + +'Yes, and next time I saw it, it nearly knocked me down.' + +'Would you do it again?' said Philip. + +'I don't know.' + +'I hope you had a medal from the Humane Society,' said Charles. + +'That would have been more proper for Triton.' + +'Yours should have been an ovation,' said Charles, cutting the o +absurdly short, and looking at Philip. + +Laura saw that the spirit of teasing was strong in Charles this morning +and suspected that he wanted to stir up what he called the deadly +feud, and she hastened to change the conversation by saying, 'You quite +impressed Guy with your translation of Fra Cristoforo.' + +'Indeed I must thank you for recommending the book,' said Guy; 'how +beautiful it is!' + +'I am glad you entered into it,' said Philip; 'it has every quality that +a fiction ought to have.' + +'I never read anything equal to the repentance of the nameless man.' + +'Is he your favourite character?' said Philip, looking at him +attentively. + +'Oh no--of course not--though he is so grand that one thinks most about +him, but no one can be cared about as much as Lucia.' + +'Lucia! She never struck me as more than a well-painted peasant girl,' +said Philip. + +'Oh!' cried Guy, indignantly; then, controlling himself, he continued: +'She pretends to no more than she is, but she shows the beauty of +goodness in itself in a--a--wonderful way. And think of the power of +those words of hers over that gloomy, desperate man.' + +'Your sympathy with the Innominato again,' said Philip. Every subject +seemed to excite Guy to a dangerous extent, as Laura thought, and she +turned to Philip to ask if he would not read to them again. + +'I brought this book on purpose,' said Philip. 'I wished to read you a +description of that print from Raffaelle--you know it--the Madonna di +San Sisto?' + +'The one you brought to show us?' said Amy, 'with the two little +angels?' + +'Yes, here is the description,' and he began to read-- + +'Dwell on the form of the Child, more than human in grandeur, seated on +the arms of the Blessed Virgin as on an august throne. Note the tokens +of divine grace, His ardent eyes, what a spirit, what a countenance is +His; yet His very resemblance to His mother denotes sufficiently that He +is of us and takes care for us. Beneath are two figures adoring, each in +their own manner. On one side is a pontiff, on the other a virgin each +a most sweet and solemn example, the one of aged, the other of maidenly +piety and reverence. Between, are two winged boys, evidently presenting +a wonderful pattern of childlike piety. Their eyes, indeed, are not +turned towards the Virgin, but both in face and gesture, they show how +careless of themselves they are in the presence of God.' + +All were struck by the description. Guy did not speak at first, but +the solemn expression of his face showed how he felt its power and +reverence. Philip asked if they would like to hear more, and Charles +assented: Amy worked, Laura went on with her perspective, and Guy sat +by her side, making concentric circles with her compasses, or when she +wanted them he tormented her parallel ruler, or cut the pencils, never +letting his fingers rest except at some high or deep passage, or when +some interesting discussion arose. All were surprised when luncheon time +arrived; Charles held out his hand for the book; it was given with a +slight smile, and he exclaimed' Latin! I thought you were translating. +Is it your own property?' + +'Yes.' + +'Is it very tough? I would read it, if any one would read it with me.' + +'Do you mean me?' said Guy; 'I should like it very much, but you have +seen how little Latin I know.' + +'That is the very thing,' said Charles; 'that Ovis of yours was music; I +would have made you a Knight of the Golden Fleece on the spot. Tutors I +could get by shoals, but a fellow-dunce is inestimable.' + +'It is a bargain, then,' said Guy; 'if Philip has done with the book and +will lend it to us.' + +The luncheon bell rang, and they all adjourned to the dining-room. Mr. +Edmonstone came in when luncheon was nearly over, rejoicing that his +letters were done, but then he looked disconsolately from the window, +and pitied the weather. 'Nothing for it but billiards. People might say +it was nonsense to have a billiard-table in such a house, but for his +part he found there was no getting through a wet day without them. +Philip must beat him as usual, and Guy might have one of the young +ladies to make a fourth.' + +'Thank you,' said Guy, 'but I don't play.' + +'Not play--eh?' Well, we will teach you in the spinning of a ball, and +I'll have my little Amy to help me against you and Philip.' + +'No, thank you,' repeated Guy, colouring, 'I am under a promise.' + +'Ha! Eh? What? Your grandfather? He could see no harm in such play as +this. For nothing, you understand. You did not suppose I meant anything +else?' + +'O no, of course not,' eagerly replied Guy; 'but it is impossible for me +to play, thank you. I have promised never even to look on at a game at +billiards.' + +'Ah, poor man, he had too much reason.' uttered Mr. Edmonstone to +himself, but catching a warning look from his wife, he became suddenly +silent. Guy, meanwhile, sat looking lost in sad thoughts, till, rousing +himself, he exclaimed, 'Don't let me prevent you.' + +Mr. Edmonstone needed but little persuasion, and carried Philip off to +the billiard-table in the front hall. + +'O, I am so glad!' cried Charlotte, who had, within the last week, +learnt Guy's value as a playfellow. 'Now you will never go to those +stupid billiards, but I shall have you always, every rainy day. Come and +have a real good game at ball on the stairs.' + +She already had hold of his hand, and would have dragged him off at +once, had he not waited to help Charles back to his sofa; and in the +mean time she tried in vain to persuade her more constant playmate, +Amabel, to join the game. Poor little Amy regretted the being obliged to +refuse, as she listened to the merry sounds and bouncing balls, sighing +more than once at having turned into a grown-up young lady; while Philip +observed to Laura, who was officiating as billiard-marker, that Guy was +still a mere boy. + +The fates favoured Amy at last for about half after three, the billiards +were interrupted, and Philip, pronouncing the rain to be almost over, +invited Guy to take a walk, and they set out in a very gray wet mist, +while Charlotte and Amy commenced a vigorous game at battledore and +shuttle-cock. + +The gray mist had faded into twilight, and twilight into something like +night, when Charles was crossing the hall, with the aid of Amy's arm, +Charlotte carrying the crutch behind him, and Mrs. Edmonstone helping +Laura with her perspective apparatus, all on their way to dress for +dinner; the door opened and in came the two Morvilles. Guy, without, +even stopping to take off his great coat, ran at once up-stairs, and +the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook the +house, and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation. + +'Redclyffe temper,' said he, coolly, with a half-smile curling his short +upper lip. + +'What have you been doing to him?' said Charles.' + +'Nothing. At least nothing worthy of such ire. I only entered on the +subject of his Oxford life, and advised him to prepare for it, for his +education has as yet been a mere farce. He used to go two or three days +in the week to one Potts, a self-educated genius--a sort of superior +writing-master at the Moorworth commercial school. Of course, though it +is no fault of his, poor fellow, he is hardly up to the fifth form, and +he must make the most of his time, if he is not to be plucked. I set +all this before him as gently as I could, for I knew with whom I had to +deal, yet you see how it is.' + +'What did he say?' asked Charles. + +'He said nothing; so far I give him credit; but he strode on furiously +for the last half mile, and this explosion is the finale. I am very +sorry for him, poor boy; I beg no further notice may be taken of it. +Don't you want an arm, Charlie?' + +'No thank you,' answered Charles, with a little surliness. + +'You had better. It really is too much for Amy,' said Philip, making a +move as if to take possession of him, as he arrived at the foot of the +stairs. + +'Like the camellia, I suppose,' he replied; and taking his other crutch +from Charlotte, he began determinedly to ascend without assistance, +resolved to keep Philip a prisoner below him as long as he could, and +enjoying the notion of chafing him by the delay. Certainly teasing +Philip was a dear delight to Charles, though it was all on trust, as, if +he succeeded, his cousin never betrayed his annoyance by look or sign. + +About a quarter of an hour after, there was a knock at the +dressing-room door. 'Come in,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking up from her +letter-writing, and Guy made his appearance, looking very downcast. + +'I am come,' he said, 'to ask pardon for the disturbance I made just +now. I was so foolish as to be irritated at Philip's manner, when he was +giving me some good advice, and I am very sorry.' + +'What has happened to your lip?' she exclaimed. + +He put his handkerchief to it. 'Is it bleeding still? It is a trick +of mine to bite my lip when I am vexed. It seems to help to keep down +words. There! I have given myself a mark of this hateful outbreak.' + +He looked very unhappy, more so, Mrs. Edmonstone thought, than the +actual offence required. 'You have only failed in part,' she said. 'It +was a victory to keep down words.' + +'The feeling is the _thing_,' said Guy; 'besides, I showed it plainly +enough, without speaking.' + +'It is not easy to take advice from one so little your elder,' began +Mrs. Edmonstone, but he interrupted her. 'It was not the advice. That +was very good; I--' but he spoke with an effort,--'I am obliged to +him. It was--no, I won't say what,' he added, his eyes kindling, then +changing in a moment to a sorrowful, resolute tone, 'Yes, but I _will_, +and then I shall make myself thoroughly ashamed. It was his veiled +assumption of superiority, his contempt for all I have been taught. +Just as if he had not every right to despise me, with his talent and +scholarship, after such egregious mistakes as I had made in the morning. +I gave him little reason to think highly of my attainments; but let him +slight me as much as he pleases, he must not slight those who taught me. +It was not Mr. Potts' fault.' + +Even the name could not spoil the spirited sound of the speech, and Mrs. +Edmonstone was full of sympathy. 'You must remember,' she said, 'that in +the eyes of a man brought up at public school, nothing compensates for +the want of the regular classical education. I have no doubt it was very +provoking.' + +'I don't want to be excused, thank you,' said Guy. 'Oh I am grieved; for +I thought the worst of my temper had been subdued. After all that has +passed--all I felt--I thought it impossible. Is there no hope for--' +He covered his face with his hands, then recovering and turning to Mrs. +Edmonstone, he said, 'It is encroaching too much on your kindness to +come here and trouble you with my confessions.' + +'No, no, indeed,' said she, earnestly. 'Remember how we agreed that you +should come to me like one of my own children. And, indeed, I do not see +why you need grieve in this despairing way, for you almost overcame the +fit of anger; and perhaps you were off your guard because the trial came +in an unexpected way?' + +'It did, it did,' he said, eagerly; 'I don't, mind being told point +blank that I am a dunce, but that Mr. Potts--nay, by implication--my +grandfather should be set at nought in that cool--But here I am again!' +said he, checking himself in the midst of his vehemence; 'he did not +mean that, of course. I have no one to blame but myself.' + +'I am sure,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'that if you always treat your +failings in this way, you must subdue them at last.' + +'It is all failing, and resolving, and failing again!' said Guy. + +'Yes, but the failures become slighter and less frequent, and the end is +victory.' + +'The end victory!' repeated Guy, in a musing tone, as he stood leaning +against the mantelshelf. + +'Yes, to all who persevere and seek for help,' said Mrs Edmonstone; +and he raised his eyes and fixed them on her with an earnest look that +surprised her, for it was almost as if the hope came home to him +as something new. At that moment, however, she was called away, and +directly after a voice in the next room exclaimed, 'Are you there, Guy? +I want an arm!' while he for the first time perceived that Charles's +door was ajar. + +Charles thought all this a great fuss about nothing, indeed he was glad +to find there was anyone who had no patience with Philip; and in his +usual mischievous manner, totally reckless of the fearful evil of +interfering with the influence for good which it was to be hoped that +Philip might exert over Guy, he spoke thus: 'I begin to think the world +must be more docile than I have been disposed to give it credit for. How +a certain cousin of ours has escaped numerous delicate hints to mind his +own business is to me one of the wonders of the world.' + +'No one better deserves that his advice should be followed,' said Guy, +with some constraint. + +'An additional reason against it,' said Charles. 'Plague on that bell! +I meant to have broken through your formalities and had a candid opinion +of Don Philip before it rang.' + +'Then I am glad of it; I could hardly have given you a candid opinion +just at present.' + +Charles was vexed; but he consoled himself by thinking that Guy did not +yet feel himself out of his leading-strings, and was still on his good +behaviour. After such a flash as this there was no fear, but there was +that in him which would create mischief and disturbance enough. Charles +was well principled at the bottom, and would have shrunk with horror had +it been set before him how dangerous might be the effect of destroying +the chance of a friendship between Guy and the only person whose +guidance was likely to be beneficial to him; but his idle, unoccupied +life, and habit of only thinking of things as they concerned his +immediate amusement, made him ready to do anything for the sake of +opposition to Philip, and enjoy the vague idea of excitement to be +derived from anxiety about his father's ward, whom at the same time he +regarded with increased liking as he became certain that what he called +the Puritan spirit was not native to him. + +At dinner-time, Guy was as silent as on his first arrival, and there +would have been very little conversation had not the other gentleman +talked politics, Philip leading the discussion to bear upon the duties +and prospects of landed proprietors, and dwelling on the extent of +their opportunities for doing good. He tried to get Guy's attention, by +speaking of Redclyffe, of the large circle influenced by the head of +the Morville family, and of the hopes entertained by Lord Thorndale +that this power would prove a valuable support to the rightful cause. +He spoke in vain; the young heir of Redclyffe made answers as brief, +absent, and indifferent, as if all this concerned him no more than the +Emperor of Morocco, and Philip, mentally pronouncing him sullen, turned +to address himself to Laura. + +As soon as the ladies had left the dining-room, Guy roused himself, and +began by saying to his guardian that he was afraid he was very deficient +in classical knowledge; that he found he must work hard before going to +Oxford; and asked whether there was any tutor in the neighbourhood to +whom he could apply. + +Mr. Edmonstone opened his eyes, as much amazed as if Guy had asked if +there was any executioner in the neighbourhood who could cut off his +head. Philip was no less surprised, but he held his peace, thinking it +was well Guy bad sense enough to propose it voluntarily, as he would +have suggested it to his uncle as soon as there was an opportunity of +doing so in private. As soon as Mr. Edmonstone had recollected himself, +and pronounced it to be exceedingly proper, &c., they entered into a +discussion on the neighbouring curates, and came at last to a resolution +that Philip should see whether Mr. Lascelles, a curate of Broadstone, +and an old schoolfellow of his own, would read with Guy a few hours in +every week. + +After this was settled, Guy looked relieved, though he was not himself +all the evening, and sat in his old corner between the plants and the +window, where he read a grave book, instead of talking, singing, or +finishing his volume of 'Ten Thousand a Year.' Charlotte was all this +time ill at ease. She looked from Guy to Philip, from Philip to Guy; she +shut her mouth as if she was forming some great resolve, then coloured, +and looked confused, rushing into the conversation with something more +mal-apropos than usual, as if on purpose to appear at her ease. At last, +just before her bed-time, when the tea was coming in, Mrs. Edmonstone +engaged with that, Laura reading, Amy clearing Charles's little table, +and Philip helping Mr. Edmonstone to unravel the confused accounts +of the late cheating bailiff, Guy suddenly found her standing by him, +perusing his face with all the power of her great blue eyes. She started +as he looked up, and put her face into Amabel's great myrtle as if she +would make it appear that she was smelling to it. + +'Well, Charlotte?' said he, and the sound of his voice made her speak, +but in a frightened, embarrassed whisper. + +'Guy--Guy--Oh! I beg your pardon, but I wanted to--' + +'Well, what?' said he, kindly. + +'I wanted to make sure that you are not angry with Philip. You don't +mean to keep up the feud, do you?' + +'Feud?--I hope not,' said Guy, too much in earnest to be diverted with +her lecture. 'I am very much obliged to him.' + +'Are you really?' said Charlotte, her head a little on one side. 'I +thought he had been scolding you.' + +Scolding was so very inappropriate to Philip's calm, argumentative way +of advising, that it became impossible not to laugh. + +'Not scolding, then?' said Charlotte. 'You are too nearly grown up for +that, but telling you to learn, and being tiresome.' + +'I was so foolish as to be provoked at first,' answered Guy; 'but I hope +I have thought better of it, and am going to act upon it.' + +Charlotte opened her eyes wider than ever, but in the midst of her +amazement Mrs. Edmonstone called to Guy to quit his leafy screen and +come to tea. + +Philip was to return to Broadstone the next day, and as Mrs. Edmonstone +had some errands there that would occupy her longer than Charles liked +to wait in the carriage, it was settled that Philip should drive her +there in the pony phaeton, and Guy accompany them and drive back, thus +having an opportunity of seeing Philip's print of the 'Madonna di San +Sisto,' returning some calls, and being introduced to Mr. Lascelles, +whilst she was shopping. They appointed an hour and place of meeting, +and kept to it, after which Mrs. Edmonstone took Guy with her to call on +Mrs. Deane, the wife of the colonel. + +It was currently believed among the young Edmonstones that Mamma and +Mrs. Deane never met without talking over Mr. Morville's good qualities, +and the present visit proved no exception. Mrs. Deane, a kind, +open-hearted, elderly lady was very fond of Mr. Morville, and proud +of him as a credit to the regiment; and she told several traits of his +excellent judgment, kindness of heart, and power of leading to the right +course. Mrs. Edmonstone listened, and replied with delight; and no +less pleasure and admiration were seen reflected in her young friend's +radiant face. + +Mrs. Edmonstone's first question, as they set out on their homeward +drive, was, whether they had seen Mr. Lascelles? + +'Yes,' said Guy, 'I am to begin to morrow, and go to him every Monday +and Thursday.' + +'That is prompt.' + +'Ah! I have no time to lose; besides I have been leading too smooth +a life with you. I want something unpleasant to keep me in order. +Something famously horrid,' repeated he, smacking the whip with a +relish, as if he would have applied that if he could have found nothing +else. + +'You think you live too smoothly at Hollywell,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, +hardly able, with all her respect for his good impulses, to help +laughing at this strange boy. + +'Yes. Happy, thoughtless, vehement; that is what your kindness makes +me. Was it not a proof, that I must needs fly out at such a petty +provocation?' + +'I should not have thought it such a very exciting life; certainly not +such as is usually said to lead to thoughtlessness; and we have been +even quieter than usual since you came.' + +'Ah, you don't know what stuff I am made of,' said Guy, gravely, +though smiling; 'your own home party is enough to do me harm; it is so +exceedingly pleasant.' + +'Pleasant things do not necessarily do harm.' + +'Not to you; not to people who are not easily unsettled; but when I +go up-stairs, after a talking, merry evening, such as the night before +last, I find that I have enjoyed it too much; I am all abroad! I can +hardly fix my thoughts, and I don't know what to do, since here I must +be, and I can't either be silent, or sit up in my own room.' + +'Certainly not,' said she, smiling; 'there are duties of society which +you owe even to us dangerous people.' + +'No, no: don't misunderstand me. The fault is in myself. If it was +not for that, I could learn nothing but good,' said Guy, speaking very +eagerly, distressed at her answer. + +'I believe I understand you,' said she, marvelling at the serious, +ascetic temper, coupled with the very high animal spirits. 'For your +comfort, I believe the unsettled feeling you complain of is chiefly the +effect of novelty. You have led so very retired a life, that a lively +family party is to you what dissipation would be to other people: and, +as you must meet with the world some time or other, it is better the +first encounter with should be in this comparatively innocent form. Go +on watching yourself, and it will do you no harm.' + +Yes, but if I find it does me harm? It would be cowardly to run away, +and resistance should be from within. Yet, on the other hand, there is +the duty of giving up, wrenching oneself from all that has temptation in +it.' + +'There is nothing,' said Mrs Edmonstone, 'that has no temptation in it; +but I should think the rule was plain. If a duty such as that of living +among us for the present, and making yourself moderately agreeable, +involves temptations, they must be met and battled from within. In the +same way, your position in society, with all its duties, could not be +laid aside because it is full of trial. Those who do such things are +fainthearted, and fail in trust in Him who fixed their station, and +finds room for them to deny themselves in the trivial round and common +task. It is pleasure involving no duty that should be given up, if we +find it liable to lead us astray.' + +'I see,' answered Guy, musingly; 'and this reading comes naturally, and +is just what I wanted to keep the pleasant things from getting a full +hold of me. I ought to have thought of it sooner, instead of dawdling a +whole month in idleness. Then all this would not have happened. I hope +it will be very tough.' + +'You have no great love for Latin and Greek?' + +'Oh!' cried Guy, eagerly, 'to be sure I delight in Homer and the +Georgics, and plenty more. What splendid things there are in these old +fellows! But, I never liked the drudgery part of the affair; and now if +I am to be set to work to be accurate, and to get up all the grammar and +the Greek roots, it will be horrid enough in all conscience.' + +He groaned as deeply as if he had not been congratulating himself just +before on the difficulty. + +'Who was your tutor?' asked Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Mr. Potts,' said Guy. 'He is a very clever man; he had a common +grammar-school education, but he struggled on--taught himself a great +deal--and at last thought it great promotion to be a teacher at the +Commercial Academy, as they call it, at Moorworth, where Markham's +nephews went to school. He is very clever, I assure you, and very +patient of the hard, wearing life he must have of it there; and oh! so +enjoying a new book, or an afternoon to himself. When I was about eight +or nine, I began with him, riding into Moorworth three times in a week; +and I have gone on ever since. I am sure he has done the best he could +for me; and he made the readings very pleasant by his own enjoyment. If +Philip had known the difficulties that man has struggled through, and +his beautiful temper, persevering in doing his best and being contented, +I am sure he could never have spoken contemptuously of him.' + +'I am sure he would not,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'all he meant was, +that a person without a university education cannot tell what the +requirements are to which a man must come up in these days.' + +'Ah!' said Guy, laughing, 'how I wished Mr. Potts had been there to +have enjoyed listening to Philip and Mr. Lascelles discussing some +new Lexicon, digging down for roots of words, and quoting passages of +obscure Greek poets at such a rate, that if my eyes had been shut I +could have thought them two withered old students in spectacles and +snuff-coloured coats.' + +'Philip was in his element.' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling. + +'Really,' proceeded Guy, with animation, 'the more I hear and see of +Philip, the more I wonder. What a choice collection of books he has--so +many of them school prizes, and how beautifully bound!' + +'Ah! that is one of Philip's peculiar ways. With all his prudence +and his love of books, I believe he would not buy one unless he had a +reasonable prospect of being able to dress it handsomely. Did you see +the print?' + +'Yes that I did. What glorious loveliness! There is nothing that does +it justice but the description in the lecture. Oh I forgot, you have +not heard it. You must let me read it to you by and by. Those two little +angels, what faces they have. Perfect innocence--one full of reasoning, +the other of unreasoning adoration!' + +'I see it!' suddenly exclaimed Mrs. Edmonstone; 'I see what you are like +in one of your looks, not by any means, in all--it is to the larger of +those two angels.' + +'Very seldom, I should guess,' said Guy; and sinking his voice, as if +he was communicating a most painful fact, he added, 'My real likeness +is old Sir Hugh's portrait at home. But what were we saying? Oh! about +Philip. How nice those stories were of Mrs. Deane's.' + +'She is very fond of him.' + +'To have won so much esteem and admiration, already from strangers, with +no prejudice in his favour.--It must be entirely his own doing; and well +it may! Every time one hears of him, something comes out to make +him seem more admirable. You are laughing at me, and I own it is +presumptuous to praise; but I did not mean to praise, only to admire.' + +'I like very much to hear my nephew praised; I was only smiling at your +enthusiastic way.' + +'I only wonder I am not more enthusiastic,' said Guy. 'I suppose it is +his plain good sense that drives away that sort of feeling, for he is +as near heroism in the way of self-sacrifice as a man can be in these +days.' + +'Poor Philip! if disappointment can make a hero, it has fallen to his +share. Ah! Guy, you are brightening and looking like one of my young +ladies in hopes of a tale of true love crossed, but it was only love of +a sister.' + +'The sister for whom he gave up so much?' + +'Yes, his sister Margaret. She was eight or nine years older, very +handsome, very clever, a good deal like him--a pattern elder sister; +indeed, she brought him up in great part after his mother died, and he +was devoted to her. I do believe it made the sacrifice of his prospects +quite easy to him, to know it was for her sake, that she would live +on at Stylehurst, and the change be softened to her. Then came Fanny's +illness, and that lead to the marriage with Dr. Henley. It was just what +no one could object to; he is a respectable man in full practice, with a +large income; but he is much older than she is, not her equal in mind or +cultivation, and though I hardly like to say so, not at all a religious +man. At any rate, Margaret Morville was one of the last people one could +bear to see marry for the sake of an establishment.' + +'Could her brother do nothing?' + +'He expostulated with all his might; but at nineteen he could do little +with a determined sister of twenty-seven; and the very truth and power +of his remonstrance must have made it leave a sting. Poor fellow, I +believe he suffered terribly--just as he had lost Fanny, too, which he +felt very deeply, for she was a very sweet creature, and he was very +fond of her. It was like losing both sisters and home at once.' + +'Has he not just been staying with Mrs. Henley?' + +'Yes. There was never any coolness, as people call it. He is the one +thing she loves and is proud of. They always correspond, and he often +stays with her; but he owns to disliking the Doctor, and I don't think +he has much comfort in Margaret herself, for he always comes back more +grave and stern than he went. Her house, with all her good wishes, can +be no home to him; and so we try to make Hollywell supply the place of +Stylehurst as well as we can.' + +'How glad he must be to have you to comfort him!' + +'Philip? Oh no. He was always reserved; open to no one but Margaret, not +even to his father, and since her marriage he has shut himself up within +himself more than ever. It has, at least I think it is this that has +given him a severity, an unwillingness to trust, which I believe is +often the consequence of a great disappointment either in love or in +friendship.' + +'Thank you for telling me,' said Guy: 'I shall understand him better, +and look up to him more. Oh! it is a cruel thing to find that what one +loves is, or has not been, all one thought. What must he not have gone +through!' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was well pleased to have given so much assistance to +Guy's sincere desire to become attached to his cousin, one of the most +favourable signs in the character that was winning so much upon her. + + + + +CHAPTER 5 + + A cloud was o'er my childhood's dream, + I sat in solitude; + I know not how--I know not why, + But round my soul all drearily + There was a silent shroud. + --THOUGHTS IN PAST YEARS + + +Mrs. Edmonstone was anxious to hear Mr. Lascelle's opinion of his pupil, +and in time she learnt that he thought Sir Guy had very good abilities, +and a fair amount of general information; but that his classical +knowledge was far from accurate, and mathematics had been greatly +neglected. He had been encouraged to think his work done when he had +gathered the general meaning of a passage, or translated it into English +verse, spirited and flowing, but often further from the original than he +or his tutor could perceive. He had never been taught to work, at least +as other boys study, and great application would be requisite to bring +his attainments to a level with those of far less clever boys educated +at a public school. + +Mr. Lascelles told him so at first; but as there were no reflections on +his grandfather, or on Mr. Potts, Guy's lip did not suffer, and he +only asked how many hours a day he ought to read. 'Three,' said +Mr. Lascelles, with a due regard to a probable want of habits of +application; but then, remembering how much was undone, he added, that +'it ought to be four or more, if possible.' + +'Four it _shall_ be,' said Guy; 'five if I can.' + +His whole strength of will was set to accomplish these four hours, +taking them before and after breakfast, working hard all the morning +till the last hour before luncheon, when he came to read the lectures on +poetry with Charles. Here, for the first time, it appeared that Charles +had so entirely ceased to consider him as company, as to domineer over +him like his own family. + +Used as Guy had been to an active out-of-doors life, and now turned +back to authors he had read long ago, to fight his way through the +construction of their language, not excusing himself one jot of the +difficulty, nor turning aside from one mountain over which his own +efforts could carry him, he found his work as tough and tedious as he +could wish or fear, and by the end of the morning was thoroughly fagged. +Then would have been the refreshing time for recreation in that pleasant +idling-place, the Hollywell drawing-room. Any other time of day would +have suited Charles as well for the reading, but he liked to take the +hour at noon, and never perceived that this made all the difference to +his friend of a toil or a pleasure. Now and then Guy gave tremendous +yawns; and once when Charles told him he was very stupid, proposed a +different time; but as Charles objected, he yielded as submissively as +the rest of the household were accustomed to do. + +To watch Guy was one of Charles's chief amusements, and he rejoiced +greatly in the prospect of hearing his history of his first +dinner-party. Mr., Mrs. and Miss Edmonstone, and Sir Guy Morville, were +invited to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Brownlow. Mr. Edmonstone was delighted +as usual with any opportunity of seeing his neighbours; Guy looked as +if he did not know whether he liked the notion or not; Laura told him it +would be very absurd and stupid, but there would be some good music, and +Charles ordered her to say no more, that he might have the account, the +next morning, from a fresh and unprejudiced mind. + +The next morning's question was, of course, 'How did you like your +party?' + +'O, it was great fun.' Guy's favourite answer was caught up in the +midst, as Laura replied, 'It was just what parties always are.' + +'Come, let us have the history. Who handed who in to dinner? I hope Guy +had Mrs. Brownlow.' + +'Oh no,' said Laura; we had both the honourables.' + +'Not Philip!' + +'No,' said Guy; 'the fidus Achetes was without his pious Aeneas.' + +'Very good, Guy,' said Charles, enjoying the laugh. + +'I could not help thinking of it,' said Guy, rather apologising, 'when +I was watching Thorndale's manner; it is such an imitation of Philip; +looking droller, I think, in his absence, than in his presence. I wonder +if he is conscious of it.' + +'It does not suit him at all,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; because he has no +natural dignity.' + +'A man ought to be six foot one, person and mind, to suit with that +grand, sedate, gracious way of Philip's,' said Guy. + +'There's Guy's measure of Philip's intellect,' said Charles, 'just six +foot one inch.' + +'As much more than other people's twice his height,' said Guy. + +'Who was your neighbour, Laura?' asked Amy. + +'Dr. Mayerne; I was very glad of him, to keep off those hunting friends +of Mr. Brownlow, who never ask anything but if one has been to the +races, and if one likes balls.' + +'And how did Mrs. Brownlow behave?' said Charles. + +'She is a wonderful woman,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, in her quiet way; +and Guy with an expression between drollery and simplicity, said, 'Then +there aren't many like her.' + +'I hope not,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Is she really a lady?' + +'Philip commonly calls her "that woman,"' said Charles. 'He has never +got over her one night classing him with his "young man" and myself, as +three of the shyest monkeys she ever came across.' + +'She won't say so of Maurice,' said Laura, as they recovered the laugh. + +'I heard her deluding some young lady by saying he was the eldest son,' +said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Mamma!' cried Amy, 'could she have thought so?' + +'I put in a gentle hint on Lord de Courcy's existence, to which she +answered, in her quick way, 'O ay, I forgot; but then he is the second, +and that's the next thing.' + +'If you could but have heard the stories she and Maurice were telling +each other!' said Guy. 'He was playing her off, I believe; for whatever +she told, he capped it with something more wonderful. Is she really a +lady?' + +'By birth,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. It is only her high spirits and small +judgment that make her so absurd.' + +'How loud she is, too!' said Laura. 'What was all that about horses, +Guy?' + +'She was saying she drove two such spirited horses, that all the grooms +were afraid of them; and when she wanted to take out her little boy, Mr. +Brownlow said "You may do as you like my dear, but I won't have my son's +neck broken, whatever you do with your own." So Maurice answered by +declaring he knew a lady who drove not two, but four-in-hand, and when +the leaders turned round and looked her in the face, gave a little nod, +and said, 'I'm obliged for your civility.' + +'Oh! I wish I had heard that,' cried Laura. + +'Did you hear her saying she smoked cigars?' + +Everyone cried out with horror or laughter. + +'Of course, Maurice told a story of a lady who had a cigar case hanging +at her chatelaine, and always took one to refresh her after a ball.' + +Guy was interrupted by the announcement of his horse, and rode off at +once to Mr. Lascelles. + +On his return he went straight to the drawing-room, where Mrs. +Edmonstone was reading to Charles, and abruptly exclaimed,-- + +'I told you wrong. She only said she had smoked one cigar.' Then +perceiving that he was interrupting, he added, 'I beg your pardon,' and +went away. + +The next evening, on coming in from a solitary skating, he found the +younger party in the drawing-room, Charles entertaining the Miss Harpers +with the story of the cigars. He hastily interposed-- + +'I told you it was but one.' + +'Ay, tried one, and went on. She was preparing an order for Havannah.' + +'I thought I told you I repeated the conversation incorrectly.' + +'If it is not the letter, it is the spirit,' said Charles, vexed at the +interference with his sport of amazing the Miss Harpers with outrageous +stories of Mrs. Brownlow. + +'It is just like her,' said one of them. 'I could believe anything of +Mrs. Brownlow.' + +'You must not believe this,' said Guy, gently. 'I repeated incorrectly +what had better have been forgotten, and I must beg my foolish +exaggeration to go no further.' + +Charles became sullenly silent; Guy stood thoughtful; and Laura and +Amabel could not easily sustain the conversation till the visitors took +their leave. + +'Here's a pother!' grumbled Charles, as soon as they were gone. + +'I beg your pardon for spoiling your story,' said Guy; but it was my +fault, so I was obliged to interfere.' + +'Bosh!' said Charles. 'Who cares whether she smoked one or twenty? She +is Mrs. Brownlow still.' + +The point is, what was truth?' said Laura. + +'Straining at gnats,' said Charles. + +'Little wings?' said Guy, glancing at Amabel. + +'Have it your won way,' said Charles, throwing his head back; 'they must +be little souls, indeed that stick at such trash.' + +Guy's brows were contracted with vexation, but Laura looked up very +prettily, saying-- + +'Never mind him. We must all honour you for doing such an unpleasant +thing.' + +'You will recommend him favourably to Philip,' growled Charles. + +There was no reply, and presently Guy asked whether he would go up to +dress? Having no other way of showing his displeasure, he refused, and +remained nursing his ill-humour, till he forgot how slight the offence +had been, and worked himself into a sort of insane desire--half +mischievous, half revengeful--to be as provoking as he could in his +turn. + +Seldom had he been more contrary, as his old nurse was wont to call it. +No one could please him, and Guy was not allowed to do anything for him. +Whatever he said was intended to rub on some sore place in Guy's mind. +His mother and Laura's signs made him worse, for he had the pleasure of +teasing them, also; but Guy endured it all with perfect temper, and he +grew more cross at his failure; yet, from force of habit, at bed-time, +he found himself on the stairs with Guy's arm supporting him. + +'Good night,' said Charles; 'I tried hard to poke up the lion to-night, +but I see it won't do.' + +This plea of trying experiments was neither absolutely true nor false; +but it restored Charles to himself, by saving a confession that he +had been out of temper, and enabling him to treat with him wonted +indifference the expostulations of father, mother, and Laura. + +Now that the idea of 'poking up the lion' had once occurred, it became +his great occupation to attempt it. He wanted to see some evidence of +the fiery temper, and it was a new sport to try to rouse it; one, too, +which had the greater relish, as it kept the rest of the family on +thorns. + +He would argue against his real opinion, talk against his better sense, +take the wrong side, and say much that was very far from his true +sentiments. Guy could not understand at first, and was quite confounded +at some of the views he espoused, till Laura came to his help, greatly +irritating her brother by hints that he was not in earnest. Next time +she could speak to Guy alone, she told him he must not take all Charles +said literally. + +'I thought he could hardly mean it: but why should he talk so?' + +'I can't excuse him; I know it is very wrong, and at the expense of +truth, and it is very disagreeable of him--I wish he would not; but he +always does what he likes, and it is one of his amusements, so we must +bear with him, poor fellow.' + +From that time Guy seemed to have no trouble in reining in his temper +in arguing with Charles, except once, when the lion was fairly roused by +something that sounded like a sneer about King Charles I. + +His whole face changed, his hazel eye gleamed with light like an +eagle's, and he started up, exclaiming-- + +'You did not mean that?' + +'Ask Strafford,' answered Charles, coolly, startled, but satisfied to +have found the vulnerable point. + +'Ungenerous, unmanly,' said Guy, his voice low, but quivering with +indignation; 'ungenerous to reproach him with what he so bitterly +repented. Could not his penitence, could not his own blood'--but as he +spoke, the gleam of wrath faded, the flush deepened on the cheek, and he +left the room. + +'Ha!' soliloquized Charles, 'I've done it! I could fancy his wrath +something terrific when it was once well up. I didn't know what was +coming next; but I believe he has got himself pretty well in hand. It is +playing with edge tools; and now I have been favoured with one flash of +the Morville eye, I'll let him alone; but it _ryled_ me to be treated as +something beneath his anger, like a woman or a child.' + +In about ten minutes, Guy came back: 'I am sorry that I was hasty just +now,' said he. + +'I did not know you had such personal feelings about King Charles.' + +'If you would do me a kindness,' proceeded Guy, 'you would just say you +did not mean it. I know you do not, but if you would only say so.' + +'I am glad you have the wit to see I have too much taste to be a +roundhead.' + +'Thank you,' said Guy; 'I hope I shall know your jest from your earnest +another time. Only if you would oblige me, you would never jest again +about King Charles.' + +His brow darkened into a stern, grave expression, so entirely in +earnest, that Charles, though making no answer, could not do otherwise +than feel compliance unavoidable. Charles had never been so entirely +conquered, yet, strange to say, he was not, as usual, rendered sullen. + +At night, when Guy had taken him to his room, he paused and said--'You +are sure that you have forgiven me?' + +'What! You have not forgotten that yet?' said Charles. + +'Of course not.' + +'I am sorry you bear so much malice,' said Charles, smiling. + +'What are you imagining?' cried Guy. 'It was my own part I was +remembering, as I must, you know.' + +Charles did not choose to betray that he did not see the necessity. + +'I thought King Charles's wrongs were rankling. I only spoke as taking +liberties with a friend.' + +'Yes,' said Guy, thoughtfully, 'it may be foolish, but I do not feel as +if one could do so with King Charles. He is too near home; he suffered +to much from scoffs and railings; his heart was too tender, his +repentance too deep for his friends to add one word even in jest to the +heap of reproach. How one would have loved him!' proceeded Guy, wrapped +up in his own thoughts,--'loved him for the gentleness so little +accordant with the rude times and the part he had to act--served him +with half like a knight's devotion to his lady-love, half like devotion +to a saint, as Montrose did-- + + + 'Great, good, and just, could I but rate + My grief, and thy too rigid fate, + I'd weep the world in such a strain, + As it should deluge once again.' + + +'And, oh!' cried he, with sudden vehemence, 'how one would have fought +for him!' + +'You would!' said Charles. 'I should like to see you and Deloraine +charging at the head of Prince Rupert's troopers.' + +'I beg your pardon,' said Guy, suddenly recalled, and colouring deeply; +'I believe I forgot where I was, and have treated you to one of my old +dreams in my boatings at home. You may quiz me as much as you please +tomorrow. Good night.' + +'It was a rhapsody!' thought Charles; 'yes it was. I wonder I don't +laugh at it; but I was naturally carried along. Fancy that! He did it so +naturally; in fact, it was all from the bottom of his heart, and I +could not quiz him--no, no more than Montrose himself. He is a strange +article! But he keeps one awake, which is more than most people do!' + +Guy was indeed likely to keep every one awake just then; for Mr. +Edmonstone was going to take him out hunting for the first time, and +he was half wild about it. The day came, and half an hour before Mr. +Edmonstone was ready, Guy was walking about the hall, checking many an +incipient whistle, and telling every one that he was beforehand with the +world, for he had read one extra hour yesterday, and had got through +the others before breakfast. Laura thought it very true that, as Philip +said, he was only a boy, and moralized to Charlotte on his being the +same age as herself--very nearly eighteen. Mrs. Edmonstone told Charles +it was a treat to see any one so happy, and when he began to chafe at +the delay, did her best to beguile the time, but without much success. +Guy had ever learned to wait patiently, and had a custom of marching up +and down, and listening with his head thrown back, or, as Charles used +to call it, 'prancing in the hall.' + +If Mrs. Edmonstone's patience was tried by the preparation for the hunt +in the morning, it was no less her lot to hear of it in the evening. Guy +came home in the highest spirits, pouring out his delight to every one, +with animation and power of description giving all he said a charm. The +pleasure did not lose by repetition; he was more engrossed by it +every time; and no one could be more pleased with his ardour than Mr. +Edmonstone, who, proud of him and his riding, gave a sigh to past hopes +of poor Charles, and promoted the hunting with far more glee that he had +promoted the reading. + +The Redclyffe groom, William, whose surname of Robinson was entirely +forgotten in the appellation of William of Deloraine, was as proud of +Sir Guy as Mr. Edmonstone could be; but made representations to his +master that he must not hunt Deloraine two days in the week, and ride +him to Broadstone two more. Guy then walked to Broadstone; but +William was no better pleased, for he thought the credit of Redclyffe +compromised, and punished him by reporting Deloraine not fit to be +used next hunting day. Mr. Edmonstone perceived that Guy ought to have +another hunter; Philip heard of one for sale, and after due inspection +all admired--even William, who had begun by remarking that there might +be so many screw-looses about a horse, that a man did not know what to +be at with them. + +Philip, who was conducting the negotiation, came to dine at Hollywell to +settle the particulars. Guy was in a most eager state; and they and Mr. +Edmonstone talked so long about horses, that they sent Charles to sleep; +his mother began to read, and the two elder girls fell into a low, +mysterious confabulation of their own till they were startled by a +question from Philip as to what could engross them so deeply. + +'It was,' said Laura, 'a banshee story in Eveleen de Courcy's last +letter.' + +'I never like telling ghost stories to people who don't believe in +them,' half whispered Amabel to her sister. + +'Do you believe them?' asked Philip, looking full at her. + +'Now I won't have little Amy asked the sort of question she most +dislikes,' interposed Laura; 'I had rather ask if you laugh at us for +thinking many ghost stories inexplicable?' + +'Certainly not.' + +'The universal belief could hardly be kept up without some grounds,' +said Guy. + +'That would apply as well to fairies,' said Philip. + +'Every one has an unexplained ghost story,' said Amy. + +'Yes,' said Philip; 'but I would give something to meet any one whose +ghost story did not rest on the testimony of a friend's cousin's cousin, +a very strong-minded person.' + +'I can't imagine how a person who has seen a ghost could ever speak of +it,' said Amy. + +'Did you not tell us a story of pixies at Redclyffe?' said Laura. + +'O yes; the people there believe in them firmly. Jonas Ledbury heard +them laughing one night when he could not get the gate open,' said Guy. + +'Ah! You are the authority for ghosts,' said Philip. + +'I forgot that,' said Laura: 'I wonder we never asked you about your +Redclyffe ghost.' + +'You look as if you had seen it yourself,' said Philip. + +'You have not?' exclaimed Amy, almost frightened. + +'Come, let us have the whole story,' said Philip. 'Was it your own +reflection in the glass? was it old sir Hugh? or was it the murderer of +Becket? Come, the ladies are both ready to scream at the right moment. +Never mind about giving him a cocked-hat, for with whom may you take a +liberty, if not with an ancestral ghost of your own?' + +Amy could not think how Philip could have gone on all this time; perhaps +it was because he was not watching how Guy's colour varied, how he bit +his lip; and at last his eyes seemed to grow dark in the middle, and +to sparkle with fire, as with a low, deep tone, like distant thunder, +conveying a tremendous force of suppressed passion, he exclaimed, +'Beware of trifling--' then breaking off hastened out of the room. + +'What's the matter?' asked Mr. Edmonstone, startled from his nap; and +his wife looked up anxiously, but returned to her book, as her nephew +replied, 'Nothing.' + +'How could you Philip?' said Laura. + +'I really believe he has seen it!' said Amy, in a startled whisper. + +'He has felt it, Amy--the Morville spirit,' said Philip. + +'It is a great pity you spoke of putting a cocked hat to it,' said +Laura; 'he must have suspected us of telling you what happened about +Mrs. Brownlow.' + +'And are you going to do it now?' said her sister in a tone of +remonstrance. + +'I think Philip should hear it!' said Laura; and she proceeded to relate +the story. She was glad to see that her cousin was struck with it; +he admired this care to maintain strict truth, and even opened a +memorandum-book--the sight of which Charles dreaded--and read the +following extract: 'Do not think of one falsity as harmless, and another +as slight, and another as unintended. Cast them all aside. They may be +light and accidental, but they are an ugly soot from the smoke of the +pit, for all that; and it is better that our hearts should be swept +clean of them, without over care as to which is the largest or +blackest.' + +Laura and Amy were much pleased; but he went on to regret that such +excellent dispositions should be coupled with such vehemence of +character and that unhappy temper. Amy was glad that her sister ventured +to hint that he might be more cautious in avoiding collisions. + +'I am cautious', replied he, quickly and sternly; 'I am not to be told +of the necessity of exercising forbearance with this poor boy; but it is +impossible to reckon on all the points on which he is sensitive.' + +'He is sensitive,' said Laura. 'I don't mean only in temper, but in +everything. I wonder if it is part of his musical temperament to be as +keenly alive to all around, as his ear is to every note. A bright day, +a fine view, is such real happiness to him; he dwells on every beauty of +Redclyffe with such affection; and then, when he reads, Charles says it +is like going over the story again himself to watch his face act it in +that unconscious manner.' + +'He makes all the characters so real in talking them over,' said Amy, +'and he does not always know how they will end before they begin.' + +'I should think it hardly safe for so excitable a mind to dwell much on +the world of fiction,' said Philip. + +'Nothing has affected him so much as Sintram,' said Laura. 'I never saw +anything like it. He took it up by chance, and stood reading it while +all those strange expressions began to flit over his face, and at last +he fairly cried over it so much, that he was obliged to fly out of the +room. How often he has read it I cannot tell; I believe he has bought +one for himself, and it is as if the engraving had a fascination for +him; he stands looking at it as if he was in a dream.' + +'He is a great mystery,' said Amy. + +'All men are mysterious,' said Philip 'but he not more than others, +though he may appear so to you, because you have not had much +experience, and also because most of the men you have seen have been +rounded into uniformity like marbles, their sharp angles rubbed off +against each other at school.' + +'Would it be better if there were more sharp angles?' said Laura, thus +setting on foot a discussion on public schools, on which Philip had, of +course, a great deal to say. + +Amy's kind little heart was meanwhile grieving for Guy, and longing to +see him return, but he did not come till after Philip's departure. He +looked pale and mournful, his hair hanging loose and disordered, and +her terror was excited lest he might actually have seen his ancestor's +ghost, which, in spite of her desire to believe in ghosts, in general, +she did not by any means wish to have authenticated. He was surprised +and a good deal vexed to find Philip gone, but he said hardly anything, +and it was soon bedtime. When Charles took his arm, he exclaimed, on +finding his sleeve wet--'What can you have been doing?' + +'Walking up and down under the wall,' replied Guy, with some reluctance. + +'What, in the rain?' + +'I don't know, perhaps it was.' + +Amy, who was just behind, carrying the crutch, dreaded Charles's making +any allusion to Sintram's wild locks and evening wanderings, but ever +since the outburst about King Charles, the desire to tease and irritate +Guy had ceased. + +They parted at the dressing-room door, and as Guy bade her good night, +he pushed back the damp hair that had fallen across his forehead, +saying, 'I am sorry I disturbed your evening. I will tell you the +meaning of it another time.' + +'He has certainly seen the ghost!' said silly little Amy, as she shut +herself into her own room in such a fit of vague 'eerie' fright, that it +was not till she had knelt down, and with her face hidden in her hands, +said her evening prayer, that she could venture to lift up her head and +look into the dark corners of the room. + +'Another time!' Her heart throbbed at the promise. + +The next afternoon, as she and Laura were fighting with a refractory +branch of wisteria which had been torn down by the wind, and refused to +return to its place, Guy, who had been with his tutor, came in from the +stable-yard, reduced the trailing bough to obedience, and then joined +them in their walk. He looked grave, was silent at first, and then spoke +abruptly--'It is due to you to explain my behaviour last night.' + +'Amy thinks you must have seen the ghost,' said Laura, trying to be gay. + +'Did I frighten you?' said Guy, turning round, full of compunction. +'No, no. I never saw it. I never even heard of its being seen. I am very +sorry.' + +'I was very silly,' said Amy smiling. + +'But,' proceeded Guy, 'when I think of the origin of the ghost story, I +cannot laugh, and if Philip knew all--' + +'Oh! He does not,' cried Laura; 'he only looks on it as we have always +done, as a sort of romantic appendage to Redclyffe. I should think +better of a place for being haunted.' + +'I used to be proud of it,' said Guy. 'I wanted to make out whether it +was old Sir Hugh or the murderer of Becket, who was said to groan and +turn the lock of Dark Hugh's chamber. I hunted among old papers, and a +horrible story I found. That wretched Sir Hugh,--the same who began the +quarrel with your mother's family--he was a courtier of Charles II, as +bad or worse than any of that crew--' + +'What was the quarrel about?' said Laura. + +'He was believed to have either falsified or destroyed his father's +will, so as to leave his brother, your ancestor, landless; his brother +remonstrated, and he turned him out of doors. The forgery never was +proved, but there was little doubt of it. There are traditions of his +crimes without number, especially his furious anger and malice. He +compelled a poor lady to marry him, though she was in love with another +man; then he was jealous; he waylaid his rival, shut him up in the +turret chamber, committed him to prison, and bribed Judge Jeffries +to sentence him--nay it is even said he carried his wife to see the +execution! He was so execrated that he fled the country; he went to +Holland, curried favour with William of Orange, brought his wealth to +help him, and that is the deserving action which got him the baronetcy! +He served in the army a good many years, and came home when he thought +his sins would be forgotten. But do you remember those lines?' and Guy +repeated them in the low rigid tone, almost of horror, in which he had +been telling the story:-- + + + 'On some his vigorous judgments light, + In that dread pause 'twixt day and night, + Life's closing twilight hour; + Round some, ere yet they meet their doom, + Is shed the silence of the tomb, + The eternal shadows lower.' + + +'It was so with him; he lost his senses, and after many actions of mad +violence, he ended by hanging himself in the very room where he had +imprisoned his victim.' + +'Horrible!' said Laura. 'Yet I do not see why, when it is all past, you +should feel it so deeply.' + +'How should I not feel it?' answered Guy. 'Is it not written that the +sins of the fathers shall be visited on the children? You wonder to +see me so foolish about Sintram. Well, it is my firm belief that such +a curse of sin and death as was on Sintram rests on the descendants of +that miserable man.' + +The girls were silent, struck with awe and dismay at the fearful reality +with which he pronounced the words. At last, Amy whispered, 'But Sintram +conquered his doom.' + +At the same time Laura gathered her thoughts together, and said, 'This +must be an imagination. You have dwelt on it and fostered it till you +believe it, but such notions should be driven away or they will work +their own fulfilment.' + +'Look at the history of the Morvilles, and see if it be an imagination,' +said Guy. 'Crime and bloodshed have been the portion of each--each has +added weight and darkness to the doom which he had handed on. My own +poor father, with his early death, was, perhaps, the happiest!' + +Laura saw the idea was too deeply rooted to be treated as a fancy, and +she found a better argument. 'The doom of sin and death is on us all, +but you should remember that if you are a Morville, you are also a +Christian.' + +'He does remember it!' said Amy, raising her eyes to his face, and then +casting them down, blushing at having understood his countenance, where, +in the midst of the gloomy shades, there rested for an instant the gleam +which her mother had likened to the expression of Raffaelle's cherub.' + +They walked on for some time in silence. At last Laura exclaimed, 'Are +you really like the portrait of this unfortunate Sir Hugh?' + +Guy made a sign of assent. + +'Oh! It must have been taken before he grew wicked,' said Amy; and Laura +felt the same conviction, that treacherous revenge could never have +existed beneath so open a countenance, with so much of highmindedness, +pure faith and contempt of wrong in every glance of the eagle eye, in +the frank expansion of the smooth forehead. + +They were interrupted by Mr. Edmonstone's hearty voice, bawling across +the garden for one of the men. 'O Guy! are you there?' cried he, as +soon as he saw him. 'Just what I wanted! Your gun, man! We are going to +ferret a rabbit.' + +Guy ran off at full speed in search of his gun, whistling to Bustle. Mr. +Edmonstone found his man, and the sisters were again alone. + +'Poor fellow!' said Laura. + +'You will not tell all this to Philip?' said Amy. + +'It would show why he was hurt, and it can be no secret.' + +'I dare say you are right, but I have a feeling against it. Well, I am +glad he had not seen the ghost!' + +The two girls had taken their walk, and were just going in, when, +looking round, they saw Philip walking fast and determinedly up the +approach, and as they turned back to meet him, the first thing he said +was, 'Where is Guy?' + +'Ferreting rabbits with papa. What is the matter?' + +'And where is my aunt?' + +Driving out with Charles and Charlotte. What is the matter?' + +'Look here. Can you tell me the meaning of this which I found on my +table when I came in this morning?' + +It was a card of Sir Guy Morville, on the back of which was written in +pencil, 'Dear P., I find hunting and reading don't agree, so take no +further steps about the horse. Many thanks for your trouble.--G.M.' + +'There,' said Philip, 'is the result of brooding all night on his +resentment.' 'Oh no!' cried Laura, colouring with eagerness, 'you do not +understand him. He could not bear it last night, because, as he has been +explaining to us, that old Sir Hugh's story was more shocking than we +ever guessed, and he has a fancy that their misfortunes are a family +fate, and he could not bear to hear it spoken of lightly.' + +'Oh! He has been telling you his own story, has he?' + +Laura's colour grew still deeper, 'If you had been there,' she said, +'you would have been convinced. Why will you not believe that he finds +hunting interfere with reading?' + +'He should have thought of that before,' said Philip. + +'Here have I half bought the horse! I have wasted the whole morning on +it, and now I have to leave it on the man's hands. I had a dozen times +rather take it myself, if I could afford it. Such a bargain as I had +made, and such an animal as you will not see twice in your life.' + +'It is a great pity,' said Laura. 'He should have known his own mind. I +don't like people to give trouble for nothing.' + +'Crazy about it last night, and giving it up this morning! A most +extraordinary proceeding. No, no, Laura, this is not simple fickleness, +it would be too absurd. It is temper, temper, which makes a man punish +himself, in hopes of punishing others. + +Laura still spoke for Guy, and Amy rejoiced; for if her sister had not +taken up the defence of the absent, she must, and she felt too strongly +to be willing to speak. It seemed too absurd for one feeling himself +under such a doom to wrangle about a horse, yet she was somewhat amused +by the conviction that if Guy had really wished to annoy Philip he had +certainly succeeded. + +There was no coming to an agreement. Laura's sense of justice revolted +at the notion of Guy's being guilty of petty spite; while Philip, firm +in his preconceived idea of his character, and his own knowledge of +mankind, was persuaded that he had imputed the true motive, and was +displeased at Laura's attempting to argue the point. He could not wait +to see any one else, as he was engaged to dine out, and he set off again +at his quick, resolute pace. + +'He is very unfair!' exclaimed Amy. + +'He did not mean to be so,' said Laura; 'and though he is mistaken in +imputing such motives, Guy's conduct has certainly been vexatious.' + +They were just turning to go in, when they were interrupted by the +return of the carriage; and before Charles had been helped up the steps, +their father and Guy came in sight. While Guy went to shut up Bustle, +who was too wet for the drawing-room, Mr. Edmonstone came up to the +others, kicking away the pebbles before him, and fidgeting with his +gloves, as he always did when vexed. + +'Here's a pretty go!' said he. 'Here is Guy telling me he won't hunt any +more!' + +'Not hunt!' cried Mrs. Edmonstone and Charles at once; 'and why?' + +'Oh! something about its taking his mind from his reading; but that +can't be it--impossible, you know; I'd give ten pounds to know what has +vexed him. So keen as he was about it last night, and I vow, one of the +best riders in the whole field. Giving up that horse, too--I declare +it is a perfect sin! I told him he had gone too far, and he said he had +left a note with Philip this morning.' + +'Yes,' said Laura; Philip has just been here about it. Guy left a card, +saying, hunting and reading would not agree.' + +'That is an excuse, depend upon it,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'Something has +nettled him, I am sure. It could not be that Gordon, could it, with +his hail-fellow-well-met manner? I thought Guy did not half like it the +other day, when he rode up with his "Hollo, Morville!" The Morvilles +have a touch of pride of their own; eh, mamma?' + +'I should be inclined to believe his own account of himself,' said she. + +'I tell you, 'tis utterly against reason,' said Mr. Edmonstone, angrily. +'If he was a fellow like Philip, or James Ross, I could believe it; but +he--he make a book-worm! He hates it, like poison, at the bottom of his +heart, I'll answer for it; and the worst of it is, the fellow putting +forward such a fair reason one can't--being his guardian, and all--say +what one thinks of it oneself. Eh, mamma?' + +'Not exactly,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling. + +'Well, you take him in hand, mamma. I dare say he will tell you the +rights of it, and if it is only that Gordon, explain it rightly to him, +show him 'tis only the man's way; tell him he treats me so for ever, and +would the Lord-Lieutenant if he was in it.' + +'For a' that and a' that,' said Charles, as Amy led him into the +drawing-room. + +'You are sure the reading is the only reason?' said Amy.' + +'He's quite absurd enough for it,' said Charles; but 'absurd' was +pronounced in a way that made its meaning far from annoying even to +Guy's little champion. + +Guy came in the next moment, and running lightly up-stairs after Mrs. +Edmonstone, found her opening the dressing-room door, and asked if he +might come in. + +'By all means,' she said; 'I am quite ready for one of our twilight +talks.' + +'I am afraid I have vexed Mr. Edmonstone,' began Guy; 'and I am very +sorry.' + +'He was only afraid that something might have occurred to vex you, which +you might not like to mention to him,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, hesitating +a little. + +'Me! What could I have done to make him think so? I am angry with no one +but myself. The fact is only this, the hunting is too pleasant; it fills +up my head all day and all night; and I don't attend rightly to anything +else. If I am out in the morning and try to pay for it at night, it will +not do; I can but just keep awake and that's all; the Greek letters all +seem to be hunting each other, the simplest things grow difficult, and +at last all I can think of, is how near the minute hand of my watch is +near to the hour I have set myself. So, for the last fortnight, every +construing with Mr. Lascelles has been worse than the last; and as to my +Latin verses, they were beyond everything shocking, so you see there is +no making the two things agree, and the hunting must wait till I grow +steadier, if I ever do. Heigho! It is a great bore to be so stupid, for +I thought--But it is of no use to talk of it!' + +'Mr. Edmonstone would be a very unreasonable guardian, indeed, to be +displeased,' said his friend, smiling. You say you stopped the purchase +of the horse. Why so? Could you not keep him till you are more sure of +yourself?' + +'Do you think I might?' joyously exclaimed Guy. 'I'll write to Philip +this minute by the post. Such a splendid creature: it would do you good +to see it--such action--such a neck--such spirit. It would be a shame +not to secure it. But no--no--' and he checked himself sorrowfully. 'I +have made my mind before that I don't deserve it. If it was here, it +would always have to be tried: if I heard the hounds I don't know I +should keep from riding after them; whereas, now I can't, for William +won't let me take Deloraine. No, I can't trust myself to keep such a +horse, and not hunt. It will serve me right to see Mr. Brownlow on it, +and he will never miss such a chance!' and the depth of his sigh bore +witness to the struggle it cost him. + +'I should not like to use anyone as you use yourself,' said Mrs. +Edmonstone, looking at him with affectionate anxiety, which seemed +suddenly to change the current of his thought, for he exclaimed +abruptly--'Mrs. Edmonstone, can you tell me anything about my mother?' + +'I am afraid not,' said she, kindly; 'you know we had so little +intercourse with your family, that I heard little but the bare facts.' + +'I don't think,' said Guy, leaning on the chimneypiece, 'that I ever +thought much about her till I knew you, but lately I have fancied a +great deal about what might have been if she had but lived.' + +It was not Mrs. Edmonstone's way to say half what she felt, and she went +on--'Poor thing! I believe she was quite a child.' + +'Only seventeen when she died,' said Guy. + +Mrs. Edmonstone went to a drawer, took out two or three bundles of +old letters, and after searching in them by the fire-light, said--'Ah! +here's a little about her; it is in a letter from my sister-in-law, +Philip's mother, when they were staying at Stylehurst.' + +'Who? My father and mother?' cried Guy eagerly. + +'Did you not know they had been there three or four days?' + +'No--I know less about them than anybody,' said he, sadly: but as Mrs. +Edmonstone waited, doubtful as to whether she might be about to make +disclosures for which he was unprepared, he added, hastily--'I do +know the main facts of the story; I was told them last autumn;' and an +expression denoting the remembrance of great suffering came over his +face; then, pausing a moment, he said--'I knew Archdeacon Morville had +been very kind.' + +'He was always interested about your father,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'and +happening to meet him in London some little time after his marriage, +he--he was pleased with the manner in which he was behaving then, +thought--thought--' And here, recollecting that she must not speak ill +of old Sir Guy, nor palliate his son's conduct, poor Mrs. Edmonstone +got into an inextricable confusion--all the worse because the fierce +twisting of a penwiper in Guy's fingers denoted that he was suffering a +great trial of patience. She avoided the difficulty thus: 'It is hard +to speak of such things when there is so much to be regretted on both +sides; but the fact was, my brother thought your father was harshly +dealt with at that time. Of course he had done very wrong; but he had +been so much neglected and left to himself, that it seemed hardly +fair to visit his offence on him as severely as if he had had more +advantages. So it ended in their coming to spend a day or two at +Stylehurst; and this is the letter my sister-in-law wrote at the time: + +'"Our visitors have just left us, and on the whole I am much better +pleased than I expected. The little Mrs. Morville is a very pretty +creature, and as engaging as long flaxen curls, apple-blossom +complexion, blue eyes, and the sweetest of voices can make her; so +full of childish glee and playfulness, that no one would stop to think +whether she was lady-like any more than you would with a child. She +used to go singing like a bird about the house as soon as the first +strangeness wore off, which was after her first game of play with Fanny +and Little Philip. She made them very fond of her, as indeed she would +make every one who spent a day or two in the same house with her. I +could almost defy Sir Guy not to be reconciled after one sight of +her sweet sunny face. She is all affection and gentleness, and with +tolerable training anything might be made of her; but she is so young +in mind and manners, that one cannot even think of blaming her for her +elopement, for she had no mother, no education but in music; and her +brother seems to have forced it on, thrown her in Mr. Morville's way, +and worked on his excitable temperament, until he hurried them into +marriage. Poor little girl, I suppose she little guesses what she has +done; but it was very pleasant to see how devotedly attached he seemed +to her; and there was something beautiful in the softening of his +impetuous tones when he said, 'Marianne;' and her pride in him was very +pretty, like a child playing at matronly airs."' + +Guy gave a long, heavy sigh, brushed away a tear, and after a long +silence, said, 'Is that all?' + +'All that I like to read to you. Indeed, there is no more about her; +and it would be of no use to read all the reports that were going +about.--Ah! here,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking into another letter, +'she speaks of your father as a very fine young man, with most generous +impulses,'--but here again she was obliged to stop, for the next +sentence spoke of 'a noble character ruined by mismanagement.' 'She +never saw them again,' continued Mrs. Edmonstone; 'Mr. Dixon, your +mother's brother, had great influence with your father, and made matters +worse--so much worse, that my brother did not feel himself justified in +having any more to do with them.' + +'Ah! he went to America,' said Guy; 'I don't know any more about him +except that he came to the funeral and stood with his arms folded, not +choosing to shake hands with my poor grandfather.' After another silence +he said, 'Will you read that again?' and when he had heard it, he sat +shading his brow with his hand, as if to bring the fair, girlish picture +fully before his mind, while Mrs. Edmonstone sought in vain among her +letters for one which did not speak of the fiery passions ignited on +either side, in terms too strong to be fit for his ears. + +When next he spoke it was to repeat that he had not been informed of +the history of his parents till within the last few months. He had, +of course, known the manner of their death, but had only lately become +aware of the circumstances attending it. + +The truth was that Guy had grown up peculiarly shielded from evil, but +ignorant of the cause of the almost morbid solicitude with which he was +regarded by his grandfather. He was a very happy, joyous boy, leading +an active, enterprising life, though so lonely as to occasion greater +dreaminess and thoughtfulness than usual at such an early age. He was +devotedly attached to his grandfather, looking on him as the first and +best of human beings, and silencing the belief that Sir Hugh Morville +had entailed a doom of crime and sorrow on the family, by a reference to +him, as one who had been always good and prosperous. + +When, however, Guy had reached an age at which he must encounter the +influences which had proved so baneful to others of his family, his +grandfather thought it time to give him the warning of his own history. + +The sins, which the repentance of years had made more odious in the +eyes of the old man, were narrated; the idleness and insubordination +at first, then the reckless pursuit of pleasure, the craving for +excitement, the defiance of rule and authority, till folly had become +vice, and vice had led to crime. + +He had fought no fewer than three duels, and only one had been +bloodless. His misery after the first had well-nigh led to a reform; +but time had dulled its acuteness--it had been lost in fresh scenes +of excitement--and at the next offence rage had swept away such +recollections. Indeed, so far had he lost the natural generosity of his +character, that his remorse had been comparatively slight for the last, +which was the worst of all, since he had forced the quarrel on his +victim, Captain Wellwood, whose death had left a wife and children +almost destitute. His first awakening to a sense of what his course had +been, was when he beheld his only child, in the prime of youth, carried +lifeless across his threshold, and attributed his death to his own +intemperance and violence. That hour made Sir Guy Morville an old and a +broken-hearted man; and he repented as vigorously as he had sinned. + +From the moment he dared to hope that his son's orphan would be spared, +he had been devoted to him, but still mournfully, envying and pitying +his innocence as something that could not last. + +He saw bright blossoms put forth, as the boy grew older; but they were +not yet fruits, and he did not dare to believe they ever would be. +The strength of will which had, in his own case, been the slave of his +passions, had been turned inward to subdue the passions themselves, but +this was only the beginning--the trial was not yet come. He could hope +his grandson might repent, but this was the best that he dared to think +possible. He could not believe that a Morville could pass unscathed +through the world, or that his sins would not be visited on the head of +his only descendant; and the tone of his narration was throughout such +as might almost have made the foreboding cause its own accomplishment. + +The effect was beyond what he had expected; for a soul deeply dyed +in guilt, even though loathing its own stains, had not the power of +conceiving how foul was the aspect of vice, to one hitherto guarded from +its contemplation, and living in a world of pure, lofty day-dreams. The +boy sat the whole time without a word, his face bent down and hidden +by his clasped hands, only now and then unable to repress a start or +shudder at some fresh disclosure; and when it was ended, he stood up, +gazed round, and walked uncertainly, as if he did not know where he +was. His next impulse was to throw himself on his knee beside his +grandfather, and caress him as he used to when a child. The 'good-night' +was spoken, and Guy was shut into his room, with his overwhelming +emotions. + +His grandfather a blood-stained, remorseful man! The doom was complete, +himself heir to the curse of Sir Hugh, and fated to run the same career; +and as he knew full well, with the tendency to the family character +strong within him, the germs of these hateful passions ready to take +root downwards and bear fruit upwards, with the very countenance of Sir +Hugh, and the same darkening, kindling eyes, of which traditions had +preserved the remembrance. + +He was crushed for awhile. The consciousness of strength not his own, +of the still small voice that could subdue the fire, the earthquake, and +the whirlwind, was slow in coming to him; and when it came, he, like his +grandfather, had hope rather of final repentance than of keeping himself +unstained. + +His mind had not recovered the shock when his grandfather died,--died +in faith and fear, with good hope of accepted repentance, but unable to +convey the assurance of such hope to his grandson. Grief for the only +parent he had ever known, and the sensation of being completely alone in +the world, were joined to a vague impression of horror at the suddenness +of the stroke, and it was long before the influence of Hollywell, or the +elasticity of his own youthfulness, could rouse him from his depression. + +Even then it was almost against his will that he returned to enjoyment, +unable to avoid being amused, but feeling as if joy was not meant for +him, and as if those around were walking 'in a world of light,' where he +could scarcely hope to tread a few uncertain steps. In this despondency +was Guy's chief danger, as it was likely to make him deem a struggle +with temptation fruitless, while his high spirits and powers of keen +enjoyment increased the peril of recklessness in the reaction. + +It was Mrs. Edmonstone who first spoke with him cheerfully of +a successful conflict with evil, and made him perceive that his +temptations were but such as is common to man. She had given him a clue +to discover when and how to trust himself to enjoy; the story of Sintram +had stirred him deeply, and this very day, Amy's words, seemingly +unheeded and unheard, had brought home to him the hope and encouragement +of that marvellous tale. + +They had helped him in standing, looking steadfastly upwards, and +treading down not merely evil, but the first token of coming evil, +regardless of the bruises he might inflict on himself. Well for him if +he was constant. + +Such was Guy's inner life; his outward life, frank and joyous, has been +shown, and the two flowed on like a stream, pure as crystal, but into +which the eye cannot penetrate from its depth. The surface would be +sometimes obscured by cloud or shade, and reveal the sombre wells +beneath; but more often the sunshine would penetrate the inmost +recesses, and make them glance and sparkle, showing themselves as clear +and limpid as the surface itself. + + + + +CHAPTER 6 + + Can piety the discord heal, + Or stanch the death-feud's enmity? + --Scott + + +It must not be supposed that such a history of Guy's mind was expressed +by himself, or understood by Mrs. Edmonstone; but she saw enough to +guess at his character, perceive the sort of guidance he needed, and be +doubly interested in him. Much did she wish he could have such a friend +as her brother would have been, and hope that nothing would prevent a +friendship with her nephew. + +The present question about the horse was, she thought, unfortunate, +since, though Guy had exercised great self-denial, it was no wonder +Philip was annoyed. Mr. Edmonstone's vexation was soon over. As soon as +she had persuaded him that there had been no offence, he strove to say +with a good grace, that it was very proper, and told Guy he would be +a thorough book-worm and tremendous scholar, which Guy took as an +excellent joke. + +Philip had made up his mind to be forbearing, and to say no more about +it. Laura thought this a pity, as they could thus never come to an +understanding; but when she hinted it, he wore such a dignified air of +not being offended, that she was much ashamed of having tried to direct +one so much better able to judge. On his side Guy had no idea the +trouble he had caused; so, after bestowing his thanks in a gay, off-hand +way, which Philip thought the worst feature of the case, he did his best +to bring Hecuba back into his mind, drive the hunters out of it, and +appease the much-aggrieved William of Deloraine. + +When all William's manoeuvres resulted in his master's not hunting at +all, he was persuaded it was Mr. Edmonstone's fault, compassionated +Sir Guy with all his heart, and could only solace himself by taking +Deloraine to exercise where he was most likely to meet the hounds. He +further chose to demonstrate that he was not Mr. Edmonstone's servant, +by disregarding some of his stable regulations; but as soon as this came +to his master's knowledge, a few words were spoken so sharp and stern, +that William never attempted to disobey again. + +It seemed as if it was the perception that so much was kept back by a +strong force, that made Guy's least token of displeasure so formidable. +A village boy, whom he caught misusing a poor dog, was found a few +minutes after, by Mr. Ross, in a state of terror that was positively +ludicrous, though it did not appear that Sir Guy had said or done much +to alarm him; it was only the light in his eyes, and the strength +of repressed indignation in his short broken words that had made the +impression. + +It appeared as if the force of his anger might be fearful, if once it +broke forth without control; yet at the same time he had a gentleness +and attention, alike to small and great, which, with his high spirit +and good nature, his very sweet voice and pleasant smile, made him a +peculiarly winning and engaging person; and few who saw him could help +being interested in him. + +No wonder he had become in the eyes of the Edmonstones almost a part of +their family. Mrs. Edmonstone had assumed a motherly control over him, +to which he submitted with a sort of affectionate gratitude. + +One day Philip remarked, that he never saw any one so restless as +Guy, who could neither talk nor listen without playing with something. +Scissors, pencil, paper-knife, or anything that came in his way, was +sure to be twisted or tormented; or if nothing else was at hand, he +opened and shut his own knife so as to put all the spectators in fear +for his fingers. + +'Yes,' said Laura, 'I saw how it tortured your eyebrows all the time you +were translating Schiller to us. I wondered you were not put out.' + +'I consider that to be put out--by which you mean to have the intellect +at the mercy of another's folly--is beneath a reasonable creature,' +said Philip; 'but that I was annoyed, I do not deny. It is a token of a +restless, ill-regulated mind.' + +'Restless, perhaps,' said Mrs. Edmonstone 'but not necessarily +ill-regulated. I should think it rather a sign that he had no one to +tell him of the tricks which mothers generally nip in the bud.' + +'I was going to say that I think he fidgets less,' said Laura; 'but I +think his chief contortions of the scissors have been when Philip has +been here.' + +'They have, I believe,' said her mother, I was thinking of giving him a +hint.' + +'Well, aunt, you are a tamer of savage beasts if you venture on such a +subject,' said Philip. + +'Do you dare me?' she asked, smiling. + +'Why, I don't suppose he would do more than give you one of his +lightning glances: but that, I think, is more than you desire.' + +'Considerably,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'for his sake as much as my own.' + +'But,' said Laura, 'mamma has nearly cured him of pawing like a horse in +the hall when he is kept waiting. He said he knew it was impatience, +and begged her to tell him how to cure it. So she treated him as an old +fairy might, and advised him in a grave, mysterious way, always to go +and play the "Harmonious Blacksmith," when he found himself getting +into "a taking", just as if it was a charm. And he always does it most +dutifully.' + +'It has a very good effect,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'for it is apt to act +as a summons to the other party, as well as a sedative to him.' + +'I must say I am curious to see what you will devise this time,' said +Philip; 'since you can't set him to play on the piano; and very few can +bear to be told of a trick of the kind.' + +In the course of that evening, Philip caused the great atlas to be +brought out in order to make investigations on the local habitation of +a certain Khan of Kipchack, who existed somewhere in the dark ages. Then +he came to Marco Polo, and Sir John Mandeville; and Guy, who knew both +the books in the library at Redclyffe, grew very eager in talking them +over, and tracing their adventures--then to the Genoese merchants, where +Guy confessed himself perfectly ignorant. Andrea Doria was the only +Genoese he ever heard of; but he hunted out with great interest all the +localities of their numerous settlements. Then came modern Italy, and +its fallen palaces; then the contrast between the republican merchant +and aristocratic lord of the soil; then the corn laws; and then, and not +till then, did Philip glance at his aunt, to show her Guy balancing a +Venetian weight on as few of his fingers as could support it. + +'Guy,' said she, smiling, 'does that unfortunate glass inspire you with +any arguments in favour of the Venetians?' + +Guy put it down at once, and Philip proceeded to improved methods of +farming, to enable landlords to meet the exigencies of the times. Guy +had got hold of Mr. Edmonstone's spectacle-case, and was putting its +spring to a hard trial. Mrs. Edmonstone doubted whether to interfere +again; she knew this was not the sort of thing that tried his temper, +yet she particularly disliked playing him off, as it were for Philip's +amusement, and quite as much letting him go on, and lower himself in her +nephew's estimation. The spectacle-case settled the matter--a crack was +heard, it refused to snap at all; and Guy, much discomfited, made many +apologies. + +Amy laughed; Philip was much too well-bred to do anything but curl his +lip unconsciously. Mrs. Edmonstone waited till he was gone, then, when +she was wishing Guy 'good-night' at Charles's door, she said,-- + +'The spectacle-case forestalled me in giving you a lecture on sparing +our nerves. Don't look so very full of compunction--it is only a trick +which your mother would have stopped at five years old, and which you +can soon stop for yourself.' + +'Thank you, I will!' said Guy; 'I hardly knew I did it, but I am very +sorry it has teased you.' + +Thenceforward it was curious to see how he put down and pushed away all +he had once begun to touch and torture. Mrs. Edmonstone said it was +self command in no common degree; and Philip allowed that to cure so +inveterate a habit required considerable strength of will. + +'However,' he said, 'I always gave the Morvilles credit for an iron +resolution. Yes, Amy, you may laugh; but if a man is not resolute in a +little, he will never be resolute in great matters.' + +'And Guy has been resolute the right way this time,' said Laura. + +'May he always be the same,' said Philip. + +Philip had undertaken, on his way back to Broadstone, to conduct +Charlotte to East-hill, where she was to spend the day with a little +niece of Mary Ross. She presently came down, her bonnet-strings tied +in a most resolute-looking bow, and her little figure drawn up so as to +look as womanly is possible for her first walk alone with Philip. She +wished the party at home 'goodbye;' and as Amy and Laura stood watching +her, they could not help laughing to see her tripping feet striving to +keep step, her blue veil discreetly composed and her little head turned +up, as if she was trying hard to be on equal terms with the tall cousin, +who meanwhile looked graciously down from his height, patronising her +like a very small child. After some space, Amy began to wonder what +they could talk about, or whether they would talk at all; but Laura said +there was no fear of Charlotte's tongue ever being still, and Charles +rejoined,-- + +'Don't you know that Philip considers it due to himself that his +audience should never be without conversation suited to their capacity?' + +'Nonsense, Charlie!' + +'Nay, I give him credit for doing it as well as it is in nature of +things for it to be done. The strongest proof I know of his being a +superior man, is the way he adapts himself to his company. He lays down +the law to us, because he knows we are all born to be his admirers; he +calls Thorndale his dear fellow and conducts him like a Mentor; but +you may observe how different he is with other people--Mr. Ross, for +instance. It is not showing off; it is just what the pattern hero should +be with the pattern clergyman. At a dinner party he is quite in his +place; contents himself with leaving an impression on his neighbour that +Mr. Morville is at home on every subject; and that he is the right thing +with his brother officers is sufficiently proved, since not even Maurice +either hates or quizzes him.' + +'Well, Charlie,' said Laura, well pleased, I am glad you are convinced +at last.' + +'Do you think I ever wanted to be convinced that we were created for +no other end than to applaud Philip? I was fulfilling the object of our +existence by enlarging on a remark of Guy's, that nothing struck him +more than the way in which Philip could adapt his conversation to the +hearers. So the hint was not lost on me; and I came to the conclusion +that it was a far greater proof of his sense than all the maxims he +lavishes on us.' + +'I wonder Guy was the person to make the remark,' said Laura; 'for it is +strange that those two never appear to the best advantage together.' + +'Oh, Laura, that would be the very reason,' said Amy. + +'The very reason?' said Charles. Draw out your meaning, Miss.' + +'Yes,' said Amy, colouring, 'If Guy--if a generous person, I mean--were +vexed with another sometimes, it would be the very reason he would make +the most of all his goodness.' + +'Heigh-ho!' yawned Charles. What o'clock is it? I wonder when Guy is +ever coming back from that Lascelles.' + +'Your wonder need not last long,' said Laura; 'for I see him riding into +the stable yard.' + +In a few minutes he had entered; and, on being asked if he had met +Philip and Charlotte, and how they were getting on, he replied,--'A good +deal like the print of Dignity and Impudence,' at the same time throwing +back his shoulders, and composing his countenance to imitate Philip's +lofty deportment and sedate expression, and the next moment putting his +head on one side with a sharp little nod, and giving a certain espiegle +glance of the eye, and knowing twist of one corner of the mouth, just +like Charlotte. + +'By the by,' added he, 'would Philip have been a clergyman if he had +gone to Oxford?' + +'I don't know; I don't think it was settled,' said Laura, 'Why?' + +'I could never fancy him one' said Guy. 'He would not have been what +he is now if he had gone to Oxford,' said Charles. 'He would have lived +with men of the same powers and pursuits with himself, and have found +his level.' + +'And that would have been a very high one,' said Guy. + +'It would; but there would be all the difference there is between a +feudal prince and an Eastern despot. He would know what it is to live +with his match.' + +'But you don't attempt to call him conceited!' cried Guy, with a sort of +consternation. + +'He is far above that; far too grand,' said Amy. + +'I should as soon think of calling Jupiter conceited,' said Charles; and +Laura did not know how far to be gratified, or otherwise. + +Charles had not over-estimated Philip's readiness of self adaptation. +Charlotte had been very happy with him, talking over the "Lady of the +Lake", which she had just read, and being enlightened, partly to +her satisfaction, partly to her disappointment, as to how much was +historical. He listened good-naturedly to a fit of rapture, and threw in +a few, not too many, discreet words of guidance to the true principles +of taste; and next told her about an island, in a pond at Stylehurst, +which had been by turns Ellen's isle and Robinson Crusoe's. It was at +this point in the conversation that Guy came in sight, riding slowly, +his reins on his horse's neck, whistling a slow, melancholy tune, his +eyes fixed on the sky, and so lost in musings, that he did not perceive +them till Philip arrested him by calling out, 'That is a very bad plan. +No horse is to be trusted in that way, especially such a spirited one.' + +Guy started, and gathered up his reins, owning it was foolish. + +'You look only half disenchanted yet,' said Philip. 'Has Lascelles put +you into what my father's old gardener used to call a stud?' + +'Nothing so worthy of a stud,' said Guy, smiling and colouring a little. +'I was only dreaming over a picture of ruin-- + + + 'The steed is vanish'd from the stall, + No serf is seen in Hassan's hall, + The lonely spider's thin grey pall + Waves, slowly widening o'er the wall.' + + +'Byron!' exclaimed Philip. 'I hope you are not dwelling on him?' + +'Only a volume I found in my room.' + +'Oh, the "Giaour"!' said Philip. 'Well, there is no great damage done; +but it is bad food for excitable minds. Don't let it get hold of you.' + +'Very well;' and there was a cloud, but it cleared in a moment, and, +with a few gay words to both, he rode off at a quick pace. + +'Foolish fellow!' muttered Philip, looking after him. + +After some space of silence, Charlotte began in a very grave tone-- + +'Philip.' + +'Well?' + +'Philip.' + +Another 'Well!' and another long pause. + +'Philip, I don't know whether you'll be angry with me.' + +'Certainly not,' said Philip, marvelling at what was coming. + +'Guy says he does not want to keep up the feud, and I wish you would +not.' + +'What do you mean?' + +'The deadly feud!' said Charlotte. + +'What nonsense is this?' said Philip. + +'Surely--Oh Philip, there always was a deadly feud between our +ancestors, and the Redclyffe Morvilles, and it was very wrong, and ought +not to be kept up now.' + +'It is not I that keep it up.' + +'Is it not?' said Charlotte. 'But I am sure you don't like Guy. And I +can't think why not, unless it is the deadly feud, for we are all so +fond of him. Laura says it is a different house since he came.' + +'Hum!' said Philip. 'Charlotte, you did well to make me promise not to +be angry with you, by which, I presume, you mean displeased. I should +like to know what put this notion into your head.' + +'Charlie told me,' almost whispered Charlotte, hanging down her head. +'And--and--' + +'And what? I can't hear.' + +Charlotte was a good deal frightened; but either from firmness, or from +the female propensity to have the last word, or it might be the spirit +of mischief, she got out--'You have made me quite sure of it yourself.' + +She was so alarmed at having said this, that had it not been +undignified, she would have run quite away, and never stopped till +she came to East-hill. Matters were not mended when Philip said +authoritatively, and as if he was not in the least bit annoyed (which +was the more vexatious), 'What do you mean, Charlotte?' + +She had a great mind to cry, by way of getting out of the scrape; but +having begun as a counsellor and peacemaker, it would never do to be +babyish; and on his repeating the question, she said, in a tone which +she could not prevent from being lachrymose, 'You make Guy almost angry, +you tease him, and when people praise him, you answer as if it would not +last! And it is very unfair of you,' concluded she, with almost a sob. + +'Charlotte,' replied Philip, much more kindly than she thought she +deserved, after the reproach that seemed to her so dreadfully naughty, +'you may dismiss all fear of deadly feud, whatever you may mean by it. +Charles has been playing tricks on you. You know, my little cousin, that +I am a Christian, and we live in the nineteenth century.' + +Charlotte felt as if annihilated at the aspect of her own folly. He +resumed--'You misunderstood me. I do think Guy very agreeable. He is +very attentive to Charles, very kind to you, and so attractive, that I +don't wonder you like him. But those who are older than you see that he +has faults, and we wish to set him on his guard against them. It may be +painful to ourselves, and irritating to him, but depend upon it, it is +the proof of friendship. Are you satisfied, my little cousin?' + +She could only say humbly, 'I beg your pardon.' + +'You need not ask pardon. Since you had the notion, it was right to +speak, as it was to me, one of your own family. When you are older, you +need never fear to speak out in the right place. I am glad you have +so much of the right sort of feminine courage, though in this case you +might have ventured to trust to me.' + +So ended Charlotte's anxieties respecting the deadly feud, and she had +now to make up her mind to the loss of her playfellow, who was to go to +Oxford at Easter, when he would be just eighteen, his birthday being the +28th of March. Both her playmates were going, Bustle as well as Guy, and +it was at first proposed that Deloraine should go too, but Guy bethought +himself that Oxford would be a place of temptation for William; and not +choosing to trust the horse to any one else, resolved to leave both at +Hollywell. + +His grandfather had left an allowance for Guy, until his coming of age, +such as might leave no room for extravagance, and which even Philip +pronounced to be hardly sufficient for a young man in his position. 'You +know,' said Mr. Edmonstone, in his hesitating, good-natured way, 'if +ever you have occasion sometimes for a little--a little more--you need +only apply to me. Don't be afraid, anything rather than run into debt. +You know me, and 'tis your own.' + +'This shall do,' said Guy, in the same tone as he had fixed his hours of +study. + +Each of the family made Guy a birthday present, as an outfit for Oxford; +Mr. Edmonstone gave him a set of studs, Mrs. Edmonstone a Christian +Year, Amabel copied some of his favourite songs, Laura made a drawing +of Sintram, Charlotte worked a kettle-holder, with what was called by +courtesy a likeness of Bustle. Charles gave nothing, professing that he +would do nothing to encourage his departure. + +'You don't know what a bore it is to lose the one bit of quicksilver in +the house!' said he, yawning. 'I shall only drag on my existence till +you come back.' + +'You, Charles, the maker of fun!' said Guy, amazed. + +'It is a case of flint and steel,' said Charles; 'but be it owing to who +it will, we have been alive since you came here. You have taken care +to be remembered. We have been studying you, or laughing at you, or +wondering what absurdity was to come next.' + +'I am very sorry--that is, if you are serious. I hoped at least I +appeared like other people.' + +'I'll tell you what you appear like. Just what I would be if I was a +free man.' + +'Never say that, Charlie!' + +'Nay, wait a bit. I would never be so foolish. I would never give my +sunny mornings to Euripides; I would not let the best hunter in the +county go when I had wherewithal to pay for him.' + +'You would not have such an ill-conditioned self to keep in rule.' + +'After all,' continued Charles, yawning, 'it is no great compliment to +say I am sorry you are going. If you were an Ethiopian serenader, you +would be a loss to me. It is something to see anything beyond this old +drawing-room, and the same faces doing the same things every day. Laura +poking over her drawing, and meditating upon the last entry in Philip's +memorandum-book, and Amy at her flowers or some nonsense or other, +and Charlotte and the elders all the same, and a lot of stupid people +dropping in and a lot of stupid books to read, all just alike. I can +tell what they are like without looking in!' Charles yawned again, +sighed, and moved wearily. 'Now, there came some life and freshness with +you. You talk of Redclyffe, and your brute creation there, not like +a book, and still less like a commonplace man; you are innocent and +unsophisticated, and take new points of view; you are something to +interest oneself about; your coming in is something to look forward +to; you make the singing not such mere milk-and-water, your reading the +Praelectiones is an additional landmark to time; besides the mutton of +to-day succeeding the beef of yesterday. Heigh-ho! I'll tell you what, +Guy. Though I may carry it off with a high hand, 'tis no joke to be +a helpless log all the best years of a man's life,--nay, for my whole +life,--for at the very best of the contingencies the doctors are always +flattering me with, I should make but a wretched crippling affair of it. +And if that is the best hope they give me, you may guess it is likely to +be a pretty deal worse. Hope? I've been hoping these ten years, and much +good has it done me. I say, Guy,' he proceeded, in a tone of extreme +bitterness, though with a sort of smile, 'the only wonder is that I +don't hate the very sight of you! There are times when I feel as if I +could bite some men,--that Tomfool Maurice de Courcy, for instance, when +I hear him rattling on, and think--' + +'I know I have often talked thoughtlessly, I have feared afterwards I +might have given you pain.' + +'No, no, you never have; you have carried me along with you. I like +nothing better than to hear of your ridings, and shootings, and +boatings. It is a sort of life.' + +Charles had never till now alluded seriously to his infirmity before +Guy, and the changing countenance of his auditor showed him to be +much affected, as he stood leaning over the end of the sofa, with his +speaking eyes earnestly fixed on Charles, who went on: + +'And now you are going to Oxford. You will take your place among the men +of your day. You will hear and be heard of. You will be somebody. And +I!--I know I have what they call talent--I could be something. They +think me an idle dog; but where's the good of doing anything? I only +know if I was not--not condemned to--to this--this life,' (had it not +been for a sort of involuntary respect to the gentle compassion of the +softened hazel eyes regarding him so kindly, he would have used the +violent expletive that trembled on his lip;) 'if I was not chained down +here, Master Philip should not stand alone as the paragon of the family. +I've as much mother wit as he.' + +'That you have,' said Guy. 'How fast you see the sense of a passage. You +could excel very much if you only tried.' + +'Tried?' And what am I to gain by it?' + +'I don't know that one ought to let talents rust,' said Guy, +thoughtfully; 'I suppose it is one's duty not; and surely it is a pity +to give up those readings.' + +'I shall not get such another fellow dunce as you,' said Charles, 'as I +told you when we began, and it would be a mere farce to do it alone. I +could not make myself, if I would.' + +'Can't you make yourself do what you please?' said Guy, as if it was the +simplest thing in the world. + +'Not a bit, if the other half of me does not like it. I forget it, or +put it off, and it comes to nothing. I do declare, though, I would get +something to break my mind on, merely as a medical precaution, just to +freshen myself up, if I could find any one to do it with. No, nothing in +the shape of a tutor, against that I protest.' + +'Your sisters,' suggested Guy. + +'Hum'! Laura is too intellectual already, and I don't mean to poach on +Philip's manor; and if I made little Amy cease to be silly, I should do +away with all the comfort I have left me in life. I don't know, though, +if she swallowed learning after Mary Ross's pattern, that it need do her +much harm.' + +Amy came into the room at the moment. 'Amy, here is Guy advising me to +take you to read something awfully wise every day, something that will +make you as dry as a stick, and as blue--' + +'As a gentianella,' said Guy. + +'I should not mind being like a gentianella,' said Amy. 'But what +dreadful thing were you setting him to do?' + +'To make you read all the folios in my uncle's old library,' said +Charles. 'All that Margaret has in keeping against Philip has a house of +his own.' + +'Sancho somebody, and all you talked of when first you came?' said Amy. + +'We were talking of the hour's reading that Charlie and I have had +together lately,' said Guy. + +'I was thinking how Charlie would miss that hour,' said Amy; 'and we +shall be very sorry not to have you to listen to.' + +'Well, then, Amy, suppose you read with me?' + +'Oh, Charlie, thank you! Should you really like it?' cried Amy, +colouring with delight. 'I have always thought it would be so very +delightful if you would read with me, as James Ross used with Mary, only +I was afraid of tiring you with my stupidity. Oh, thank you!' + +So it was settled, and Charles declared that he put himself on honour to +give a good account of their doings to Guy, that being the only way of +making himself steady to his resolution; but he was perfectly determined +not to let Philip know anything about the practice he had adopted, +since he would by no means allow him to guess that he was following his +advice. + +Charles had certainly grown very fond of Guy, in spite of his propensity +to admire Philip, satisfying himself by maintaining that, after all, Guy +only tried to esteem his cousin because he thought it a point of duty, +just as children think it right to admire the good boy in a story book; +but that he was secretly fretted and chafed by his perfection. No one +could deny that there were often occasions when little misunderstandings +would arise, and that, but for Philip's coolness and Guy's readiness to +apologise they might often have gone further; but at the same time no +one could regret these things more than Guy himself, and he was willing +and desirous to seek Philip's advice and assistance when needed. In +especial, he listened earnestly to the counsel which was bestowed on him +about Oxford: and Mrs. Edmonstone was convinced that no one could have +more anxiety to do right and avoid temptation. She had many talks +with him in her dressing-room, promising to write to him, as did also +Charles; and he left Hollywell with universal regrets, most loudly +expressed by Charlotte, who would not be comforted without a lock of +Bustle's hair, which she would have worn round her neck if she had not +been afraid that Laura would tell Philip. + +'He goes with excellent intentions,' said Philip, as they watched him +from the door. + +'I do hope he will do well,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'I wish he may,' said Philip; 'the agreeableness of his whole character +makes one more anxious. It is very dangerous. His name, his wealth, his +sociable, gay disposition, that very attractive manner, all are so many +perils, and he has not that natural pleasure in study that would be of +itself a preservative from temptation. However, he is honestly anxious +to do right, and has excellent principles. I only fear his temper and +his want of steadiness. Poor boy, I hope he may do well!' + + + + + +CHAPTER 7 + + --Pray, good shepherd, what + Fair swain is this that dances with your daughter? + * * * * * + He sings several times faster than you'll tell money; + he utters them as he had eaten ballads, and all men's + ears grow to his tunes. + --WINTER'S TALE + + +It was a glorious day in June, the sky of pure deep dazzling blue, the +sunshine glowing with brightness, but with cheerful freshness in the +air that took away all sultriness, the sun tending westward in his +long day's career, and casting welcome shadows from the tall firs and +horse-chestnuts that shaded the lawn. A long rank of haymakers--men +and women--proceeded with their rakes, the white shirt-sleeves, straw +bonnets, and ruddy faces, radiant in the bath of sunshine, while in the +shady end of the field were idler haymakers among the fragrant piles, +Charles half lying on the grass, with his back against a tall haycock; +Mrs. Edmonstone sitting on another, book in hand; Laura sketching the +busy scene, the sun glancing through the chequered shade on her glossy +curls; Philip stretched out at full length, hat and neck-tie off, +luxuriating in the cool repose after a dusty walk from Broadstone; and a +little way off, Amabel and Charlotte pretending to make hay, but really +building nests with it, throwing it at each other, and playing as +heartily as the heat would allow. + +They talked and laughed, the rest were too hot, too busy, or too sleepy +for conversation, even Philip being tired into enjoying the "dolce far +niente"; and they basked in the fresh breezy heat and perfumy hay with +only now and then a word, till a cold, black, damp nose was suddenly +thrust into Charles's face, a red tongue began licking him; and at the +same moment Charlotte, screaming 'There he is!' raced headlong across +the swarths of hay, to meet Guy, who had just ridden into the field. +He threw Deloraine's rein to one of the haymakers, and came bounding to +meet her, just in time to pick her up as she put her foot into a hidden +hole, and fell prostrate. + +In another moment he was in the midst of the whole party, who crowded +round and welcomed him as if he had been a boy returning from his +first half-year's schooling; and never did little school-boy look more +holiday-like than he, with all the sunshine of that June day reflected, +as it were, in his glittering eyes and glowing face, while Bustle +escaping from Charles's caressing arm, danced round, wagging his tail +in ecstasy, and claiming his share of the welcome. Then Guy was on +the ground by Charles, rejoicing to find him out there, and then, some +dropping into their former nests on the hay, some standing round, they +talked fast and eagerly in a confusion of sound that did not subside for +the first ten minutes so as to allow anything to be clearly heard. The +first distinct sentence was Charlotte's 'Bustle, darling old fellow, you +are handsomer than ever!' + +'What a delicious day!' next exclaimed Guy, following Philip's example, +by throwing off hat and neck-tie. + +'A spontaneous tribute to the beauty of the day,' said Charles. + +'Really it is so ultra-splendid as to deserve notice!' said Philip, +throwing himself completely back, and looking up. + +'One cannot help revelling in that deep blue!' said Laura. + +'Tomorrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad new year,' hummed Guy. + +'Ah you will teach us all now,' said Laura, 'after your grand singing +lessons.' + +'Do you know what is in store for you, Guy?' said Amy. 'Oh! haven't you +heard about Lady Kilcoran's ball?' + +'You are to go, Guy,' said Charlotte. 'I am glad I am not. I hate +dancing.' + +'And I know as much about it as Bustle,' said Guy, catching the dog by +his forepaws, and causing him to perform an uncouth dance. + +'Never mind, they will soon teach you,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Must I really go?' + +'He begins to think it serious,' said Charles. + +'Is Philip going?' exclaimed Guy, looking as if he was taken by +surprise. + +'He is going to say something about dancing being a healthful recreation +for young people,' said Charles. + +'You'll be disappointed,' said Philip. 'It is much too hot to moralize.' + +'Apollo unbends his bow,' exclaimed Charles. 'The captain yields the +field.' + +'Ah! Captain Morville, I ought to have congratulated you,' said Guy. 'I +must come to Broadstone early enough to see you on parade.' + +'Come to Broadstone! You aren't still bound to Mr. Lascelles,' said +Charles. + +'If he has time for me,' said Guy. 'I am too far behind the rest of the +world to afford to be idle this vacation.' + +'That's right, Guy,' exclaimed Philip, sitting up, and looking full of +approval. 'With so much perseverance, you must get on at last. How did +you do in collections?' + +'Tolerably, thank you.' + +'You must be able to enter into the thing now,' proceeded Philip. 'What +are you reading?' + +'Thucydides.' + +'Have you come to Pericles' oration? I must show you some notes that I +have on that. Don't you get into the spirit of it now?' + +'Up-hill work still,' answered Guy, disentangling some cinders from the +silky curls of Bustle's ear. + +'Which do you like best--that or the ball?' asked Charles. + +'The hay-field best of all,' said Guy, releasing Bustle, and blinding +him with a heap of hay. + +'Of course!' said Charlotte, 'who would not like hay-making better than +that stupid ball?' + +'Poor Charlotte!' said Mrs. Edmonstone; commiseration which irritated +Charlotte into standing up and protesting, + +'Mamma, you know I don't want to go.' + +'No more do I, Charlotte,' said her brother, in a mock consoling tone. +'You and I know what is good for us, and despise sublunary vanities.' + +'But you will go, Guy,' said Laura; 'Philip is really going.' + +'In spite of Lord Kilcoran's folly in going to such an expense as either +taking Allonby or giving the ball,' said Charles. + +'I don't think it is my business to bring Lord Kilcoran to a sense of +his folly,' said Philip. 'I made all my protests to Maurice when first +he started the notion, but if his father chose to take the matter up, it +is no concern of mine.' + +'You will understand, Guy,' said Charles, 'that this ball is specially +got up by Maurice for Laura's benefit.' + +'Believe as little as you please of that speech, Guy,' said Laura; 'the +truth is that Lord Kilcoran is very good-natured, and Eveleen was very +much shocked to hear that Amy had never been to any ball, and I to only +one, and so it ended in their giving one.' + +'When is it to be?' + +'On Thursday week,' said Amy. 'I wonder if you will think Eveleen as +pretty as we do!' + +'She is Laura's great friend, is not she?' + +'I like her very much; I have known her all my life, and she has much +more depth than those would think who only know her manner.' And Laura +looked pleadingly at Philip as she spoke. + +'Are there any others of the family at home?' said Guy. + +'The two younger girls, Mabel and Helen, and the little boys,' said Amy. +'Lord de Courcy is in Ireland, and all the others are away.' + +'Lord de Courcy is the wisest man of the family, and sets his face +against absenteeism,' said Philip, 'so he is never visible here.' + +'But you aren't going to despise it, I hope, Guy,' said Amy, earnestly; +'it will be so delightful! And what fun we shall have in teaching you to +dance!' + +Guy stretched himself, and gave a quaint grunt. + +'Never mind, Guy,' said Philip, 'very little is required. You may easily +pass in the crowd. I never learnt.' + +'Your ear will guide you,' said Laura. + +'And no one can stay at home, since Mary Ross is going,' said Amy. +'Eveleen was always so fond of her, that she came and forced a promise +from her by telling her she should come with mamma, and have no +trouble.' + +'You have not seen Allonby,' said Laura. 'There are such Vandykes, and +among them, such a King Charles!' + +'Is not that the picture,' said Charles, 'before which Amy--' + +'O don't, Charlie!' + +'Was found dissolved in tears?' + +'I could not help it,' murmured Amy, blushing crimson. + +'There is all Charles's fate in his face,' said Philip,--'earnest, +melancholy, beautiful! It would stir the feelings--were it an unknown +portrait. No, Amy, you need not be ashamed of your tears.' + +But Amy turned away, doubly ashamed. + +'I hope it is not in the ball-room,' said Guy. + +'No said Laura, 'it is in the library.' + +Charlotte, whose absence had become perceptible from the general +quietness, here ran up with two envelopes, which she put into Guy's +hands. One contained Lady Kilcoran's genuine card of invitation for Sir +Guy Morville, the other Charlotte had scribbled in haste for Mr. Bustle. + +This put an end to all rationality. Guy rose with a growl and a roar, +and hunted her over half the field, till she was caught, and came back +out of breath and screaming, 'We never had such a haymaking!' + +'So I think the haymakers will say!' answered her mother, rising to go +indoors. 'What ruin of haycocks!' + +'Oh, I'll set all that to rights,' said Guy, seizing a hay-fork. + +'Stop, stop, take care!' cried Charles. 'I don't want to be built up in +the rick, and by and by, when my disconsolate family have had all the +ponds dragged for me, Deloraine will be heard to complain that they give +him very odd animal food.' + +'Who could resist such a piteous appeal!' said Guy, helping him to rise, +and conducting him to his wheeled chair. The others followed, and when, +shortly after, Laura looked out at her window, she saw Guy, with his +coat off, toiling like a real haymaker, to build up the cocks in all +their neat fairness and height, whistling meantime the 'Queen of the +May,' and now and then singing a line. She watched the old cowman come +up, touching his hat, and looking less cross than usual; she saw Guy's +ready greeting, and perceived they were comparing the forks and rakes, +the pooks and cocks of their counties; and, finally, she beheld her +father ride into the field, and Guy spring to meet him. + +No one could have so returned to what was in effect a home, unless his +time had been properly spent; and, in fact, all that Mr. Edmonstone or +Philip could hear of him, was so satisfactory, that Philip pronounced +that the first stage of the trial had been passed irreproachably, and +Laura felt and looked delighted at this sanction to the high estimation +in which she held him. + +His own account of himself to Mrs. Edmonstone would not have been +equally satisfactory if she had not had something else to check it with. +It was given by degrees, and at many different times, chiefly as they +walked round the garden in the twilight of the summer evenings, talking +over the many subjects mentioned in the letters which had passed +constantly. It seemed as if there were very few to whom Guy would ever +give his confidence; but that once bestowed, it was with hardly any +reserve, and that was his great relief and satisfaction to pour out his +whole mind, where he was sure of sympathy. + +To her, then, he confided how much provoked he was with himself, his +'first term,' he said, 'having only shown him what an intolerable fool +he had to keep in order.' By his account, he could do nothing 'without +turning his own head, except study, and that stupefied it.' 'Never was +there a more idle fellow; he could work himself for a given time, but +his sense would not second him; and was it not most absurd in him to +take so little pleasure in what was his duty, and enjoy only what was +bad for him?' + +He had tried boating, but it had distracted him from his work; so he had +been obliged to give it up, and had done so in a hasty vehement manner, +which had caused offence, and for which he blamed himself. It had +been the same with other things, till he had left himself no regular +recreation but walking and music. 'The last,' he said, 'might engross +him in the same way; but he thought (here he hesitated a little) there +were higher ends for music, which made it come under Mrs. Edmonstone's +rule, of a thing to be used guardedly, not disused.' He had resumed +light reading, too, which he had nearly discontinued before he went to +Oxford. 'One wants something,' he said, 'by way of refreshment, where +there is no sea nor rock to look at, and no Laura and Amy to talk to.' + +He had made one friend, a scholar of his own college, of the name of +Wellwood. This name had been his attraction; Guy was bent on friendship +with him; if, as he tried to make him out to be, he was the son of that +Captain Wellwood whose death had weighed so heavily on his grandfather's +conscience, feeling almost as if it were his duty to ask forgiveness in +his grandfather's name, yet scarcely knowing how to venture on advances +to one to whom his name had such associations. However, they had +gradually drawn together, and at length entered on the subject, and Guy +then found he was the nephew, not the son of Captain Wellwood; indeed, +his former belief was founded on a miscalculation, as the duel had +taken place twenty-eight years ago. He now heard all his grandfather had +wished to know of the family. There were two unmarried daughters, and +their cousin spoke in the highest terms of their self-devoted life, +promising what Guy much wished, that they should hear what deep +repentance had followed the crime which had made them fatherless. He was +to be a clergyman, and Guy admired him extremely, saying, however, that +he was so shy and retiring, it was hard to know him well. + +From not having been at school, and from other causes, Guy had made few +acquaintance; indeed, he amused Mrs. Edmonstone by fearing he had been +morose. She was ready to tell him he was an ingenious self-tormentor; +but she saw that the struggle to do right was the main spring of +the happiness that beamed round him, in spite of his self-reproach, +heart-felt as it was. She doubted whether persons more contented with +themselves were as truly joyous, and was convinced that, while thus +combating lesser temptations, the very shadow of what are generally +alone considered as real temptations would hardly come near him. + +If it had not been for these talks, and now and then a thoughtful look, +she would have believed him one of the most light-hearted and merriest +of beings. He was more full of glee and high spirits than she had ever +seen him; he seemed to fill the whole house with mirth, and keep every +one alive by his fun and frolic, as blithe and untiring as Maurice de +Courcy himself, though not so wild. + +Very pleasant were those summer days--reading, walking, music, +gardening. Did not they all work like very labourers at the new arbour +in the midst of the laurels, where Charles might sit and see the spires +of Broadstone? Work they did, indeed! Charles looking on from his +wheeled chair, laughing to see Guy sawing as if for his living and Amy +hammering gallantly, and Laura weaving osiers, and Charlotte flying +about with messages. + +One day, they were startled by an exclamation from Charles. 'Ah, ha! +Paddy, is that you?' and beheld the tall figure of a girl, advancing +with a rapid, springing step, holding up her riding habit with one hand, +with the other whisking her coral-handled whip. There was something +distinguished in her air, and her features, though less fine than +Laura's, were very pretty, by the help of laughing dark blue eyes, and +very black hair, under her broad hat and little waving feather. She +threatened Charles with her whip, calling out--'Aunt Edmonstone said I +should find you here. What is the fun now?' + +'Arbour building,' said Charles; 'don't you see the head carpenter!' + +'Sir Guy?' whispered she to Laura, looking up at him, where he was +mounted on the roof, thatching it with reed, the sunshine full on his +glowing face and white shirt sleeves. + +'Here!' said Charles, as Guy swung himself down with a bound, his face +much redder than sun and work had already made it, 'here's another wild +Irisher for you.' + +'Sir Guy Morville--Lady Eveleen de Courcy,' began Laura; but Lady +Eveleen cut her short, frankly holding out her hand, and saying, 'You +are almost a cousin, you know. Oh, don't leave off. Do give me something +to do. That hammer, Amy, pray--Laura, don't you remember how dearly I +always loved hammering?' + +'How did you come?' said Laura. + +'With papa--'tis his visit to Sir Guy. 'No, don't go,' as Guy began to +look for his coat; 'he is only impending. He is gone on to Broadstone, +but he dropped me here, and will pick me up on his way back. Can't you +give me something to do on the top of that ladder? I should like it +mightily; it looks so cool and airy.' + +'How can you, Eva?' whispered Laura, reprovingly; but Lady Eveleen only +shook her head at her, and declaring she saw a dangerous nail sticking +out, began to hammer it in with such good will, that Charles stopped his +ears, and told her it was worse than her tongue. 'Go on about the ball, +do.' + +'Oh,' said she earnestly, 'do you think there is any hope of Captain +Morville's coming?' + +'Oh yes,' said Laura. + +'I am so glad! That is what papa is gone to Broadstone about. Maurice +said he had given him such a lecture, that he would not be the one to +think of asking him, and papa must do it himself; for if he sets his +face against it, it will spoil it all.' + +'You may make your mind easy,' said Charles, 'the captain is lenient, +and looks on the ball as a mere development of Irish nature. He has been +consoling Guy on the difficulties of dancing.' + +'Can't you dance?' said Lady Eveleen, looking at him with compassion. + +'Such is my melancholy ignorance,' said Guy. + +'We have been talking of teaching him,' said Laura. + +'Talk! will that do it?' cried Lady Eveleen, springing up. 'We will +begin this moment. Come out on the lawn. Here, Charles,' wheeling him +along, 'No, thank you, I like it,' as Guy was going to help her. 'There, +Charles, be fiddler go on, tum-tum, tee! that'll do. Amy, Laura, be +ladies. I'm the other gentleman,' and she stuck on her hat in military +style, giving it a cock. She actually set them quadrilling in spite of +adverse circumstances, dancing better, in her habit, than most people +without one, till Lord Kilcoran arrived. + +While he was making his visit, she walked a little apart, arm-in-arm +with Laura. 'I like him very much,' she said; 'he looks up to anything. +I had heard so much of his steadiness, that it is a great relief to my +mind to see him so unlike his cousin.' + +'Eveleen!' + +'No disparagement to the captain, only I am so dreadfully afraid of him. +I am sure he thinks me such an unmitigated goose. Now, doesn't he?' + +'If you would but take the right way to make him think otherwise, dear +Eva, and show the sense you really have.' + +'That is just what my fear of him won't let me do. I would not for the +world let him guess it, so there is nothing for it but sauciness to +cover one's weakness. I can't be sensible with those that won't give +me credit for it. But you'll mind and teach Sir Guy to dance; he has so +much spring in him, he deserves to be an Irishman.' + +In compliance with this injunction, there used to be a clearance +every evening; Charles turned into the bay window out of the way, Mrs. +Edmonstone at the piano, and the rest figuring away, the partnerless +one, called 'puss in the corner', being generally Amabel, while +Charlotte, disdaining them all the time, used to try to make them +imitate her dancing-master's graces, causing her father to perform such +caricatures of them, as to overpower all with laughing. + +Mr. Edmonstone was half Irish. His mother, Lady Mabel Edmonstone, had +never thoroughly taken root in England, and on his marriage, had gone +with her daughter to live near her old home in Ireland. The present Earl +of Kilcoran was her nephew, and a very close intercourse had always been +kept up between the families, Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone being adopted by +their younger cousins as uncle and aunt, and always so called. + +The house at Allonby was in such confusion, that the family there +expected to dine nowhere on the day of the ball, and the Hollywell party +thought it prudent to secure their dinner at home, with Philip and Mary +Ross, who were to go with them. + +By special desire, Philip wore his uniform; and while the sisters were +dressing Charlotte gave him a thorough examination, which led to a talk +between him and Mary on accoutrements and weapons in general; but while +deep in some points of chivalrous armour, Mary's waist was pinched +by two mischievous hands, and a little fluttering white figure danced +around her. + +'O Amy! what do you want with me?' + +'Come and be trimmed up,' said Amy. + +'I thought you told me I was to have no trouble. I am dressed,' said +Mary, looking complacently at her full folds of white muslin. + +'No more you shall; but you promised to do as you were told.' And Amy +fluttered away with her. + +'Do you remember,' said Philip, 'the comparison of Rose Flammock +dragging off her father, to a little carved cherub trying to uplift a +solid monumental hero?' + +'O, I must tell Mary!' cried Charlotte; but Philip stopped her, with +orders not to be a silly child. + +'It is a pity Amy should not have her share,' said Charles. + +'The comparison to a Dutch cherub?' asked Guy. + +'She is more after the pattern of the little things on little wings, in +your blotting-book,' said Charles; 'certain lines in the predicament of +the cherubs of painters--heads "et proeterea nihil".' + +'O Guy, do you write verses? cried Charlotte. + +'Some nonsense,' muttered Guy, out of countenance; 'I thought I had made +away with that rubbish; where is it?' + +'In the blotting-book in my room,' said Charles. 'I must explain that +the book is my property, and was put into your room when mamma was +beautifying it for you, as new and strange company. On its return to me, +at your departure, I discovered a great accession of blots and sailing +vessels, beside the aforesaid little things.' + +'I shall resume my own property,' said Guy, departing in haste. + +Charlotte ran after him, to beg for a sight of it; and Philip asked +Charles what it was like. + +'A romantic incident,' said Charles, 'just fit for a novel. A Petrarch +leaving his poems about in blotting-books.' + +Charles used the word Petrarch to stand for a poet, not thinking what +lady's name he suggested; and he was surprised at the severity of +Philip's tone as he inquired, 'Do you mean anything, or do you not?' + +Perceiving with delight that he had perplexed and teased, he rejoiced in +keeping up the mystery: + +'Eh? is it a tender subject with you, too?' + +Philip rose, and standing over him, said, in a low but impressive tone: + +'I cannot tell whether you are trifling or not; but you are no boy now, +and can surely see that this is no subject to be played with. If you are +concealing anything you have discovered, you have a great deal to answer +for. I can hardly imagine anything more unfortunate than that he should +become attached to either of your sisters.' + +'Et pourquoi?' asked Charles, coolly. + +'I see,' said Philip, retreating to his chair, and speaking with great +composure, 'I did you injustice by speaking seriously.' Then, as his +uncle came into the room, he asked some indifferent question, without +betraying a shade of annoyance. + +Charles meanwhile congratulated himself on his valour in keeping his +counsel, in spite of so tall a man in scarlet; but he was much nettled +at the last speech, for if a real attachment to his sister had been +in question, he would never have trifled about it. Keenly alive to his +cousin's injustice, he rejoiced in having provoked and mystified the +impassable, though he little knew the storm he had raised beneath that +serene exterior of perfect self-command. + +The carriages were announced, and Mr. Edmonstone began to call the +ladies, adding tenfold to the confusion in the dressing-room. There was +Laura being completed by the lady's maid, Amabel embellishing Mary, Mrs. +Edmonstone with her arm loaded with shawls, Charlotte flourishing about. +Poor Mary--it was much against her will--but she had no heart to refuse +the wreath of geraniums that Amy's own hands had woven for her; and +there she sat, passive as a doll, though in despair at their all waiting +for her. For Laura's toilette was finished, and every one began dressing +her at once; while Charlotte, to make it better, screamed over the +balusters that all were ready but Mary. Sir Guy was heard playing the +'Harmonious Blacksmith,' and Captain Morville's step was heard, fast and +firm. At last, when a long chain was put round her neck, she cried out, +'I have submitted to everything so far; I can bear no more!' jumped +up, caught hold of her shawl, and was putting it on, when there was a +general outcry that they must exhibit themselves to Charles. + +They all ran down, and Amy, flying up to her brother, made a splendid +sweeping curtsey, and twirled round in a pirouette. + +'Got up, regardless of expense!' cried Charles; 'display yourselves.' + +The young ladies ranged themselves in imitation of the book of fashions. +The sisters were in white, with wreaths of starry jessamine. It was +particularly becoming to Laura's bella-donna lily complexion, rich brown +curls, and classical features, and her brother exclaimed: + +'Laura is exactly like Apollo playing the lyre, outside mamma's old +manuscript book of music.' + +'Has not Amy made beautiful wreaths?' said Laura. 'She stripped the +tree, and Guy had to fetch the ladder, to gather the sprays on the top +of the wall.' + +'Do you see your bit of myrtle, Guy,' said Amy, pointing to it, on +Laura's head, 'that you tried to persuade me would pass for jessamine?' + +'Ah! it should have been all myrtle,' said Guy. + +Philip leant meantime against the door. Laura only once glanced towards +him, thinking all this too trifling for him, and never imagining the +intense interest with which he gave a meaning to each word and look. + +'Well done, Mary!' cried Charles, 'they have furbished you up +handsomely.' + +Mary made a face, and said she should wonder who was the fashionable +young lady she should meet in the pier-glasses at Allonby. Then Mr. +Edmonstone hurried them away, and they arrived in due time. + +The saloon at Allonby was a beautiful room, one end opening into a +conservatory, full of coloured lamps, fresh green leaves, and hot-house +plants. There they found as yet only the home party, the good-natured, +merry Lord Kilcoran, his quiet English wife, who had bad health, and +looked hardly equal to the confusion of the evening; Maurice, and two +younger boys; Eveleen, and her two little sisters, Mabel and Helen. + +'This makes it hard on Charlotte,' thought Amy, while the two girls +dragged her off to show her the lamps in the conservatory; and the rest +attacked Mrs. Edmonstone for not having brought Charlotte, reproaching +her with hardness of heart of which they had never believed her +capable--Lady Eveleen, in especial, talking with that exaggeration of +her ordinary manner which her dread of Captain Morville made her assume. +Little he recked of her; he was absorbed in observing how far Laura's +conduct coincided with Charles's hints. On the first opportunity, he +asked her to dance, and was satisfied with her pleased acquiescence; +but the next moment Guy came up, and in an eager manner made the same +request. + +'I am engaged,' said she, with a bright, proud glance at Philip; and Guy +pursued Amabel into the conservatory, where he met with better success. +Mr. Edmonstone gallantly asked Mary if he was too old a partner, and was +soon dancing with the step and spring that had once made him the best +dancer in the county. + +Mrs. Edmonstone watched her flock, proud and pleased, thinking how well +they looked and that, in especial, she had never been sensible how much +Laura's and Philip's good looks excelled the rest of the world. They +were much alike in the remarkable symmetry both of figure and feature, +the colour of the deep blue eye, and fairness of complexion. + +'It is curious,' thought Mrs. Edmonstone, 'that, so very handsome as +Philip is, it is never the first thing remarked about him, just as his +height never is observed till he is compared with other people. The fact +is, that his superior sense carries off a degree of beauty which +would be a misfortune to most men. It is that sedate expression and +distinguished air that make the impression. How happy Laura looks, how +gracefully she moves. No, it is not being foolish to think no one equal +to Laura. My other pair!' and she smiled much more; 'you happy young +things, I would not wish to see anything pleasanter than your merry +faces. Little Amy looks almost as pretty as Laura, now she is lighted +up by blush and smile, and her dancing is very nice, it is just like her +laughing, so quiet, and yet so full of glee. I don't think she is less +graceful than her sister, but the complete enjoyment strikes one more. +And as to enjoyment--there are those bright eyes of her partner's +perfectly sparkling with delight; he looks as if it was a world of +enchantment to him. Never had any one a greater capacity for happiness +than Guy.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone might well retain her opinion when, after the quadrille, +Guy came to tell her that he had never seen anything so delightful; and +he entertained Mary Ross with his fresh, joyous pleasure, through the +next dance. + +'Laura,' whispered Eveleen, 'I've one ambition. Do you guess it? Don't +tell him; but if he would, I should have a better opinion of myself ever +after. I'm afraid he'll depreciate me to his friend; and really with Mr. +Thorndale, I was no more foolish than a ball requires.' + +Lady Eveleen hoped in vain. Captain Morville danced with little Lady +Helen, a child of eleven, who was enchanted at having so tall a partner; +then, after standing still for some time, chose his cousin Amabel. + +'You are a good partner and neighbour,' said he, giving her his arm, +'you don't want young lady talk.' + +'Should you not have asked Mary? She has been sitting down this long +time.' + +'Do you think she cares for such a sport as dancing?' + +Amy made no answer. + +'You have been well off. You were dancing with Thorndale just now.' + +'Yes. It was refreshing to have an old acquaintance among so many +strangers. And he is so delighted with Eveleen; but what is more, +Philip, that Mr. Vernon, who is dancing with Laura, told Maurice he +thought her the prettiest and most elegant person here.' + +'Laura might have higher praise,' said Philip, 'for hers is beauty of +countenance even more than of feature. If only--' + +'If?' said Amy. + +'Look round, Amy, and you will see many a face which speaks of intellect +wasted, or, if cultivated, turned aside from its true purpose, like the +double blossom, which bears leaves alone.' + +'Ah! you forget you are talking to silly little Amy. I can't see all +that. I had rather think people as happy and good as they look.' + +'Keep your child-like temper as long as you can--all your life,' +perhaps, for this is one of the points where it is folly to be wise.' + +'Then you only meant things in general? Nothing about Laura?' + +'Things in general,' repeated Philip; 'bright promises blighted or +thrown away--' + +But he spoke absently, and his eye was following Laura. Amy thought he +was thinking of his sister, and was sorry for him. He spoke no more, but +she did not regret it, for she could not moralize in such a scene, and +the sight and the dancing were pleasure enough. + +Guy, in the meantime, had met an Oxford acquaintance, who introduced him +to his sisters--pretty girls--whose father Mr. Edmonstone knew, but +who was rather out of the Hollywell visiting distance. They fell into +conversation quickly, and the Miss Alstons asked him with some interest, +'Which was the pretty Miss Edmonstone?' Guy looked for the sisters, as +if to make up his mind, for the fact was, that when he first knew Laura +and Amy, the idea of criticising beauty had not entered his mind, and +to compare them was quite a new notion. 'Nay,' said he at last, 'if you +cannot discover for yourselves when they are both before your eyes, I +will do nothing so invidious as to say which is _the_ pretty one. I'll +tell which is the eldest and which the youngest, but the rest you must +decide for yourself.' + +'I should like to know them,' said Miss Alston. 'Oh! they are both very +nice-looking girls.' + +'There, that is Laura--Miss Edmonstone,' said Guy, 'that tall young +lady, with the beautiful hair and jessamine wreath.' + +He spoke as if he was proud of her, and had a property in her. The tone +did not escape Philip, who at that moment was close to them, with Amy +on his arm; and, knowing the Alstons slightly, stopped and spoke, and +introduced his cousin, Miss Amabel Edmonstone. At the same time Guy took +one of the Miss Alstons away to get some tea. + +'So you knew my cousin at Oxford?' said Philip, to the brother. + +'Yes, slightly. What an amusing fellow he is!' + +'There is something very bright, very unlike other people about him,' +said Miss Alston. + +'How does he get on? Is he liked?' + +'Why, yes, I should say so, on the whole; but it is rather as my sister +says, he is not like other people.' + +'In what respect?' + +'Oh I can hardly tell. He is a very pleasant person, but he ought to +have been at school. He is a man of crotchets.' + +'Hard-working?' + +'Very; he makes everything give way to that. He is a capital companion +when he is to be had, but he lives very much to himself. He is a man of +one friend, and I don't see much of him.' + +Another dance began, Mr. Alston went to look for his partner, Philip and +Amy moved on in search of ice. 'Hum!' said Philip to himself, causing +Amy to gaze up at him, but he was musing too intently for her to venture +on a remark. She was thinking that she did not wonder that strangers +deemed Guy crotchety, since he was so difficult to understand; and then +she considered whether to take him to see King Charles, in the library, +and concluded that she would wait, for she felt as if the martyr king's +face would look on her too gravely to suit her present tone. + +Philip helped her to ice, and brought her back to her mother's +neighbourhood without many more words. He then stood thoughtful for some +time, entered into conversation with one of the elder gentlemen, and, +when that was interrupted, turned to talk to his aunt. + +Lady Eveleen and her two cousins were for a moment together. 'What is +the matter, Eva?' said Amy, seeing a sort of dissatisfaction on her +bright face. + +'The roc's egg?' said Laura, smiling. 'The queen of the evening can't be +content--' + +'No; you are the queen, if the one thing can make you so--the one thing +wanting to me.' + +'How absurd you are, Eva--when you say you are so afraid of him, too.' + +'That is the very reason. I should get a better opinion of myself! +Besides, there is nobody else so handsome. I declare I'll make a bold +attempt.' + +'Oh! you don't think of such a thing,' cried Laura, very much shocked. + +'Never fear,' said Eveleen, 'faint heart, you know.' And with a nod, a +flourish, of her bouquet, and an arch smile at her cousin's horror, +she moved on, and presently they heard her exclaiming, gaily, 'Captain +Morville, I really must scold you. You are setting a shocking example +of laziness! Aunt Edmonstone, how can you encourage such proceedings! +Indolence is the parent of vice, you know.' + +Philip smiled just as much as the occasion required, and answered, 'I +beg your pardon, I had forgotten my duty. I'll attend to my business +better in future.' And turning to a small, shy damsel, who seldom met +with a partner, he asked her to dance. Eveleen came back to Laura with +a droll disappointed gesture. 'Insult to injury,' said she, +disconsolately. + +'Of course,' said Amy, 'he could not have thought you wanted to dance +with him, or you would not have gone to stir him up.' + +'Well, then, he was very obtuse.' + +'Besides, you are engaged.' + +'O yes, to Mr. Thorndale! But who would be content with the squire when +the knight disdains her?' + +Mr. Thorndale came to claim Eveleen at that moment. It was the second +time she had danced with him, and it did not pass unobserved by Philip, +nor the long walk up and down after the dance was over. At length his +friend came up to him and said something warm in admiration of her. +'She is very Irish,' was Philip's answer, with a cold smile, and Mr. +Thorndale stood uncomfortable under the disapprobation, attracted by +Eveleen's beauty and grace, yet so unused to trust his own judgment +apart from 'Morville's,' as to be in an instant doubtful whether he +really admired or not. + +'You have not been dancing with her?' he said, presently. + +'No: she attracts too many to need the attention of a nobody like +myself.' + +That 'too many,' seeming to confound him with the vulgar herd, made Mr. +Thorndale heartily ashamed of having been pleased with her. + +Philip was easy about him for the present, satisfied that admiration had +been checked, which, if it had been allowed to grow into an attachment, +would have been very undesirable. + +The suspicions Charles had excited were so full in Philip's mind, +however, that he could not as easily set it at rest respecting his +cousin. Guy had three times asked her to dance, but each time she had +been engaged. At last, just as the clock struck the hour at which the +carriage had been ordered, he came up, and impetuously claimed her. 'One +quadrille we must have, Laura, if you are not tired?' + +'No! Oh, no! I could dance till this time to-morrow.' + +'We ought to be going,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'O pray, Mrs. Edmonstone, this one more,' cried Guy, eagerly. 'Laura +owes me this one.' + +'Yes, this one more, mamma,' said Laura, and they went off together, +while Philip remained, in a reverie, till requested by his aunt to see +if the carriage was ready. + +The dance was over, the carriage was waiting, but Guy and Laura did not +appear till, after two or three minutes spent in wonder and inquiries, +they came quietly walking back from the library, where they had been +looking at King Charles. + +All the way home the four ladies in the carriage never ceased laughing +and talking. The three gentlemen in theirs acted diversely. Mr. +Edmonstone went to sleep, Philip sat in silent thought, Guy whistled +and hummed the tunes, and moved his foot very much as if he was still +dancing. + +They met for a moment, and parted again in the hall at Hollywell, where +the daylight was striving to get in through the closed shutters. Philip +went on to Broadstone, Guy said he could not go to bed by daylight, +called Bustle, and went to the river to bathe, and the rest crept +upstairs to their rooms. And so ended Lord Kilcoran's ball. + + + + +CHAPTER 8 + + Like Alexander, I will reign, + And I will reign alone, + My thoughts shall ever more disdain + A rival near my throne. + But I must rule and govern still, + And always give the law, + And have each subject at my will, + And all to stand in awe. + --MONTROSE. + + +One very hot afternoon, shortly after the ball, Captain Morville walked +to Hollywell, accelerating his pace under the influence of anxious +reflections. + +He could not determine whether Charles had spoken in jest; but in spite +of Guy's extreme youth, he feared there was ground for the suspicion +excited by the hint, and was persuaded that such an attachment could +produce nothing but unhappiness to his cousin, considering how little +confidence could be placed in Guy. He perceived that there was much to +inspire affection--attractive qualities, amiable disposition, the talent +for music, and now this recently discovered power of versifying, all +were in Guy's favour, besides the ancient name and long ancestry, which +conferred a romantic interest, and caused even Philip to look up to him +with a feudal feeling as head of the family. There was also the familiar +intercourse to increase the danger; and Philip, as he reflected on these +things, trembled for Laura, and felt himself her only protector; for his +uncle was nobody, Mrs. Edmonstone was infatuated, and Charles would not +listen to reason. To make everything worse, he had that morning +heard that there was to be a grand inspection of the regiment, and a +presentation of colours; Colonel Deane was very anxious; and it was +plain that in the interval the officers would be allowed little +leisure. The whole affair was to end with a ball, which would lead to a +repetition of what had already disturbed him. + +Thus meditating, Philip, heated and dusty, walked into the smooth green +enclosure of Hollywell. Everything, save the dancing clouds of +insect youth which whirled in his face, was drooping in the heat. The +house--every door and window opened--seemed gasping for breath; the +cows sought refuge in the shade; the pony drooped its head drowsily; the +leaves hung wearily; the flowers were faint and thirsty; and Bustle was +stretched on the stone steps, mouth open, tongue out, only his tail now +and then moving, till he put back his ears and crested his head to greet +the arrival. Philip heard the sounds that had caused the motion of the +sympathizing tail--the rich tones of Guy's voice. Stepping over the dog, +he entered, and heard more clearly-- + + 'Two loving hearts may sever, + For sorrow fails them never.' + +And then another voice-- + + 'Who knows not love in sorrow's night, + He knows not love in light.' + +In the drawing-room, cool and comfortable in the green shade of the +Venetian blinds of the bay window, stood Laura, leaning on the piano, +close to Guy, who sat on the music-stool, looking thoroughly at home in +his brown shooting-coat, and loosely-tied handkerchief. + +Any one but Philip would have been out of temper, but he shook hands +as cordially as usual, and would not even be the first to remark on the +heat. + +Laura told him he looked hot and tired, and invited him to come out to +the others, and cool himself on the lawn. She went for her parasol, Guy +ran for her camp stool, and Philip, going to the piano, read what they +had been singing. The lines were in Laura's writing, corrected, here and +there, in Guy's hand. + + BE STEADFAST. + + Two loving hearts may sever, + Yet love shall fail them never. + Love brightest beams in sorrow's night, + Love is of life the light. + + Two loving hearts may sever, + Yet hope shall fail them never. + Hope is a star in sorrow's night, + Forget-me-not of light. + + Two loving hearts may sever, + Yet faith may fail them never. + Trust on through sorrow's night, + Faith is of love and hope the light. + + Two loving hearts may sever, + For sorrow fails them never. + Who knows not love in sorrow's night, + He knows not love in light. + +Philip was by no means pleased. However, it was in anything but a +sentimental manner that Guy, looking over him, said, 'For sever, read, +be separated, but "a" wouldn't rhyme.' + +'I translated it into prose, and Guy made it verse,' said Laura; 'I hope +you approve of our performance.' + +'It is that thing of Helmine von Chezy, "Beharre", is it not?' said +Philip, particularly civil, because he was so much annoyed. 'You have +rendered the spirit very well', but you have sacrificed a good deal to +your double rhymes.' + +'Yes; those last lines are not troubled with any equality of feet,' said +Guy; 'but the repetition is half the beauty. It put me in mind of those +lines of Burns-- + + + "Had we never loved so kindly, + Had we never loved so blindly, + Never met and never parted, + We had ne'er been broken hearted;" + +but there is a trust in these that is more touching than that despair.' + +'Yes; the despair is ready, to wish the love had never been,' said +Laura. 'It does not see the star of trust. Why did you use that word +"trust" only once, Guy?' + +'I did not want to lose the three--faith, hope, love,--faith keeping the +other two alive.' + +'My doubt was whether it was right to have that analogy.' + +'Surely,' said Guy, eagerly, 'that analogy must be the best part of +earthly love.' + +Here Charlotte came to see if Guy and Laura meant to sing all the +afternoon; and they went out. They found the others in the arbour, +and Charlotte's histories of its construction, gave Philip little +satisfaction. They next proceeded to talk over the ball. + +'Ah!' said Philip, 'balls are the fashion just now. What do you say, +Amy, [he was more inclined to patronize her than any one else] to the +gaieties we are going to provide for you?' + +'You! Are you going to have your new colours? Oh! you are not going to +give us a ball?' + +'Well! that is fun!' cried Guy. 'What glory Maurice de Courcy must be +in!' + +'He is gone to Allonby,' said Philip, 'to announce it; saying, he must +persuade his father to put off their going to Brighton. Do you think he +will succeed?' + +'Hardly,' said Laura; 'poor Lady Kilcoran was so knocked up by their +ball, that she is the more in want of sea air. Oh, mamma, Eva must come +and stay here.' + +'That she must,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'that will make it easy. She is +the only one who will care about the ball.' + +Philip was obliged to conceal his vexation, and to answer the many eager +questions about the arrangements. He stayed to dinner, and as the others +went in-doors to dress, he lingered near Charlotte, assuming, with some +difficulty, an air of indifference, and said--'Well, Charlotte, did you +tease Guy into showing you those verses?' + +'Oh yes,' said Charlotte, with what the French call "un air capable".' + +'Well, what were they?' + +'That I mustn't tell. They were very pretty; but I've promised.' + +'Promised what?' + +'Never to say anything about them. He made it a condition with me, and I +assure you, I am to be trusted.' + +'Right,' said Philip; 'I'll ask no more.' + +'It would be of no use,' said Charlotte, shaking her head, as if she +wished he would prove her further. + +Philip was in hopes of being able to speak to Laura after dinner, +but his uncle wanted him to come and look over the plans of an estate +adjoining Redclyffe, which there was some idea of purchasing. Such an +employment would in general have been congenial; but on this occasion, +it was only by a strong force that he could chain his attention, for +Guy was pacing the terrace with Laura and Amabel, and as they passed and +repassed the window, he now and then caught sounds of repeating poetry. + +In this Guy excelled. He did not read aloud well; he was too rapid, and +eyes and thoughts were apt to travel still faster than the lips, thus +producing a confusion; but no one could recite better when a passage had +taken strong hold of his imagination, and he gave it the full effect +of the modulations of his fine voice, conveying in its inflections the +impressions which stirred him profoundly. He was just now enchanted +with his first reading of 'Thalaba,' where he found all manner of deep +meanings, to which the sisters listened with wonder and delight. He +repeated, in a low, awful, thrilling tone, that made Amy shudder, the +lines in the seventh book, ending with-- + + "Who comes from the bridal chamber! + It is Azrael, angel of death."' + +'You have not been so taken up with any book since Sintram.' said Laura. + +'It is like Sintram,' he replied. + +'Like it?' + +'So it seems to me. A strife with the powers of darkness; the victory, +forgiveness, resignation, death. + + "Thou know'st the secret wishes of my heart, + Do with me as thou wilt, thy will is best."' + +'I wish you would not speak as if you were Thalaba yourself,' said Amy, +'you bring the whole Domdaniel round us.' + +'I am afraid he is going to believe himself Thalaba as well as Sintram,' +said Laura. 'But you know Southey did not see all this himself, and did +not understand it when it was pointed out.' + +'Don't tell us that,' said Amy. + +'Nay; I think there is something striking in it,' said Guy then, with a +sudden transition, 'but is not this ball famous?' + +And their talk was of balls and reviews till nine o'clock, when they +were summoned to tea. + +On the whole, Philip returned to Broadstone by no means comforted. + +Never had he known so much difficulty in attending with patience to his +duties as in the course of the next fortnight. They became a greater +durance, as he at length looked his feelings full in the face, and +became aware of their true nature. + +He perceived that the loss of Laura would darken his whole existence; +yet he thought that, were he only secure of her happiness, he could have +resigned her in silence. Guy was, however, one of the last men in the +world whom he could bear to see in possession of her; and probably +she was allowing herself to be entangled, if not in heart, at least in +manner. If so, she should not be unwarned. He had been her guide from +childhood, and he would not fail her now. + +Three days before the review, he succeeded in finding time for a walk to +Hollywell, not fully decided on the part he should act, though resolved +on making some remonstrance. He was crossing a stile, about a mile and a +half from Hollywell, when he saw a lady sitting on the stump of a tree, +sketching, and found that fate had been so propitious as to send Laura +thither alone. The rest had gone to gather mushrooms on a down, and had +left her sketching the view of the spires of Broadstone, in the cleft +between the high green hills. She was very glad to see him, and held up +her purple and olive washes to be criticised; but he did not pay much +attention to them. He was almost confused at the sudden manner in which +the opportunity for speaking had presented itself. + +'It is a long time since I have seen you,' said he, at last. + +'An unheard-of time.' + +'Still longer since we have had any conversation.' + +'I was just thinking so. Not since that hot hay-making, when Guy came +home. Indeed, we have had so much amusement lately that I have hardly +had time for thought. Guy says we are all growing dissipated.' + +'Ah! your German, and dancing, and music, do not agree with thought.' + +'Poor music!' said Laura, smiling. 'But I am ready for a lecture; I have +been feeling more like a butterfly than I like.' + +'I know you think me unjust about music, and I freely confess that I +cannot estimate the pleasure it affords, but I doubt whether it is a +safe pleasure. It forms common ground for persons who would otherwise +have little in common, and leads to intimacies which occasion results +never looked for.' + +'Yes,' said Laura, receiving it as a general maxim. + +'Laura, you complain of feeling like a butterfly. Is not that a sign +that you were made for better things?' + +'But what can I do? I try to read early and at night, but I can't +prevent the fun and gaiety; and, indeed, I don't think I would. It is +innocent, and we never had such a pleasant summer. Charlie is so--so +much more equable, and mamma is more easy about him, and I can't help +thinking it does them all good, though I do feel idle.' + +'It is innocent, it is right for a little while,' said Philip; 'but your +dissatisfaction proves that you are superior to such things. Laura, what +I fear is, that this summer holiday may entangle you, and so fix your +fate as to render your life no holiday. O Laura take care; know what you +are doing!' + +'What am I doing?' asked Laura, with an alarmed look of ingenuous +surprise. + +Never had it been so hard to maintain his composure as now, when her +simplicity forced him to come to plainer terms. 'I must speak,' he +continued, 'because no one else will. Have you reflected whither this +may tend? This music, this versifying, this admitting a stranger so +unreservedly into your pursuits?' + +She understood now, and hung her head. He would have given worlds to +judge of the face hidden by her bonnet; but as she did not reply, +he spoke on, his agitation becoming so strong, that the struggle was +perceptible in the forced calmness of his tone. 'I would not say a word +if he were worthy, but Laura--Laura, I have seen Locksley Hall acted +once; do not let me see it again in a way which--which would give me +infinitely more pain.' + +The faltering of his voice, so resolutely subdued, touched, her +extremely, and a thrill of exquisite pleasure glanced through her, on +hearing confirmed what she had long felt, that she had taken Margaret's +place--nay, as she now learnt, that she was even more precious to him. +She only thought of reassuring him. + +'No, you need never fear _that_. He has no such thought, I am sure.' +She blushed deeply, but looked in his face. 'He treats us both alike, +besides, he is so young.' + +'The mischief is not done,' said Philip, trying to resume his usual +tone; 'I only meant to speak in time. You might let your manner go too +far; you might even allow your affections to be involved without knowing +it, if you were not on your guard.' + +'Never!' said Laura. 'Oh, no; I could never dream of that with Guy. I +like Guy very much; I think better of him than you do; but oh no; he +could never be my first and best; I could never care for him in _that_ +way. How could you think so, Philip?' + +'Laura, I cannot but look on you with what may seem over-solicitude. +Since I lost Fanny, and worse than lost Margaret, you have been my +home; my first, my most precious interest. O Laura!' and he did not even +attempt to conceal the trembling and tenderness of his voice, 'could I +bear to lose you, to see you thrown away or changed--you, dearest, best +of all?' + +Laura did not turn away her head this time, but raising her beautiful +face, glowing with such a look as had never beamed there before, while +tears rose to her eyes, she said, 'Don't speak of my changing towards +you. I never could; for if there is anything to care for in me, it is +you that have taught it to me.' + +If ever face plainly told another that he was her first and best, +Laura's did so now. Away went misgivings, and he looked at her in +happiness too great for speech, at least, he could not speak till he +had mastered his emotion, but his countenance was sufficient reply. Even +then, in the midst of this flood of ecstasy, came the thought, 'What +have I done?' + +He had gone further than he had ever intended. It was a positive avowal +of love; and what would ensue? Cessation of intercourse with her, +endless vexations, the displeasure of her family, loss of influence, +contempt, and from Mr. Edmonstone, for the pretensions of a penniless +soldier. His joy was too great to be damped, but it was rendered +cautious. 'Laura, my own!' (what delight the words gave her,) 'you have +made me very happy. We know each other now, and trust each other for +ever.' + +'O yes, yes; nothing can alter what has grown up with us.' + +'It is for ever!' repeated Philip. 'But, Laura, let us be content with +our own knowledge of what we are to each other. Do not let us call in +others to see our happiness.' + +Laura looked surprised, for she always considered any communication +about his private feelings too sacred to be repeated, and wondered he +should think the injunction necessary. 'I never can bear to talk about +the best kinds of happiness,' said she; 'but oh!' and she sprang up, +'here they come.' + +Poor Mrs. Edmonstone, as she walked back from her mushroom-field, she +little guessed that words had been spoken which would give the colouring +to her daughter's whole life--she little guessed that her much-loved and +esteemed nephew had betrayed her confidence! As she and the girls came +up, Philip advanced to meet them, that Laura might have a few moments to +recover, while with an effort he kept himself from appearing absent in +the conversation that ensued. It was brief, for having answered some +questions with regard to the doings on the important day, he said, that +since he had met them he would not come on to Hollywell, and bade them +farewell, giving Laura a pressure of the hand which renewed the glow on +her face. + +He walked back, trying to look through the dazzling haze of joy so as +to see his situation clearly. It was impossible for him not to perceive +that there had been an absolute declaration of affection, and that he +had established a private understanding with his cousin. It was not, +however, an engagement, nor did he at present desire to make it so. +It was impossible for him as yet to marry, and he was content to wait +without a promise, since that could not add to his entire reliance on +Laura. He could not bear to be rejected by her parents: he knew his +poverty would be the sole ground of objection, and he was not asking her +to share it. He believed sincerely that a long, lingering attachment to +himself would be more for her good than a marriage with one who would +have been a high prize for worldly aims, and was satisfied that by +winning her heart he had taken the only sure means of securing her from +becoming attached to Guy, while secrecy was the only way of preserving +his intercourse with her on the same footing, and exerting his influence +over the family. + +It was calmly reflected, for Philip's love was tranquil, though deep and +steady, and the rather sought to preserve Laura as she was than to +make her anything more; and this very calmness contributed to his +self-deception on this first occasion that he had ever actually swerved +from the path of right. + +With an uncomfortable sensation, he met Guy riding home from his tutor, +entirely unsuspicious. He stopped and talked of the preparations at +Broadstone, where he had been over the ground with Maurice de Courcy, +and had heard the band. + +'What did you think of it? said Philip, absently. + +'They _should_ keep better time! Really, Philip, there is one fellow +with a bugle that ought to be flogged every day of his life!' said Guy, +making a droll, excruciated face. + +How a few words can change the whole current of ideas. The band was +connected with Philip, therefore he could not bear to hear it found +fault with, and adduced some one's opinion that the man in question was +one of the best of their musicians. + +Guy could not help shrugging his shoulders, as he laughed, and +said,--'Then I shall be obliged to take to my heels if I meet the rest. +Good-bye.' + +'How conceited they have made that boy about his fine ear,' thought +Philip. 'I wonder he is not ashamed to parade his music, considering +whence it is derived.' + + + + +CHAPTER 9 + + Ah! county Guy, the hour is nigh, + The sun has left the lea, + The orange flower perfumes the bower, + The breeze is on the sea. + The lark, his lay, who thrilled all day, + Sits hushed, his partner nigh, + Breeze, bird, and flower, confess the hour, + But where is county Guy? + --SCOTT + + +How was it meantime with Laura? The others were laughing and talking +round her, but all seemed lost in the transcendent beam that had shone +out on her. To be told by Philip that she was all to him that he had +always been to her! This one idea pervaded her--too glorious, too happy +for utterance, almost for distinct thought. The softening of his voice, +and the look with which he had regarded her, recurred again and again, +startling her with a sudden surprise of joy almost as at the first +moment. Of the future Laura thought not. Never had a promise of love +been made with less knowledge of what it amounted to: it seemed merely +an expression of sentiments that she had never been without; for had she +not always looked up to Philip more than any other living creature, +and gloried in being his favourite cousin? Ever since the time when +he explained to her the plates in the Encyclopaedia, and made her read +'Joyce's Scientific Dialogues,' when Amy took fright at the first page. +That this might lead further did not occur to her; she was eighteen, +she had no experience, not even in novels, she did not know what she +had done; and above all, she had so leant to surrender her opinions +to Philip, and to believe him always right, that she would never have +dreamt of questioning wherever he might choose to lead her. Even the +caution of secrecy did not alarm her, though she wondered that he +thought it required, safe as his confidence always was with her. Mrs. +Edmonstone had been so much occupied by Charles's illness, as to have +been unable to attend to her daughters in their girlish days; and in +the governess's time the habit had been disused of flying at once to her +with every joy or grief. Laura's thoughts were not easy of access, and +Philip had long been all in all to her. She was too ignorant of life to +perceive that it was her duty to make this conversation known; or, more +truly, she did not awaken her mind to consider that anything could be +wrong that Philip desired. + +On coming home, she ran up to her own room, and sitting by the open +window, gave herself up to that delicious dream of new-found joy. + +There she still sat when Amy came in, opening the door softly, and +treading lightly and airily as she entered, bringing two or three roses +of different tints. + +'Laura! not begun to dress?' + +'Is it time?' + +'Shall I answer you according to what Philip calls my note of time, and +tell you the pimpernels are closed, and the tigridias dropping their +leaves? It would be a proper answer for you; you look as if you were in +Fairy Land.' + +'Is papa come home?' + +'Long ago! and Guy too. Why, where could you have been, not to have +heard Guy and Eveleen singing the Irish melodies?' + +'In a trance,' said Laura, starting up, and laughing, with a slight +degree of constraint, which caused Amy, who was helping her to dress, to +exclaim, 'Has anything happened, Laura?' + +'What should have happened?' + +'I can't guess, unless the fairies in the great ring on Ashendown came +to visit you when we were gone. But seriously, dear Laura, are you sure +you are not tired? Is nothing the matter?' + +'Nothing at all, thank you. I was only thinking over the talk I had with +Philip.' + +'Oh!' + +Amy never thought of entering into Philip's talks with Laura, and was +perfectly satisfied. + +By this time Laura was herself again, come back to common life, and +resolved to watch over her intercourse with Guy; since, though she was +convinced that all was safe at present, she had Philip's word for it +that there might be danger in continuing the pleasant freedom of their +behaviour. + +Nothing could be more reassuring than Guy's demeanour. His head seemed +entirely full of the Thursday, and of a plan of his own for enabling +Charles to go to the review. It had darted into his head while he was +going over the ground with Maurice. It was so long since Charles had +thought it possible to attempt any amusement away from home, and former +experiments had been so unsuccessful, that it had never even occurred +to him to think of it; but he caught at the idea with great delight and +eagerness. Mrs. Edmonstone seemed not to know what to say; she had much +rather that it had not been proposed; yet it was very kind of Guy, and +Charles was so anxious about it that she knew not how to oppose him. + +She could not bear to have Charles in a crowd, helpless as he was; and +she had an unpleasing remembrance of the last occasion when they had +taken him to a flower-show, where they had lost, first Mr. Edmonstone, +next the carriage, and lastly, Amy and Charlotte--all had been +frightened, and Charles laid up for three days from the fatigue. + +Answers, however, met each objection. Charles was much stronger; Guy's +arm would be ready for him; Guy would find the carriage. Philip would +be there to help, besides Maurice; and whenever Charles was tired, Guy +would take him home at once, without spoiling any one's pleasure. + +'Except your own,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'Thank you; but this would be so delightful.' + +'Ah!' said Charles, 'it would be as great a triumph as the dog's that +caught the hare with the clog round his neck--the dog's, I mean.' + +'If you will but trust me with him,' said Guy, turning on her all the +pleading eloquence of his eyes, 'you know he can get in and out of the +pony-carriage quite easily.' + +'As well as walk across the room,' said Charles. + +'I would drive him in it, and tell William to ride in and be at hand to +hold the pony or take it out; and the tent is so near, that you could +get to the breakfast, unless the review had been enough for you. I +paced the distance to make sure, and it is no further than from the +garden-door to the cherry-tree.' + +'That is nothing,' said Charles. + +'And William shall be in waiting to bring the pony the instant you are +ready, and we can go home independently of every one else.' + +'I thought,' interposed Mrs. Edmonstone, 'that you were to go to the +mess-dinner--what is to become of that?' + +'O,' said Charles, 'that will be simply a bore, and he may rejoice to be +excused from going the whole hog.' + +'To be sure, I had rather dine in peace at home.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was not happy, but she had great confidence in Guy; and +her only real scruple was, that she did not think it fair to occupy him +entirely with attendance on her son. She referred it to papa, which, as +every one knew, was the same as yielding the point, and consoled herself +by the certainty that to prevent it would be a great disappointment to +both the youths. Laura was convinced that to achieve the adventure of +Charles at the review, was at present at least a matter of far more +prominence with Guy than anything relating to herself. + +All but Laura and her mother were wild about the weather, especially +on Wednesday, when there was an attempt at a thunder storm. Nothing was +studied but the sky; and the conversation consisted of prognostications, +reports of rises and falls of the glass, of the way weather-cocks were +turning, or about to turn, of swallows flying high or low, red sunsets, +and halos round the moon, until at last Guy, bursting into a merry +laugh, begged Mrs. Edmonstone's pardon for being such a nuisance, and +made a vow, and kept it, that be the weather what it might, he would say +not another word about it that evening; it deserved to be neglected, for +he had not been able to settle to anything all day. + +He might have said for many days before; for since the last ball, and +still more since Lady Eveleen had been at Hollywell, it had been one +round of merriment and amusement. Scrambling walks, tea-drinkings out +of doors, dances among themselves, or with the addition of the Harpers, +were the order of the day. Amy, Eveleen, and Guy, could hardly come into +the room without dancing, and the piano was said to acknowledge nothing +but waltzes, polkas, and now and then an Irish jig, for the special +benefit of Mr. Edmonstone's ears. The morning was almost as much spent +in mirth as the afternoon, for the dawdlings after breakfast, and before +luncheon, had a great tendency to spread out and meet, there was new +music and singing to be practised, or preparations made for evening's +diversion, or councils to be held, which Laura's absence could not break +up, though it often made Amy feel how much less idle and frivolous Laura +was than herself. Eveleen said the same, but she was visiting, and +it was a time to be idle; and Mr. Lascelles seemed to be of the same +opinion with regard to his pupil; for, when Guy was vexed at not having +done as much work as usual, he only laughed at him for expecting to be +able to go to balls, and spend a summer of gaiety, while he studied as +much as at Oxford. + +Thursday morning was all that heart could wish, the air cooled by the +thunder, and the clouds looking as if raining was foreign to their +nature. Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone, their daughters, and Lady Eveleen, +were packed inside and outside the great carriage, while Guy, carefully +settling Charles in the low phaeton, putting in all that any one +recommended, from an air-cushion to an umbrella, flourished his whip, +and drove off with an air of exultation and delight. + +Everything went off to admiration. No one was more amused than Charles. +The scene was so perfectly new and delightful to one accustomed to such +a monotonous life, that the very sight of people was a novelty. Nowhere +was there so much laughing and talking as in that little carriage, and +whenever Mrs. Edmonstone's anxious eye fell upon it, she always saw +Charles sitting upright, with a face so full of eager interest as to +banish all thought of fatigue. Happy, indeed, he was. He enjoyed the +surprise of his acquaintance at meeting him; he enjoyed Dr. Mayerne's +laugh and congratulation; he enjoyed seeing how foolish Philip thought +him, nodding to his mother and sisters, laughing at the dreadful faces +Guy could not help making at any particularly discordant note of the +offensive bugle; and his capabilities rising with his spirits, he did +all that the others did, walked further than he had done for years, was +lifted up steps without knowing how, sat out the whole breakfast, talked +to all the world, and well earned the being thoroughly tired, as he +certainly was when Guy put him into the carriage and drove him home, and +still more so when Guy all but carried him up stairs, and laid him on +the sofa in the dressing-room. + +However, his mother announced that it would have been so unnatural if +he had not been fatigued, that she should have been more anxious, and +leaving him to repose, they all, except Mr. Edmonstone, who had stayed +to dine at the mess, sat down to dinner. + +Amy came down dressed just as the carriage had been announced, and found +Laura and Eveleen standing by the table, arranging their bouquets, while +Guy, in the dark, behind the piano, was playing--not, as usual, in such +cases, the Harmonious Blacksmith, but a chant. + +'Is mamma ready?' asked Laura. + +'Nearly,' said Amy, 'but I wish she was not obliged to go! I am sure she +cannot bear to leave Charlie.' + +'I hope she is not going on my account,' said Eveleen. + +'No, said Laura, 'we must go; it would so frighten papa if we did not +come. Besides, there is nothing to be uneasy about with Charles.' + +'O no,' said Amy; 'she says so, only she is always anxious, and she is +afraid he is too restless to go to sleep.' + +'We must get home as fast as we can; if you don't mind, Eva,' said +Laura, remembering how her last dance with Guy had delayed them. + +'Can I do any good to Charlie?' said Guy, ceasing his music. I don't +mean to go.' + +'Not go!' cried the girls in consternation. + +'He is joking!' said Eveleen. 'But, I declare!' added she, advancing +towards him, 'he is not dressed! Come, nonsense, this is carrying it too +far; you'll make us all too late, and then I'll set Maurice at you.' + +'I am afraid it is no joke,' said Guy, smiling. + +'You must go. It will never do for you to stay away,' said Laura, +decidedly. + +'Are you tired? Aren't you well?' asked Amy. + +'Quite well, thank you, but I am sure I had better not.' + +Laura thought she had better not seem anxious to take him, so she left +the task of persuasion, to the others, and Amy went on. + +'Neither Mamma nor Charlie could bear to think you stayed because of +him.' + +'I don't, I assure you, Amy. I meant it before. I have been gradually +finding out that it must come to this.' + +'Oh, you think it a matter of right and wrong! But you don't think balls +wrong?' + +'Oh no; only they won't do for such an absurd person as I am. The last +turned my head for a week, and I am much too unsteady for this.' + +'Well, if you think it a matter of duty, it can't be helped,' said Amy +sorrowfully; 'but I am very sorry.' + +'Thank you,' said Guy, thinking it compassion, not regret; 'but I shall +do very well. I shall be all the happier to-morrow for a quiet hour at +my Greek, and you'll tell me all the fun.' + +'You liked it so much!' said Amy; 'but you have made up your mind and I +ought not to tease you.' + +'That's right Amy; he does it on purpose to be teased,' said Eveleen, +'and I never knew anybody so provoking. Mind, Sir Guy, if you make us +all too late, you shan't have the ghost of a quadrille with me.' + +'I shall console myself by quadrilling with Andromache,' said Guy. + +'Come, no nonsense--off to dress directly! How can you have the +conscience to stand there when the carriage is at the door?' + +'I shall have great pleasure in handing you in when you are ready.' + +'Laura--Amy! Does he really mean it?' + +'I am afraid he does,' said Amy. + +Eveleen let herself fall on the sofa as if fainting. 'Oh,' she said, +'take him away! Let me never see the face of him again! I'm perfectly +overcome! All my teaching thrown away!' + +'I am sorry for you,' said Guy, laughing. + +'And how do you mean to face Maurice?' + +'Tell him his first bugle has so distracted me that I can't answer for +the consequences if I come to-night. + +'Mrs. Edmonstone came in, saying,-- + +'Come, I have kept you waiting shamefully, but I have been consoling +myself by thinking you must be well entertained, as I heard no +Harmonious Blacksmith. Papa will be wondering where we are.' + +'Oh, mamma! Guy won't go.' + +'Guy! is anything the matter?' + +'Nothing, thank you, only idleness.' + +'This will never do. You really must go, Guy.' + +'Indeed! I think not. Pray don't order me, Mrs. Edmonstone.' + +'What o'clock is it, Amy? Past ten! Papa will be in despair! What is to +be done? How long do you take to dress, Guy?' + +'Not under an hour,' said Guy, smiling. + +'Nonsense! But if there was time I should certainly send you. +Self-discipline may be carried too far, Guy. But now it can't be +helped--I don't know how to keep papa waiting any longer. Laura, what +shall I do?' + +'Let me go to Charles,' answered Guy. 'Perhaps I can read him to sleep.' + +'Thank you; but don't talk, or he will be too excited. Reading would be +the very thing! It will be a pretty story to tell every one who asks for +you that I have left you to nurse my son!' + +'No, for no such good reason,' said Guy; 'only because I am a great +fool.' + +'Well, Sir Guy, I am glad you can say one sensible word,' said Lady +Eveleen. + +'Too true, I assure you,' he answered, as he handed her in. 'Good night! +You will keep the quadrille for me till I am rational.' + +He handed the others in, and shut the door. Mrs. Edmonstone, ruffled out +of her composure, exclaimed,-- + +'Well, this is provoking!' + +'Every one will be vexed,' said Laura. + +'It will be so stupid,' said Amy. + +'I give him up,' said Eveleen. 'I once had hopes of him.' + +'If it was not for papa, I really would turn back this moment and fetch +him,' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, starting forward. 'I'm sure it will give +offence. I wish I had not consented.' + +'He can't be made to see that his presence is of importance to any +living creature,' said Laura. + +'What is the reason of this whim?' said Eveleen. + +'No, Eveleen, it is not whim,' said Laura; 'it is because he thinks +dissipation makes him idle.' + +'Then if he is idle I wonder what the rest of the world is!' said +Eveleen. 'I am sure we all ought to stay at home too.' + +'I think so,' said Amy. 'I know I shall feel all night as if I was wrong +to be there.' + +'I am angry,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'and yet I believe it is a great +sacrifice.' + +'Yes, mamma; after all our looking forward to it,' said Amy. 'Oh! yes,' +and her voice lost its piteous tone, 'it is a real sacrifice.' + +'If he was not a mere boy, I should say a lover's quarrel was at the +bottom of it,' said Eveleen. 'Depend upon it, Laura, it is all your +fault. You only danced once with him at our ball, and all this week you +have played for us, as if it was on purpose to cut him.' + +Laura was glad of the darkness, and her mother, who had a particular +dislike to jokes of this sort, went on,--'If it were only ourselves I +should not care, but there are so many who will fancy it caprice, or +worse.' + +'The only comfort is,' said Amy, 'that it is Charlie's gain.' + +'I hope they will not talk,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'But Charlie will +never hold his tongue. He will grow excited, and not sleep all night.' + +Poor Mrs. Edmonstone! her trials did not end here, for when she replied +to her husband's inquiry for Guy, Mr. Edmonstone said offence had +already been taken at his absence from the dinner; he would not have had +this happen for fifty pounds; she ought not to have suffered it; but it +was all her nonsense about Charles, and as to not being late, she should +have waited till midnight rather than not have brought him. In short, +he said as much more than he meant, as a man in a pet is apt to say, and +nevertheless Mrs. Edmonstone had to look as amiable and smiling as if +nothing was the matter. + +The least untruthful answer she could frame to the inquiries for Sir Guy +Morville was, that young men were apt to be lazy about balls, and +this sufficed for good-natured Mrs. Deane, but Maurice poured out many +exclamations about his ill-behaviour, and Philip contented himself with +the mere fact of his not being there, and made no remark. + +Laura turned her eyes anxiously on Philip. They had not met since the +important conversation on Ashen-down, and she found herself looking with +more pride than ever at his tall, noble figure, as if he was more her +own; but the calmness of feeling was gone. She could not meet his eye, +nor see him turn towards her without a start and tremor for which she +could not render herself a reason, and her heart beat so much that it +was at once a relief and a disappointment that she was obliged to accept +her other cousin as her first partner. Philip had already asked Lady +Eveleen, for he neither wished to appear too eager in claiming Laura, +nor to let his friend think he had any dislike to the Irish girl. + +Eveleen was much pleased to have him for her partner, and told herself +she would be on her good behaviour. It was a polka, and there was not +much talk, which, perhaps, was all the better for her. She admired the +review, and the luncheon, and spoke of Charles without any sauciness, +and Philip was condescending and agreeable. + +'I must indulge myself in abusing that stupid cousin of yours!' said +she. Did you ever know a man of such wonderful crotchets?' + +'This is a very unexpected one,' said Philip. + +'It came like a thunder clap. I thought till the last moment he was +joking, for he likes dancing so much; he was the life of our ball, and +how could any one suppose he would fly off at the last moment?' + +'He seems rather to enjoy doing things suddenly.' + +'I tell Laura she has affronted him,' said Eveleen, laughing. 'She has +been always busy of late when we have wanted her; and I assure her his +pride has been piqued. Don't you think that is an explanation, Captain +Morville?' + +It was Captain Morvilles belief, but he would not say so. + +'Isn't Laura looking lovely?' Eveleen went on. 'I am sure she is +the beauty of the night!' She was pleased to see Captain Morville's +attention gained. 'She is even better dressed than at our ball--those +Venetian pins suit the form of her head so well. Her beauty is better +than almost any one's, because she has so much countenance.' + +'True,' said Philip. + +'How proud Maurice looks of having her on his arm. Does not he? Poor +Maurice! he is desperately in love with her!' + +'As is shown by his pining melancholy.' + +Eveleen laughed with her clear hearty laugh. 'I see you know what we +mean by being desperately in love! No,' she added more gravely, 'I am +very glad it is only _that_ kind of desperation. One could not think of +Maurice and Laura together. He does not know the best part of Laura.' + +Eveleen was highly flattered by Captain Morville conducting her a second +time round the room, instead of at once restoring her to her aunt. + +He secured Laura next, and leading her away from her own party, said, +'Laura, have you been overdoing it?' + +'It is not that,' said Laura, wishing she could keep from blushing. + +'It is the only motive that could excuse his extraordinary behaviour.' + +'Surely you know he says that he is growing unsettled. It is part of his +rule of self discipline.' + +'Absurd!--exaggerated!--incredible! This is the same story as there was +about the horse. It is either caprice or temper, and I am convinced +that some change in your manner--nay, I say unconscious, and am far from +blaming you--is the cause. Why else did he devote himself to Charles, +and leave you all on my uncle's hands in the crowd?' + +'We could shift for ourselves much better than Charlie.' + +'This confirms my belief that my warning was not mistimed. I wish it +could have been done without decidedly mortifying him and rousing his +temper, because I am sorry others should be slighted; but if he takes +your drawing back so much to heart, it shows that it was time you should +do so.' + +'If I thought I had!' + +'It was visible to others--to another, I should say.' + +'O, that is only Eveleen's nonsense! The only difference I am conscious +of having made, was keeping more up-stairs, and not trying to persuade +him to come here to-night.' + +'I have no doubt it was this that turned the scale, He only waited for +persuasion, and you acted very wisely in not flattering his self-love.' + +'Did I?--I did not know it.' + +'A woman's instinct is often better than reasoning, Laura; to do the +right thing without knowing why. But come, I suppose we must play our +part in the pageant of the night.' + +For that evening Laura, contrary to the evidence of her senses, was +persuaded by her own lover that Guy was falling in love with her; and +after musing all through the dance, she said, 'What do you think of the +scheme that has been started for my going to Ireland with papa?' + +'Your going to Ireland?' + +'Yes; you know none of us, except papa, have seen grandmamma since +Charles began to be ill, and there is some talk of his taking me with +him when he goes this summer.' + +'I knew he was going, but I thought it was not to be till later in the +year--not till after the long vacation.' + +'So he intended, but he finds he must be at home before the end of +October, and it would suit him best to go in August.' + +'Then what becomes of Guy?' + +'He stays at Hollywell. It will be much better for Charles to have him +there while papa is away. I thought when the plan was first mentioned I +should be sorry, except that it is quite right to go to grandmamma; but +if it is so, about Guy, this absence would be a good thing--it would +make a break, and I could begin again on different terms.' + +'Wisely judged, Laura. Yes, on that account it would be very desirable, +though it will be a great loss to me, and I can hardly hope to be so +near you on your return.' + +'Ah! yes, so I feared!' sighed Laura. + +'But we must give up something; and for Guy's own sake, poor fellow, it +will be better to make a break, as you say. It will save him pain by and +by.' + +'I dare say papa will consult you about when his journey is to be. His +only doubt was whether it would do to leave Guy so long alone, and if +you say it would be safe, it would decide him at once.' + +'I see little chance of mischief. Guy has few temptations here, and a +strong sense of honour; besides, I shall be at hand. Taking all things +into consideration, Laura, I think that, whatever the sacrifice to +ourselves, it is expedient to recommend his going at once, and your +accompanying him.' + +All the remainder of the evening Philip was occupied with attentions +to the rest of the world, but Laura's eyes followed him everywhere, and +though she neither expected nor desired him to bestow more time on her, +she underwent a strange restlessness and impatience of feeling. Her +numerous partners teased her by hindering her from watching him moving +about the room, catching his tones, and guessing what he was talking +of;--not that she wanted to meet his eye, for she did not like to blush, +nor did she think it pleased him to see her do so, for he either looked +away immediately or conveyed a glance which she understood as monitory. +She kept better note of his countenance than of her own partner's. + +Mr. Thorndale, meanwhile, kept aloof from Lady Eveleen de Courcy, but +Captain Morville perceived that his eyes were often turned towards her, +and well knew it was principle, and not inclination, that held him at a +distance. He did indeed once ask her to dance, but she was engaged, +and he did not ask her to reserve a future dance for him, but contented +himself with little Amy. + +Amy was doing her best to enjoy herself, because she thought it +ungrateful not to receive pleasure from those who wished to give it, +but to her it wanted the zest and animation of Lady Kilcoran's ball. +Besides, she knew she had been as idle as Guy, or still more so, and she +thought it wrong she should have pleasure while he was doing penance. +It was on her mind, and damped her spirits, and though she smiled, and +talked, and admired, and danced lightly and gaily, there was a sensation +of weariness throughout, and no one but Eveleen was sorry when Mrs. +Edmonstone sent Maurice to see for the carriage. + +Philip was one of the gentlemen who came to shawl them. As he put +Laura's cloak round her shoulders he was able to whisper, 'Take care; +you must be cautious--self-command.' + +Laura, though blushing and shrinking the moment before was braced by his +words and tone to attempt all he wished. She looked up in what she meant +to be an indifferent manner, and made some observation in a careless +tone--anything rather than let Philip think her silly. After what he had +said, was she not bound more than ever to exert herself to the utmost, +that he might not be disappointed in her? She loved him only the better +for what others might have deemed a stern coldness of manner, for it +made the contrast of his real warmth of affection more precious. She +mused over it, as much as her companions' conversation would allow, on +the road home. They arrived, Mrs. Edmonstone peeped into Charles's room, +announced that he was quietly asleep, and they all bade each other good +night, or good morning, and parted. + + + + +CHAPTER 10 + + Leonora. Yet often with respect he speaks of thee. + Tasso. Thou meanest with forbearance, prudent, subtle, + 'Tis that annoys me, for he knows to use + Language so smooth and so conditional, + That seeming praise from him is actual blame. + --GOETHE'S Tasso + + +When the Hollywell party met at breakfast, Charles showed himself by no +means the worse for his yesterday's experiment. He said he had gone to +sleep in reasonable time, lulled by some poetry, he knew not what, of +which Guy's voice had made very pretty music, and he was now full of +talk about the amusement he had enjoyed yesterday, which seemed likely +to afford food for conversation for many a week to come. After all the +care Guy had taken of him, Mrs. Edmonstone could not find it in her +heart to scold, and her husband, having spent his vexation upon her, had +none left to bestow on the real culprit. So when Guy, with his bright +morning face, and his hair hanging shining and wet round it, opened +the dining-room door, on his return from bathing in the river, Mr. +Edmonstone's salutation only conveyed that humorous anger that no one +cares for. + +'Good morning to you, Sir Guy Morville! I wonder what you have to say +for yourself.' + +'Nothing,' said Guy, smiling; then, as he took his place by Mrs. +Edmonstone, 'I hope you are not tired after your hard day's work?' + +'Not at all, thank you.' + +'Amy, can you tell me the name of this flower?' + +'Oh! have you really found the arrow-head? How beautiful! Where did you +get it? I didn't know it grew in our river.' + +'There is plenty of it in that reedy place beyond the turn. I thought it +looked like something out of the common way.' + +'Yes! What a purple eye it has! I must draw it. O, thank you.' + +'And, Charlotte, Bustle has found you a moorhen's nest.' + +'How delightful! Is it where I can go and see the dear little things?' + +'It is rather a swamp; but I have been putting down stepping-stones for +you, and I dare say I can jump you across. It was that which made me +so late, for which I ought to have asked pardon,' said he to Mrs. +Edmonstone, with his look of courtesy. + +Never did man look less like an offended lover, or like a morose +self-tormentor. + +'There are others later,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking at Lady +Eveleen's empty chair. + +'So you think that is all you have to ask pardon for,' said Mr. +Edmonstone. 'I advise you to study your apologies, for you are in pretty +tolerable disgrace.' + +'Indeed, I am very sorry,' said Guy, with such a change of countenance +that Mr. Edmonstone's good nature could not bear to see it. + +'Oh, 'tis no concern of mine! It would be going rather the wrong way, +indeed, for you to be begging my pardon for all the care you've been +taking of Charlie; but you had better consider what you have to say for +yourself before you show your face at Broadstone.' + +'No?' said Guy, puzzled for a moment, but quickly looking relieved, and +laughing, 'What! Broadstone in despair for want of me?' + +'And we perfectly exhausted with answering questions as to what was +become of Sir Guy.' + +'Dreadful,' said Guy, now laughing heartily, in the persuasion that it +was all a joke. + +'O, Lady Eveleen, good morning; you are come in good time to give me the +story of the ball, for no one else tells me one word about it.' + +'Because you don't deserve it,' said she. 'I hope you have repented by +this time.' + +'If you want to make me repent, you should give me a very alluring +description.' + +'I shan't say one word about it; I shall send you to Coventry, as +Maurice and all the regiment mean to do,' said Eveleen, turning away +from him with a very droll arch manner of offended dignity. + +'Hear, hear! Eveleen send any one to Coventry!' cried Charles. 'See what +the regiment say to you.' + +'Ay, when I am sent to Coventry?' + +'O, Paddy, Paddy!' cried Charles, and there was a general laugh. + +'Laura seems to be doing it in good earnest without announcing it,' +added Charles, when the laugh was over, 'which is the worst sign of +all.' + +'Nonsense, Charles,' said Laura, hastily; then afraid she had owned to +annoyance, she blushed and was angry with herself for blushing. + +'Well, Laura, _do_ tell me who your partners were?' + +Very provoking, thought Laura, that I cannot say what is so perfectly +natural and ordinary, without my foolish cheeks tingling. He may think +it is because he is speaking to me. So she hurried on: 'Maurice first, +then Philip,' and then showed, what Amy and Eveleen thought, strange +oblivion of the rest of her partners. + +They proceeded into the history of the ball; and Guy thought no more of +his offences till the following day, when he went to Broadstone. Coming +back, he found the drawing-room full of visitors, and was obliged to +sit down and join in the conversation; but Mrs. Edmonstone saw he was +inwardly chafing, as he betrayed by his inability to remain still, the +twitchings of his forehead and lip, and a tripping and stumbling of the +words on his tongue. She was sure he wanted to talk to her, and longed +to get rid of Mrs. Brownlow; but the door was no sooner shut on the +visitors, than Mr. Edmonstone came in, with a long letter for her +to read and comment upon. Guy took himself out of the way of the +consultation, and began to hurry up and down the terrace, until, seeing +Amabel crossing the field towards the little gate into the garden, he +went to open it for her. + +She looked up at him, and exclaimed--'Is anything the matter?' + +'Nothing to signify,' he said; 'I was only waiting for your mother. I +have got into a mess, that is all.' + +'I am sorry,' began Amy, there resting in the doubt whether she might +inquire further, and intending not to burthen him with her company, any +longer than till she reached the house door; but Guy went on,-- + +'No, you have no occasion to be sorry; it is all my own fault; at least, +if I was clear how it is my fault, I should not mind it so much. It +is that ball. I am sure I had not the least notion any one would care +whether I was there or not.' + +'I am sure we missed you very much.' + +'You are all so kind; beside, I belong in a manner you; but what could +it signify to any one else? And here I find that I have vexed every +one.' + +'Ah!' said Amy, 'mamma said she was afraid it would give offence.' + +'I ought to have attended to her. It was a fit of self-will in managing +myself,' said Guy, murmuring low, as if trying to find the real +indictment; 'yet I thought it a positive duty; wrong every way.' + +'What has happened?' said Amy, turning back with him, though she had +reached the door. + +'Why, the first person I met was Mr. Gordon; and he spoke like your +father, half in joke, and I thought entirely so; he said something about +all the world being in such a rage, that I was a bold man to venture +into Broadstone. Then, while I was at Mr. Lascelles', in came Dr. +Mayerne. 'We missed you at the dinner,' he said; 'and I hear you shirked +the ball, too.' I told him how it was, and he said he was glad that +was all, and advised me to go and call on Colonel Deane and explain. I +thought that the best way--indeed, I meant it before, and was walking +to his lodgings when Maurice de Courcy met me. 'Ha!' he cries out, +'Morville! I thought at least you would have been laid up for a month +with the typhus fever! As a friend, I advise you to go home and catch +something, for it is the only excuse that will serve you. I am not quite +sure that it will not be high treason for me to be seen speaking to +you.' I tried to get at the rights of it, but he is such a harum-scarum +fellow there was no succeeding. Next I met Thorndale, who only bowed +and passed on the other side of the street--sign enough how it was with +Philip; so I thought it best to go at once to the Captain, and get a +rational account of what was the matter.' + +'Did you?' said Amy, who, though concerned and rather alarmed, had been +smiling at the humorous and expressive tones with which he could not +help giving effect to his narration. + +'Yes. Philip was at home, and very--very--' + +'Gracious?' suggested Amy, as he hesitated for a word. + +'Just so. Only the vexatious thing was, that we never could succeed in +coming to an understanding. He was ready to forgive; but I could not +disabuse him of an idea--where he picked it up I cannot guess--that I +had stayed away out of pique. He would not even tell me what he thought +had affronted me, though I asked him over and over again to be only +straightforward; he declared I knew.' + +'How excessively provoking!' cried Amy. 'You cannot guess what he +meant?' + +'Not the least in the world. I have not the most distant suspicion. It +was of no use to declare I was not offended with any one; he only looked +in that way of his, as if he knew much better than I did myself, and +told me he could make allowances.' + +'Worse than all! How horrid of him.' + +'No, don't spoil me. No doubt he thinks he has grounds, and my +irritation was unjustifiable. Yes, I got into my old way. He cautioned +me, and nearly made me mad! I never was nearer coming to a regular +outbreak. Always the same! Fool that I am.' + +'Now, Guy, that is always your way; when other people are provoking, +you abuse yourself. I am sure Philip was so, with his calm assertion of +being right.' + +'The more provoking, the more trial for me.' + +'But you endured it. You say it was only _nearly_ an outbreak. You +parted friends? I am sure of that.' + +'Yes, it would have been rather too bad not to do that.' + +'Then why do you scold yourself, when you really had the victory?' + +'The victory will be if the inward feeling as well as the outward token +is ever subdued.' + +'O, that must be in time, of course. Only let me hear how you got on +with Colonel Deane.' + +'He was very good-natured, and would have laughed it off, but Philip +went with me, and looked grand, and begged in a solemn way that no more +might be said. I could have got on better alone; but Philip was very +kind, or, as you say, gracious.' + +'And provoking,' added Amy, 'only I believe you do not like me to say +so.' + +'It is more agreeable to hear you call him so at this moment than is +good for me. I have no right to complain, since I gave the offence.' + +'The offence?' + +'The absenting myself.' + +'Oh! that you did because you thought it right.' + +'I want to be clear that it was right.' + +'What do you mean?' cried she, astonished. 'It was a great piece of +self-denial, and I only felt it wrong not to be doing the same.' + +'Nay, how should such creatures as you need the same discipline as I?' + +She exclaimed to herself how far from his equal she was--how weak, idle, +and self-pleasing she felt herself to be; but she could not say so--the +words would not come; and she only drooped her little head, humbled by +his treating her as better than himself. + +He proceeded:-- + +'Something wrong I have done, and I want the clue. Was it self-will in +choosing discipline contrary to your mother's judgment? Yet she could +not know all. I thought it her kindness in not liking me to lose the +pleasure. Besides, one must act for oneself, and this was only my own +personal amusement.' + +'Yes,' said Amy, timidly hesitating. + +'Well?' said he, with the gentle, deferential tone that contrasted with +his hasty, vehement self-accusations. 'Well?' and he waited, though not +so as to hurry or frighten her, but to encourage, by showing her words +had weight. + +'I was thinking of one thing,' said Amy; 'is it not sometimes right +to consider whether we ought to disappoint people who want us to be +pleased?' + +'There it is, I believe,' said Guy, stopping and considering, then going +on with a better satisfied air, 'that is a real rule. Not to be so bent +on myself as to sacrifice other people's feelings to what seems best for +me. But I don't see whose pleasure I interfered with.' + +Amy could have answered, 'Mine;' but the maidenly feeling checked her +again, and she said, 'We all thought you would like it.' + +'And I had no right to sacrifice your pleasure! I see, I see. The +pleasure of giving pleasure to others is so much the best there is on +earth, that one ought to be passive rather than interfere with it.' + +'Yes,' said Amy, 'just as I have seen Mary Ross let herself be swung +till she was giddy, rather than disappoint Charlotte and Helen, who +thought she liked it.' + +'If one could get to look at everything with as much indifference as +the swinging! But it is all selfishness. It is as easy to be selfish for +one's own good as for one's own pleasure; and I dare say, the first is +as bad as the other.' + +'I was thinking of something else,' said Amy. 'I should think it more +like the holly tree in Southey. Don't you know it? The young leaves are +sharp and prickly, because they have so much to defend themselves from, +but as the tree grows older, it leaves off the spears, after it has won +the victory.' + +'Very kind of you, and very pretty, Amy,' said he, smiling; 'but, in the +meantime, it is surely wrong to be more prickly than is unavoidable, and +there is the perplexity. Selfish! selfish! selfish! Oneself the first +object. That is the root.' + +'Guy, if it is not impertinent to ask, I do wish you would tell me +one thing. Why did you think it wrong to go to that ball?' said Amy, +timidly. + +'I don't know that I thought it wrong to go to that individual ball,' +said Guy; 'but my notion was, that altogether I was getting into a +rattling idle way, never doing my proper quantity of work, or doing +it properly, and talking a lot of nonsense sometimes. I thought, last +Sunday, it was time to make a short turn somewhere and bring myself up. +I could not, or did not get out of the pleasant talks as Laura does, so +I thought giving up this ball would punish me at once, and set me on a +new tack of behaving like a reasonable creature.' + +'Don't call yourself too many names, or you won't be civil to us. We +all, except Laura, have been quite as bad.' + +'Yes; but you had not so much to do.' + +'We ought,' said Amy; 'but I meant to be reasonable when Eveleen is +gone.' + +Perhaps I ought to have waited till then, but I don't know. Lady Eveleen +is so amusing that it leads to farther dawdling, and it would not do to +wait to resist the temptation till it is out of the way.' + +As he spoke, they saw Mrs. Edmonstone coming out, and went to meet her. +Guy told her his trouble, detailing it more calmly than before he +had found out his mistake. She agreed with him that this had been in +forgetting that his attending the ball did not concern only himself, but +he then returned to say that he could not see what difference it made, +except to their own immediate circle. + +'If it was not you, Guy, who made that speech, I should call it fishing +for a compliment. You forget that rank and station make people sought +after.' + +'I suppose there is something in that,' said Guy, thoughtfully; 'at any +rate, it is no bad thing to think so, it is so humiliating.' + +'That is not the way most people would take it.' + +'No? Does not it prevent one from taking any attention as paid to one's +real self? The real flattering thing would be to be made as much of as +Philip is, for one's own merits, and not for the handle to one's name.' + +'Yes, I think so,' said Amy. + +'Well, then,' as if he wished to gather the whole conversation into +one resolve, the point is to consider whether abstaining from innocent +things that may be dangerous to oneself mortifies other people. If so, +the vexing them is a certain wrong, whereas the mischief of taking the +pleasure is only a possible contingency. But then one must take it out +of oneself some other way, or it becomes an excuse for self-indulgence.' + +'Hardly with you,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling. + +'Because I had rather go at it at once, and forget all about other +people. You must teach me consideration, Mrs. Edmonstone, and in the +meantime will you tell me what you think I had better do about this +scrape?' + +'Let it alone,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'You have begged every one's +pardon, and it had better be forgotten as fast as possible. They have +made more fuss already than it is worth. Don't torment yourself about it +any more; for, if you have made a mistake, it is on the right side; and +on the first opportunity, I'll go and call on Mrs. Deane, and see if she +is very implacable.' + +The dressing-bell rang, and Amy ran up-stairs, stopping at Laura's door, +to ask how she prospered in the drive she had been taking with Charles +and Eveleen. + +Amy told her of Guy's trouble, and oh! awkward question, inquired if +she could guess what it could be that Philip imagined that Guy had been +offended at. + +'Can't he guess?' said poor Laura, to gain time, and brushing her hair +over her face. + +'No, he has no idea, though Philip protested that he knew, and would not +tell him. Philip must have been most tiresome.' + +'What? Has Guy been complaining?' + +'No, only angry with himself for being vexed. I can't think how Philip +can go on so!' + +'Hush! hush, Amy, you know nothing about it. He has reasons--' + +'I know,' said Amy, indignantly; 'but what right has he to go on +mistrusting? If people are to be judged by their deeds, no one is +so good as Guy, and it is too bad to reckon up against him all his +ancestors have done. It is wolf and lamb, indeed.' + +'He does not!' cried Laura. 'He never is unjust! How can you say so, +Amy?' + +'Then why does he impute motives, and not straightforwardly tell what he +means?' + +'It is impossible in this case,' said Laura. + +'Do you know what it is?' + +'Yes,' said Laura, perfectly truthful, and feeling herself in a dreadful +predicament. + +'And you can't tell me?' + +'I don't think I can.' + +'Nor Guy?' + +'Not for worlds,' cried Laura, in horror. + +'Can't you get Philip to tell him?' + +'Oh no, no! I can't explain it, Amy; and all that can be done is to let +it die away as fast as possible. It is only the rout about it that is of +consequence.' + +'It is very odd,' said Amy, 'but I must dress,' and away she ran, much +puzzled, but with no desire to look into Philip's secrets. + +Laura rested her head on her hand, sighed, and wondered why it was so +hard to answer. She almost wished she had said Philip had been advising +her to discourage any attachment on Guy's part; but then Amy might have +laughed, and asked why. No! no! Philip's confidence was in her keeping, +and cost her what it might, she would be faithful to the trust. + +There was now a change. The evenings were merry, but the mornings were +occupied. Guy went off to his room, as he used to do last winter; Laura +commenced some complicated perspective, or read a German book with a +great deal of dictionary; Amy had a book of history, and practised her +music diligently; even Charles read more to himself, and resumed the +study with Guy and Amy; Lady Eveleen joined in every one's pursuits, +enjoyed them, and lamented to Laura that it was impossible to be +rational at her own home. + +Laura tried to persuade her that there was no need that she should be on +the level of the society round her, and it ended in her spending an hour +in diligent study every morning, promising to continue it when she went +home, while Laura made such sensible comments that Eveleen admired her +more than ever; and she, knowing that some were second-hand from Philip, +others arising from his suggestions, gave him all the homage paid to +herself, as a tribute to him who reigned over her whole being. + +Yet she was far from happy. Her reserve towards Guy made her feel stiff +and guarded; she had a craving for Philip's presence, with a dread of +showing it, which made her uncomfortable. She wondered he had not been +at Hollywell since the bail, for he must know that she was going to +Ireland in a fortnight, and was not likely to return till his regiment +had left Broadstone. + +An interval passed long enough for her not to be alone in her surprise +at his absenting himself before he at length made his appearance, just +before luncheon, so as to miss the unconstrained morning hours he used +so much to enjoy. He found Guy, Charles, and Amy, deep in Butler's +Analogy. + +'Are you making poor little Amy read that?' said he. + +'Bravo!' cried Charles; 'he is so disappointed that it is not Pickwick +that he does not know what else to say.' + +'I don't suppose I take much in,' said Amy; 'but I like to be told what +it means.' + +'Don't imagine I can do that,' said Guy. + +'I never spent much time over it,' said Philip; 'but I should think you +were out of your depth.' + +'Very well,' said Charles; 'we will return to Dickens to oblige you.' + +'It is your pleasure to wrest my words,' replied Philip, in his own calm +manner, though he actually felt hurt, which he had never done before. +His complacency was less secure, so that there was more need for +self-assertion. + +'Where are the rest?' he asked. + +'Laura and Eveleen are making a dictation lesson agreeable to +Charlotte,' said Amy; 'I found Eva making mistakes on purpose.' + +'How much longer does she stay?' + +'Till Tuesday. Lord Kilcoran is coming to fetch her.' + +Charlotte entered, and immediately ran up-stairs to announce her +cousin's arrival. Laura was glad of this previous notice, and hoped her +blush and tremor were not observed. It was a struggle, through luncheon +time, to keep her colour and confusion within bounds; but she succeeded +better than she fancied she did, and Philip gave her as much help as he +could, by not looking at her. Seeing that he dreaded nothing so much as +her exciting suspicion, she was at once braced and alarmed. + +Her father was very glad to see him, and reproached him for making +himself a stranger, while her sisters counted up the days of his +absence. + +'There was the time, to be sure, when we met you on Ashen-down, but that +was a regular cheat. Laura had you all to herself.' + +Laura bent down to feed Bustle, and Philip felt _his_ colour deepening. + +Mr. Edmonstone went on to ask him to come and stay at Hollywell for a +week, vowing he would take no refusal. 'A week was out of the question, +said Philip; 'but he could come for two nights.' Amabel hinted that +there was to be a dinner-party on Thursday, thinking it fair to give +him warning of what he disliked, but he immediately chose that very day. +Again he disconcerted all expectations, when it was time to go out. Mrs. +Edmonstone and Charles were going to drive, the young ladies and Guy to +walk, but Philip disposed himself to accompany his uncle in a survey of +the wheat. + +Laura perceived that he would not risk taking another walk with her when +they might be observed. It showed implicit trust to leave her to his +rival; but she was sorry to find that caution must put an end to the +freedom of their intercourse, and would have stayed at home, but that +Eveleen was so wild and unguarded that Mrs. Edmonstone did not like her +to be without Laura as a check on her, especially when Guy was of the +party. There was some comfort in that warm pressure of her hand when she +bade Philip good-bye, and on that she lived for a long time. He stood at +the window watching them till they were out of sight, then moved +towards his aunt, who with her bonnet on, was writing an invitation for +Thursday, to Mr. Thorndale. + +'I was thinking,' said he, in a low voice, 'if it would not be as well, +if you liked, to ask Thorndale here for those two days.' + +'If _you_ think so,' returned Mrs. Edmonstone, looking at him more +inquiringly than he could well bear. + +'You know how he enjoys being here, and I owe them all so much +kindness.' + +'Certainly; I will speak to your uncle,' said she, going in search of +him. She presently returned, saying they should be very glad to see Mr. +Thorndale, asking him at the same time, in her kind tones of interest, +after an old servant for whom he had been spending much thought and +pains. The kindness cut him to the heart, for it evidently arose from +a perception that he was ill at ease, and his conscience smote him. He +answered shortly, and was glad when the carriage came; he lifted Charles +into it, and stood with folded arms as they drove away. + +'The air is stormy,' said Charles, looking back at him.' + +'You thought so, too?' said Mrs. Edmonstone, eagerly. + +'You did!' + +'I have wondered for some time past.' + +'It was very decided to-day--that long absence--and there was no +provoking him to be sententious. His bringing his young man might be +only to keep him in due subjection; but his choosing the day of the +party, and above all, not walking with the young ladies.' + +'It not like himself,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, in a leading tone. + +'Either the sweet youth is in love, or in the course of some strange +transformation.' + +'In love!' she exclaimed. 'Have you any reason for thinking so?' + +'Only as a solution of phenomena; but you look as if I had hit on the +truth.' + +'I hope it is no such thing; yet--' + +'Yet?' repeated Charles, seriously. 'I think he has discovered the +danger.' + +'The danger of falling in love with Laura? Well, it would be odd if he +was not satisfied with his own work. But he must know how preposterous +that would be.' + +'And you think that would prevent it?' said his mother, smiling. 'He +is just the man to plume himself on making his judgment conquer his +inclination, setting novels at defiance. How magnanimously he would +resolve to stifle a hopeless attachment!' + +'That is exactly what I think he is doing. I think he has found out the +state of his feelings, and is doing all in his power to check them by +avoiding her, especially in tete-a-tetes, and an unconstrained family +party. I am nearly convinced that is his reason for bringing Mr. +Thorndale, and fixing on the day of the dinner. Poor fellow, it must +cost him a great deal, and I long to tell him how I thank him.' + +'Hm! I don't think it unlikely,' said Charles. 'It agrees with what +happened the evening of the Kilcoran ball, when he was ready to eat me +up for saying something he fancied was a hint of a liking of Guy's +for Laura. It was a wild mistake, for something I said about Petrarch, +forgetting that Petrarch suggested Laura; but it put him out to a +degree, and he made all manner of denunciations on the horror of Guy's +falling in love with her. Now, as far as I see, Guy is much more in +love with you, or with Deloraine, and the idea argues far more that the +Captain himself is touched.' + +'Depend upon it, Charlie, it was this that led to his detecting the true +state of the case. Ever since that he has kept away. It is noble!' + +'And what do you think about Laura?' + +'Poor child! I doubt if it was well to allow so much intimacy; yet I +don't see how it could have been helped.' + +'So you think she is in for it? I hope not; but she has not been herself +of late.' + +'I think she misses what she has been used to from him, and thinks him +estranged, but I trust it goes no further. I see she is out of spirits; +I wish I could help her, dear girl, but the worst of all would be to let +her guess the real name and meaning of all this, so I can't venture to +say a word.' + +'She is very innocent of novels,' said Charles, 'and that is well. It +would be an unlucky business to have our poor beauty either sitting +'like Patience on a monument', or 'cockit up on a baggage-waggon.' But +that will never be. Philip is not the man to have a wife in barracks. He +would have her like his books, in morocco, or not at all.' + +'He would never involve her in discomforts. He may be entirely trusted, +and as long as he goes on as he has begun, there is no harm done; Laura +will cheer up, will only consider him as her cousin and friend, and +never know he has felt more for her.' + +'Her going to Ireland is very fortunate.' + +'It has made me still more glad that the plan should take place at +once.' + +'And you say "nothing to nobody"?' + +'Of course not. We must not let him guess we have observed anything; +there is no need to make your father uncomfortable, and such things need +not dawn on Amy's imagination.' + +It may be wondered at that Mrs. Edmonstone should confide such a subject +to her son, but she knew that in a case really affecting his sister, +and thus introduced, his silence was secure. In fact, confidence was the +only way to prevent the shrewd, unscrupulous raillery which would have +caused great distress, and perhaps led to the very disclosure to be +deprecated. Of late, too, there had been such a decrease of petulance +in Charles, as justified her in trusting him, and lastly, it must be +observed that she was one of those open-hearted people who cannot make a +discovery nor endure an anxiety without imparting it. Her tact, indeed, +led her to make a prudent choice of confidants, and in this case her son +was by far the best, though she had spoken without premeditation. Her +nature would never have allowed her to act as her daughter was doing; +she would have been without the strength to conceal her feelings, +especially when deprived of the safety-valve of free intercourse with +their object. + +The visit took place as arranged, and very uncomfortable it was to all +who looked deeper than the surface. In the first place, Philip found +there the last person he wished his friend to meet--Lady Eveleen, who +had been persuaded to stay for the dinner-party; but Mr. Thorndale was, +as Charles would have said, on his good behaviour, and, ashamed of the +fascination her manners exercised over him, was resolved to resist it, +answered her gay remarks with brief sentences and stiff smiles, and +consorted chiefly with the gentlemen. + +Laura was grave and silent, trying to appear unconscious, and only +succeeding in being visibly constrained. Philip was anxious and stern in +his attempts to appear unconcerned, and even Guy was not quite as bright +and free as usual, being puzzled as to how far he was forgiven about the +ball. + +Amabel could not think what had come to every one, and tried in vain to +make them sociable. In the evening they had recourse to a game, said +to be for Charlotte's amusement, but in reality to obviate some of the +stiffness and constraint; yet even this led to awkward situations. Each +person was to set down his or her favourite character in history and +fiction, flower, virtue, and time at which to have lived, and these were +all to be appropriated to the writers. The first read was-- + +'Lily of the valley--truth--Joan of Arc--Padre Cristoforo--the present +time.' + +'Amy!' exclaimed Guy. + +'I see you are right,' said Charles; 'but tell me your grounds!' + +'Padre Cristoforo,' was the answer. + +'Fancy little Amy choosing Joan of Arc,' said Eveleen, 'she who is +afraid of a tolerable sized grasshopper.' + +'I should like to have been Joan's sister, and heard her tell about her +visions,' said Amy. + +'You would have taught her to believe them,' said Philip. + +'Taught her!' cried Guy. 'Surely you take the high view of her.' + +'I think,' said Philip, 'that she is a much injured person, as much +by her friends as her enemies; but I don't pretend to enter either +enthusiastically or philosophically into her character.' + +What was it that made Guy's brow contract, as he began to strip the +feather of a pen, till, recollecting himself, he threw it from him with +a dash, betraying some irritation, and folded his hands. + +'Lavender,' read Charlotte. + +'What should make any one choose that?' cried Eveleen. + +'I know!' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking up. 'I shall never forget the +tufts of lavender round the kitchen garden at Stylehurst.' + +Philip smiled. Charlotte proceeded, and Charles saw Laura's colour +deepening as she bent over her work. + +'"Lavender--steadfastness--Strafford--Cordelia in 'King Lear'--the +late war." How funny!' cried Charlotte. 'For hear the next: +"Honeysuckle--steadfastness--Lord Strafford--Cordelia--the present +time." Why, Laura, you must have copied it from Philip's.' + +Laura neither looked nor spoke. Philip could hardly command his +countenance as Eveleen laughed, and told him he was much flattered by +those becoming blushes. But here Charles broke in,--'Come, make haste, +Charlotte, don't be all night about it;' and as Charlotte paused, as if +to make some dangerous remark, he caught the paper, and read the next +himself. Nothing so startled Philip as this desire to cover their +confusion. Laura was only sensible of the relief of having attention +drawn from her by the laugh that followed. + +'A shamrock--Captain Rock--the tailor that was "blue moulded for want of +a bating"--Pat Riotism--the time of Malachy with the collar of gold.' + +'Eva!' cried Charlotte. + +'Nonsense,' said Eveleen; 'I am glad I know your tastes, Charles. They +do you honour.' + +'More than yours do, if these are yours,' said Charles, reading them +contemptuously; 'Rose--generosity--Charles Edward--Catherine Seyton--the +civil wars.' + +'You had better not have disowned Charlie's, Lady Eveleen,' said Guy. + +'Nay do you think I would put up with such a set as these?' retorted +Charles; 'I am not fallen so low as the essence of young ladyism.' + +'What can you find to say against them?' said Eveleen. + +'Nothing,' said Charles, 'No one ever can find anything to say for or +against young ladies' tastes.' + +'You seem to be rather in the case of the tailor yourself,' said Guy, +'ready to do battle, if you could but get any opposition.' + +'Only tell me,' said Amy, 'how you could wish to live in the civil +wars?' + +'O, because they would be so entertaining.' + +'There's Paddy, genuine Paddy at last!' exclaimed Charles. 'Depend upon +it, the conventional young lady won't do, Eva.' + +After much more discussion, and one or two more papers, came Guy's--the +last. 'Heather--Truth--King Charles--Sir Galahad--the present time.' + +'Sir how much? exclaimed Charles. + +'Don't you know him?' said Guy. 'Sir Galahad--the Knight of the Siege +Perilous--who won the Saint Greal.' + +'What language is that?' said Charles. + +'What! Don't you know the Morte d'Arthur! I thought every one did! Don't +you, Philip!' + +'I once looked into it. It is very curious, in classical English; but it +is a book no one could read through.' + +'Oh!' cried Guy, indignantly; then, 'but you only looked into it. If you +had lived with its two fat volumes, you could not help delighting in it. +It was my boating-book for at least three summers.' + +'That accounts for it,' said Philip; 'a book so studied in boyhood +acquires a charm apart from its actual merits.' + +'But it has actual merits. The depth, the mystery, the allegory--the +beautiful characters of some of the knights.' + +'You look through the medium of your imagination,' said Philip; but +you must pardon others for seeing a great sameness of character and +adventure, and for disapproving of the strange mixture of religion and +romance.' + +'You've never read it,' said Guy, striving to speak patiently. + +'A cursory view is sufficient to show whether a book will repay the time +spent in reading it.' + +'A cursory view enable one to judge better than making it your study? +Eh, Philip?' said Charles. + +'It is no paradox. The actual merits are better seen by an unprejudiced +stranger than by an old friend who lends them graces of his own +devising.' + +Charles laughed: Guy pushed back his chair, and went to look out at the +window. Perhaps Philip enjoyed thus chafing his temper; for after all he +had said to Laura, it was satisfactory to see his opinion justified, so +that he might not feel himself unfair. It relieved his uneasiness lest +his understanding with Laura should be observed. It had been in great +peril that evening, for as the girls went up to bed, Eveleen gaily said, +'Why, Laura, have you quarrelled with Captain Morville?' + +'How can you say such things, Eva? Good night.' And Laura escaped into +her own room. + +'What's the meaning of it, Amy?' pursued Eveleen. + +'Only a stranger makes us more formal,' said Amy. + +'What an innocent you are! It is of no use to talk to you!' said +Eveleen, running away. + +'No; but Eva,' said Amy, pursuing her, 'don't go off with a wrong fancy. +Charles has teased Laura so much about Philip, that of course it makes +her shy of him before strangers; and it would never have done to laugh +about their choosing the same things when Mr. Thorndale was there.' + +'I must be satisfied, I suppose. I know that is what you think, for you +could not say any other.' + +'But what do you think?' said Amy, puzzled. + +'I won't tell you, little innocence--it would only shock you.' + +'Nothing you _really_ _thought_ about Laura could shock me,' said Amy; +'I don't mean what you might say in play.' + +'Well, then, shall you think me in play or earnest when I say that I +think Laura likes Philip very much?' + +'In play' said Amy; 'for you know that if we had not got our own Charlie +to show us what a brother is, we should think of Philip as just the same +as a brother.' + +'A brother! You are pretending to be more simple than you really are, +Amy! Don't you know what I mean?' + +'O,' said Amy, her cheeks lighting up, 'that must be only play, for he +has never asked her.' + +'Ah, but suppose she was in the state just ready to be asked?' + +'No, that could never be, for he could never ask her,' + +'Why not, little Amy?' + +'Because we are cousins, and everything,' said Amy, confused. 'Don't +talk any more about it, Eva; for though I know it is all play, I don't +like it, and mamma, would not wish me to talk of such things. And +don't you laugh about it, dear Eva, pray; for it only makes every one +uncomfortable. Pray!' + +Amy had a very persuasive way of saying 'pray,' and Eveleen thought she +must yield to it. Besides, she respected Laura and Captain Morville too +much to resolve to laugh at them, whatever she might do when her fear of +the Captain made her saucy. + +Mrs. Edmonstone thought it best on all accounts to sit in the +drawing-room the next morning; but she need not have taken so much pains +to chaperon her young ladies, for the gentlemen did not come near them. + +Laura was more at ease in manner, though very far from happy, for she +was restlessly eager for a talk with Philip; while he was resolved not +to seek a private interview, sure that it would excite suspicion, and +willing to lose the consciousness of his underhand proceedings. + +This was the day of the dinner-party, and Laura's heart leaped as she +calculated that it must fall to Philip's lot to hand her in to dinner. +She was not mistaken, he did give her his arm; and they found themselves +most favourably placed, for Philip's other neighbour was Mrs. Brownlow, +talking at a great rate to Mr. de Courcy, and on Laura's side was the +rather deaf Mr. Hayley, who had quite enough to do to talk to Miss +Brownlow. Charles was not at table, and not one suspicious eye could +rest on them, yet it was not till the second course was in progress that +he said anything which the whole world might not have heard. Something +had passed about Canterbury, and its distance from Hollywell. + +'I can be here often,' said Philip. + +'I am glad.' + +'If you can only be guarded,--and I think you are becoming so.' + +'Is this a time to speak of--? Oh, don't!' + +'It is the only time. No one is attending, and I have something to say +to you.' + +Overpowering her dire confusion, in obedience to him, she looked at the +epergne, and listened. + +'You have acted prudently. You have checked--' and he indicated +Guy--'without producing more than moderate annoyance. You have only to +guard your self-possession.' + +'It is very foolish,' she murmured. + +'Ordinary women say so, and rest contented with the folly. You can do +better things.' + +There was a thrill of joy at finding him conversing with her as his +'own;' it overcame her embarrassment and alarm, and wishes he would not +choose such a time for speaking.' + +'How shall I?' said she. + +'Employ yourself. Employ and strengthen your mind!' + +'How shall I, and without you?' + +'Find something to prevent you from dwelling on the future. That drawing +is dreamy work, employing the fingers and leaving the mind free.' + +'I have been trying to read, but I cannot fix my mind.' + +'Suppose you take what will demand attention. Mathematics, algebra. I +will send you my first book of algebra, and it will help you to work +down many useless dreams and anxieties.' + +'Thank you; pray do; I shall be very glad of it.' + +'You will find it give a power and stability to your mind, and no longer +have to complain of frivolous occupation.' + +'I don't feel frivolous now,' said Laura, sadly; 'I don't know why it is +that everything is so altered, I am really happier, but my light heart +is gone.' + +'You have but now learnt the full powers of your soul, Laura, you have +left the world of childhood, with the gay feelings which have no depth.' + +'I have what is better,' she whispered. + +'You have, indeed. But those feelings must be regulated, and +strengthening the intellect strengthens the governing power.' + +Philip, with all his sense, was mystifying himself, because he was +departing from right, the only true 'good sense.' His right judgment +in all things was becoming obscured, so he talked metaphysical jargon, +instead of plain practical truth, and thought he was teaching Laura to +strengthen her powers of mind, instead of giving way to dreams, when +he was only leading her to stifle meditation, and thus securing her +complete submission to himself. + +She was happier after this conversation, and better able to pay +attention to the guests, nor did she feel guilty when obliged to play +and sing in the evening--for she knew he must own that she could do no +otherwise. + +Lady Eveleen gave, however, its brilliancy to the party. She had +something wonderfully winning and fascinating about her, and Philip +owned to himself that it took no small resolution on the part of Mr. +Thorndale to keep so steadily aloof from the party in the bay window, +where she was reigning like a queen, and inspiring gaiety like a fairy. +She made Guy sing with her; it was the first time he had ever sung, +except among themselves, as Mrs. Edmonstone had never known whether he +would like to be asked; but Eveleen refused to sing some of the Irish +melodies unless he would join her, and without making any difficulty he +did so. Mrs. Brownlow professed to be electrified, and Eveleen declaring +that she knew she sung like a peacock, told Mrs. Brownlow that the thing +to hear was Sir Guy singing glees with Laura and Amy. Of course, they +were obliged to sing. Mrs. Brownlow was delighted; and as she had +considerable knowledge of music, they all grew eager and Philip thought +it very foolish of Guy to allow so much of his talent and enthusiasm to +display themselves. + +When all the people were gone, and the home party had wished each other +good-night, Philip lingered in the drawing-room to finish a letter. Guy, +after helping Charles up-stairs, came down a few moments after, to fetch +something which he had forgotten. Philip looked up,--'You contributed +greatly to the entertainment this evening,' he said. + +Guy coloured, not quite sure that this was not said sarcastically, and +provoked with himself for being vexed. + +'You think one devoid of the sixth sense has no right to speak,' said +Philip. + +'I can't expect all to think it, as I do, one of the best things in this +world or out of it,' said Guy, speaking quickly. + +'I know it is so felt by those who understand its secrets,' said Philip. +'I would not depreciate it; so you may hear me patiently, Guy. I only +meant to warn you, that it is often the means of bringing persons into +undesirable intimacies, from which they cannot disentangle themselves as +easily as they enter them.' + +A flush crossed Guy's cheek, but it passed, and he simply said--'I +suppose it may. Good-night.' + +Philip looked after him, and pondered on what it was that had annoyed +him--manner, words, or advice. He ascribed it to Guy's unwillingness to +be advised, since he had observed that his counsel was apt to irritate +him, though his good sense often led him to follow it. In the present +case, Philip thought Mrs. Brownlow and her society by no means desirable +for a youth like Guy; and he was quite right. + +Philip and his friend went the next morning; and in the afternoon Laura +received the book of algebra--a very original first gift from a lover. +It came openly, with a full understanding that she was to use it by his +recommendation; her mother and brother both thought they understood the +motive, which one thought very wise, and the other very characteristic. + +Lord Kilcoran and Lady Eveleen also departed. Eveleen very sorry to go, +though a little comforted by the prospect of seeing Laura so soon +in Ireland, where she would set her going in all kinds of +'rationalities--reading, and school teaching, and everything else.' + +'Ay,' said Charles, when all were out of hearing but his mother; 'and +I shrewdly suspect the comfort would be still greater if it was Sir Guy +Morville who was coming.' + +'It would be no bad thing,' said his mother: 'Eveleen is a nice creature +with great capabilities.' + +'Capabilities! but will they ever come to anything?' + +'In a few years,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'and he is a mere boy at +present, so there is plenty of time for both to develop themselves.' + +'Most true, madame mere; but it remains to be proved whether the liking +for Sir Guy, which has taken hold of my lady Eveleen, is strong enough +to withstand all the coquetting with young Irishmen, and all the idling +at Kilcoran.' + +'I hope she has something better to be relied on than the liking for Sir +Guy.' + +'You may well do so, for I think he has no notion of throwing off his +allegiance to you--his first and only love. He liked very well to make +fun with Eva; but he regarded her rather as a siren, who drew him off +from his Latin and Greek.' + +'Yes; I am ashamed of myself for such a fit of match-making! Forget it, +Charlie, as fast as you can.' + + + + +CHAPTER 11 + + This warld's wealth, when I think o't, + Its pride, and a' the lave o't, + Fie, fie on silly coward man, + That he should be the slave o't. + --BURNS + + +In another week Mr. Edmonstone and his eldest daughter were to depart +on their Irish journey. Laura, besides the natural pain in leaving home, +was sorry to be no longer near Philip, especially as it was not likely +that he would be still at Broadstone on their return; yet she was so +restless and dissatisfied, that any change was welcome, and the fear of +betraying herself almost took away the pleasure of his presence. + +He met them at the railway station at Broadstone, where Mr. Edmonstone, +finding himself much too early, recollected something he had forgotten +in the town, and left his daughter to walk up and down the platform +under Philip's charge. They felt it a precious interval, but both were +out of spirits, and could hardly profit by it. + +'You will be gone long before we come back,' said Laura. + +'In a fortnight or three weeks, probably.' + +'But you will still be able to come to Hollywell now and then?' + +'I hope so. It is all the pleasure I can look for. We shall never see +such a summer again.' + +'Oh, it has been a memorable one!' + +'Memorable! Yes. It has given me an assurance that compensates for all +I have lost; yet it has made me feel, more than ever before, how poverty +withers a man's hopes.' + +'O Philip, I always thought your poverty a great, noble thing!' + +'You thought like a generous-tempered girl who has known nothing of its +effects.' + +'And do you know that Guy says the thing to be proud of is of holding +the place you do, without the aid of rank or riches.' + +'I would not have it otherwise--I would not for worlds that my father +had acted otherwise,' said Philip. 'You understand that, Laura.' + +'Of course I do.' + +'But when you speak--when Guy speaks of my holding the place I do, you +little know what it is to feel that powers of usefulness are wasted--to +know I have the means of working my way to honour and distinction, such +as you would rejoice in Laura, to have it all within, yet feel it thrown +away. Locksley Hall, again--"every door is barred with gold, and opens +but to golden keys.'" + +'I wish there was anything to be done,' said Laura. + +'It is my profession that is the bar to everything. I have sold the best +years of my life, and for what? To see my sister degrade herself by that +marriage.' + +'That is the real grief,' said Laura. + +'But for that, I should never have cast a look back on what I +relinquished. However, why do I talk of these things, these vain +regrets? They only occurred because my welfare does not concern myself +alone--and here's your father.' + +Mr. Edmonstone returned, out of breath, in too much bustle remark his +daughter's blushes. Even when the train was moving off, he still had +his head out at the window, calling to Philip that they should expect +a visit from him as soon as ever they returned. Such cordiality gave +Philip a pang; and in bitterness of spirit he walked back to the +barracks. On the way he met Mrs. Deane who wanted to consult him about +inviting his cousin, Sir Guy to a dinner-party she intended to give next +week. 'Such an agreeable, sensible youth, and we feel we owe him some +attention, he took so much pains to make apologies about the ball.' + +'I dare say he will be very happy to come.' + +'We will write at once. He is a very fine young man, without a shade of +vanity or nonsense.' + +'Yes; he has very pleasant, unaffected manners.' + +'I am sure he will do credit to his estate. It is a very handsome +fortune, is it not?' + +'It is a very large property.' + +'I am glad of it; I have no doubt we shall see him one of the first men +of his time.' + +These words brought into contrast in Philip's mind the difference +between Guy's position and his own. The mere possession of wealth was +winning for Guy, at an age when his merits could only be negative, that +estimation which his own tried character had scarcely achieved, placing +him not merely on a level with himself, but in a situation where +happiness and influence came unbidden. His own talents, attainments, and +equal, if not superior claims, to gentle blood, could not procure him +what seemed to lie at Guy's feet. His own ability and Laura's heart +alone were what wealth could not affect; yet when he thought how the +want of it wasted the one, and injured the hopes of the other, he +recurred to certain visions of his sister Margaret's, in days gone +by, of what he was to do as Sir Philip, lord of Redclyffe. He was +speculating on what would have happened had Guy died in his sickly +infancy, when, suddenly recollecting himself, he turned his mind to +other objects. + +Guy was not much charmed with Mrs. Deane's invitation. He said he knew +he must go to make up for his rudeness about the ball; but he grumbled +enough to make Mrs. Edmonstone laugh at him for being so stupid as +to want to stay hum-drum in the chimney corner. No doubt it was very +pleasant there. There was that peculiar snugness which belongs to a +remnant of a large party, when each member of it feels bound to prevent +the rest from being dull. Guy devoted himself to Charles more than +ever, and in the fear that he might miss the late variety of amusement, +exerted even more of his powers of entertainment than Lady Eveleen had +called forth. + +There were grave readings in the mornings, and long walks in the +afternoons, when he dragged Charles, in his chair, into many a place he +had never expected to see again, and enabled him to accompany his mother +and sisters in many a delightful expedition. In the evening there was +music, or light reading, especially poetry, as this was encouraged by +Mrs. Edmonstone, in the idea that it was better that so excitable and +enthusiastic a person as Guy should have his objects of admiration +tested by Charles's love of ridicule. + +Mr. Edmonstone had left to Guy the office of keeping the 1st of +September, one which he greatly relished. Indeed, when he thought of his +own deserted manors, he was heard to exclaim, in commiseration for the +neglect, 'Poor partridges!' The Hollywell shooting was certainly not +like that at Redclyffe, where he could hardly walk out of his own +grounds, whereas here he had to bear in mind so many boundaries, that +Philip was expecting to have to help him out of some direful scrape. He +had generally walked over the whole extent, and assured himself that the +birds were very wild, and Bustle the best of dogs, before breakfast, so +as to be ready for all the occupations of the day. He could scarcely be +grateful when the neighbours, thinking it must be very dull for him to +be left alone with Mrs. Edmonstone and her crippled son, used to ask +him to shoot or dine. He always lamented at first, and ended by enjoying +himself. + +One night, he came home, in such a state of eagerness, that he must +needs tell his good news; and, finding no one in the drawing-room, he +ran up-stairs, opened Charles's door, and exclaimed--'There's to be a +concert at Broadstone!' Then perceiving that Charles was fast asleep, +he retreated noiselessly, reserving his rejoicings till morning, when it +appeared that Charles had heard, but had woven the announcement into a +dream. + +This concert filled Guy's head. His only grief was that it was to be in +the evening, so that Charles could not go to it; and his wonder was +not repressed at finding that Philip did not mean to favour it with his +presence, since Guy would suffice for squire to Mrs. Edmonstone and her +daughters. + +In fact, Philip was somewhat annoyed by the perpetual conversation about +the concert, and on the day on which it was to take place resolved on +making a long expedition to visit the ruins of an old abbey, far out of +all reports of it. As he was setting out, he was greeted, in a very loud +voice, by Mr. Gordon. + +'Hollo, Morville! how are you? So you have great doings to-night, I +hear!' and he had only just forced himself from him, when he was again +accosted, this time in a hasty, embarrassed manner,-- + +'I beg your pardon, sir, but the ties of relationship--' + +He drew himself up as if he was on parade, faced round, and replied +with an emphatic 'Sir!' as he behold a thin, foreign-looking man, in +a somewhat flashy style of dress, who, bowing low, repeated +breathlessly,-- + +'I beg your pardon--Sir Guy Morville, I believe!' + +'Captain Morville, sir!' + +'I beg your pardon--I mistook. A thousand pardons,' and he retreated; +while Philip, after a moment's wonder, pursued his walk. + +The Hollywell party entered Broadstone in a very different temper, and +greatly did they enjoy the concert, both for themselves and for each +other. In the midst of it, while Amy was intent on the Italian words of +a song, Guy touched her hand, and pointed to a line in the programme-- + + + Solo on the violin.... MR. S. B. DIXON. + + +She looked up in his face with an expression full of inquiry; but it +was no time for speaking, and she only saw how the colour mantled on his +cheek when the violinist appeared, and how he looked down the whole time +of the performance, only now and then venturing a furtive though earnest +glance. + +He did not say anything till they were seated in the carriage, and then +astonished Mrs. Edmonstone by exclaiming-- + +'It must be my uncle!--I am sure it must. I'll ride to Broadstone the +first thing to-morrow, and find him out.' + +'Your uncle!' exclaimed Mrs. Edmonstone. 'I never thought of that.' + +S. B. Dixon,' said Guy. 'I know his name is Sebastian. It cannot be +any one else. You know he went to America. How curious it is! I suppose +there is no fear of his being gone before I can come in to-morrow.' + +'I should think not. Those musical people keep late hours.' + +'I would go before breakfast. Perhaps it would be best to go to old +Redford, he will know all about him; or to the music-shop. I am so glad! +It is the very thing I always wished.' + +'Did you?' said Mrs. Edmonstone to herself. 'I can't say every one would +be of your mind; but I can't help liking you the better for it. I wish +the man had kept further off. I wish Mr. Edmonstone was at home. I hope +no harm will come of it. I wonder what I ought to do. Shall I caution +him? No; I don't think I can spoil his happiness--and perhaps the man +may be improved. He is his nearest relation, and I have no right +to interfere. His own good sense will protect him--but I wish Mr. +Edmonstone was at home.' + +She therefore did not check his expressions of delight, nor object to +his going to Broadstone early the next morning. He had just dismounted +before the inn-yard, when a boy put a note into his hand, and he was so +absorbed in its contents, that he did not perceive Philip till after +two greetings had passed unheard. When at length he was recalled, +he started, and exclaimed, rapturously, as he put the note into his +cousin's hand, + +'See here--it is himself!' + +'Who?' + +'My uncle. My poor mother's own brother.' + +'Sebastian Bach Dixon,' read Philip. 'Ha! it was he who took me for you +yesterday.' + +'I saw him at the concert--I was sure it could be no other. I came in +on purpose to find him, and here he is waiting for me. Is not it a happy +chance?' + +'Happy!' echoed Philip, in a far different tone. + +'How I have longed for this--for any one who could remember and tell me +of her--of my mother--my poor, dear young mother! And her own brother! +I have been thinking of it all night, and he knows I am here, and is as +eager as myself. He is waiting for me,' ended Guy, hurrying off. + +'Stop!' said Philip, gravely. 'Think before acting. I seriously advise +you to have nothing to do with this man, at least personally. Let me see +him, and learn what he wants.' + +'He wants me,' impatiently answered Guy. 'You are not his nephew.' + +'Thank heaven!' thought Philip. 'Do you imagine your relationship is the +sole cause of his seeking you?' + +'I don't know--I don't care!' cried Guy, with vehemence. 'I will not +listen to suspicions of my mother's brother.' + +'It is more than suspicion. Hear me calmly. I speak for your good. I +know this man's influence was fatal to your father. I know he did all in +his power to widen the breach with your grandfather.' + +'That was eighteen years ago,' said Guy, walking on, biting his lip in a +fiery fit of impatience. + +'You will not hear. Remember, that his position and associates render +him no fit companion for you. Nay, listen patiently. You cannot help the +relationship. I would not have you do otherwise than assist him. Let him +not complain of neglect, but be on your guard. He will either seriously +injure you, or be a burden for life.' + +'I have heard you so far--I can hear no more,' said Guy, no longer +restraining his impetuosity. 'He is my uncle, that I know, I care for +nothing else. Position--nonsense! what has that to do with it? I will +not be set against him.' + +He strode off; but in a few moments turned back, overtook Philip, said-- +'Thank you for your advice. I beg your pardon for my hastiness. You mean +kindly, but I must see my uncle.' And, without waiting for an answer, he +was gone. + +In short space he was in the little parlour of the music-shop, shaking +hands with his uncle, and exclaiming,-- + +'I am so glad! I hoped it was you!' + +'It is very noble-hearted! I might have known it would be so with the +son of my dearest sister and of my generous friend!' cried Mr. Dixon, +with eagerness that had a theatrical air, though it was genuine feeling +that filled his eyes with tears. + +'I saw your name last night' continued Guy. 'I would have tried to speak +to you at once, but I was obliged to stay with Mrs. Edmonstone, as I was +the only gentleman with her.' + +'Ah! I thought it possible you might not be able to follow the dictate +of your own heart; but this is a fortunate conjuncture, in the absence +of your guardian.' + +Guy recollected Philip's remonstrance, and it crossed him whether his +guardian might be of the same mind; but he felt confident in having told +all to Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'How did you know I was here?' he asked. + +'I learnt it in a most gratifying way. Mr. Redford, without knowing +our connection--for on that I will always be silent--mentioned that the +finest tenor he had ever known, in an amateur, belonged to his pupil, +Sir Guy Morville. You can imagine my feelings at finding you so near, +and learning that you had inherited your dear mother's talent and +taste.' + +The conversation was long, for there was much to hear. Mr. Dixon had +kept up a correspondence at long intervals with Markham, from whom he +heard that his sister's child survived, and was kindly treated by his +grandfather; and inquiring again on the death of old Sir Guy, learnt +that he was gone to live with his guardian, whose name, and residence +Markham had not thought fit to divulge. He had been much rejoiced to +hear his name from the music-master, and he went on to tell how he had +been misled by the name of Morville into addressing the captain, who had +a good deal of general resemblance to Guy's father, a fine tall young +man, of the same upright, proud deportment. He supposed he was the son +of the Archdeacon, and remembering how strongly his own proceedings +had been discountenanced at Stylehurst, had been much disconcerted, and +deeming the encounter a bad omen, had used more caution in his advances +to his nephew. It was from sincere affection that he sought his +acquaintance, though very doubtful as to the reception he might meet, +and was both delighted and surprised at such unembarrassed, open-hearted +affection. + +The uncle and nephew were not made to understand each other. Sebastian +Dixon was a man of little education, and when, in early youth, his +talents had placed him high in his own line, he had led a careless, +extravagant life. Though an evil friend, and fatal counsellor, he had +been truly attached to Guy's father, and the secret engagement, and +runaway marriage with his beautiful sister, had been the romance of his +life, promoted by him with no selfish end. He was a proud and passionate +man, and resenting Sir Guy's refusal to receive his sister as a +daughter, almost as much as Sir Guy was incensed at the marriage, had +led his brother-in-law to act in a manner which cut off the hope of +reconciliation, and obliged Archdeacon Morville to give up his cause. He +had gloried in supporting his sister and her husband, and enabling them +to set the old baronet at defiance. But young Morville's territorial +pride could not brook that he should be maintained, and especially that +his child, the heir of Redclyffe, should be born while he was living at +the expense of a musician. This feeling, aided by a yearning for home, +and a secret love for his father, mastered his resentment; he took his +resolution, quarrelled with Dixon, and carried off his wife, bent with +desperation on forcing his father into receiving her. + +Sebastian had not surmounted his anger at this step when he learnt its +fatal consequences. Ever since that time, nothing had prospered with +him: he had married and sunk himself lower, and though he had an +excellent engagement, the days were past when he was the fashion, and +his gains and his triumphs were not what they had been. He had a long +list of disappointments and jealousies with which to entertain Guy, who, +on his side, though resolved to like him, and dreading to be too refined +to be friends with his relations, could not feel as thoroughly pleased +as he intended to have been. + +Music was, however, a subject on which they could meet with equal +enthusiasm, and by means of this, together with the aid of his own +imagination, Guy contrived to be very happy. He stayed with his uncle as +long as he could, and promised to spend a day with him in London, on his +way to Oxford, in October. + +The next morning, when Philip knew that Guy would be with his tutor, he +walked to Hollywell, came straight up to his aunt's dressing-room, asked +her to send Charlotte down to practise, and, seating himself opposite to +her, began-- + +'What do you mean to do about this unfortunate rencontre?' + +'Do you mean Guy and his uncle? He is very much pleased, poor boy! I +like his entire freedom from false shame.' + +'A little true shame would be hardly misplaced about such a connection.' + +'It is not his fault, and I hope it will not be his misfortune,' said +Mrs. Edmonstone. + +'That it will certainly be,' replied Philip, 'if we are not on our +guard; and, indeed, if we are, there is little to be done with one so +wilful. I might as well have interfered with the course of a whirlwind.' + +'No, no, Philip; he is too candid to be wilful.' + +'I cannot be of your opinion, when I have seen him rushing into this +acquaintance in spite of the warnings he must have had here--to say +nothing of myself.' + +'Nay, there I must defend him, though you will think me very unwise; I +could not feel that I ought to withhold him from taking some notice of +so near a relation.' + +Philip did think her so unwise, that he could only reply, gravely-- + +'We must hope it may produce no evil effects.' + +'How?' she exclaimed, much alarmed. 'Have you heard anything against +him?' + +'You remember, of course, that Guy's father was regularly the victim of +this Dixon.' + +'Yes, yes; but he has had enough to sober him. Do you know nothing +more?' said Mrs. Edmonstone, growing nervously anxious lest she had been +doing wrong in her husband's absence. + +'I have been inquiring about him from old Redford, and I should judge +him to be a most dangerous companion; as, indeed, I could have told from +his whole air, which is completely that of a roué.' + +'You have seen him, then?' + +'Yes. He paid me the compliment of taking me for Sir Guy, and of course +made off in dismay when he discovered on whom he had fallen. I have +seldom seen a less creditable-looking individual.' + +'But what did Mr. Redford say? Did he know of the connection?' + +'No; I am happy to say he did not. The fellow has decency enough not +to boast of that. Well, Redford did not know much of him personally: he +said he had once been much thought of, and had considerable talent and +execution, but taste changes, or he has lost something, so that, though +he stands tolerably high in his profession, he is not a leader. So much +for his musical reputation. As to his character, he is one of those +people who are called no one's enemy but their own, exactly the +introduction Guy has hitherto happily wanted to every sort of mischief.' + +'I think,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, trying to console herself, 'that Guy is +too much afraid of small faults to be invited by larger evils. While +he punishes himself for an idle word, he is not likely to go wrong in +greater matters.' + +'Not at present.' + +'Is the man in debt or difficulties? Guy heard nothing of that, and I +thought it a good sign.' + +'I don't suppose he is. He ought not, for he has a fixed salary, besides +what he gets by playing at concerts when it is not the London season. +The wasting money on a spendthrift relation would be a far less evil +than what I apprehend.' + +'I wish I knew what to do! It is very unlucky that your uncle is from +home.' + +'Very.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was frightened by the sense of responsibility, and was +only anxious to catch hold of something to direct her. + +'What would you have me do?' she asked, hopelessly. + +'Speak seriously to Guy. He must attend to you: he cannot fly out with a +woman as he does with me. Show him the evils that must result from such +an intimacy. If Dixon was in distress, I would not say a word, for he +would be bound to assist him but as it is, the acquaintance can serve no +purpose but degrading Guy, and showing him the way to evil. Above all, +make a point of his giving up visiting him in London. That is the sure +road to evil. A youth of his age, under the conduct of a worn-out +roué, connected with the theatres! I can hardly imagine anything more +mischievous.' + +'Yes, yes; I will speak to him,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, perfectly +appalled. + +She promised, but she found the fulfilment difficult, in her dislike of +vexing Guy, her fear of saying what was wrong, and a doubt whether the +appearance of persecuting Mr. Dixon was not the very way to prevent +Guy's own good sense from finding out his true character, so she waited, +hoping Mr. Edmonstone might return before Guy went to Oxford, or that he +might write decisively. + +Mrs. Edmonstone might have known her husband better than to expect him +to write decisively when he had neither herself nor Philip at his elbow. +The same post had brought him a letter from Guy, mentioning his meeting +with his uncle, and frankly explaining his plans for London; another +from Philip, calling on him to use all his authority to prevent this +intercourse, and a third from his wife. Bewildered between them, he took +them to his sister, who, being as puzzle-headed as himself, and only +hearing his involved history of the affair, confused him still more; so +he wrote to Philip, saying he was sorry the fellow had turned up, but he +would guard against him. He told Guy he was sorry to say that his uncle +used to be a sad scamp, and he must take care, or it would be his poor +father's story over again; and to Mrs. Edmonstone he wrote that it was +very odd that everything always did go wrong when he was away. + +He thought these letters a great achievement, but his wife's perplexity +was not materially relieved. + +After considering a good while, she at length spoke to Guy; but it was +not at a happy time, for Philip, despairing of her, had just taken on +himself to remonstrate, and had angered him to the verge of an outbreak. + +Mrs. Edmonstone, as mildly as she could, urged on him that such +intercourse could bring him little satisfaction, and might be very +inconvenient; that his uncle was in no distress, and did not require +assistance; and that it was too probable that in seeking him out he +might meet with persons who might unsettle his principles,--in short, +that he had much better give up the visit to London. + +'This is Philip's advice,' said Guy. + +'It is; but--' + +Guy looked impatient, and she paused. + +'You must forgive me,' he said, 'if I follow my own judgment. If Mr. +Edmonstone chose to lay his commands on me, I suppose I must submit; but +I cannot see that I am bound to obey Philip.' + +'Not to obey, certainly; but his advice--' + +'He is prejudiced and unjust,' said Guy. + +'I don't believe that my uncle would attempt to lead me into bad +company; and surely you would not have me neglect or look coldly on one +who was so much attached to my parents. If he is not a gentleman, and is +looked down on by the world, it is not for his sister's son to make him +conscious of it.' + +'I like your feelings, Guy; I can say nothing against it, but that I am +much afraid your uncle is not highly principled.' + +'You have only Philip's account of him.' + +'You are resolved?' + +'Yes. I do not like not to take your advice, but I do believe this is my +duty. I do not think my determination is made in self-will,' said Guy, +thoughtfully; 'I cannot think that I ought to neglect my uncle, because +I happen to have been born in a different station, which is all I have +heard proved against him,' he added, smiling. 'You will forgive me, will +you not, for not following your advice? for really and truly, if you +will let me say so, I think you would not have given it if Philip had +not been talking to you.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone confessed, with a smile, that perhaps it was so; but +said she trusted much to Philip's knowledge of the world. Guy agreed to +this; though still declaring Philip had no right to set him against his +uncle, and there the discussion ended. + +Guy went to London. Philip thought him very wilful, and his aunt very +weak; and Mr. Edmonstone, on coming home, said it could not be helped, +and he wished to hear no more about the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER 12 + + Her playful smile, her buoyance wild, + Bespeak the gentle, mirthful child; + But in her forehead's broad expanse, + Her chastened tones, her thoughtful glance, + Is mingled, with the child's light glee, + The modest maiden's dignity. + + +One summer's day, two years after the ball and review, Mary Ross and her +father were finishing their early dinner, when she said,-- + +'If you don't want me this afternoon, papa, I think I shall walk to +Hollywell. You know Eveleen de Courcy is there.' + +'No, I did not. What has brought her?' + +'As Charles expresses it, she has over-polked herself in London, and is +sent here for quiet and country air. I want to call on her, and to +ask Sir Guy to give me some idea as to the singing the children should +practise for the school-feast?' + +'Then you think Sir Guy will come to the feast?' + +'I reckon on him to conceal all the deficiencies in the children's +singing.' + +'He won't desert you, as he did Mrs. Brownlow?' + +'O papa! you surely did not think him to blame in that affair?' + +'Honestly, Mary, if I thought about the matter at all, I thought it a +pity he should go so much to the Brownlows.' + +'I believe I could tell you the history, if you thought it worth while; +and though it may be gossip, I should like you to do justice to Sir +Guy.' + +'Very well; though I don't think there is much danger of my doing +otherwise. I only wondered he should become intimate there at all.' + +'I believe Mrs. Edmonstone thinks it right he should see as much of the +world as possible, and not be always at home in their own set.' + +'Fair and proper.' + +'You know she has shown him all the people she could,--had Eveleen +staying there, and the Miss Nortons, and hunted him out to parties, when +he had rather have been at home.' + +'I thought he was fond of society. I remember your telling me how amused +you were with his enjoyment of his first ball.' + +'Ah! he was two years younger then, and all was new. He seems to me too +deep and sensitive not to find more pain than pleasure in commonplace +society. I have sometimes seen that he cannot speak either lightly or +harshly of what he disapproves, and people don't understand him. I was +once sitting next him, when there was some talking going on about an +elopement; he did not laugh, looked almost distressed, and at last said +in a very low voice, to me, "I wish people would not laugh about such +things."' + +'He is an extraordinary mixture of gaiety of heart, and seriousness.' + +'Well, when Mrs. Brownlow had her nieces with her, and was giving those +musical parties, his voice made him valuable; and Mrs. Edmonstone told +him he ought to go to them. I believe he liked it at first, but he found +there was no end to it; it took up a great deal of time, and was a style +of thing altogether that was not desirable. Mrs Edmonstone thought at +first his reluctance was only shyness and stay-at-home nonsense, that +ought to be overcome; but when she had been there, and saw how Mrs. +Brownlow beset him, and the unpleasant fuss they made about his singing, +she quite came round to his mind, and was very sorry she had exposed him +to so much that was disagreeable.' + +'Well, Mary, I am glad to hear your account. My impression arose from +something Philip Morville said.' + +'Captain Morville never can approve of anything Sir Guy does! It is not +like Charles.' + +'How improved Charles Edmonstone is. He has lost that spirit of repining +and sarcasm, and lives as if he had an object.' + +'Yes; he employs himself now, and teaches Amy to do the same. You know, +after the governess went, we were afraid little Amy would never do +anything but wait on Charles, and idle in her pretty gentle way; but +when he turned to better things so did she, and her mind has been +growing all this time. Perhaps you don't see it, for she has not lost +her likeness to a kitten, and looks all demure silence with the elders, +but she takes in what the wise say.' + +'She is a very good little thing; and I dare say will not be the worse +for growing up slowly.' + +'Those two sisters are specimens of fast and slow growth. Laura +has always seemed to be so much more than one year older than Amy, +especially of late. She is more like five-and-twenty than twenty. I +wonder if she overworks herself. But how we have lingered over our +dinner!' + +By half-past three, Mary was entering a copse which led into Mr. +Edmonstone's field, when she heard gay tones, and a snatch of one of the +sweetest of old songs,-- + + Weep no more, lady; lady, weep no more, + Thy sorrow is in vain; + For violets pluck'd, the sweetest showers + Will ne'er make grow again. + +A merry, clear laugh followed, and a turn in the path showed her Guy, +Amy, and Charlotte, busy over a sturdy stock of eglantine. Guy, little +changed in these two years,--not much taller, and more agile than +robust,--was lopping vigorously with his great pruning-knife, Amabel +nursing a bundle of drooping rose branches, Charlotte, her bonnet in a +garland of wild sweet-brier, holding the matting and continually getting +entangled in the long thorny wreaths. + +'And here comes the "friar of orders gray," to tell you so,' exclaimed +Guy, as Mary, in her gray dress, came on them. + +'Oh, that is right, dear good friar,' cried Amy. + +'We are so busy,' said Charlotte; 'Guy has made Mr. Markham send all +these choice buds from Redclyffe.' + +'Not from the park,' said Guy, 'we don't deal much in gardening; but +Markham is a great florist, and these are his bounties.' + +'And are you cutting that beautiful wild rose to pieces?' + +'Is it not a pity?' said Amy. 'We have used up all the stocks in the +garden, and this is to be transplanted in the autumn.' + +'She has been consoling it all the time by telling it it is for its +good,' said Guy; 'cutting off wild shoots, and putting in better +things.' + +'I never said anything so pretty; and, after all, I don't know that the +grand roses will be equal to these purple shoots and blushing buds with +long whiskers.' + +'So Sir Guy was singing about the violets plucked to comfort you. But +you must not leave off, I want to see how you do it. I am gardener +enough to like to look on.' + +'We have only two more to put in.' + +Knife and fingers were busy, and Mary admired the dexterity with which +the slit was made in the green bark, well armed with firm red thorns, +and the tiny scarlet gem inserted, and bound with cotton and matting. +At the least critical parts of the work, she asked after the rest of +the party, and was answered that papa had driven Charles out in the pony +carriage, and that Laura and Eveleen were sitting on the lawn, reading +and working with mamma. Eveleen was better, but not strong, or equal to +much exertion in the heat. Mary went on to speak of her school feast and +ask her questions. + +'O Guy, you must not go before that!' cried Charlotte. + +'Are you going away?' + +'He is very naughty, indeed,' said Charlotte. 'He is going, I don't know +where all, to be stupid, and read mathematics.' + +'A true bill, I am sorry to say,' said Guy; 'I am to join a +reading-party for the latter part of the vacation.' + +'I hope not before Thursday week, though we are not asking you to +anything worth staying for.' + +'Oh, surely you need not go before that!' said Amy, 'need you?' + +'No; I believe I may stay till Friday, and I should delight in the +feast, thank you, Miss Ross,--I want to study such things. A bit more +matting, Amy, if you please. There, I think that will do.' + +'Excellently. Here is its name. See how neatly Charlie has printed it, +Mary. Is it not odd, that he prints so well when he writes so badly?' + +'"The Seven Sisters." There, fair sisterhood, grow and thrive, till I +come to transplant you in the autumn. Are there any more?' + +'No, that is the last. Now, Mary, let us come to mamma.' + +Guy waited to clear the path of the numerous trailing briery branches, +and the others walked on, Amy telling how sorry they were to lose Guy's +vacation, but that he thought he could not give time enough to +his studies here, and had settled, at Oxford, to make one of a +reading-party, under the tutorship of his friend, Mr. Wellwood. + +'Where do they go?' + +'It is not settled. Guy wished it to be the sea-side; but Philip has +been recommending a farmhouse in Stylehurst parish, rather nearer St. +Mildred's Wells than Stylehurst, but quite out in the moor, and an +immense way from both.' + +'Do you think it will be the place?' + +'Yes; Guy thinks it would suit Mr. Wellwood, because he has friends at +St. Mildred's, so he gave his vote for it. He expects to hear how it is +settled to-day or to-morrow.' + +Coming out on the lawn, they found the three ladies sitting under the +acacia, with their books and work. Laura did, indeed, look older than +her real age, as much above twenty as Amy looked under nineteen. She +was prettier than ever; her complexion exquisite in delicacy, her fine +figure and the perfect outline of her features more developed; but the +change from girl to woman had passed over her, and set its stamp on the +anxious blue eye, and almost oppressed brow. Mary thought it would be +hard to define where was that difference. It was not want of bloom, +for of that Laura had more than any of the others, fresh, healthy, +and bright, while Amy was always rather pale, and Lady Eveleen was +positively wan and faded by London and late hours; nor was it loss of +animation, for Laura talked and laughed with interest and eagerness; nor +was it thought, for little Amy, when at rest, wore a meditative, pensive +countenance; but there was something either added or taken away, which +made it appear that the serenity and carelessness of early youth had +fled from her, and the air of the cares of life had come over her. + +Mary told her plans,--Church service at four, followed by a tea-drinking +in the fields; tea in the garden for the company, and play for the +school children and all who liked to join them. Every one likes such +festivals, which have the recommendation of permitting all to do as they +please, bringing friends together in perfect ease and freedom, with +an object that raises them above the rank of mere gatherings for the +pleasure of rich neighbours. + +Mrs. Edmonstone gladly made the engagement and Lady Eveleen promised to +be quite well, and to teach the children all manner of new games, though +she greatly despised the dullness of English children, and had many +droll stories of the stupidity of Laura's pupils, communicated to +her, with perhaps a little exaggeration, by Charles, and still further +embellished by herself, for the purpose of exciting Charlotte's +indignation. + +Mary proceeded to her consultation about the singing, and was +conducted by Guy and Amy to the piano, and when her ears could not be +indoctrinated by their best efforts, they more than half engaged to walk +to East-hill, and have a conversation with the new school-master, whom +Mary pitied for having fallen on people so unable to appreciate his +musical training as herself and her father. The whole party walked back +with her as far as the shade lasted; and at the end of the next field +she turned, saw them standing round the stile, thought what happy people +they were, and then resumed her wonder whither Laura's youthfulness had +flown. + +The situation of Philip and Laura had not changed. His regiment had +never been at any great distance from Hollywell, and he often came, +venturing more as Laura learnt to see him with less trepidation. He +seldom or never was alone with her; but his influence was as strong as +ever, and look, word, and gesture, which she alone could understand, +told her what she was to him, and revealed his thoughts. To him she was +devoted, all her doings were with a view to please him, and deserve his +affection; he was her world, and sole object. Indeed, she was sometimes +startled by perceiving that tenderly as she loved her own family, all +were subordinate to him. She had long since known the true name of her +feelings for him; she could not tell when or how the certainty had come, +but she was conscious that it was love that they had acknowledged for +one another and that she only lived in the light of his love. Still she +did not realize the evil of concealment; it was so deep a sensation of +her innermost heart, that she never could imagine revealing it to any +living creature, and she had besides so surrendered her judgment to her +idol, that no thought could ever cross her that he had enjoined what was +wrong. Her heart and soul were his alone, and she left the future to him +without an independent desire or reflection. All the embarrassments and +discomforts which her secret occasioned her were met willingly for +his sake, and these were not a few, though time had given her more +self-command, or, perhaps, more properly speaking, had hardened her. + +She always had a dread of tete-a-tetes and conversations over novels, +and these were apt to be unavoidable when Eveleen was at Hollywell. +The twilight wanderings on the terrace were a daily habit, and Eveleen +almost always paired with her. On this evening in particular, Laura was +made very uncomfortable by Eveleen's declaring that it was positively +impossible and unnatural that the good heroine of some novel should have +concealed her engagement from her parents. Laura could not help saying +that there might be many excuses; then afraid that she was exciting +suspicion, changed the subject in great haste, and tried to make Eveleen +come indoors, telling her she would tire herself to death, and vexed +by her cousin's protestations that the fresh cool air did her good. +Besides, Eveleen was looking with attentive eyes at another pair +who were slowly walking up and down the shady walk that bordered the +grass-plot, and now and then standing still to enjoy the subdued silence +of the summer evening, and the few distant sounds that marked the +perfect lull. + +'How calm--how beautiful!' murmured Amabel. + +'It only wants the low solemn surge and ripple of the tide, and its dash +on the rocks,' said Guy. 'If ever there was music, it is there; but it +makes one think what the ear must be that can take in the whole of those +harmonics.' + +'How I should like to hear it!' + +'And see it. O Amy! to show you the sunny sea,--the sense of breadth +and vastness in that pale clear horizon line, and the infinite number of +fields of light between you and it,--and the free feelings as you stand +on some high crag, the wind blowing in your face across half the globe, +and the waves dashing far below! I am growing quite thirsty for the +sea.' + +'You know, papa said something about your taking your reading-party to +Redclyffe.' + +'True, but I don't think Markham would like it, and it would put old +Mrs. Drew into no end of a fuss.' + +'Not like to have you?' + +'O yes, I should be all very well; but if they heard I was bringing +three or four men with me, they would think them regular wild beasts. +They would be in an awful fright. Besides, it is so long since I have +been at home, that I don't altogether fancy going there till I settle +there for good.' + +'Ah! it will be sad going there at first.' + +'And it has not been my duty yet.' + +'But you will be glad when you get there?' + +'Sha'n't I? I wonder if any one has been to shoot the rabbits on the +shag rock. They must have quite overrun it by this time. But I don't +like the notion of the first day. There is not only the great change, +but a stranger at the vicarage.' + +'Do you know anything about the new clergyman? I believe Mrs. Ashford is +a connection of Lady Thorndale's?' + +'Yes; Thorndale calls them pattern people, and I have no doubt they will +do great good in the parish. I am sure we want some enlightenment, for +we are a most primitive race, and something beyond Jenny Robinson's dame +school would do us no harm.' + +Here Mr. Edmonstone called from the window that they must come in. + +Mrs. Edmonstone thought deeply that night. She had not forgotten her +notion that Eveleen was attracted by Guy's manners, and had been curious +to see what would happen when Eveleen was sent to Hollywell for country +air. + +She had a very good opinion of Lady Eveleen. Since the former visit, +she had shown more spirit of improvement, and laid aside many little +follies; she had put herself under Laura's guidance, and tamed down into +what gave the promise of a sensible woman, more than anything that had +hitherto been observed in her; and little addicted to match-making as +Mrs. Edmonstone was, she could not help thinking that Eva was almost +worthy of her dear Guy (she never could expect to find anyone she should +think quite worthy of him, he was too like one of her own children for +that), and on the other hand, how delighted Lord and Lady Kilcoran would +be. It was a very pretty castle in the air; but in the midst of it, the +notion suddenly darted into Mrs. Edmonstone's head, that while she was +thinking of it, it was Amy, not Eveleen, who was constantly with Guy. +Reading and music, roses, botany, and walks on the terrace! She looked +back, and it was still the same. Last Easter vacation, how they used +to study the stars in the evening, to linger in the greenhouse in +the morning nursing the geraniums, and to practise singing over the +school-room piano; how, in a long walk, they always paired together; and +how they seemed to share every pursuit or pleasure. + +Now Mrs. Edmonstone was extremely fond of Guy, and trusted him entirely; +but she thought she ought to consider how far this should be allowed. +Feeling that he ought to see more of the world, she had sent him as +much as she could into society, but it had only made him cling closer to +home. Still he was but twenty, it was only a country neighbourhood, and +there was much more for him to see before he could fairly be supposed +to know his own mind. She knew he would act honourably; but she had a +horror of letting him entangle himself with her daughter before he was +fairly able to judge of his own feelings. Or, if this was only behaving +with a brother's freedom and confidence, Mrs. Edmonstone felt it was not +safe for her poor little Amy, who might learn so to depend on him as +to miss him grievously when this intimacy ceased, as it must when he +settled at his own home. It would be right, while it was still time, to +make her remember that they were not brother and sister, and by checking +their present happy, careless, confidential intercourse, to save her +from the chill which seemed to have been cast on Laura. Mrs. Edmonstone +was the more anxious, because she deeply regretted not having been +sufficiently watchful in Laura's case, and perhaps she felt an +unacknowledged conviction that if there was real love on Guy's part, it +would not be hurt by a little reserve on Amy's. Yet to have to speak +to her little innocent daughter on such a matter disturbed her so much, +that she could hardly have set about it, if Amy had not, at that very +moment, knocked at her door. + +'My dear, what has kept you up so late?' + +'We have been sitting in Eveleen's room, mamma, hearing about her London +life; and then we began to settle our plans for to-morrow, and I came to +ask what you think of them. You know Guy has promised to go and hear +the East-hill singing, and we were proposing, if you did not mind it, +to take the pony-carriage and the donkey, and go in the morning to +East-hill, have luncheon, and get Mary to go with us to the top of the +great down, where we have never been. Guy has been wanting us, for a +long time past, to go and see the view, and saying there is a track +quite smooth enough to drive Charlie to the top.' + +Amy wondered at her mother's look of hesitation. In fact, the scheme was +so accordant with their usual habits that it was impossible to find any +objection; yet it all hinged on Guy, and the appointment at East-hill +might lead to a great many more. + +'Do you wish us to do anything else, mamma? We don't care about it.' + +'No, my dear,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'I see no reason against it. +But--' and she felt as if she was making a desperate plunge, 'there is +something I want to say to you.' + +Amy stood ready to hear, but Mrs. Edmonstone paused. Another effort, and +she spoke:-- + +'Amy, my dear, I don't wish to find fault, but I thought of advising you +to take care. About Guy--' + +The very brilliant pink which instantly overspread Amy's face made her +mother think her warning more expedient. + +'You have been spending a great deal of time with him of late, very +sensibly and pleasantly, I know; I don't blame you at all, my dear, so +you need not look distressed. I only want you to be careful. You know, +though we call him cousin, he is scarcely a relation at all.' + +'O mamma, don't go on,' said poor little Amy, hurriedly; 'indeed I am +very sorry!' + +For Amy understood that it was imputed to her that she had been forward +and unmaidenly. Mrs. Edmonstone saw her extreme distress, and, grieved +at the pain she had inflicted, tried to reassure her as much as might be +safe. + +'Indeed, my dear, you have done nothing amiss. I only intended to tell +you to be cautious for fear you should get into a way of going on which +might not look well. Don't make any great difference, I only meant that +there should not be quite so much singing and gardening alone with him, +or walking in the garden in the evening. You can manage to draw back a +little, so as to keep more with me or with Laura, and I think that will +be the best way.' + +Every word, no matter what, increased the burning of poor Amy's cheeks. +A broad accusation of flirting would have been less distressing to many +girls than this mild and delicate warning was to one of such shrinking +modesty and maidenly feeling. She had a sort of consciousness that she +enjoyed partaking in his pursuits, and this made her sense of confusion +and shame overwhelming. What had she been thoughtlessly doing? She could +not speak, she could not look. Her mother put her arm round her, and Amy +hid her head on her shoulder, and held her fast. Mrs. Edmonstone kissed +and caressed the little fluttering bird, then saying, 'Good night, my +own dear child,' unloosed her embrace. + +'Good night, dear mamma,' whispered Amy. 'I am very sorry.' + +'You need not be sorry, my dear, only be careful. Good night.' And it +would be hard to say whether the mother or the daughter had the hottest +cheeks. + +Poor little Amy! what was her dismay as she asked herself, again and +again, what she had been doing and what she was to do? The last was +plain,--she knew what was right, and do it she must. There would be an +end of much that was pleasant, and a fresh glow came over her as she +owned how very, very pleasant; but if it was not quite the thing,--if +mamma did not approve, so it must be. True, all her doings received +their zest from Guy,--her heart bounded at the very sound of his +whistle, she always heard his words through all the din of a whole +party,--nothing was complete without him, nothing good without his +without his approval,--but so much the more shame for her. It was a +kind of seeking him which was of all things the most shocking. So there +should be an end of it,--never mind the rest! Amy knelt down, and prayed +that she might keep her resolution. + +She did not know how much of her severity towards herself was learned +from the example that had been two years before her. Nor did she think +whether the seeking had been mutual; she imagined it all her own doing, +and did not guess that she would give pain to Guy by withdrawing herself +from him. + +The morning gave vigour to her resolution, and when Laura came to ask +what mamma thought of their project, Amy looked confused--said she +did not know--she believed it would not do. But just then in came her +mother, to say she had been considering of the expedition, and meant to +join it herself. Amy understood, blushed, and was silently grateful. + +When Laura wanted to alter her demeanour towards Guy, being perfectly +cool, and not in the least conscious, she had acted with great judgment, +seen exactly what to do, and what to leave undone, so as to keep up +appearances. But it was not so with Amy. She was afraid of herself, +and was in extremes. She would not come down till the last moment, +that there might be no talking in the window. She hardly spoke at +breakfast-time, and adhered closely to Laura and Eveleen when +they wandered in the garden. Presently Charles looked out from the +dressing-room window, calling,-- + +'Amy, Guy is ready to read.' + +'I can't come. Read without me,' she answered, hoping Charlie would not +be vexed, and feeling her face light up again. + +The hour for the expedition came, and Amy set off walking with Laura, +because Guy was with Mrs. Edmonstone; but presently, after holding open +a gate for Charlotte, who was on the donkey, he came up to the sisters, +and joined in the conversation. Amy saw something in the hedge--a +foxglove, she believed--it would have done as well if it had been a +nettle--she stopped to gather it, hoping to fall behind them, but they +waited for her. She grew silent, but Guy appealed to her. She ran on to +Charlotte and her donkey, but at the next gate Guy had joined company +again. At last she put herself under her mother's wing, and by keeping +with her did pretty well all the time she was at East-hill. But when +they went on, she was riding the donkey, and it, as donkeys always are, +was resolved on keeping a-head of the walkers, so that as Guy kept by +her side, it was a more absolute tete-a-tete than ever. + +At the top of the hill they found a fine view, rich and extensive, broad +woods, fields waving with silvery barley, trim meadows, fair hazy blue +distance, and a dim line of sea beyond. This, as Amy knew, was Guy's +delight, and further, what she would not tell herself, was that he +chiefly cared for showing it to her. It was so natural to call him to +admire everything beautiful, and ask if it was equal to Redclyffe, that +she found herself already turning to him to participate in his pleasure, +as he pointed out all that was to be seen; but she recollected, blushed, +and left her mother to speak. He had much to show. There was a hanging +wood on one side of the hill, whence he had brought her more than one +botanical prize, and she must now visit their native haunts. It was too +great a scramble for Mrs. Edmonstone, with all her good will; Eveleen +was to be kept still, and not to tire herself; Laura did not care for +botany, nor love brambles, and Amy was obliged to stand and look into +the wood, saying, 'No, thank you, I don't think I can,' and then run +back to Mary and Charles; while Charlotte was loudly calling out that it +was delightful fun, and that she was very stupid. In another minute Guy +had overtaken her, and in his gentle, persuasive voice, was telling her +it was very easy, and she must come and see the bird's-nest orchises. +She would have liked it above all things, but she thought it very kind +of Guy not to seem angry when she said, 'No, thank you.' + +Mary, after what she had seen yesterday, could not guess at the real +reason, or she would have come with her; but she thought Amy was tired, +and would rather not. Poor Amy was tired, very tired, before the walk +was over, but her weary looks made it worse, for Guy offered her his +arm. 'No thank you,' she said, 'I am getting on very well;' and she +trudged on resolutely, for her mother was in the carriage, and to lag +behind the others would surely make him keep with her. + +Mrs. Edmonstone was very sorry for her fatigue, but Amy found it a good +excuse for not wandering in the garden, or joining in the music. It +had been a very uncomfortable day; she hoped she had done right; at any +rate, she had the peaceful conviction of having tried to do so. + +The next day, Amy was steady to her resolution. No reading with the two +youths, though Charles scolded her; sitting in her room till Guy was +gone out, going indoors as soon as she heard him return, and in the +evening staying with Charles when her sisters and cousins went out; but +this did not answer, for Guy came and sat by them. She moved away as +soon as possible, but the more inclined she was to linger, the more she +thought she ought to go; so murmuring something about looking for Laura, +she threw on her scarf, and sprung to the window. Her muslin caught on +the bolt, she turned, Guy was already disentangling it, and she met +his eye. It was full of anxious, pleading inquiry, which to her seemed +upbraiding, and, not knowing what to do, she exclaimed, hurriedly, +'Thank you; no harm done!' and darted into the garden, frightened +to feel her face glowing and her heart throbbing. She could not help +looking back to see if he was following. No, he was not attempting it; +he was leaning against the window, and on she hastened, the perception +dawning on her that she was hurting him; he might think her rude, +unkind, capricious, he who had always been so kind to her, and when he +was going away so soon. 'But it is right; it must be done,' said little +Amy to herself, standing still, now that she was out of sight. 'If I +was wrong before, I must bear it now, and he will see the rights of it +sooner or later. The worst of all would be my not doing the very _most_ +_right_ to please any body. Besides he can't really care for missing +silly little Amy when he has mamma and Charlie. And he is going away, so +it will be easier to begin right when he comes back. Be that as it may, +it must be done. I'll get Charlie to tell me what he was saying about +the painted glass.' + + + + +CHAPTER 13 + + Oh, thou child of many prayers! + Life hath quicksands--life hath snares-- + Care and age come unawares. + + Like the swell of some sweet tune, + Morning rises into noon, + May glides onward into June. + --Longfellow + + +'What is the matter with Amy? What makes her so odd?' asked Charles, as +his mother came to wish him good night. + +'Poor little dear! don't take any notice,' was all the answer he +received; and seeing that he was to be told no more, he held his peace. + +Laura understood without being told. She, too, had thought Guy and Amy +were a great deal together, and combining various observations, she +perceived that her mother must have given Amy a caution. She therefore +set herself, like a good sister, to shelter Amy as much as she could, +save her from awkward situations, and, above all, to prevent her altered +manner from being remarked. This was the less difficult, as Eveleen was +subdued and languid, and more inclined to lie on the sofa and read than +to look out for mirth. + +As to poor little Amy, her task was in one way become less hard, for Guy +had ceased to haunt her, and seemed to make it his business to avoid all +that could cause her embarrassment; but in another way it hurt her +much more, for she now saw the pain she was causing. If obliged to do +anything for her, he would give a look as if to ask pardon, and then +her rebellious heart would so throb with joy as to cause her dismay at +having let herself fall into so hateful a habit as wishing to attract +attention. What a struggle it was not to obey the impulse of turning +to him for the smile with which he would greet anything in conversation +that interested them both, and how wrong she thought it not to be more +consoled when she saw him talking to Eveleen, or to any of the others, +as if he was doing very well without her. This did not often happen; he +was evidently out of spirits, and thoughtful, and Amy was afraid some +storm might be gathering respecting Mr. Sebastian Dixon, about whom +there always seemed to be some uncomfortable mystery. + +Mrs. Edmonstone saw everything, and said nothing. She was very sorry for +them both, but she could not interfere, and could only hope she had done +right, and protected Amy as far as she was able. She was vexed now and +then to see Eveleen give knowing smiles and significant glances, feared +that she guessed what was going on, and wondered whether to give her a +hint not to add to Amy's confusion; but her great dislike to enter on +such a subject prevailed, and she left things to take their course, +thinking that, for once, Guy's departure would be a relief. + +The approach of anything in the shape of a party of pleasure was one +of the best cures for Eveleen's ailments, and the evening before Mary's +tea-drinking, she was in high spirits, laughing and talking a great +deal, and addressing herself chiefly to Guy. He exerted himself to +answer, but it did not come with life and spirit, his countenance did +not light up, and at last Eveleen said, 'Ah! I see I am a dreadful bore. +I'll go away, and leave you to repose.' + +'Lady Eveleen!' he exclaimed, in consternation; 'what have I been +doing--what have I been thinking of?' + +'Nay, that is best known to yourself, though I think perhaps I could +divine,' said she, with that archness and grace that always seemed +to remove the unfavourable impression that her proceedings might have +given. 'Shall I?' + +'No, no,' he answered, colouring crimson, and then trying to laugh off +his confusion, and find some answer, but without success; and Eveleen, +perceiving her aunt's eyes were upon her, suddenly recollected that she +had gone quite as far as decorum allowed, and made as masterly a retreat +as the circumstances permitted. + +'Well, I have always thought a "penny for your thoughts" the boldest +offer in the world, and now it is proved.' + +This scene made Mrs. Edmonstone doubly annoyed, the next morning, at +waking with a disabling headache, which made it quite impossible for +her to attempt going to Mary Ross's fete. With great sincerity, Amy +entreated to be allowed to remain at home, but she thought it would +only be making the change more remarkable; she did not wish Mary to be +disappointed; among so many ladies, Amy could easily avoid getting into +difficulties; while Laura would, she trusted, be able to keep Eveleen in +order. + +The day was sunny, and all went off to admiration. The gentlemen +presided over the cricket, and the ladies over 'blind man's buff' and +'thread my needle;' but perhaps Mary was a little disappointed that, +though she had Sir Guy's bodily presence, the peculiar blitheness and +animation which he usually shed around him were missing. He sung at +church, he filled tiny cups from huge pitchers of tea, he picked up +and pacified a screaming child that had tumbled off a gate--he was +as good-natured and useful as possible, but he was not his joyous and +brilliant self. + +Amy devoted herself to the smallest fry, played assiduously for three +quarters of an hour with a fat, grave boy of three, who stood about a +yard-and-a-half from her, solemnly throwing a ball into her lap, and +never catching it again, took charge of many caps and bonnets, and +walked about with Louisa Harper, a companion whom no one envied her. + +In conclusion, the sky clouded over, it became chilly, and a shower +began to fall. Laura pursued Eveleen, and Amy hunted up Charlotte from +the utmost parts of the field, where she was the very centre of 'winding +up the clock,' and sorely against her will, dragged her off the wet +grass. About sixty yards from the house, Guy met them with an umbrella, +which, without speaking, he gave to Charlotte. Amy said, 'Thank you,' +and again came that look. Charlotte rattled on, and hung back to talk to +Guy, so that Amy could not hasten on without leaving her shelterless. +It may be believed that she had the conversation to herself. At the +door they met Mary and her father, going to dismiss their flock, who had +taken refuge in a cart-shed at the other end of the field. Guy asked +if he could be of any use; Mr. Ross said no, and Mary begged Amy and +Charlotte to go up to her room, and change their wet shoes. + +There, Amy would fain have stayed, flushed and agitated as those looks +made her; but Charlotte was in wild spirits, delighted at having been +caught in the rain, and obliged to wear shoes a mile too large, and +eager to go and share the fun in the drawing-room. There, in the +twilight, they found a mass of young ladies herded together, making a +confused sound of laughter, and giggling, while at the other end of the +room, Amy could just see Guy sitting alone in a dark corner. + +Charlotte's tongue was soon the loudest in the medley, to which Amy did +not at first attend, till she heard Charlotte saying-- + +'Ah! you should hear Guy sing that.' + +'What?' she whispered to Eveleen. + +'"The Land of the Leal,"' was the answer. + +'I wish he would sing it now,' said Ellen Harper. + +'This darkness would be just the time for music,' said Eveleen; 'it is +quite a witching time.' + +'Why don't you ask him?' said Ellen. 'Come, Charlotte, there's a good +girl, go and ask him.' + +'Shall I?' said Charlotte, whispering and giggling with an affectation +of shyness. + +'No, no, Charlotte,' said Laura. + +'No! why not?' said Eveleen. 'Don't be afraid, Charlotte.' + +'He is so grave,' said Charlotte. + +Eveleen had been growing wilder and less guarded all day, and now, +partly liking to tease and surprise the others, and partly emboldened by +the darkness, she answered,-- + +'It will do him all manner of good. Here, Charlotte, I'll tell you how +to make him. Tell him Amy wants him to do it.' + +'Ay! tell him so,' cried Ellen, and they laughed in a manner that +overpowered Amy with horror and shyness. She sprung to seize Charlotte, +and stop her; she could not speak, but Louisa Harper caught her arm, and +Laura's grave orders were drowned in a universal titter, and suppressed +exclamation,--'Go, Charlotte, go; we will never forgive you if you +don't!' + +'Stop!' Amy struggled to cry, breaking from Louisa, and springing up in +a sort of agony. Guy, who had such a horror of singing anything deep in +pathos or religious feeling to mixed or unfit auditors, asked to do +so in her name! 'Stop! oh, Charlotte!' It was too late; Charlotte, +thoughtless with merriment, amused at vexing Laura, set up with +applause, and confident in Guy's good nature, had come to him, and was +saying,--'Oh, Guy! Amy wants you to come and sing us the "Land of the +Leal."' + +Amy saw him start up. What, did he think of her? Oh, what! He stepped +towards them. The silly girls cowered as if they had roused a lion. His +voice was not loud--it was almost as gentle as usual; but it quivered, +as if it was hard to keep it so, and, as well as she could see, his +face was rigid and stern as iron. 'Did you wish it?' he said, addressing +himself to her, as if she was the only person present. + +Her breath was almost gone. 'Oh! I beg your pardon,' she faltered. She +could not exculpate herself, she saw it looked like an idle, almost like +an indecorous trick, unkind, everything abhorrent to her and to him, +especially in the present state of things. His eyes were on her, his +head bent towards her; he waited for an answer. 'I beg your pardon,' was +all she could say. + +There was--yes, there was--one of those fearful flashes of his kindling +eye. She felt as if she was shrinking to nothing; she heard him say, in +a low, hoarse tone, 'I am afraid I cannot;' then Mr. Ross, Mary, lights +came in; there was a bustle and confusion, and when next she was clearly +conscious, Laura was ordering the carriage. + +When it came, there was an inquiry for Sir Guy. + +'He is gone home,' said Mr. Ross. 'I met him in the passage, and wished +him good night.' + +Mr. Ross did not add what he afterwards told his daughter, that Guy +seemed not to know whether it was raining or not; that he had put an +umbrella into his hand, and seen him march off at full speed, through +the pouring rain, with it under his arm. + +The ladies entered the carriage. Amy leant back in her corner, Laura +forbore to scold either Eveleen or Charlotte till she could have them +separately; Eveleen was silent, because she was dismayed at the effect +she had produced, and Charlotte, because she knew there was a scolding +impending over her. + +They found no one in the drawing-room but Mr. Edmonstone and Charles, +who said they had heard the door open, and Guy run up-stairs, but they +supposed he was wet through, as he had not made his appearance. It was +very inhospitable in the girls not to have made room for him in the +carriage. + +Amy went to see how her mother was, longing to tell her whole trouble, +but found her asleep, and was obliged to leave it till the morrow. Poor +child, she slept very little, but she would not go to her mother before +breakfast, lest she should provoke the headache into staying another +day. Guy was going by the train at twelve o'clock, and she was resolved +that something should be done; so, as soon as her father had wished Guy +goodbye, and ridden off to his justice meeting, she entreated her mother +to come into the dressing-room, and hear what she had to say. + +'Oh, mamma! the most dreadful thing has happened!' and, hiding her face, +she told her story, ending with a burst of weeping as she said how Guy +was displeased. 'And well he might be! That after all that has vexed him +this week, I should tease him with such a trick. Oh, mamma, what must he +think?' + +'My dear, there was a good deal of silliness; but you need not treat it +as if it was so very shocking.' + +'Oh, but it hurt him! He was angry, and now I know how it is, he is +angry with himself for being angry. Oh, how foolish I have been! What +shall I do?' + +'Perhaps we can let him know it was not your fault,' said Mrs. +Edmonstone, thinking it might be very salutary for Charlotte to send her +to confess. + +'Do you think so?' cried Amy, eagerly. 'Oh! that would make it all +comfortable. Only it was partly mine, for not keeping Charlotte in +better order, and we must not throw it all on her and Eveleen. You think +we may tell him?' + +'I think he ought not to be allowed to fancy you let your name be so +used.' + +A message came for Mrs. Edmonstone, and while she was attending to it, +Amy hastened away, fully believing that her mother had authorized her +to go and explain it to Guy, and ask his pardon. It was what she thought +the natural thing to do, and she was soon by his side, as she saw him +pacing, with folded arms, under the wall. + +Much had lately been passing in Guy's mind. He had gone on floating on +the sunny stream of life at Hollywell, too happy to observe its especial +charm till the change in Amy's manner cast a sudden gloom over all. Not +till then did he understand his own feelings, and recognize in her the +being he had dreamt of. Amy was what made Hollywell precious to him. +Sternly as he was wont to treat his impulses, he did not look on his +affection as an earthborn fancy, liable to draw him from higher things, +and, therefore, to be combated; he deemed her rather a guide and guard +whose love might arm him, soothe him, and encourage him. Yet he had +little hope, for he did not do justice to his powers of inspiring +affection; no one could distrust his temper and his character as much as +he did himself, and with his ancestry and the doom he believed attached +to his race, with his own youth and untried principles, with his +undesirable connections, and the reserve he was obliged to exercise +regarding them, he considered himself as objectionable a person as could +well be found, as yet untouched by any positive crime, and he respected +the Edmonstones too much to suppose that these disadvantages could be +counterbalanced for a moment by his position; indeed, he interpreted +Amy's coolness by supposing that there was a desire to discourage his +attentions. No poor tutor or penniless cousin ever felt he was doing +a more desperate thing in confessing an attachment, than did Sir Guy +Morville when he determined that all should be told, at the risk of +losing her for ever, and closing against himself the doors of his happy +home. It was not right and fair by her parents, he thought, so to regard +their daughter, and live in the same house with his sentiments unavowed, +and as to Amy herself, if his feelings had reached such a pitch of +sensitiveness that he must needs behave like an angry lion, because her +name had been dragged into an idle joke, it was high time it should +be explained, unpropitious as the moment might be for declaring his +attachment, when he had manifested such a temper as any woman might +dread. Thus he made up his mind that, come of it what might, he would +not leave Hollywell that day till the truth was told. Just as he was +turning to find Mrs. Edmonstone and 'put his fate to the touch,' a +little figure stood beside him, and Amy's own sweet, low tones were +saying, imploringly,-- + +'Guy, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am you were so teased last +night.' + +'Don't think of it!' said he, taken extremely by surprise + +'It was our fault, I could not stop it; I should have kept Charlotte in +better order, but they would not let her hear me. I knew it was what you +dislike particularly, and I was very sorry.' + +'You--I was--I was. But no matter now. Amy,' he added earnestly, 'may I +ask you to walk on with me a little way? I must say something to you.' + +Was this what 'mamma' objected to? Oh no! Amy felt she must stay now, +and, in truth, she was glad it was right, though her heart beat fast, +fast, faster, as Guy, pulling down a long, trailing branch of Noisette +rose, and twisting it in his hand, paused for a few moments, then spoke +collectedly, and without hesitation, though with the tremulousness of +subdued agitation, looking the while not at her, but straight before +him. + +'You ought to be told why your words and looks have such effect on me as +to make me behave as I did last night. Shame on me for such conduct! +I know its evil, and how preposterous it must make what I have to tell +you. I don't know now long it has been, but almost ever since I came +here, a feeling has been growing up in me towards you, such as I can +never have for any one else.' + +The flame rushed into Amy's cheeks, and no one could have told what she +felt, as he paused again, and then went on speaking more quickly, as if +his emotion was less under control. + +'If ever there is to be happiness for me on earth, it must be through +you; as you, for the last three years, have been all my brightness here. +What I feel for you is beyond all power of telling you, Amy! But I know +full well all there is against me--I know I am untried, and how can I +dare to ask one born to brightness and happiness to share the doom of my +family?' + +Amy's impulse was that anything shared with him would be welcome; but +the strength of the feeling stifled the power of expression, and she +could not utter a word. + +'It seems selfish even to dream of it,' he proceeded, 'yet I must,--I +cannot help it. To feel that I had your love to keep me safe, to know +that you watched for me, prayed for me, were my own, my Verena,--oh Amy! +it would be more joy than I have ever dared to hope for. But mind,' he +added, after another brief pause, 'I would not even ask you to answer me +now, far less to bind yourself, even if--if it were possible. I know +my trial is not come; and were I to render myself, by positive act, +unworthy even to think of you, it would be too dreadful to have +entangled you, and made you unhappy. No. I speak now, because I ought +not to remain here with such feelings unknown to your father and +mother.' + +At that moment, close on the other side of the box-tree clump, were +heard the wheels of Charles's garden-chair, and Charlotte's voice +talking to him, as he made his morning tour round the garden. Amy flew +off, like a little bird to its nest, and never stopped till, breathless +and crimson, she darted into the dressing room, threw herself on her +knees, and with her face hidden in her mother's lap, exclaimed in +panting, half-smothered, whispers, which needed all Mrs. Edmonstone's +intuition to make them intelligible,-- + +'O mamma, mamma, he says--he says he loves me!' + +Perhaps Mrs. Edmonstone was not so very much surprised; but she had +no time to do more than raise and kiss the burning face, and see, at +a moment's glance, how bright was the gleam of frightened joy, in the +downcast eye and troubled smile; when two knocks, given rapidly, were +heard, and almost at the same moment the door opened, and Guy stood +before her, his face no less glowing than that which Amy buried again on +her mother's knee. + +'Come in, Guy,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, as he stood doubtful for a moment +at the door, and there was a sweet smile of proud, joyful affection on +her face, conveying even more encouragement than her tone. Amy raised +her head, and moved as if to leave the room. + +'Don't go,' he said, earnestly, 'unless you wish it.' + +Amy did not wish it, especially now that she had her mother to save +her confusion, and she sat on a footstool, holding her mother's hand, +looking up to Guy, whenever she felt bold enough, and hanging down her +head when he said what showed how much more highly he prized her than +silly little Amy could deserve. + +'You know what I am come to say,' he began, standing by the +mantel-shelf, as was his wont in his conferences with Mrs. Edmonstone; +and he repeated the same in substance as he had said to Amy in the +garden, though with less calmness and coherence, and far more warmth of +expression, as if, now that she was protected by her mother's presence, +he exercised less force in self-restraint. + +Never was anyone happier than was Mrs. Edmonstone; loving Guy so +heartily, seeing the beauty of his character in each word, rejoicing +that such affection should be bestowed on her little Amy, exulting +in her having won such a heart, and touched and gratified by the free +confidence with which both had at once hastened to pour out all to her, +not merely as a duty, but in the full ebullition of their warm young +love. The only difficulty was to bring herself to speak with prudence +becoming her position, whilst she was sympathizing with them as ardently +as if she was not older than both of them put together. When Guy spoke +of himself as unproved, and undeserving of trust, it was all she could +do to keep from declaring there was no one whom she thought so safe. + +'While you go on as you have begun, Guy?' + +'If you tell me to hope! Oh, Mrs. Edmonstone, is it wrong that an +earthly incentive to persevere should have power which sometimes seems +greater than the true one?' + +'There is the best and strongest ground of all for trusting you,' said +she. 'If you spoke keeping right only for Amy's sake, then I might fear; +but when she is second, there is confidence indeed.' + +'If speaking were all!' said Guy. + +'There is one thing I ought to say,' she proceeded; 'you know you are +very young, and though--though I don't know that I can say so in my own +person, a prudent woman would say, that you have seen so little of the +world, that you may easily meet a person you would like better than such +a quiet little dull thing as your guardian's daughter.' + +The look that he cast on Amy was worth seeing, and then, with a smile, +he answered-- + +'I am glad you don't say it in your own person.' + +'It is very bold and presumptuous in me to say anything at all in papa's +absence' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling; 'but I am sure he will think in +the same way, that things ought to remain as they are, and that it is +our duty not to allow you to be, or to feel otherwise than entirely at +liberty.' + +'I dare say it may be right in you,' said Guy, grudgingly. 'However, +I must not complain. It is too much that you should not reject me +altogether.' + +To all three that space was as bright a gleam of sunshine as ever +embellished life, so short as to be free from a single care, a perfectly +serenely happy present, the more joyous from having been preceded by +vexations, each of the two young things learning that there was love +where it was most precious. Guy especially, isolated and lonely as he +stood in life, with his fear and mistrust of himself, was now not only +allowed to love, and assured beyond his hopes that Amy returned his +affection, but found himself thus welcomed by the mother, and gathered +into the family where his warm feelings had taken up their abode, while +he believed himself regarded only as a guest and a stranger. + +They talked on, with happy silences between, Guy standing all the time +with his branch of roses in his hand, and Amy looking up to him, and +trying to realize it, and to understand why she was so very, very happy. + +No one thought of time till Charlotte rushed in like a whirlwind, +crying-- + +'Oh, here you are! We could not think what had become of you. There has +Deloraine been at the door these ten minutes, and Charlie sent me to +find you, for he says if you are too late for Mrs. Henley's dinner, she +will write such an account of you to Philip as you will never get over.' + +Very little of this was heard, there was only the instinctive +consternation of being too late. They started up, Guy threw down his +roses, caught Amy's hand and pressed it, while she bent down her head, +hiding the renewed blush; he dashed out of the room, and up to his own, +while Mrs. Edmonstone and Charlotte hurried down. In another second, +he was back again, and once more Amy felt the pressure of his hand on +hers-- + +'Good-bye!' he said; and she whispered another 'Good-bye!' the only +words she had spoken. + +One moment more he lingered,-- + +'My Verena!' said he; but the hurrying sounds in the hall warned +him--he sprang down to the drawing-room. Even Charles was on the alert, +standing, leaning against the table, and looking eager; but Guy had not +time to let him speak, he only shook hands, and wished good-bye, with a +sort of vehement agitated cordiality, concealed by his haste. + +'Where's Amy?' cried Charlotte. 'Amy! Is not she coming to wish him +good-bye?' + +He said something, of which 'up-stairs' was the only audible word; held +Mrs. Edmonstone's hand fast, while she said, in a low voice--'You shall +hear from papa to-morrow,' then sprung on his horse, and looked up. Amy +was at the window, he saw her head bending forward, under its veil of +curls, in the midst of the roses round the lattice; their eyes met once +more, he gave one beamy smile, then rode off at full speed, with Bustle +racing after him, while Amy threw herself on her knees by her bed, and +with hands clasped over her face, prayed that she might be thankful +enough, and never be unworthy of him. + +Every one wanted to get rid of every one else except Mrs. Edmonstone; +for all but Charlotte guessed at the state of the case, and even she +perceived that something was going on. Lady Eveleen was in a state of +great curiosity; but she had mercy, she knew that they must tell each +other before it came to her turn, and very good-naturedly she invited +Charlotte to come into the garden with her, and kept her out of the way +by a full account of her last fancy ball, given with so much spirit and +humour that Charlotte could not help attending. + +Charles and Laura gained little by this kind manoeuvre, for their mother +was gone up again to Amy, and they could only make a few conjectures. +Charles nursed his right hand, and asked Laura how hers felt? She looked +up from her work, to which she had begun to apply herself diligently, +and gazed at him inquiringly, as if to see whether he intended anything. + +'For my part,' he added, 'I certainly thought he meant to carry off the +hands of some of the family.' + +'I suppose we shall soon hear it explained,' said Laura, quietly. + +'Soon! If I had an many available legs as you, would I wait for other +people's soon?' + +'I should think she had rather be left to mamma,' said Laura, going on +with her work. + +'Then you do think there is something in it?' said Charles, peering up +in her face; but he saw he was teasing her, recollected that she +had long seemed out of spirits, and forbore to say any more. He was, +however, too impatient to remain longer quiet, and presently Laura saw +him adjusting his crutches. + +'O Charlie! I am sure it will only be troublesome.' + +'I am going to my own room,' said Charles, hopping off. 'I presume you +don't wish to forbid that.' + +His room had a door into the dressing-room, so that it was an excellent +place for discovering all from which they did not wish to exclude him, +and he did not believe he should be unwelcome; for though he might +pretend it was all fun and curiosity, he heartily loved his little Amy. + +The tap of his crutches, and the slow motion with which he raised +himself from step to step, was heard, and Amy, who was leaning against +her mother, started up, exclaiming-- + +'O mamma, here comes Charlie! May I tell him? I am sure I can't meet him +without.' + +'I suspect he has guessed it already,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, going +to open the door, just as he reached the head of the stairs, and then +leaving them. + +'Well, Amy,' said he, looking full at her carnation cheeks, 'are you +prepared to see me turn lead-coloured, and fall into convulsions, like +the sister with the spine complaint?' + +'O Charlie! You know it. But how?' + +Amy was helping him to the sofa, laid him down, and sat by him on the +old footstool; he put his arm round her neck, and she rested her head on +his shoulder. + +'Well, Amy,' I give you joy, my small woman,' said he, talking the more +nonsense because of the fullness in his throat; 'and I hope you give me +credit for amazing self-denial in so doing.' + +'O Charlie--dear Charlie!' and she kissed him, she could not blush more, +poor little thing, for she had already reached her utmost capability of +redness--'it is no such thing.' + +'No such thing? What has turned you into a turkey-cock all at once or +what made him nearly squeeze off my unfortunate fingers? No such thing, +indeed!' + +'I mean--I mean, it is not _that_. We are so very young, and I am so +silly.' + +'Is that his reason?' + +'You must make me so much better and wiser. Oh, if I could but be good +enough!' + +For that matter, I don't think any one else would be good enough to take +care of such a silly little thing. But what is the that, that it is, or +is not?' + +'Nothing now, only when we are older. At least, you know papa has not +heard it.' + +'Provided my father gives his consent, as the Irish young lady added to +all her responses through the marriage service. But tell me all--all you +like, I mean--for you will have lovers' secrets now, Amy.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone had, meantime, gone down to Laura. Poor Laura, as soon +as her brother had left the room, she allowed the fixed composure of her +face to relax into a restless, harassed, almost miserable expression, +and walked up and down with agitated steps. + +'O wealth, wealth!'--her lips formed the words, without uttering +them--'what cruel differences it makes! All smooth here! Young, not +to be trusted, with strange reserves, discreditable connections,--that +family,--that fearful temper, showing itself even to her! All will be +overlooked! Papa will be delighted, I know he will! And how is it with +us? Proved, noble, superior, owned as such by all, as Philip is, yet, +for that want of hateful money, he would be spurned. And, for this--for +this--the love that has grown up with our lives must be crushed down and +hidden--our life is wearing out in wearying self-watching!' + +The lock of the door turned, and Laura had resumed her ordinary +expression before it opened, and her mother came in: but there was +anything but calmness beneath, for the pang of self-reproach had +come--'Was it thus that she prepared to hear these tidings of her +sister?' + +'Well, Laura,' began Mrs. Edmonstone, with the eager smile of one +bringing delightful news, and sure of sympathy. + +'It is so, then?' said Laura. 'Dear, dear, little Amy! I hope--' and +her eyes filled with tears; but she had learnt to dread any outbreak of +feeling, conquered it in a minute, and said-- + +'What has happened? How does it stand?' + +'It stands, at least as far as I can say without papa, as the dear +Guy very rightly and wisely wished it to stand. There is no positive +engagement, they are both too young; but he thought it was not right to +remain here without letting us know his sentiments towards her.' + +A pang shot through Laura; but it was but for a moment. Guy might doubt +where Philip need never do so. Her mother went on,-- + +'Their frankness and confidence are most beautiful. We know dear little +Amy could not help it; but there was something very sweet, very noble, +in his way of telling all.' + +Another pang for Laura. But no! it was only poverty that was to blame. +Philip would speak as plainly if his prospects were as fair. + +'Oh, I hope it will do well,' said she. + +'It must,--it will!' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, giving way to her joyful +enthusiasm of affection. 'It is nonsense to doubt, knowing him as we do. +There is not a man in the world with whom I could be so happy to trust +her.' + +Laura could not hear Guy set above all men in the world, and she +remembered Philip's warning to her, two years ago. + +'There is much that is very good and very delightful about him,' she +said, hesitatingly. + +'You are thinking of the Morville temper,' said her mother; 'but I am +not afraid of it. A naturally hot temper, controlled like his by strong +religious principle, is far safer than a cool easy one, without the +principle.' + +Laura thought this going too far, but she felt some compensation due +to Guy, and acknowledged how strongly he was actuated by principle. +However--and it was well for her--they could not talk long, for Eveleen +and Charlotte were approaching, and she hastily asked what was to be +done about telling Eva, who could not fail to guess something. + +'We must tell her, and make her promise absolute secrecy,' said Mrs. +Edmonstone. 'I will speak to her myself; but I must wait till I have +seen papa. There is no doubt of what he will say, but we have been +taking quite liberties enough in his absence.' + +Laura did not see her sister till luncheon, when Amy came down, with +a glow on her cheeks that made her so much prettier than usual, that +Charles wished Guy could have seen her. She said little, and ran up +again as soon as she could. Laura followed her; and the two sisters +threw their arms fondly round each other, and kissed repeatedly. + +'Mamma has told you? said Amy. 'Oh, it has made me so very happy; and +every one is so kind.' + +'Dear, dear Amy!' + +'I'm only afraid--' + +'He has begun so well--' + +'Oh, nonsense! You cannot think I could be so foolish as to be afraid +for him! Oh no! But if he should take me for more than I am worth. O +Laura, Laura! What shall I do to be as good and sensible as you! I must +not be silly little Amy any more.' + +'Perhaps he likes you best as you are?' + +'I don't mean cleverness: I can't help that,--and he knows how stupid +I am,--but I am afraid he thinks there is more worth in me. Don't you +know, he has a sort of sunshine in his eyes and mind, that makes all +he cares about seem to him brighter and better than it really is. I am +afraid he is only dressing me up with that sunshine.' + +'It must be strange sunshine that you want to make you better and +brighter than you are,' said Laura, kissing her. + +'I'll tell you what it is,' said Amy folding her hands, and standing +with her face raised, 'it won't do now, as you told me once, to have no +bones in my character. I must learn to be steady and strong, if I can; +for if this is to be, he will depend on me, I don't mean, to advise him, +for he knows better than anybody, but to be--you know what--if vexation, +or trouble was to come! And Laura, think if he was to depend on me, and +I was to fail! Oh, do help me to have firmness and self-command, like +you!' + +'It was a long time ago that we talked of your wanting bones.' + +'Yes, before he came; but I never forget it.' + +Laura was obliged to go out with Eveleen. All went their different ways; +and Amy had the garden to herself to cool her cheeks in. But this was a +vain operation, for a fresh access of burning was brought on while +Laura was helping her to dress for dinner, when her father's quick step +sounded in the passage. He knocked at her door, and as she opened it, he +kissed her on each cheek; and throwing his arm round her, exclaimed,-- + +'Well, Miss Amy, you have made a fine morning's work of it! A pretty +thing, for young ladies to be accepting offers while papa is out of the +way. Eh, Laura?' + +Amy knew this was a manifestation of extreme delight; but it was not +very pleasant to Laura. + +'So you have made a conquest!' proceeded Mr. Edmonstone; 'and I heartily +wish you joy of it, my dear. He is as amiable and good-natured a youth +as I would wish to see; and I should say the same if he had not a +shilling in the world.' + +Laura's heart bounded; but she knew, whatever her father might fancy, +the reality would be very different if Guy were as poor as Philip. + +'I shall write to him this very evening,' he continued, 'and tell him, +if he has the bad taste to like such a silly little white thing, I am +not the man to stand in his way. Eh, Amy? Shall I tell him so?' + +'Tell him what you please, dear papa.' + +'Eh? What I please? Suppose I say we can't spare our little one, and he +may go about his business?' + +'I'm not afraid of you, papa.' + +'Come, she's a good little thing--sha'n't be teased. Eh, Laura? what +do you think of it, our beauty, to see your younger sister impertinent +enough to set up a lover, while your pink cheeks are left in the lurch?' + +Laura not being wont to make playful repartees, her silence passed +unnoticed. Her feelings were mixed; but perhaps the predominant one was +satisfaction that it was not for her pink cheeks that she was valued. + +It had occurred to Mrs. Edmonstone that it was a curious thing, after +her attempt at scheming for Eveleen, to have to announce to her that Guy +was attached to her own daughter; nay, after the willingness Eveleen had +manifested to be gratified with any attention Guy showed her, it seemed +doubtful for a moment whether the intelligence would be pleasing to her. +However, Eveleen was just the girl to like men better than women, and +never to be so happy as when on the verge of flirting; it would probably +have been the same with any other youth that came in her, way, and Guy +might fully be acquitted of doing more than paying her the civilities +which were requisite from him to any young lady visitor. He had, two +years ago, when a mere boy, idled, laughed, and made fun with her, but +his fear of trifling away his time had made him draw back, before he had +involved himself in what might have led to anything further; and during +the present visit, no one could doubt that he was preoccupied with +Amy. At any rate, it was right that Eveleen should know the truth, in +confidence, if only to prevent her from talking of any surmises she +might have. + +Mrs. Edmonstone was set at ease in a moment. Eveleen was enchanted, +danced round and round the room, declared they would be the most +charming couple in the world; she had seen it all along; she was so +delighted they had come to an understanding at last, poor things, they +were so miserable all last week; and she must take credit to herself for +having done it all. Was not her aunt very much obliged to her? + +'My dear Eva,' exclaimed Mrs. Edmonstone, into whose mind the notion +never entered that any one could boast of such a proceeding as hers last +night; but the truth was that Eveleen, feeling slightly culpable, was +delighted that all had turned out so well, and resolved to carry it off +with a high hand. + +'To be sure! Poor little Amy! when she looked ready to sink into the +earth, she little knew her obligations to me! Was not it the cleverest +thing in the world? It was just the touch they wanted--the very thing!' + +'My dear, I am glad I know that you are sometimes given to talking +nonsense,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, laughing. + +'And you won't believe me serious? You won't be grateful to me for my +lucky hit' said Eveleen, looking comically injured. 'Oh auntie, that is +very hard, when I shall believe to my dying day that I did it!' + +'Why, Eva, if I thought it had been done by design, I should find it +very hard to forgive you for it at all, rather hard even to accept Guy, +so you had better not try to disturb my belief that it was only that +spirit of mischief that makes you now and then a little mad.' + +'Oh dear! what a desperate scolding you must have given poor little +Charlotte!' exclaimed Eveleen, quaintly. + +Mrs. Edmonstone could not help laughing as she confessed that she had +altogether forgotten Charlotte. + +'Then you will. You'll go on forgetting her,' cried Eveleen. 'She only +did what she was told, and did not know the malice of it. There, you're +relenting! There's a good aunt! And now, if you won't be grateful, as +any other mamma in the world would have been, and as I calculated on, +when I pretended to have been a prudent, designing woman, instead of a +wild mischievous monkey at least you'll forgive me enough to invite me +to the wedding. Oh! what a beauty of a wedding it will be! I'd come from +Kilcoran all the way on my bare knees to see it. And you'll let me be +bridesmaid, and have a ball after it?' + +'There is no saying what I may do, if you'll only be a good girl, and +hold your tongue. I don't want to prevent your telling anything to +your mamma, of course, but pray don't let it go any further. Don't let +Maurice hear it, I have especial reasons for wishing it should not be +known. You know it is not even an engagement, and nothing must be done +which can make Guy feel in the least bound?' + +Eveleen promised, and Mrs. Edmonstone knew that she had sense and proper +feeling enough for her promise to deserve trust. + + + + +CHAPTER 14 + + For falsehood now doth flow, + And subject faith doth ebbe, + Which would not be, if reason ruled, + Or wisdom weav'd the webbe. + + The daughter of debate, + That eke discord doth sowe, + Shal reape no gaine where former rule + Hath taught stil peace to growe. + --QUEEN ELIZABETH + + + 'ATHENAEUM TERRACE, + ST MILDRED'S, + August 4th, +'MY DEAR PHILIP,--Thank you for returning the books, which were brought +safely by Sir Guy. I am sorry you do not agree in my estimate of them. I +should have thought your strong sense would have made you perceive that +reasoning upon fact, and granting nothing without tangible proof, were +the best remedy for a dreamy romantic tendency to the weakness and +credulity which are in the present day termed poetry and faith. It is +curious to observe how these vague theories reduce themselves to the +absurd when brought into practice. There are two Miss Wellwoods here, +daughters of that unfortunate man who fell in a duel with old Sir Guy +Morville, who seem to make it their business to become the general +subject of animadversion, taking pauper children into their house, where +they educate them in a way to unfit them for their station, and teach +them to observe a sort of monastic rule, preaching the poor people in +the hospital to death, visiting the poor at all sorts of strange hours. +Dr Henley actually found one of them, at twelve o'clock at night, in a +miserable lodging-house, filled with the worst description of inmates. +Quite young women, too, and with no mother or elder person to direct +them; but it is the fashion among the attendants at the new chapel to +admire them. This subject has diverted me from what I intended to say +with respect to the young baronet. Your description agrees with all I +have hitherto seen, though I own I expected a Redclyffe Morville to +have more of the "heros de roman", or rather of the grand tragic cast of +figure, as, if I remember right, was the case with this youth's +father, a much finer and handsomer young man. Sir Guy is certainly +gentlemanlike, and has that sort of agreeability which depends on high +animal spirits. I should think him clever, but superficial; and with his +mania for music, he can hardly fail to be merely an accomplished man. In +spite of all you said of the Redclyffe temper, I was hardly prepared to +find it so ready to flash forth on the most inexplicable provocations. +It is like walking on a volcano. I have seen him two or three times draw +himself up, bite his lip, and answer with an effort and a sharpness that +shows how thin a crust covers the burning lava; but I acknowledge that +he has been very civil and attentive, and speaks most properly of what +he owes to you. I only hope he will not be hurt by the possession of so +large a property so early in life, and I have an idea that our good aunt +at Hollywell has done a good deal to raise his opinion of himself. We +shall, of course, show him every civility in our power, and give him the +advantage of intellectual society at our house. His letters are directed +to this place, as you know South Moor Farm is out of the cognizance +of the post. They seem to keep up a brisk correspondence with him from +Hollywell. Few guardians' letters are, I should guess, honoured with +such deepening colour as his while reading one from my uncle. He tells +me he has been calling at Stylehurst; it is a pity, for his sake, that +Colonel Harewood is at home, for the society of those sons is by no +means advisable for him. I can hardly expect to offer him what is likely +to be as agreeable to him as the conversation and amusements of Edward +and Tom Harewood, who are sure to be at home for the St. Mildred's +races. I hear Tom has been getting into fresh scrapes at Cambridge. + + 'Your affectionate sister, + 'MARGARET HENLEY.' + + + 'ATHENAEUM TERRACE. + ST. MILDRED'S, + Sept. 6th. +'MY DEAR PHILIP,--No one can have a greater dislike than myself to what +is called mischief-making; therefore I leave it entirely to you to make +what use you please of the following facts, which have fallen under my +notice. Sir Guy Morville has been several times at St. Mildred's, in +company with Tom Harewood, and more than once alone with some strange +questionable-looking people; and not many days ago, my maid met him +coming out of a house in one of the low streets, which it is hard to +assign a motive for his visiting. This, however, might be accident, and +I should never have thought of mentioning it, but for a circumstance +that occurred this morning. I had occasion to visit Grey's Bank, and +while waiting in conversation with Mr. Grey, a person came in whom I +knew to be a notorious gambler, and offered a cheque to be changed. As +it lay on the counter, my eye was caught by the signature. It was my +uncle's. I looked again, and could not be mistaken. It was a draft for +£30 on Drummond, dated the 12th of August, to Sir Guy Morville, signed +C. Edmonstone, and endorsed in Sir Guy's own writing, with the name of +John White. In order that I might be certain that I was doing the poor +young man no injustice, I outstayed the man, and asked who he was, +when Mr. Grey confirmed me in my belief that it was one Jack White, +a jockeying sort of man who attends all the races in the country, and +makes his livelihood by betting and gambling. And now, my dear brother, +make what use of this fact you think fit, though I fear there is +little hope of rescuing the poor youth from the fatal habits which are +hereditary in his family, and must be strong indeed not to have been +eradicated by such careful training as you say he has received. I leave +it entirely to you, trusting in your excellent judgment, and only hoping +you will not bring my name forward. Grieving much at having to be the +first to communicate such unpleasant tidings, which will occasion so +much vexation at Hollywell.' + + 'Your affectionate sister, + 'MARGARET HENLEY.' + + +Captain Morville was alone when he received the latter of these letters. +At first, a look divided between irony and melancholy passed over his +face, as he read his sister's preface and her hearsay evidence, but, +as he went farther, his upper lip curled, and a sudden gleam, as of +exultation in a verified prophecy, lighted his eye, shading off +quickly, however, and giving place to an iron expression of rigidity +and sternness, the compressed mouth, coldly-fixed eye, and sedate +brow, composed into a grave severity that might have served for an +impersonation of stern justice. He looked through the letter a second +time, folded it up, put it in his pocket, and went about his usual +affairs; but the expression did not leave his face all day; and the next +morning he took a day-ticket by the railway to Broadstone, where, as it +was the day of the petty sessions, he had little doubt of meeting Mr. +Edmonstone. Accordingly, he had not walked far down the High Street, +before he saw his uncle standing on the step of the post-office, opening +a letter he had just received. + +'Ha! Philip, what brings you here? The very man I wanted. Coming to +Hollywell?' + +'No, thank you, I go back this evening,' said Philip, and, as he spoke, +he saw that the letter which Mr. Edmonstone held, and twisted with a +hasty, nervous movement, was in Guy's writing. + +'Well, I am glad you are here, at any rate. Here is the most +extraordinary thing! What possesses the boy I cannot guess. Here's Guy +writing to me for--What do you think? To send him a thousand pounds!' + +'Hem!' said Philip in an expressive tone; yet, as if he was not very +much amazed; 'no explanation, I suppose?' + +'No, none at all. Here, see what he says yourself. No! Yes, you may,' +added Mr. Edmonstone, with a rapid glance at the end of the letter,--a +movement, first to retain it, and then following his first impulse, with +an unintelligible murmuring. + +Philip read,-- + + + 'SOUTH MOOR, SEPT. 7th. + +'MY DEAR MR. EDMONSTONE,--You will be surprised at the request I have to +make you, after my resolution not to exceed my allowance. However, this +is not for my own expenses, and it will not occur again. I should be +much obliged to you to let me have £1OOO, in what manner you please, +only I should be glad if it were soon. I am sorry I am not at liberty to +tell you what I want it for, but I trust to your kindness. Tell Charlie +I will write to him in a day or two, but, between our work, and walking +to St. Mildred's for the letters, which we cannot help doing every +day, the time for writing is short. Another month, however, and what a +holiday it will be! Tell Amy she ought to be here to see the purple of +the hills in the early morning; it almost makes up for having no sea. +The races have been making St. Mildred's very gay; indeed, we laugh at +Wellwood for having brought us here, by way of a quiet place. I never +was in the way of so much dissipation in my life. + + 'Yours very affectionately, + 'GUY MORVILLE.' + +'Well, what do you think of it? What would you do in my place--eh, +Philip! What can he want of it, eh?' said Mr. Edmonstone, tormenting +his riding-whip, and looking up to study his nephew's face, which, with +stern gravity in every feature, was bent over the letter, as if to +weigh every line. 'Eh, Philip?' repeated Mr. Edmonstone, several times, +without obtaining an answer. + +'This is no place for discussion,' at last said Philip, deliberately +returning the letter. 'Come into the reading-room. We shall find no one +there at this hour. Here we are.' + +'Well--well--well,' began Mr. Edmonstone, fretted by his coolness to the +extreme of impatience, 'what do you think of it? He can't be after any +mischief; 'tis not in the boy; when--when he is all but--Pooh! what am I +saying? Well, what do you think?' + +'I am afraid it confirms but too strongly a report which I received +yesterday.' + +'From your sister? Does she know anything about it?' + +'Yes, from my sister. But I was very unwilling to mention it, because +she particularly requests that her name may not be used. I came here to +see whether you had heard of Guy lately, so as to judge whether it was +needful to speak of it. This convinces me; but I must beg, in the first +instance, that you will not mention her, not even to my aunt.' + +'Well, yes; very well. I promise. Only let me hear.' + +'Young Harewood has, I fear, led him into bad company. There can now be +no doubt that he has been gambling.' + +Philip was not prepared for the effect of these words. His uncle started +up, exclaiming--'Gambling! Impossible! Some confounded slander! I +don't believe one word of it! I won't hear such things said of him,' he +repeated, stammering with passion, and walking violently about the room. +This did not last long; there was something in the unmoved way in which +Philip waited till he had patience to listen, which gradually mastered +him; his angry manner subsided, and, sitting down, he continued the +argument, in a would-be-composed voice. + +'It is utterly impossible! Remember, he thinks himself bound not so much +as to touch a billiard cue.' + +'I could have thought it impossible, but for what I have seen of the +way in which promises are eluded by persons too strictly bound,' said +Philip. 'The moral force of principle is the only efficient pledge.' + +'Principle! I should like to see who has better principles than Guy!' +cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'You have said so yourself, fifty times, and your +aunt has said so, and Charles. I could as soon suspect myself.' He was +growing vehement, but again Philip's imperturbability repressed his +violence, and he asked, 'Well, what evidence have you? Mind, I am not +going to believe it without the strongest. I don't know that I would +believe my own eyes against him.' + +'It is very sad to find such confidence misplaced,' said Philip. 'Most +sincerely do I wish this could be proved to be a mistake; but this +extraordinary request corroborates my sister's letter too fully.' + +'Let me hear,' said Mr. Edmonstone feebly. Philip produced his letter, +without reading the whole of it; for he could not bear the appearance of +gossip and prying, and would not expose his sister; so he pieced it out +with his own words, and made it sound far less discreditable to her. It +was quite enough for Mr. Edmonstone; the accuracy of the details seemed +to strike him dumb; and there was a long silence, which he broke by +saying, with a deep sigh,-- + +'Who could have thought it? Poor little Amy!' + +'Amy?' exclaimed Philip. + +'Why, ay. I did not mean to have said anything of it, I am sure; but +they did it among them,' said Mr. Edmonstone, growing ashamed, under +Philip's eye, as of a dreadful piece of imprudence. 'I was out of the +way at the time, but I could not refuse my consent, you know, as things +stood then.' + +'Do you mean to say that Amy is engaged to him?' + +'Why, no--not exactly engaged, only on trial, you understand, to see if +he will be steady. I was at Broadstone; 'twas mamma settled it all. +Poor little thing, she is very much in love with him, I do believe, but +there's an end of everything now.' + +'It is very fortunate this has been discovered in time,' said Philip. +'Instead of pitying her, I should rejoice in her escape.' + +'Yes,' said Mr. Edmonstone, ruefully. 'Who could have thought it?' + +'I am afraid the mischief is of long standing,' proceeded Philip, +resolved, since he saw his uncle so grieved, to press him strongly, +thinking that to save Amy from such a marriage was an additional motive. +'He could hardly have arrived at losing as much as a thousand pounds, +all at once, in this month at St. Mildred's. Depend upon it, that +painful as it may be at present, there is great reason, on her account, +to rejoice in the discovery. You say he has never before applied, to you +for money?' + +'Not a farthing beyond his allowance, except this unlucky thirty pounds, +for his additional expense of the tutor and the lodging.' + +'You remember, however, that he has always seemed short of money, never +appeared able to afford himself any little extra expense. You have +noticed it, I know. You remember, too, how unsatisfactory his reserve +about his proceedings in London has been, and how he has persisted in +delaying there, in spite of all warnings. The work, no doubt, began +there, under the guidance of his uncle; and now the St. Mildred's races +and Tom Harewood have continued it.' + +'I wish he had never set foot in the place!' + +'Nay; for Amy's sake, the exposure is an advantage, if not for his own. +The course must have been long since begun; but he contrived to avoid +what could lead to inquiry, till he has at length involved himself in +some desperate scrape. You see, he especially desires to have the money +_soon_, and he never even attempts to say you would approve of the +object. + +'Yes; he has the grace not to say that.' + +'Altogether, it is worse than I could have thought possible,' said +Philip. I could have believed him unstable and thoughtless; but the +concealment, and the attempting to gain poor Amy's affections in the +midst of such a course--' + +'Ay, ay!' cried Mr. Edmonstone, now fully provoked; 'there is the +monstrous part. He thought I was going to give up my poor little girl to +a gambler, did he? but he shall soon see what I think of him,--riches, +Redclyffe, title, and all!' + +'I knew that would be your feeling.' + +'Feel! Yes; and he shall feel it, too. So, Sir Guy, you thought you had +an old fool of a guardian, did you, whom you could blind as you pleased? +but you shall soon see the difference!' + +'Better begin cautiously,' suggested Philip. 'Remember his unfortunate +temper, and write coolly.' + +'Coolly? You may talk of coolness; but 'tis enough to make one's +blood boil to be served in such a way. With the face to be sending her +messages in the very same letter! That is a pass beyond me, to stand +coolly to see my daughter so treated.' + +'I would only give him the opportunity of saying what he can for +himself. He may have some explanation.' + +'I'll admit of no explanation! Passing himself off for steadiness +itself; daring to think of my daughter, and all the time going on in +this fashion! I hate underhand ways! I'll have no explanation. He may +give up all thoughts of her. I'll write and tell him so before I'm a day +older; nay, before I stir from this room. My little Amy, indeed!' + +Philip put no obstacles in the way of this proposal, for he knew that +his uncle's displeasure, though hot at first, was apt to evaporate +in exclamations; and he thought it likely that his good nature, his +partiality for his ward, his dislike to causing pain to his daughter, +and, above all, his wife's blind confidence in Guy, would, when once at +home, so overpower his present indignation as to prevent the salutary +strictness which was the only hope of reclaiming Guy. Beside, a letter +written under Philip's inspection was likely to be more guarded, as well +as more forcible, than an unassisted composition of his own, as was, +indeed, pretty well proved by the commencement of his first attempt. + +'My dear Guy,--I am more surprised than I could have expected at your +application.' + +Philip read this aloud, so as to mark its absurdity, and he began again. + +'I am greatly astonished, as well as concerned, at your application, +which confirms the unpleasant reports--' + +'Why say anything of reports?' said Philip. 'Reports are nothing. A man +is not forced to defend himself from reports.' + +'Yes,--hum--ha,--the accounts I have received. No. You say there is not +to be a word of Mrs. Henley.' + +'Not a word that can lead her to be suspected.' + +'Confirms--confirms--' sighed Mr. Edmonstone. + +'Don't write as if you went on hearsay evidence. Speak of +proofs--irrefragable proofs--and then you convict him at once, without +power of eluding you.' + +So Mr. Edmonstone proceeded to write, that the application confirmed +the irrefragable proofs, then laughed at himself, and helplessly begged +Philip to give him a start. It now stood thus:-- + +'Your letter of this morning has caused me more concern than surprise, +as it unhappily only adds confirmation to the intelligence already in +my possession; that either from want of resolution to withstand the +seductions of designing persons, or by the impetuosity and instability +of your own character, you have been led into the ruinous and degrading +practice of gambling; and that from hence proceed the difficulties that +occasion your application to me for money. I am deeply grieved at thus +finding that neither the principles which have hitherto seemed to guide +you, nor the pledges which you used to hold sacred, nor, I may add, the +feelings you have so recently expressed towards a member of my family, +have been sufficient to preserve you from yielding to a temptation which +could never be presented to the mind of any one whose time was properly +occupied in the business of his education.' + +'Is that all I am to say about her,' exclaimed Mr. Edmonstone, 'after +the atrocious way the fellow has treated her in?' + +'Since it is, happily, no engagement, I cannot see how you can, with +propriety, assume that it is one, by speaking of breaking it off. +Besides, give him no ground for complaint, or he will take refuge in +believing himself ill-used. Ask him if he can disprove it, and when he +cannot, it will be time enough to act further. But wait--wait, sir,' as +the pen was moving over the paper, impatient to dash forward. 'You have +not told him yet of what you accuse him.' + +Philip meditated a few moments, then produced another sentence. + +'I have no means of judging how long you have been following this +unhappy course; I had rather believe it is of recent adoption, but I do +not know how to reconcile this idea with the magnitude of your demand, +unless your downward progress has been more rapid than usual in such +beginnings. It would, I fear, be quite vain for me to urge upon you all +the arguments and reasons that ought to have been present to your mind, +and prevented you from taking the first fatal step. I can only entreat +you to pause, and consider the ruin and degradation to which this +hateful vice almost invariably conducts its victims, and consistently +with my duty as your guardian, everything in my power shall be done +to extricate you from the embarrassments in which you have involved +yourself. But, in the first place, I make it a point that you treat me +with perfect confidence, and make a full, unequivocal statement of your +proceedings; above all, that you explain the circumstances, occasioning +your request for this large sum. Remember, I say, complete candour on +your part will afford the only means of rescuing you from difficulties, +or of in any degree restoring you to my good opinion.' + +So far the letter had proceeded slowly, for Philip was careful and +deliberate in composition, and while he was weighing his words, Mr. +Edmonstone rushed on with something unfit to stand, so as to have to +begin over again. At last, the town clock struck five; Philip started, +declaring that if he was not at the station in five minutes, he should +lose the train; engaged to come to Hollywell on the day an answer might +be expected, and hastened away, satisfied by having seen two sheets +nearly filled, and having said there was nothing more but to sign, seal, +and send it. + +Mr. Edmonstone had, however, a page of note-paper more, and it was with +a sensation of relief that he wrote,-- + +'I wish, from the bottom of my heart, that you could clear yourself. If +a dozen men had sworn it till they were black in the face, I would not +have believed it of you that you could serve us in such a manner, +after the way you have been treated at home, and to dare to think of my +daughter with such things on your mind. I could never have believed it, +but for the proofs Philip has brought; and I am sure he is as sorry as +myself. Only tell the whole truth, and I will do my best to get you out +of the scrape. Though all else must be at an end between us, I am your +guardian still, and I will not be harsh with you.' + +He posted his letter, climbed up his tall horse, and rode home, rather +heavy-hearted; but his wrath burning out as he left Broadstone behind +him. He saw his little Amy gay and lively, and could not bear to sadden +her; so he persuaded himself that there was no need to mention +the suspicions till he had heard what Guy had to say for himself. +Accordingly, he told no one but his wife; and she, who thought Guy as +unlikely to gamble as Amy herself, had not the least doubt that he would +be able to clear himself, and agreed that it was much better to keep +silence for the present. + + + + +CHAPTER 15 + + 'Tis not unknown to you, Antonio, + How much I have disabled mine estate, + By something showing a more swelling port + Than my faint means would grant continuance. + --Merchant of Venice + + +St. Mildred's was a fashionable summer resort, which the virtues of a +mineral spring, and the reputation of Dr. Henley, had contributed +to raise to a high degree of prosperity. It stood at the foot of a +magnificent range of beautifully formed hills, where the crescents and +villas, white and smart, showed their own insignificance beneath the +purple peaks that rose high above them. + +About ten miles distant, across the hills, was Stylehurst, the parish +of the late Archdeacon Morville, and the native place of Philip and his +sister Margaret. It was an extensive parish, including a wide tract of +the hilly country; and in a farm-house in the midst of the moorland, +midway between St. Mildred's and the village of Stylehurst, had Mr. +Wellwood fixed himself with his three pupils. + +Guy's first visit was of course to Mrs. Henley, and she was, on her +side, prepared by her brother to patronize him as Philip would have +done in her place. Her patronage was valuable in her own circle; her +connections were good; the Archdeacon's name was greatly respected; she +had a handsome and well-regulated establishment, and this, together with +talents which, having no family, she had cultivated more than most women +have time to do, made her a person of considerable distinction at St. +Mildred's. She was, in fact, the leading lady of the place--the manager +of the book-club, in the chair at all the charitable committees, and the +principal person in society, giving literary parties, with a degree of +exclusiveness that made admission to them a privilege. + +She was a very fine woman, handsomer at two-and-thirty than in her early +bloom; her height little less than that of her tall brother, and her +manner and air had something very distinguished. The first time Guy saw +her, he was strongly reminded both of Philip and of Mrs. Edmonstone, +but not pleasingly. She seemed to be her aunt, without the softness and +motherly affection, coupled with the touch of naivete that gave Mrs. +Edmonstone her freshness, and loveableness; and her likeness to her +brother included that decided, self-reliant air, which became him well +enough, but which did not sit as appropriately on a woman. + +Guy soon discovered another resemblance--for the old, unaccountable +impatience of Philip's conversation, and relief in escaping from it, +haunted him before he had been a quarter of an hour in Mrs. Henley's +drawing-room. She asked after the Hollywell party; she had not seen her +cousins since her marriage, and happily for his feelings, passed over +Laura and Amy as if they were nonentities; but they were all too near +his heart for him to be able with patience to hear 'poor Charles's' +temper regretted, and still less the half-sarcastic, half-compassionate +tone in which she implied that her aunt spoilt him dreadfully, and +showed how cheap she hold both Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone. + +Two years ago, Guy could not have kept down his irritation; but now he +was master of himself sufficiently to give a calm, courteous reply, +so conveying his own respect for them, that Mrs. Henley was almost +disconcerted. + +Stylehurst had great interest for Guy, both for the sake of Archdeacon +Morville's kindness, and as the home which Philip regarded with +affection, that seemed the one softening touch in his character. So Guy +visited the handsome church, studied the grave-yard, and gathered the +traditions of the place from the old sexton's wife, who rejoiced in +finding an auditor for her long stories of the good Archdeacon, Miss +Fanny, and Mr. Philip. She shook her head, saying times were changed, +and 'Miss Morville that was, never came neist the place.' + +The squire, Colonel Harewood, was an old friend of his grandfather's, +and therefore was to be called on. He had never been wise, and had been +dissipated chiefly from vacancy of mind; he was now growing old, and +led a quieter life, and though Guy did not find him a very entertaining +companion, he accepted, his civilities, readily, for his grandfather's +sake. When his sons came home, Guy recognized in them the description +of men he was wont to shun at Oxford, as much from distaste as from +principle; but though he did not absolutely avoid them, he saw little +of them, being very busy, and having pleasant companions in his fellow +pupils. It was a very merry party at South Moor, and Guy's high spirits +made him the life of everything. + +The first time Mr. Wellwood went to call on his cousins at St. +Mildred's, the daughters of that officer who had fallen by the hand +of old Sir Guy, he began repeating, for the twentieth time, what an +excellent fellow Morville was; then said he should not have troubled +them with any of his pupils, but Morville would esteem their receiving +him as an act of forgiveness, and besides, he wished them to know +one whom he valued so highly. Guy thus found himself admitted into an +entirely new region. There were two sisters, together in everything. +Jane, the younger, was a kind-hearted, commonplace person, who would +never have looked beyond the ordinary range of duties and charities; but +Elizabeth was one of those who rise up, from time to time, as burning +and shining lights. It was not spending a quiet, easy life, making her +charities secondary to her comforts, but devoting time, strength, and +goods; not merely giving away what she could spare, but actually sharing +all with the poor, reserving nothing for the future. She not only taught +the young, and visited the distressed, but she gathered orphans into +her house, and nursed the sick day and night. Neither the means nor the +strength of the two sisters could ever have been supposed equal to what +they were known to have achieved. It seemed as if the power grew with +the occasion, and as if they had some help which could not fail them. +Guy venerated them more and more, and many a long letter about them +was written to Mrs. Edmonstone for Amy to read. There is certainly a +'tyrannous hate' in the world for unusual goodness, which is a rebuke to +it, and there was a strong party against the sisters. At the head of it +was Mrs. Henley, who had originally been displeased at their preferring +the direction of the clergyman to that of the ladies' committee, though +the secret cause of her dislike was, perhaps, that Elizabeth Wellwood +was just what Margaret Morville might have been. So she blamed them, +not, indeed for their charity, but for slight peculiarities which might +well have been lost in the brightness of the works of mercy. She spoke +as with her father's authority, though, if she had been differently +disposed, she might have remembered that his system and principles were +the same as theirs, and that, had he been alive, he would probably have +fully approved of their proceedings. Archdeacon Morville's name was of +great weight, and justified many persons, in their own opinion, in +the opposition made to Miss Wellwood, impeding her usefulness, and +subjecting her to endless petty calumnies. + +These made Guy very angry. He knew enough of the Archdeacon through Mrs. +Edmonstone, and the opinions held by Philip, to think his daughter was +ascribing to him what he had never held but, be that as it might, Guy +could not bear to hear good evil spoken of, and his indignation was +stirred as he heard these spiteful reports uttered by people who sat +at home at ease, against one whose daily life was only too exalted +for their imitation. His brow contracted, his eye kindled, his lip was +bitten, and now and then, when he trusted himself to reply, it was with +a keen, sharp power of rebuke that made people look round, astonished +to hear such forcible words from one so young. Mrs. Henley was afraid of +him, without knowing it; she thought she was sparing the Morville temper +when she avoided the subject, but as she stood in awe of no one else, +except her brother, she disliked him accordingly. + +One evening Guy had been dining at Dr. Henley's, and was setting out, +enjoying his escape from Mrs. Henley and her friends, and rejoicing in +the prospect of a five miles' walk over the hills by moonlight. He had +only gone the length of two streets, when he saw a dark figure at a +little distance from him, and a voice which he had little expected to +hear, called out,-- + +'Sir Guy himself! No one else could whistle that Swedish air so +correctly!' + +'My uncle!' exclaimed Guy. 'I did not know that you were here!' + +Mr. Dixon laughed, said something about a fortunate rencontre, and began +an account about a concert somewhere or other, mixed up with something +about his wife and child, all so rambling and confused, that Guy, +beginning to suspect he had been drinking, was only anxious to get rid +of him, asked where he lodged, and talked of coming to see him in the +morning. He soon found, however, that this had not been the case, at +least not to any great extent. Dixon was only nervous and excited, +either about something he had done, or some request he had to make, and +he went on walking by his nephew's side, talking in a strange, desultory +way of open, generous-hearted fellows overlooking a little indiscretion, +and of Guy's riches, which he seemed to think inexhaustible. + +'If there is anything that you want me to do for you, tell me plainly +what it is,' said Guy, at last. + +Mr. Dixon began to overwhelm him with thanks, but he cut them short. 'I +promise nothing. Let me hear what you want, and I can judge whether I +can do it.' + +Sebastian broke out into exclamations at the words 'if I can,' as if he +thought everything in the power of the heir of Redclyffe. + +'Have I not told you,' said Guy, 'that for the present I have very +little command of money? Hush! no more of that,' he added, sternly, +cutting off an imprecation which his uncle was commencing on those who +kept him so short. + +'And you are content to bear it? Did you never hear of ways and means? +If you were to say but one word of borrowing, they would go down on +their knees to you, and offer you every farthing you have to keep you in +their own hands.' + +'I am quite satisfied,' said Guy, coldly. + +'The greater fool are you!' was on Dixon's lips, but he did not +utter it, because he wanted to propitiate him; and after some more +circumlocution, Guy succeeded in discovering that he had been gambling, +and had lost an amount which, unless he could obtain immediate +assistance, would become known, and lead to the loss of his character +and situation. Guy stood and considered. He had an impulse, but he did +not think it a safe one, and resolved to give himself time. + +'I do not say that I cannot help you,' he answered, 'but I must have +time to consider.' + +'Time! would you see me ruined while you are considering?' + +'I suppose this must be paid immediately. Where do you lodge?' + +Mr. Dixon told him the street and number. + +'You shall hear from me to-morrow morning. I cannot trust my present +thoughts. Good night!' + +Mr. Dixon would fain have guessed whether the present thoughts were +favourable, but all his hope in his extremity was in his nephew; it +might be fatal to push him too far, and, with a certain trust in +his good-nature, Sebastian allowed him to walk away without further +remonstrance. + +Guy knew his own impetuous nature too well to venture to act on impulse +in a doubtful case. He had now first to consider what he was able to do, +and secondly what he would do; and this was not as clear to his mind as +in the earlier days of his acquaintance with his uncle. + +Their intercourse had never been on a comfortable footing. It would +perhaps have been better if Philip's advice had been followed, and no +connection kept up. Guy had once begged for some definite rule, since +there was always vexation when he was known to have been with his uncle, +and yet Mr. Edmonstone would never absolutely say he ought not to see +him. As long as his guardian permitted it, or rather winked at it, Guy +did not think it necessary to attend to Philip's marked disapproval. +Part of it was well founded, but part was dislike to all that might +be considered as vulgar, and part was absolute injustice to Sebastian +Dixon, there was everything that could offend in his line of argument, +and in the very circumstance of his interfering; and Guy had a continual +struggle, in which he was not always successful, to avoid showing the +affront he had taken, and to reason down his subsequent indignation. The +ever-recurring irritation which Philip's conversation was apt to cause +him, made him avoid it as far as he could, and retreat in haste from the +subjects on which they were most apt to disagree, and so his manner had +assumed an air of reserve, and almost of distrust, with his cousin, that +was very unlike its usual winning openness. + +This had been one unfortunate effect of his intercourse with his uncle, +and another was a certain vague, dissatisfied feeling which his silence, +and Philip's insinuations respecting the days he spent in London, +left on Mr. Edmonstone's mind, and which gained strength from their +recurrence. The days were, indeed, not many; it was only that in coming +from and going to Oxford, he slept a night at an hotel in London (for +his uncle never would take him to his lodgings, never even would tell +him where they were, but always gave his address at the place of his +engagement), was conducted by him to some concert in the evening, and +had him to breakfast in the morning. He could not think there was any +harm in this; he explained all he had done to Mr. Edmonstone the first +time, but nothing was gained by it: his visits to London continued to be +treated as something to be excused or overlooked--as something not quite +correct. + +He would almost have been ready to discontinue them, but that he saw +that his uncle regarded him with affection, and he could not bear the +thought of giving up a poor relation for the sake of the opinion of +his rich friends. These meetings were the one pure pleasure to which +Sebastian looked, recalling to him the happier days of his youth, and of +his friendship with Guy's father; and when Guy perceived how he valued +them, it would have seemed a piece of cruel neglect to gratify himself +by giving the time to Hollywell. + +Early in the course of their acquaintance, the importunity of a creditor +revealed that, in spite of his handsome salary, Sebastian Dixon was +often in considerable distress for money. In process of time, Guy +discovered that at the time his uncle had been supporting his sister +and her husband in all the luxury he thought befitted their rank, he had +contracted considerable debts, and he had only been able to return to +England on condition of paying so much a-year to his creditors. This +left him very little on which to maintain his family, but still his +pride made him bent on concealing his difficulties, and it was not +without a struggle that he would at first consent to receive assistance +from his nephew. + +Guy resolved that these debts, which he considered as in fact his +father's own, should be paid as soon as he had the command of his +property; but, in the meantime, he thought himself bound to send his +uncle all the help in his power, and when once the effort of accepting +it at all was over, Dixon's expectations extended far beyond his power. +His allowance was not large, and the constant requests for a few pounds +to meet some pressing occasion were more than he could well meet. They +kept him actually a great deal poorer than men without a tenth part of +his fortune, and at the end of the term he would look back with surprise +at having been able to pay his way; but still he contrived neither to +exceed his allowance, nor to get into debt. This was, indeed, only done +by a rigid self-denial of little luxuries such as most young men look +on nearly as necessaries; but he had never been brought up to think +self-indulgence a consequence of riches, he did not care what was said +of him, he had no expensive tastes, for he did not seek after society, +so that he was not ill-prepared for such a course, and only thought of +it as an assistance in abstaining from the time-wasting that might have +tempted him if he had had plenty of money to spend. + +The only thing that concerned him was a growing doubt lest he might be +feeding extravagance instead of doing good; and the more he disliked +himself for the suspicion, the more it would return. There was no doubt +much distress, the children were sickly; several of them died; the +doctor's bills, and other expenses, pressed heavily, and Guy blamed +himself for having doubted. Yet, again, he could not conceal from +himself traces that his uncle was careless and imprudent. He had once, +indeed, in a violent fit of self-reproach, confessed as much, allowed +that what ought to have been spent in the maintenance of his family, had +gone in gambling, but immediately after, he had been seized with a fit +of terror, and implored Guy to guard the secret, since, if once it +came to the knowledge of his creditors, it would be all over with him. +Concealment of his present difficulties was therefore no less necessary +than assistance in paying the sum he owed. Indeed, as far as Guy was +able to understand his confused statement, what he wanted was at once +to pay a part of his debt, before he could go on to a place where he was +engaged to perform, and where he would earn enough to make up the rest. + +Guy had intended to have sent for Deloraine, but had since given up the +idea, in order to be able to help forward some plans of Miss Wellwood's, +and resigning this project would enable him to place thirty pounds at +his uncle's disposal, leaving him just enough to pay his expenses at +South Moor, and carry him back to Hollywell. It was sorely against his +inclination that, instead of helping a charity, his savings should go +to pay gaming debts, and his five-miles walk was spent in self-debate on +the right and wrong of the matter, and questions what should be done +for the future--for he was beginning to awaken to the sense of his +responsibility, and feared lest he might be encouraging vice. + +Very early next morning Guy put his head into his tutor's room, +announced that he must walk into St. Mildred's on business, but should +be back by eleven at the latest, ran down-stairs, called Bustle, and +made interest with the farmer's wife for a hunch of dry bread and a cup +of new milk. + +Then rejoicing that he had made up his mind, though not light-hearted +enough to whistle, he walked across the moorland, through the white +morning mist, curling on the sides of the hills in fantastic forms, and +now and then catching his lengthened shadow, so as to make him smile by +reminding him of the spectre of the Brocken. + +Not without difficulty, he found a back street, and a little shop, where +a slovenly maid was sweeping the steps, and the shutters were not yet +taken down. He asked if Mr. Dixon lodged there. 'Yes,' the woman said, +staring in amazement that such a gentleman could be there at that time +in the morning, asking for Mr. Dixon. + +'Is he at home?' + +'Yes, sir but he is not up yet. He was very late last night. Did you +want to speak to him? I'll tell Mrs. Dixon.' + +'Is Mrs. Dixon here? Then tell her Sir Guy Morville would be glad to +speak to her.' + +The maid curtseyed, hurried off, and returned with a message from Mrs. +Dixon to desire he would walk in. She conducted him through a dark +passage, and up a still darker stair, into a dingy little parlour, with +a carpet of red and green stripes, a horsehair sofa, a grate covered +with cut paper, and a general perfume of brandy and cigars. There were +some preparations for breakfast, but no one was in the room but a little +girl, about seven years old, dressed in shabby-genteel mourning. + +She was pale and sickly-looking, but her eyes were of a lovely deep +blue, with a very sweet expression, and a profusion of thick flaxen +curls hung round her neck and shoulders. She said in a soft, little, shy +voice,-- + +'Mamma says she will be here directly, if you will excuse her a moment.' + +Having made this formal speech, the little thing was creeping off on +tip-toe, so as to escape before the maid shut the door, but Guy held out +his hand, sat down so as to be on a level with her, and said,-- + +'Don't go, my little maid. Won't you come and speak to your cousin Guy?' + +Children never failed to be attracted, whether by the winning beauty of +his smile, or the sweetness of the voice in which he spoke to anything +small or weak, and the little girl willingly came up to him, and put her +hand into his. He stroked her thick, silky curls, and asked her name. + +'Marianne,' she answered. + +It was his mother's name, and this little creature had more resemblance +to his tenderly-cherished vision of his young mother than any +description Dixon could have given. He drew her closer to him, took the +other small, cold hand, and asked her how she liked St. Mildred's. + +'Oh! much better than London. There are flowers!' and she proudly +exhibited a cup holding some ragged robins, dead nettles, and other +common flowers which a country child would have held cheap. He admired +and gained more of her confidence, so that she had begun to chatter away +quite freely about 'the high, high hills that reached up to the sky, and +the pretty stones,' till the door opened, and Mrs. Dixon and Bustle made +their entrance. + +Marianne was so much afraid of the dog, Guy so eager to console, and her +mother to scold her, and protest that it should not be turned out, that +there was nothing but confusion, until Guy had shown her that Bustle was +no dangerous wild beast, induced her to accept his offered paw, and lay +a timid finger on his smooth, black head, after which the transition was +short to dog and child sitting lovingly together on the floor, Marianne +stroking his ears, and admiring him with a sort of silent ecstasy. + +Mrs. Dixon was a great, coarse, vulgar woman, and Guy perceived why his +uncle had been so averse to taking him to his home, and how he must have +felt the contrast between such a wife and his beautiful sister. She +had a sort of broad sense, and absence of pretension, but her manner of +talking was by no means pleasant, as she querulously accused her husband +of being the cause of all their misfortunes, not even restrained by the +presence of her child from entering into a full account of his offences. + +Mrs. Dixon said she should not say a word, she should not care if it was +not for the child, but she could not see her wronged by her own father, +and not complain; poor little dear! she was the last, and she supposed +she should not keep her long. + +It then appeared that on her husband's obtaining an engagement for a +series of concerts at the chief county town, Mrs. Dixon had insisted +on coming with him to St. Mildred's in the hope that country air might +benefit Marianne, who, in a confined lodging in London, was pining and +dwindling as her brothers and sisters had done before her. Sebastian, +who liked to escape from his wife's grumbling and rigid supervision, and +looked forward to amusement in his own way at the races, had grudgingly +allowed her to come, and, as she described it, had been reluctant to go +to even so slight an expense in the hope of saving his child's life. She +had watched him as closely as she could; but he had made his escape, and +the consequences Guy already knew. + +If anything could have made it worse, it was finding that after parting +last night, he had returned, tried to retrieve his luck, had involved +himself further, had been drinking more; and at the very hour when his +nephew was getting up to see what could be done for him, had come +home in a state, which made it by no means likely that he would be +presentable, if his wife called him, as she offered to do. + +Guy much preferred arranging with her what was to be done on the present +emergency. She was disappointed at finding thirty pounds was all the +help he could give; but she was an energetic woman, full of resources, +and saw her way, with this assistance, through the present difficulty. +The great point was to keep the gambling propensities out of sight of +the creditors; and as long as this was done, she had hope. Dixon would +go the next morning to the town where the musical meeting was to be +held, and there he would be with his employers, where he had a character +to preserve, so that she was in no fear of another outbreak. + +It ended, therefore, in his leaving with her Mr. Edmonstone's draft, +securing its destination by endorsing it to the person who was to +receive it; and wishing her good morning, after a few more kind words to +little Marianne, who had sat playing with Bustle all the time, sidling +continually nearer and nearer to her new cousin, her eyes bent down, and +no expression on her face which could enable him to guess how far she +listened to or comprehended the conversation so unfit for her ear. When +he rose to go, and stooped to kiss her, she looked wistfully in his +face, and held up a small sparkling bit of spar, the most precious of +all her hoards, gleaned from the roadsides of St. Mildred's. + +'What, child, do you want to give it to Sir Guy?' said her mother. 'He +does not want such trumpery, my dear, though you make such a work with +it.' + +'Did you mean to give it to me, my dear?' said Guy, as the child hung +her head, and, crimsoned with blushes, could scarcely whisper her timid +'Yes.' + +He praised it, and let her put it in his waistcoat pocket, and promised +he would always keep it; and kissed her again, and left her a happy +child, confident in his promise of always keeping it, though her mother +augured that he would throw it over the next hedge. + +He was at South Moor by eleven o'clock, in time for his morning's +business, and made up for the troubles of the last few hours by a long +talk with Mr. Wellwood in the afternoon, while the other two pupils were +gone to the races, for which he was not inclined, after his two ten-mile +walks. + +The conversation was chiefly on Church prospects in general, and in +particular on Miss Wellwood and her plans; how they had by degrees +enlarged and developed as the sin, and misery, and ignorance around +had forced themselves more plainly on her notice, and her means had +increased and grown under her hand in the very distribution. Other +schemes were dawning on her mind, of which the foremost was the +foundation of a sort of school and hospital united, under the charge +of herself, her sister, and several other ladies, who were desirous of +joining her, as a sisterhood. But at present it was hoping against hope, +for there were no funds with which to make a commencement. All this was +told at unawares, drawn forth by different questions and remarks, till +Guy inquired how much it would take to give them a start?' + +'It is impossible to say. Anything, I suppose, between one thousand +and twenty. But, by the bye, this design of Elizabeth's is an absolute +secret. If you had not almost guessed it, I should never have said one +word to you about it. You are a particularly dangerous man, with your +connection with Mrs. Henley. You must take special good care nothing of +it reaches her.' + +Guy's first impression was, that he was the last person to mention it +to Mrs. Henley; but when he remembered how often her brother was at +Hollywell, he perceived that there might be a train for carrying the +report back again to her, and recognized the absolute necessity of +silence. + +He said nothing at the time, but a bright scheme came into his head, +resulting in the request for a thousand pounds, which caused so much +astonishment. He thought himself rather shabby to have named no more, +and was afraid it was an offering that cost him nothing; but he much +enjoyed devising beforehand the letter with which he would place the +money at the disposal of Miss Wellwood's hospital. + + + + +CHAPTER 16 + + Yet burns the sun on high beyond the cloud; + Each in his southern cave, + The warm winds linger, but to be allowed + One breathing o'er the wave, + One flight across the unquiet sky; + Swift as a vane may turn on high, + The smile of heaven comes on. + So waits the Lord behind the veil, + His light on frenzied cheek, or pale, + To shed when the dark hour is gone. + --LYRA INNOCENTIUM + + +On the afternoon on which Guy expected an answer from Mr. Edmonstone, +he walked with his fellow pupil, Harry Graham, to see if there were any +letters from him at Dr. Henley's. + +The servant said Mrs. Henley was at home, and asked them to come in and +take their letters. These were lying on a marble table, in the hall; and +while the man looked in the drawing-room for his mistress, and sent one +of the maids up-stairs in quest of her, Guy hastily took up one, bearing +his address, in the well-known hand of Mr. Edmonstone. + +Young Graham, who had taken up a newspaper, was startled by Guy's loud, +sudden exclamation,--' + +'Ha! What on earth does this mean?' + +And looking up, saw his face of a burning, glowing red, the features +almost convulsed, the large veins in the forehead and temples swollen +with the blood that rushed through them, and if ever his eyes flashed +with the dark lightning of Sir Hugh's, it was then. + +'Morville! What's the matter?' + +'Intolerable!--insulting! Me? What does he mean?' continued Guy, his +passion kindling more and more. 'Proofs? I should like to see them! +The man is crazy! I to confess! Ha!' as he came towards the end, 'I +see it,--I see it. It is Philip, is it, that I have to thank. Meddling +coxcomb! I'll make him repent it,' added he, with a grim fierceness of +determination. Slandering me to them! And that,'--looking at the words +with regard to Amy,--'that passes all. He shall see what it is to insult +me!' + +'What is it? Your guardian out of humour?' asked his companion. + +'My guardian is a mere weak fool. I don't blame him,--he can't help it; +but to see him made a tool of! He twists him round his finger, abuses +his weakness to insult--to accuse. But he shall give me an account!' + +Guy's voice had grown lower and more husky; but though the sound sunk, +the force of passion rather increased than diminished; it was like the +low distant sweep of the tempest as it whirls away, preparing to return +with yet more tremendous might. His colour, too, had faded to paleness, +but the veins were still swollen, purple, and throbbing, and there was +a stillness about him that made his wrath more than fierce, intense, +almost appalling. + +Harry Graham was dumb with astonishment; but while Guy spoke, Mrs. +Henley had come down, and was standing before them, beginning a +greeting. The blood rushed back into Guy's cheeks, and, controlling his +voice with powerful effort, he said,-- + +'I have had an insulting--an unpleasant letter,' he added, catching +himself up. 'You must excuse me;' and he was gone. + +'What has happened?' exclaimed Mrs. Henley, though, from her brother's +letter, as well as from her observations during a long and purposely +slow progress, along a railed gallery overhanging the hall, and down a +winding staircase, she knew pretty well the whole history of his anger. + +'I don't know,' said young Graham. 'Some absurd, person interfering +between him and his guardian. I should be sorry to be him to fall in his +way just now. It must be something properly bad. I never saw a man in +such a rage. I think I had better go after him, and see what he has done +with himself.' + +'You don't think,' said Mrs. Henley, detaining him, 'that his guardian +could have been finding fault with him with reason?' + +'Who? Morville? His guardian must have a sharp eye for picking holes, if +he can find any in Morville. Not a steadier fellow going,--only too much +so.' + +'Ah!' thought Mrs. Henley, 'these young men always hang together;' and +she let him escape without further question. But, when he emerged from +the house, Guy was already out of sight, and he could not succeed in +finding him. + +Guy had burst out of the house, feeling as if nothing could relieve +him but free air and rapid motion; and on he hurried, fast, faster, +conscious alone of the wild, furious tumult of rage and indignation +against the maligner of his innocence, who was knowingly ruining him +with all that was dearest to him, insulting him by reproaches on his +breaking a most sacred, unblemished word, and, what Guy felt scarcely +less keenly, forcing kind-hearted Mr. Edmonstone into a persecution so +foreign to his nature. The agony of suffering such an accusation, and +from such a quarter,--the violent storm of indignation and pride,--wild, +undefined ideas of a heavy reckoning,--above all, the dreary thought of +Amy denied to him for ever,--all these swept over him, and swayed him +by turns, with the dreadful intensity belonging to a nature formed for +violent passions, which had broken down, in the sudden shock, all the +barriers imposed on them by a long course of self-restraint. + +On he rushed, reckless whither he went, or what he did, driven forward +by the wild impulse of passion, far over moor and hill, up and down, +till at last, exhausted at once by the tumult within, and by the +violent bodily exertion, a stillness--a suspension of thought and +sensation--ensued; and when this passed, he found himself seated on +a rock which crowned the summit of one of the hills, his handkerchief +loosened, his waistcoat open, his hat thrown off, his temples burning +and throbbing with a feeling of distraction, and the agitated beatings +of his heart almost stifling his panting breath. + +'Yes,' he muttered to himself, 'a heavy account shall he pay me for this +crowning stroke of a long course of slander and ill-will! Have I not +seen it? Has not he hated me from the first, misconstrued every word and +deed, though I have tried, striven earnestly, to be his friend,--borne, +as not another soul would have done, with his impertinent interference +and intolerable patronizing airs! But he has seen the last of it! +anything but this might be forgiven; but sowing dissension between me +and the Edmonstones--maligning me there. Never! Knowing, too, as he +seems to do, how I stand, it is the very ecstasy of malice! Ay! this +very night it shall be exposed, and he shall be taught to beware--made +to know with whom he has to deal.' + +Guy uttered this last with teeth clenched, in an excess of deep, +vengeful ire. Never had Morville of the whole line felt more deadly +fierceness than held sway over him, as he contemplated his revenge, +looked forward with a dire complacency to the punishment he would wreak, +not for this offence alone, but for a long course of enmity. He sat, +absorbed in the plan of vengeance, perfectly still, for his physical +exhaustion was complete; but as the pulsations of his heart grew +less wild, his purpose became sterner and more fixed. He devised its +execution, planned his sudden journey, saw himself bursting on Philip +early next morning, summoning him to answer for his falsehoods. The +impulse to action seemed to restore his power over his senses. He looked +round, to see where he was, raising his head from his hands. + +The sun was setting opposite to him, in a flood of gold,--a ruddy ball, +surrounded with its pomp of clouds, on the dazzling sweep of horizon. +That sight recalled him not only to himself, but to his true and better +self; the good angel so close to him for the twenty years of his life, +had been driven aloof but for a moment, and now, either that, or a still +higher and holier power, made the setting sun bring to his mind, almost +to his ear, the words,-- + + Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, + Neither give place to the devil. + +Guy had what some would call a vivid imagination, others a lively faith. +He shuddered, then, his elbows on his knees, and his hands clasped over +his brow, he sat, bending forward, with his eyes closed, wrought up in a +fearful struggle; while it was to him as if he saw the hereditary demon +of the Morvilles watching by his side, to take full possession of him +as a rightful prey, unless the battle was fought and won before that red +orb had passed out of sight. Yes, the besetting fiend of his family--the +spirit of defiance and resentment--that was driving him, even now, while +realizing its presence, to disregard all thoughts save of the revenge +for which he could barter everything--every hope once precious to him. + +It was horror at such wickedness that first checked him, and brought him +back to the combat. His was not a temper that was satisfied with half +measures. He locked his hands more rigidly together, vowing to compel +himself, ere he left the spot, to forgive his enemy--forgive him +candidly--forgive him, so as never again to have to say, 'I forgive +him!' He did not try to think, for reflection only lashed up his sense +of the wrong: but, as if there was power in the words alone, he forced +his lips to repeat,-- + +'Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against +us.' + +Coldly and hardly were they spoken at first; again he pronounced them, +again, again,--each time the tone was softer, each time they came more +from the heart. At last the remembrance of greater wrongs, and worse +revilings came upon him, his eyes filled with tears, the most subduing +and healing of all thoughts--that of the great Example--became present +to him; the foe was driven back. + +Still he kept his hands over his face. The tempter was not yet defeated +without hope. It was not enough to give up his first intention (no great +sacrifice, as he perceived, now that he had time to think how Philip +would be certain to treat a challenge), it was not enough to wish no ill +to his cousin, to intend no evil measure, he must pardon from the bottom +of his heart, regard him candidly, and not magnify his injuries. + +He sat long, in deep thought, his head bent down, and his countenance +stern with inward conflict. It was the hardest part of the whole battle, +for the Morville disposition was as vindictive as passionate; but, at +last, he recovered clearness of vision. His request might well appear +unreasonable, and possibly excite suspicion, and, for the rest, it was +doing a man of honour, like Philip, flagrant injustice to suspect him of +originating slanders. He was, of course, under a mistake, had acted, not +perhaps kindly, but as he thought, rightly and judiciously, in making +his suspicions known. If he had caused his uncle to write provokingly, +every one knew that was his way, he might very properly wish, under his +belief, to save Amabel; and though the manner might have been otherwise, +the proceeding itself admitted complete justification. Indeed, when Guy +recollected the frenzy of his rage, and his own murderous impulse, he +was shocked to think that he had ever sought the love of that pure +and gentle creature, as if it had been a cruel and profane linking of +innocence to evil. He was appalled at the power of his fury, he had +not known he was capable of it, for his boyish passion, even when +unrestrained, had never equalled this, in all the strength of early +manhood. + +He looked up, and saw that the last remnant of the sun's disk was just +disappearing beneath the horizon. The victory was won! + +But Guy's feeling was not the rejoicing of the conquest, it was more the +relief which is felt by a little child, weary of its fit of naughtiness, +when its tearful face is raised, mournful yet happy, in having won true +repentance, and it says, 'I _am_ sorry now.' + +He rose, looked at his watch, wondered to find it so late; gazed round, +and considered his bearings, perceiving, with a sense of shame, how far +he had wandered; then retraced his steps slowly and wearily, and did not +reach South Moor till long after dark. + + + + +CHAPTER 17 + + My blood hath been too cold and temperate, + Unapt to stir at these indignities; + But you have found me. + --KING HENRY IV + + +Philip, according to promise, appeared at Hollywell, and a volume of +awful justice seemed written on his brow. Charles, though ignorant of +its cause, perceived this at a glance, and greeted him thus:-- + +'Enter Don Philip II, the Duke of Alva, alguazils, corregidors, and +executioners.' + +'Is anything the matter, Philip?' said Amy; a question which took him +by surprise, as he could not believe her in ignorance. He was sorry for +her, and answered gravely,-- + +'Nothing is amiss with me, thank you, Amy,' + +She knew he meant that he would tell no more, and would have thought no +more about it, but that she saw her mother was very uneasy. + +'Did you ask whether there were any letters at the post?' said Charles. +'Guy is using us shamefully--practising self-denial on us, I suppose. Is +there no letter from him?' + +'There is,' said Philip, reluctantly. + +'Well, where is it?' + +'It is to your father.' + +'Oh!' said Charles, with a disappointed air. 'Are you sure? Depend on +it, you overlooked my M. He has owed me a letter this fortnight. Let me +see.' + +'It is for my uncle,' repeated Philip, as if to put an end to the +subject. + +'Then he has been so stupid as to forget my second name. Come, give it +me. I shall have it sooner or later.' + +'I assure you, Charles, it is not for you.' + +'Would not any one suppose he had been reading it?' exclaimed Charles. + +'Did you know Mary Ross was gone to stay with her brother John?' broke +in Mrs. Edmonstone, in a nervous, hurried manner. + +'No is she?' replied Philip. + +'Yes; his wife is ill.' + +The universal feeling was that something was amiss, and mamma was in the +secret. Amy looked wistfully at her, but Mrs. Edmonstone only gazed +at the window, and so they continued for some minutes, while an +uninteresting exchange of question and answer was kept up between her +and her nephew until at length the dressing-bell rang, and cleared the +room. Mrs. Edmonstone lingered till her son and daughters were gone, and +said,-- + +'You have heard from St. Mildred's?' + +'Yes,' said Philip, as if he was as little inclined to be communicative +to her as to his cousins. + +'From Guy, or from Margaret?' + +'From Margaret.' + +'But you say there is a letter from him?' + +'Yes, for my uncle.' + +'Does she say nothing more satisfactory?' asked his aunt, her anxiety +tortured by his composure. 'Has she learnt no more?' + +'Nothing more of his proceedings. I see Amy knows nothing of the +matter?' + +'No; her papa thought there was no need to distress her till we had seen +whether he could explain.' + +'Poor little thing!' said Philip; 'I am very sorry for her. + +Mrs. Edmonstone did not choose to discuss her daughter's affairs with +him, and she turned the conversation to ask if Margaret said much of +Guy. + +'She writes to tell the spirit in which he received my uncle's letter. +It is only the Morville temper, again, and, of course, whatever you may +think of that on Amy's account, I should never regard it, as concerns +myself, as other than his misfortune. I hope he may be able to explain +the rest.' + +'Ah! there comes your uncle!' and Mr. Edmonstone entered. + +'How d'ye do, Philip? Brought better news, eh?' + +'Here is a letter to speak for itself.' + +'Eh? From Guy? Give it me. What does he say? Let me see. Here, mamma, +read it; your eyes are best.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone read as follows:-- + + +'MY DEAR MR. EDMONSTONE,--Your letter surprised and grieved me very +much. I cannot guess what proofs Philip may think he has, of what +I never did, and, therefore, I cannot refute them otherwise than by +declaring that I never gamed in my life. Tell me what they are, and I +will answer them. As to a full confession, I could of course tell you +of much in which I have done wrongly, though not in the way which he +supposes. On that head, I have nothing to confess. I am sorry I am +prevented from satisfying you about the £1OOO, but I am bound in honour +not to mention the purpose for which I wanted it. I am sure you could +never believe I could have said what I did to Mrs. Edmonstone if I had +begun on a course which I detest from the bottom of my heart. Thank you +very much for the kindness of the latter part of your letter. I do not +know how I could have borne it, if it had ended as it began. I hope you +will soon send me these proofs of Philip's. Ever your affectionate, 'G. +M.' + + +Not a little surprised was Philip to find that he was known to be Guy's +accuser; but the conclusion revealed that his style had betrayed him, +and that Mr. Edmonstone had finished with some mention of him, and +he resolved that henceforth he would never leave a letter of his own +dictation till he had seen it signed and sealed. + +'Well!' cried Mr. Edmonstone, joyfully beating his own hand with his +glove, 'that is all right. I knew it would be so. He can't even +guess what we are at. I am glad we did not tease poor little Amy. Eh, +mamma?--eh, Philip?' the last eh being uttered much more doubtfully, and +less triumphantly than the first. + +'I wonder you think it right,' said Philip. + +'What more would you have?' said Mr. Edmonstone, hastily. + +'Confidence.' + +'Eh? Oh, ay, he says he can't tell--bound in honour.' + +'It is easy to write off-hand, and say I cannot satisfy you, I am +bound in honour; but that is not what most persons would think a full +justification, especially considering the terms on which you stand.' + +'Why, yes, he might have said more. It would have been safe enough with +me.' + +'It is his usual course of mystery, reserve, and defiance.' + +'The fact is,' said Mr. Edmonstone, turning away, 'that it is a very +proper letter; right sense, proper feeling--and if he never gamed in his +life, what would you have more?' + +'There are different ways of understanding such a denial as this,' said +Philip. 'See, he says not in the way in which I suppose.' He held up +his hand authoritatively, as his aunt was about to interpose. 'It was +against gaming that his vow was made. I never thought he had played, but +he never says he has not betted.' + +'He would never be guilty of a subterfuge!' exclaimed Mr. Edmonstone, +indignantly. + +'I should not have thought so, without the evidence of the payment of +the cheque, my uncle had just given him, to this gambling fellow,' said +Philip; 'yet it is only the natural consequence of the habit of eluding +inquiry into his visits to London.' + +'I can't see any reason for so harsh an accusation,' said she. + +'I should hardly want more reason than his own words. He refuses to +answer the question on which my uncle's good opinion depends; he owns he +has been to blame, and thus retracts his full denial. In my opinion, his +letter says nothing so plainly as, "While I can stand fair with you I do +not wish to break with you."' + +'He will not find that quite so easy.' cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'I am no +fool to be hoodwinked, especially where my little Amy is concerned. I'll +see all plain and straight before he says another word of her. But you +see what comes of their settling it while I was out of the way.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was grieved to see him so hurt at this. It could not +have been helped, and if all had been smooth, he never would have +thought of it again; but it served to keep up his dignity in his own +eyes, and, as he fancied, to defend him from Philip's censure, and he +therefore made the most of it, which so pained her that she did not +venture to continue her championship of Guy. + +'Well, well,' said Mr. Edmonstone, 'the question is what to do next--eh, +Philip?' I wish he would have spoken openly. I hate mysteries. I'll +write and tell him this won't do; he must be explicit--eh, Philip?' + +'We will talk it over by and by,' said Philip. + +His aunt understood that it was to be in her absence, and left the room, +fearing it would be impossible to prevent Amy from being distressed, +though she had no doubt that Guy would be able to prove his innocence of +the charges. She found Amy waiting for her in her room. + +'Don't, ring, mamma, dear. I'll fasten your dress,' said she; then +pausing--'Oh! mamma, I don't know whether I ought to ask, but if you +would only tell me if there is nothing gone wrong.' + +'I don't believe there is anything really wrong, my dear,' said Mrs. +Edmonstone, kissing her, as she saw how her colour first deepened and +then faded. + +'Oh! no,' said she. + +'But there is some mystery about his money-matters, which has vexed your +papa.' + +'And what has Philip to do with it?' + +'I cannot quite tell, my dear. I believe Margaret Henley has heard +something, but I do not know the whole.' + +'Did you see his letter, mamma? said Amy, in a low, trembling voice. + +'Yes, it is just like himself, and absolutely denies the accusations.' + +Amy did not say 'then they are false,' but she held up her head. + +'Then papa is satisfied?' she said. + +'I have no doubt all will be made clear in time,' said her mother; 'but +there is still something unexplained, and I am afraid things may not +go smoothly just now. I am very sorry, my little Amy, that such a cloud +should have come over you, she added, smoothing fondly the long, soft +hair, sad at heart to see the cares and griefs of womanhood gathering +over her child's bright, young life. + +'I said I must learn to bear things!' murmured Amy to herself. 'Only,' +and the tears filled her eyes, and she spoke with almost childish +simplicity of manner, 'I can't bear them to vex him. I wish Philip would +let papa settle it alone. Guy will be angry, and grieved afterwards.' + +They were interrupted by the dinner-bell, but Amy ran into her own room +for one moment. + +'I said I would learn to bear,' said she to herself, 'or I shall never +be fit for him. Yes, I will, even though it is the thinking he is +unhappy. He said I must be his Verena; I know what that means; I ought +not to be uneasy, for he will bear it beautifully, and say he is glad of +it afterwards. And I will try not to seem cross to Philip.' + +Mr. Edmonstone was fidgety and ill at ease, found fault with the dinner, +and was pettish with his wife. Mrs. Edmonstone set Philip off +upon politics, which lasted till the ladies could escape into the +drawing-room. In another minute Philip brought in Charles, set him down, +and departed. Amy, who was standing by the window, resting her forehead +against the glass, and gazing into the darkness, turned round hastily, +and left the room, but in passing her brother, she put her hand into +his, and received a kind pressure. Her mother followed her, and the +other three all began to wonder. Charles said he had regularly been +turned out of the dining-room by Philip, who announced that he wanted to +speak to his uncle, and carried him off. + +They conjectured, and were indignant at each other's conjectures, till +their mother returned, and gave them as much information as she could; +but this only made them very anxious. Charles was certain that Mrs. +Henley had laid a cockatrice egg, and Philip was hatching it; and Laura +could not trust herself to defend Philip, lest she should do it too +vehemently. They could all agree in desire to know the truth, in hope +that Guy was not culpable, and, above all, in feeling for Amy; but by +tacit consent they were silent on the three shades of opinion in their +minds. Laura was confident that Philip was acting for the best; Mrs. +Edmonstone thought he might be mistaken in his premises, but desirous of +Guy's real good; and Charles, though sure he would allege nothing which +he did not believe to be true, also thought him ready to draw the worst +conclusions from small grounds, and to take pleasure in driving Mr. +Edmonstone to the most rigorous measures. + +Philip, meanwhile, was trying to practise great moderation and +forbearance, not bringing forward at first what was most likely to +incense Mr. Edmonstone, and without appearance of animosity in his cool, +guarded speech. There was no design in this, he meant only to be just; +yet anything less cool would have had far less effect. + +When he shut the dining-room door, he found his uncle wavering, touched +by the sight of his little Amy, returning to his first favourable view +of Guy's letter, ready to overlook everything, accept the justification, +and receive his ward on the same footing as before, though he was at +the same time ashamed that Philip should see him relent, and desirous +of keeping up his character for firmness, little guessing how his nephew +felt his power over him, and knew that he could wield him at will. + +Perceiving and pitying his feebleness, and sincerely believing strong +measures the only rescue for Amy, the only hope for Guy, Philip found +himself obliged to work on him by the production of another letter from +his sister. He would rather, if possible, have kept this back, so much +did his honourable feeling recoil from what had the air of slander and +mischief-making; but he regarded firmness on his uncle's part as the +only chance for Guy or for his cousin, and was resolved not to let him +swerve from strict justice. + +Mrs. Henley had written immediately after Guy's outburst in her house, +and, taking it for granted that her brother would receive a challenge, +she wrote in the utmost alarm, urging him to remember how precious he +was to her, and not to depart from his own principles. + +'You would not be so mad as to fight him, eh?' said Mr. Edmonstone, +anxiously. 'You know better--besides, for poor Amy's sake.' + +'For the sake of right,' replied Philip, 'no. I have reassured my +sister. I have told her that, let the boy do what he will, he shall +never make me guilty of his death.' + +'You have heard from him, then?' + +'No; I suppose a night's reflection convinced him that he had no +rational grounds for violent proceedings, and he had sense enough not to +expose himself to such an answer as I should have given. What caused his +wrath to be directed towards me especially, I cannot tell, nor can my +sister,' said Philip, looking full at his uncle; 'but I seem to have +come in for a full share of it.' + +He proceeded to read the description of Guy's passion, and the +expressions he had used. Violent as it had been, it did not lose in +Mrs. Henley's colouring; and what made the effect worse was that she had +omitted to say she had overheard his language, so that it appeared as +if he had been unrestrained even by gentlemanly feeling, and had thus +spoken of her brother and uncle in her presence. + +Mr. Edmonstone was resentful now, really displeased, and wounded to the +quick. The point on which he was especially sensitive was his reputation +for sense and judgment; and that Guy, who had shown him so much respect +and affection, whom he had treated with invariable kindness, and +received into his family like a son, that he should thus speak of him +shocked him extremely. He was too much overcome even to break out into +exclamations at first, he only drank off his glass of wine hastily, and +said, 'I would never have thought it!' + +With these words, all desire for forbearance and toleration departed. If +Guy could speak thus of him, he was ready to believe any accusation, +to think him deceitful from the first, to say he had been trifling with +Amy, to imagine him a confirmed reprobate, and cast him off entirely. +Philip had some difficulty to restrain him from being too violent; +and to keep him to the matter in hand, he defended Guy from the +exaggerations of his imagination in a manner which appeared highly +noble, considering how Guy had spoken of him. Before they parted that +night, another letter had been written, which stood thus,-- + + +'DEAR SIR GUY,--Since you refuse the confidence which I have a right to +demand, since you elude the explanation I asked, and indulge yourself in +speaking in disrespectful terms of me and my family, I have every reason +to suppose that you have no desire to continue on the same footing as +heretofore at Hollywell. As your guardian, I repeat that I consider +myself bound to keep a vigilant watch over your conduct, and, if +possible, to recover you from the unhappy course in which you have +involved yourself: but all other intercourse between you and this family +must cease. 'Your horse shall be sent to Redclyffe to-morrow. + + 'Yours faithfully, + 'C. EDMONSTONE.' + + +This letter was more harsh than Philip wished; but Mr. Edmonstone would +hardly be prevailed on to consent to enter on no further reproaches. +He insisted on banishing Deloraine, as well as on the mention of Guy's +disrespect, both against his nephew's opinion; but it was necessary to +let him have his own way on these points, and Philip thought himself +fortunate in getting a letter written which was in any degree rational +and moderate. + +They had been so busy, and Mr. Edmonstone so excited, that Philip +thought it best to accept the offer of tea being sent them in the +dining-room, and it was not till nearly midnight that their conference +broke up, when Mr. Edmonstone found his wife sitting up by the +dressing-room fire, having shut Charles's door, sorely against his will. + +'There,' began Mr. Edmonstone, 'you may tell Amy she may give him up, +and a lucky escape she has had. But this is what comes of settling +matters in my absence.' So he proceeded with the narration, mixing the +facts undistinguishably with his own surmises, and overwhelming his wife +with dismay. If a quarter of this was true, defence of Guy was out of +the question; and it was still more impossible to wish Amy's attachment +to him to continue; and though much was incredible, it was no time to +say so. She could only hope morning would soften her husband's anger, +and make matters explicable. + +Morning failed to bring her comfort. Mr. Edmonstone repeated that Amy +must be ordered to give up all thoughts of Guy, and she perceived that +the words ascribed to him stood on evidence which could not be doubted. +She could believe he might have spoken them in the first shock of an +unjust imputation, and she thought he might have been drawn into some +scrape to serve a friend; but she could never suppose him capable of all +Mr. Edmonstone imagined. + +The first attempt to plead his cause, however, brought on her an angry +reply; for Philip, by a hint, that she never saw a fault in Guy, had put +it into his uncle's head that she would try to lead him, and made him +particularly inaccessible to her influence. + +There was no help for it, then; poor little Amy must hear the worst; +and it was not long before Mrs. Edmonstone found her waiting in the +dressing-room. Between obedience to her husband, her conviction of Guy's +innocence, and her tenderness to her daughter, Mrs. Edmonstone had a +hard task, and she could scarcely check her tears as Amy nestled up for +her morning kiss. + +'O mamma! what is it?' + +'Dearest, I told you a cloud was coming. Try to bear it. Your papa is +not satisfied with Guy's answer, and it seems he spoke some hasty words +of papa and Philip; they have displeased papa very much, and, my dear +child, you must try to bear it, he has written to tell Guy he must not +think any more of you.' + +'He has spoken hasty words of papa!' repeated Amy, as if she had not +heard the rest. 'How sorry he must be!' + +As she spoke, Charles's door was pushed open, and in he came, half +dressed, scrambling on, with but one crutch, to the chair near which she +stood, with drooping head and clasped hands. + +'Never mind, little Amy, he said; 'I'll lay my life 'tis only some +monstrous figment of Mrs. Henley's. Trust my word, it will right itself; +it is only a rock to keep true love from running too smooth. Come, don't +cry, as her tears began to flow fast, 'I only meant to cheer you up.' + +'I am afraid, Charlie, said his mother, putting a force on her own +feeling, 'it is not the best or kindest way to do her good by telling +her to dwell on hopes of him.' + +'Mamma one of Philip's faction!' exclaimed Charles. + +'Of no faction at all, Charles, but I am afraid it is a bad case;' and +Mrs. Edmonstone related what she knew; glad to address herself to any +one but Amy, who stood still, meanwhile, her hands folded on the back of +her brother's chair. + +Charles loudly protested that the charges were absurd and preposterous, +and would be proved so in no time. He would finish dressing instantly, +go to speak to his father, and show him the sense of the thing. Amy +heard and hoped, and his mother, who had great confidence in his clear +sight, was so cheered as almost to expect that today's post might carry +a conciliatory letter. + +Meantime, Laura and Philip met in the breakfast-room, and in answer to +her anxious inquiry, he had given her an account of Guy, which, though +harsh enough, was far more comprehensible than what the rest had been +able to gather. + +She was inexpressibly shocked, 'My poor dear little Amy!' she exclaimed. +'O Philip, now I see all you thought to save me from!' + +'It is an unhappy business that it ever was permitted!' + +'Poor little dear! She was so happy, so very happy and sweet in her +humility and her love. Do you know, Philip, I was almost jealous for a +moment that all should be so easy for them; and I blamed poverty; but +oh! there are worse things than poverty!' + +He did not speak, but his dark blue eye softened with the tender look +known only to her; and it was one of the precious moments for which she +lived. She was happy till the rest came down, and then a heavy cloud +seemed to hang on them at breakfast time. + +'Charles, who found anxiety on Guy's account more exciting, though +considerably less agreeable, than he had once expected, would not go +away with the womankind; but as soon as the door was shut, exclaimed, + +'Now then, Philip, let me know the true grounds of your persecution.' + +It was not a conciliating commencement. His father was offended, and +poured out a confused torrent of Guy's imagined misdeeds, while Philip +explained and modified his exaggerations. + +'So the fact is,' said Charles, at length, 'that Guy has asked for his +own money, and when in lieu of it he received a letter full of unjust +charges, he declared Philip was a meddling coxcomb. I advise you not to +justify his opinion.' + +Philip disdained to reply, and after a few more of Mr. Edmonstone's +exclamations Charles proceeded, + +'This is the great sum total.' + +'No,' said Philip; 'I have proof of his gambling.' + +'What is it?' + +'I have shown it to your father, and he is satisfied.' + +'Is it not proof enough that he is lost to all sense of propriety, +that he should go and speak in that fashion of us, and to Philip's own +sister?' cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'What would you have more?' + +'That little epithet applied to Captain Morville is hardly, to my mind, +proof sufficient that a man is capable of every vice,' said Charles, +who, in the pleasure of galling his cousin, did not perceive the harm +he did his friend's cause, by recalling the affront which his father, +at least, felt most deeply. Mr. Edmonstone grew angry with him for +disregarding the insulting term applied to himself; and Charles, who, +though improved in many points, still sometimes showed the effects of +early habits of disrespect to his father, answered hastily, that no one +could wonder at Guy's resenting such suspicions; he deserved no blame at +all, and would have been a blockhead to bear it tamely. + +This was more than Charles meant, but his temper was fairly roused, and +he said much more than was right or judicious, so that his advocacy only +injured the cause. He had many representations to make on the injustice +of condemning Guy unheard, of not even laying before him the proofs on +which the charges were founded, and on the danger of actually driving +him into mischief, by shutting the doors of Hollywell against him. 'If +you wanted to make him all you say he is, you are taking the very best +means.' + +Quite true; but Charles had made his father too angry to pay attention. +This stormy discussion continued for nearly two hours, with no effect +save inflaming the minds of all parties. At last Mr. Edmonstone was +called away; and Charles, rising, declared he should go at that moment, +and write to tell Guy that there was one person at least still in his +senses. + +'You will do as you please,' said Philip. + +'Thank you for the permission,' said Charles, proudly. + +'It is not to me that your submission is due,' said Philip. + +'I'll tell you what, Philip, I submit to my own father readily, but I do +not submit to Captain Morville's instrument.' + +'We have had enough of unbecoming retorts for one day,' said Philip, +quietly, and offering his arm. + +Much as Charles disliked it, he was in too great haste not to accept it; +and perceiving that there were visitors in the drawing-room, he desired +to go up-stairs. + +'People who always come when they are not wanted!' he muttered, as he +went up, pettish with them as with everything else. + +'I do not think you in a fit mood to be advised, Charles,' said Philip; +'but to free my own conscience, let me say this. Take care how you +promote this unfortunate attachment.' + +'Take care what you say!' exclaimed Charles, flushing with anger, as +he threw himself forward, with an impatient movement, trusting to his +crutch rather than retain his cousin's arm; but the crutch slipped, he +missed his grasp at the balusters, and would have fallen to the bottom +of the flight if Philip had not been close behind. Stretching out his +foot, he made a barrier, receiving Charles's weight against his breast, +and then, taking him in his arms, carried him up the rest of the way +as easily as if he had been a child. The noise brought Amy out of the +dressing-room, much frightened, though she did not speak till Charles +was deposited on the sofa, and assured them he was not in the least +hurt, but he would hardly thank his cousin for having so dexterously +saved him; and Philip, relieved from the fear of his being injured, +viewed the adventure as a mere ebullition of ill-temper, and went away. + +'A fine helpless log am I,' exclaimed Charles, as he found himself alone +with Amy. 'A pretty thing for me to talk of being of any use, when I +can't so much as show my anger at an impertinence about my own sister, +without being beholden for not breaking my neck to the very piece of +presumption that uttered it.' + +'Oh, don't speak so' began Amy; and at that moment Philip was close +to them, set down the crutch that had been dropped, and went without +speaking. + +'I don't care who hears,' said Charles; 'I say there is no greater +misery in this world than to have the spirit of a man and the limbs of a +cripple. I know if I was good for anything, things would not long be in +this state. I should be at St. Mildred's by this time, at the bottom of +the whole story, and Philip would be taught to eat his words in no time, +and make as few wry faces as suited his dignity. But what is the use of +talking? This sofa'--and he struck his fist against it--'is my prison, +and I am a miserable cripple, and it is mere madness in me to think of +being attended to.' + +'O Charlie!' cried Amy, caressingly, and much distressed, 'don't talk +so. Indeed, I can't bear it! You know it is not so.' + +'Do I? Have not I been talking myself hoarse, showing up their +injustice, saying all a man could say to bring them to reason, and not +an inch could I move them. I do believe Philip has driven my father +stark mad with these abominable stories of his sister's, which I verily +believe she invented herself.' + +'O no, she could not. Don't say so.' + +'What! Are you going to believe them, too?' + +'Never!' + +'It is that which drives me beyond all patience,' proceeded Charles, 'to +see Philip lay hold of my father, and twist him about as he chooses, and +set every one down with his authority.' + +'Philip soon goes abroad,' said Amy, who could not at the moment say +anything more charitable. + +'Ay! there is the hope. My father will return to his natural state +provided they don't drive Guy, in the meantime, to do something +desperate.' + +'No, they won't,' whispered Amy. + +'Well, give me the blotting-book. I'll write to him this moment, and +tell him we are not all the tools of Philip's malice.' + +Amy gave the materials to her brother, and then turning away, busied +herself in silence as best she might, in the employment her mother had +recommended her, of sorting some garden-seeds for the cottagers. After +an interval, Charles said, + +'Well, Amy, what shall I say to him for you?' + +There was a little silence, and presently Amy whispered, 'I don't think +I ought.' + +'What?' asked Charles, not catching her very low tones, as she sat +behind him, with her head bent down. + +'I don't think it would be right,' she repeated, more steadily. + +'Not right for you to say you don't think him a villain?' + +'Papa said I was to have no--'and there her voice was stopped with +tears. + +'This is absurd, Amy,' said Charles; 'when it all was approved at first, +and now my father is acting on a wrong impression; what harm can there +be in it? Every one would do so.' + +'I am sure he would not think it right,' faltered Amy. + +'He? You'll never have any more to say to him, if you don't take care +what you are about.' + +'I can't help it,' said Amy, in a broken voice. 'It is not right.' + +'Nonsense! folly!' said Charles. 'You are as bad as the rest. When they +are persecuting, and slandering, and acting in the most outrageous way +against him, and you know one word of yours would carry him through all, +you won't say it, to save him from distraction, and from doing all my +father fancies he has done. Then I believe you don't care a rush for +him, and never want to see him again, and believe the whole monstrous +farrago. I vow I'll say so.' + +'O Charles, you are very cruel!' said Amy, with an irrepressible burst +of weeping. + +'Then, if you don't believe it, why can't you send one word to comfort +him?' + +She wept in silence for some moments; at last she said,-- + +'It would not comfort him to think me disobedient. He will trust me +without, and he will know what you think. You are very kind, dear +Charlie; but don't persuade me any more, for I can't bear it. I am going +away now; but don't fancy I am angry, only I don't think I can sit by +while you write that letter.' + +Poor little Amy, she seldom knew worse pain than at that moment, when +she was obliged to go away to put it out of her power to follow the +promptings of her heart to send the few kind words which might prove +that nothing could shake her love and trust. + +A fresh trial awaited her when she looked from her own window. She +saw Deloraine led out, his chestnut neck glossy in the sun and William +prepared for a journey, and the other servants shaking hands, and +bidding him good-bye. She saw him ride off, and could hardly help flying +back to her brother to exclaim, 'O Charlie, they have sent Deloraine +away!' while the longing to send one kind greeting became more earnest +than ever; but she withstood it, and throwing herself on the bed, +exclaimed,-- + +'He will never come back--never, never!' and gave way, unrestrainedly, +to a fit of weeping; nor was it till this had spent itself that she +could collect her thoughts. + +She was sitting on the side of her bed trying to compose herself, when +Laura, came in. + +'My own Amy--my poor, dearest,--I am very sorry!' + +'Thank you, dear Laura,' and Amy gladly rested her aching head on her +shoulder. + +'I wish I knew what to do for you!' proceeded Laura. 'You cannot, cease +to think about him, and yet you ought.' + +'If I ought, I suppose I can,' said Amy in a voice exhausted with +crying. + +'That's right, darling. You will not be weak, and pine for one who is +not worthy.' + +'Not worthy, Laura?' said Amy, withdrawing her arm, and holding up her +head. + +'Ah! my poor Amy, we thought--' + +'Yes; and it is so still. I know it is so. I know he did not do it.' + +'Then what do you think of Margaret and Philip?' + +'There is some mistake.' + +And how can you defend what he said of papa?' + +'I don't,' said Amy, hiding her face. 'That is the worst; but I am sure +it was only a moment's passion, and that he must be very unhappy about +it now. I don't think papa would mind it, at least not long, if it +was not for this other dreadful misapprehension. O, Laura! why cannot +something be done to clear it up?' + +'Everything will be done,' said Laura. Papa has written to Mr. Wellwood, +and Philip means to go and make inquiries at Oxford and St. Mildred's.' + +'When?' asked Amy. + +'Not till term begins. You know he is to have a fortnight's leave before +the regiment goes to Ireland.' + +'Oh, I hope it will come right then. People must come to an +understanding when they meet; it is so different from writing.' + +'He will do everything to set things on a right footing. You may be +confident of that, Amy, for your sake as much as anything else.' + +'I can't think why he should know I have anything to do with it,' said +Amy, blushing. 'I had much rather he did not.' + +'Surely, Amy, you think he can be trusted with your secret; and there +is no one who can take more care for you. You must look on him as one of +ourselves.' + +Amy made no answer, and Laura, was annoyed. + +'You are vexed with him for having told this to papa; but that is not +reasonable of you, Amy; your better sense must tell you that it is the +only truly kind course, both towards Guy and yourself.' + +It was said in Philip's manner, which perhaps made it harder to bear; +and Amy could scarcely answer,-- + +'He means it for the best.' + +'You would not have had him be silent?' + +'I don't know,' said Amy, sadly. 'No; he should have done something, but +he might have done it more kindly.' + +Laura endeavoured to persuade her that nothing could have been more kind +and judicious, and Amy sat dejectedly owning the good intention, and +soothed by the affection of her family; with the bitter suffering of her +heart unallayed, with all her fond tender feelings torn at the thought +of what Guy must be enduring, and with the pain of knowing it was her +father's work. She had one comfort, in the certainty that Guy would bear +it nobly. She was happy to find her confidence confirmed by her mother +and Charles; and one thing she thought she need not give up, though +she might no longer think of him as her lover, she might be his Verena +still, whether he knew it or not. It could not be wrong to remember any +one in her prayers, and to ask that he might not be led into temptation, +but have strength to abide patiently. That helped her to feel that he +was in the hands of One to whom the secrets of all hearts are known; and +a line of poetry seemed to be whispered in her ears, in his own sweet +tones,-- + + Wait, and the cloud shall roll away. + +So, after the first day, she went on pretty well. She was indeed silent +and grave, and no longer the sunbeam of Hollywell; but she took her +share in what was passing, and a common observer would hardly have +remarked the submissive melancholy of her manner. Her father was very +affectionate, and often called her his jewel of good girls; but he was +too much afraid of women's tears to talk to her about Guy, he left +that to her mother: and Mrs. Edmonstone, having seen her submit to her +father's will, was unwilling to say more. + +She doubted whether it was judicious to encourage her in dwelling on +Guy; for, even supposing his character clear, they had offended him +deeply, and released him from any engagement to her, so that there +was nothing to prevent him from forming an attachment elsewhere. Mrs. +Edmonstone did not think he would; but it was better to say nothing +about him, lest she should not speak prudently, and only keep up the +subject in Amy's mind. + +Charles stormed and wrangled, told Mr. Edmonstone 'he was breaking his +daughter's heart, that was all;' and talked of unfairness and injustice, +till Mr. Edmonstone vowed it was beyond all bearing, that his own son +should call him a tyrant, and accused Guy of destroying all peace in his +family. + +The replies to the letters came; some thought them satisfactory, and +the others wondered that they thought so. Mr. Wellwood gave the highest +character of his pupil, and could not imagine how any irregularities +could be laid to his charge; but when asked in plain terms how he +disposed of his time, could only answer in general, that he had friends +and engagements of his own at St. Mildred's and its neighbourhood, and +had been several times at Mrs. Henley's and at Colonel Harewood's. The +latter place, unfortunately, was the very object of Philip's suspicions; +and thus the letter was anything but an exculpation. + +Guy wrote to Charles in the fulness of his heart, expressing gratitude +for his confidence and sympathy. He again begged for the supposed +evidence of his misconduct, declaring he could explain it, whatever it +might be, and proceeded to utter deep regrets for his hasty expressions. + +'I do not know what I may have said,' he wrote; 'I have no doubt it +was unpardonable, for I am sure my feelings were so, and that I deserve +whatever I have brought on myself. I can only submit to Mr. Edmonstone's +sentence, and trust that time will bring to his knowledge that I am +innocent of what I am accused of. He has every right to be displeased +with me. + +Charles pronounced this to be only Guy's way of abusing himself; but his +father saw in it a disguised admission of guilt. It was thought, also, +to be bad sign that Guy intended to remain at South Moor till the end +of the vacation, though Charles argued that he must be somewhere; and if +they wished to keep him out of mischief, why exile him from Hollywell! +He would hardly listen to his mother's representation, that on Amy's +account it would not be right to have him there till the mystery was +cleared up. + +He tried to stir his father up to go and see Guy at St. Mildred's, and +investigate matters for himself; but, though Mr. Edmonstone would have +liked the appearance of being important, this failed, because Philip +declared it to be unadvisable, knowing that it would be no investigation +at all, and that his uncle would be talked over directly. Next, Charles +would have persuaded Philip himself to go, but the arrangements about +his leave did not make this convenient; and it was put off till he +should pay his farewell visit to his sister, in October. Lastly, Charles +wrote to Mrs. Henley, entreating her to give him some information about +this mysterious evidence which was wanting, but her reply was a complete +'set down' for interference in a matter with which he had no concern. + +He was very angry. In fact, the post seldom came in without occasioning +a fresh dispute, which only had the effect of keeping up the heat of Mr. +Edmonstone's displeasure, and making the whole house uncomfortable. + +Fretfulness and ill-humour seemed to have taken possession of Charles +and his father. Such a state of things had not prevailed since Guy's +arrival: Hollywell was hardly like the same house; Mrs. Edmonstone and +Laura could do nothing without being grumbled at or scolded by one +or other of the gentlemen; even Amy now and then came in for a little +petulance on her father's part, and Charles could not always forgive her +for saying in her mournful, submissive tome,--'It is of no use to talk +about it!' + + + + +CHAPTER 18 + + This just decree alone I know, + Man must be disciplined by woe, + To me, whate'er of good or ill + The future brings, since come it will, + I'll bow my spirit, and be still. + --AESCHYLUS, (Anstice's Translation.) + + +Guy, in the meantime, was enduring the storm in loneliness, for he was +unwilling to explain the cause of his trouble to his companions. The +only occasion of the suspicions, which he could think of, was his +request for the sum of money; and this he could not mention to +Mr. Wellwood, nor was he inclined to make confidants of his other +companions, though pleasant, right-minded youths. + +He had only announced that he had had a letter which had grieved him +considerably, but of which he could not mention the contents; and as +Harry Graham, who knew something of the Broadstone neighbourhood, had +picked up a report that Sir Guy Morville was to marry Lady Eveleen de +Courcy, there was an idea among the party that there was some trouble in +the way of his attachment. He had once before been made, by some +joke, to colour and look conscious; and now this protected him from +inconvenient questions, and accounted for his depression. He was like +what he had been on first coming to Hollywell--grave and silent, falling +into reveries when others were talking, and much given to long, lonely +wanderings. Accustomed as he had been in boyhood to a solitary life in +beautiful scenery, there was something in a fine landscape that was to +him like a friend and companion; and he sometimes felt that it would +have been worse if he had been in a dull, uniform country, instead of +among mountain peaks and broad wooded valleys. Working hard, too, helped +him not a little, and conic sections served him almost as well as they +served Laura. + +A more real help was the neighbourhood of Stylehurst. On the first +Sunday after receiving Mr. Edmonstone's letter, he went to church there, +instead of with the others, to St. Mildred's. They thought it was +for the sake of the solitary walk; but he had other reasons for the +preference. In the first place it was a Communion Sunday, and in the +next, he could feel more kindly towards Philip there, and he knew he +needed all that could strengthen such a disposition. + +Many a question did he ask himself, to certify whether he wilfully +entertained malice or hatred, or any uncharitableness. It was a long, +difficult examination; but at its close, he felt convinced that, if +such passions knocked at the door of his heart, it was not at his own +summons, and that he drove them away without listening to them. And +surely he might approach to gain the best aid in that battle, especially +as he was certain of his strong and deep repentance for his fit of +passion, and longing earnestly for the pledge of forgiveness. + +The pardon and peace he sought came to him, and in such sort that the +comfort of that day, when fresh from the first shock, and waiting in +suspense for some new blow, was such as never to be forgotten. They +linked themselves with the grave shade of the clustered gray columns, +and the angel heads on roof of that old church; with the long grass and +tall yellow mullens among its churchyard graves, and with the tints of +the elm-trees that closed it in, their leaves in masses either of green +or yellow, and opening here and there to show the purple hills beyond. + +He wandered in the churchyard between the services. All enmity to Philip +was absent now; and he felt as if it would hardly return when he stood +by the graves of the Archdeacon and of the two Frances Morvilles, and +thought what that spot was to his cousin. There were a few flowers +planted round Mrs. Morville's grave, but they showed that they had long +been neglected, and no such signs of care marked her daughter Fanny's. +And when Guy further thought of Mrs. Henley, and recollected how Philip +had sacrificed all his cherished prospects and hopes of distinction, and +embraced an irksome profession, for the sake of these two sisters, +he did not find it difficult to excuse the sternness, severity, and +distrust which were an evidence how acutely a warm heart had suffered. + +Though he suffered cruelly from being cut off from Amy, yet his +reverence for her helped him to submit. He had always felt as if she was +too far above him; and though he had, beyond his hopes, been allowed +to aspire to the thought of her, it was on trial, and his failure, his +return to his old evil passions, had sunk him beneath her. He shuddered +to think of her being united to anything so unlike herself, and which +might cause her so much misery; it was wretchedness to think that even +now she might be suffering for him; and yet not for worlds would he have +lost the belief that she was so feeling, or the remembrance of the looks +which had shone on him so sweetly and timidly as she sat at her mother's +feet; though that remembrance was only another form of misery. But Amy +would be tranquil, pure and good, whatever became of him, and he should +always be able to think of her, looking like one of those peaceful +spirits, with bending head, folded hands, and a star on its brow, in the +"Paradiso" of Flaxman. Her serenity would be untouched; and though she +might be lost to him, he could still be content while he could look up +at it through his turbid life. Better she were lost to him than that her +peace should be injured. + +He still, of course, earnestly longed to prove his innocence, though +his hopes lessened, for as long as the evidence was withheld, he had +no chance. After writing as strongly as he could, he could do no more, +except watch for something that might unravel the mystery; and Charles's +warm sympathy and readiness to assist him were a great comfort. + +He had not seen his uncle again; perhaps Sebastian was ashamed to meet +him after their last encounter, and was still absent on his engagement; +but the wife and child were still at St. Mildred's, and one afternoon, +when Guy had rather unwillingly gone thither with Mr. Wellwood, he saw +Mrs. Dixon sitting on one of the benches which were placed on the paths +cut out on the side of the hill, looking very smart and smiling, among +several persons of her own class. + +To be ashamed to recognise her was a weakness beneath him; he spoke to +her, and was leaving her, pluming herself on his notice, when he saw +little Marianne's blue eyes fixed wistfully upon him, and held out his +hand to her. She ran up to him joyfully, and he led her a few steps from +her mother's party. 'Well, little one, how are you? I have your piece of +spar quite safe. Have you said how d'ye do to Bustle?' + +'Bustle! Bustle!' called the soft voice but it needed a whistle from his +master to bring him to be caressed by the little girl. + +'Have you been taking any more pleasant walks?' + +'Oh yes. We have been all round these pretty paths. And I should like to +go to the top of this great high hill, and see all round; but mamma says +she has got a bone in her leg, and cannot go.' + +'Do you think mamma would give you leave to go up with me? Should you +like it?' + +She coloured all over; too happy even to thank him. + +'Then,' said Guy to his tutor, 'I will meet you here when you have done +your business in the town, in an hour or so. Poor little thing, she has +not many pleasures.' + +Mrs. Dixon made no difficulty, and was so profuse in thanks that Guy got +out of her way as fast as he could, and was soon on the soft thymy grass +of the hill-side, the little girl frisking about him in great delight, +playing with Bustle, and chattering merrily. + +Little Marianne was a delicate child, and her frolic did not last long. +As the ascent became steeper, her breath grew shorter, and she toiled on +in a resolute uncomplaining manner after his long, vigorous steps, till +he looked round, and seeing her panting far behind, turned to help her, +lead her, and carry her, till the top was achieved, and the little girl +stood on the topmost stone, gazing round at the broad sunny landscape, +with the soft green meadows, the harvest fields, the woods in their +gorgeous autumn raiment, and the moorland on the other side, with its +other peaks and cairns, brown with withered bracken, and shadowed in +moving patches by the floating clouds. The exhilarating wind brought a +colour into her pale cheeks, and her flossy curls were blowing over her +face. + +He watched her in silence, pleased and curious to observe how beautiful +a scene struck the childish eye of the little Londoner. The first thing +she said, after three or four minutes' contemplation--a long time for +such a child--was, 'Oh! I never saw anything so pretty!' then presently +after, 'Oh! I wish little brother Felix was here!' + +'This is a pleasant place to think about your little brother,' said Guy, +kindly; and she looked up in his face, and exclaimed, 'Oh! do you know +about Felix?' + +'You shall tell me' said Guy. 'Here, sit on my knee, and rest after your +scramble.' + +'Mamma never lets me talk of Felix, because it makes her cry,' said +Marianne; but I wish it sometimes.' + +Her little heart was soon open. It appeared that Felix was the last who +had died, the nearest in age to Marianne, and her favourite playfellow. +She told of some of their sports in their London home, speaking of them +with eagerness and fondness that showed what joys they had been, though +to Guy they seemed but the very proof of dreariness and dinginess. She +talked of walks to school, when Felix would tell what he would do when +he was a man, and how he took care of her at the crossings, and how rude +boys used to drive them, and how they would look in at the shop windows +and settle what they would buy if they were rich. Then she talked of his +being ill--ill so very long; how he sat in his little chair, and could +not play, and then always lay in bed, and she liked to sit by him, +there; but at last he died, and they carried him away in a great black +coffin, and he would never come back again. But it was so dull now, +there was no one to play with her. + +Though the little girl did not cry, she looked very mournful, and Guy +tried to comfort her, but she did not understand him. 'Going to heaven' +only conveyed to her a notion of death and separation, and this phrase, +together with a vague idea who had made her, and that she ought to be +good, seemed to be the extent of the poor child's religious knowledge. +She hardly ever had been at church and though she had read one or two +Bible stories, it seemed to have been from their having been used as +lessons at school. She had a dim notion that good people read the +Bible, and there was one on the little table at home, with the +shell-turkey-cock standing upon it, and mamma read it when Felix died; +but it was a big book, and the shell-turkey-cock always stood upon it; +in short, it seemed only connected with mamma's tears, and the loss of +her brother. + +Guy was very much shocked, and so deep in thought that he could hardly +talk to the child in their progress down the hill; but she was just +so tired as to be inclined to silence, and quite happy clinging to his +hand, till he delivered her over to her mother at the foot of the hill, +and went to join his tutor, at the place appointed. + +'Wellwood,' said he, breaking silence, when they had walked about half +way back to the farm, 'do you think your cousin would do me a great +kindness? You saw that child? Well, if the parents consent, it would be +the greatest charity on earth if Miss Wellwood would receive her into +her school.' + +'On what terms? What sort of an education is she to have?' + +'The chief thing she wants is to be taught Christianity, poor child; +the rest Miss Wellwood may settle. She is my first cousin. I don't know +whether you are acquainted with our family history?' and he went on to +explain as much as was needful. It ended in a resolution that if Miss +Wellwood would undertake the charge, the proposal should be made to Mrs. +Dixon. + +It was a way of assisting his relations likely to do real good, and on +the other hand, he would be able, under colour of the payment for the +child, to further Miss Wellwood's schemes, and give her the interest +of the thousand pounds, until his five and twentieth year might put his +property in his own power. + +Miss Wellwood readily consented, much pleased with the simplicity and +absence of false shame he showed in the whole transaction, and very +anxious for the good of a child in a class so difficult to reach. He +next went to Mrs. Dixon, expecting more difficulty with her, but he +found none. She thought it better Marianne should live at St. Mildred's +than die in London, and was ready to catch at the prospect of her being +fitted for a governess. Indeed, she was so strongly persuaded that the +rich cousin might make Marianne's fortune, that she would have been very +unwilling to interfere with the fancy he had taken for her. + +Little Marianne was divided between fear of leaving mamma and liking +for St. Mildred's, but her first interview with Miss Wellwood, and Miss +Jane's showing her a little white bed, quite turned the scale in their +favour. Before the time came for Guy's return to Oxford, he had seen her +settled, heard her own account of her happy life, and had listened to +Miss Jane Wellwood's delight in her sweet temper and good disposition. + +Those thousand pounds; Guy considered again and again whether he could +explain their destination, and whether this would clear him. It seemed +to him only a minor charge, and besides his repugnance to mention such +a design, he saw too many obstacles in his way. Captain Morville and his +sister were the very persons from whom Miss Wellwood's project was to +be kept secret. Besides, what would be gained? It was evident that Guy's +own assertions were doubted, and he could bring no confirmation of them; +he had never spoken of his intention to his tutor, and Mr. Wellwood +could, therefore, say nothing in his favour. If Mr. Edmonstone alone had +been concerned, or if this had been the only accusation, Guy might have +tried to explain it; but with Philip he knew it would be useless, and +therefore would not enter on the subject. He could only wait patiently. + + + + +CHAPTER 19 + + Most delicately, hour by hour, + He canvassed human mysteries, + And stood aloof from other minds. + Himself unto himself he sold, + Upon himself, himself did feed, + Quiet, dispassionate, and cold, + With chiselled features clear and sleek. + --TENNYSON + + +Guy had been about a week at Oxford, when one evening, as he was +sitting alone in his rooms, he received an unexpected visit from Captain +Morville. He was glad, for he thought a personal interview would remove +all misconstructions, and held out his hand cordially, saying:-- + +'You here, Philip! When did you come?' + +'Half an hour ago. I am on my way to spend a week with the Thorndales. I +go on to-morrow to my sister's.' + +While speaking, Philip was surveying the apartment, for he held that a +man's room is generally an indication of his disposition, and assuredly +there was a great deal of character in his own, with the scrupulous +neatness and fastidious taste of its arrangements. Here, he thought, he +could not fail to see traces of his cousin's habits, but he was obliged +to confess to himself that there was very little to guide him. The +furniture was strictly as its former occupant had left it, only rather +the worse for wear, and far from being in order. The chairs were so +heaped with books and papers, that Guy had to make a clearance of +one before his visitor could sit down, but there was nothing else to +complain of, not even a trace of cigars; but knowing him to be a great +reader and lover of accomplishments, Philip wondered that the only +decorations were Laura's drawing of Sintram, and a little print of +Redclyffe, and the books were chiefly such as were wanted for his +studies, the few others having for the most part the air of old library +books, as if he had sent for them from Redclyffe. Was this another proof +that he had some way of frittering away his money with nothing to show +for it? A Sophocles and a lexicon were open before him on the table, and +a blotting-book, which he closed, but not before Philip had caught sight +of what looked like verses. + +Neither did his countenance answer Philip's expectations. It had not his +usual bright lively expression; there was a sadness which made him smile +like a gleam on a showery day, instead of constant sunshine; but there +was neither embarrassment nor defiance, and the gleam-like smile was +there, as with a frank, confiding tone, he said,-- + +'This is very kind of you, to come and see what you can do for me.' + +Philip was by no means prepared to be thus met half-way, but he thought +Guy wanted to secure him as an intercessor, and hardened himself into +righteous severity. + +'No one can be more willing to help you than I, but you must, in the +first place, help yourself.' + +Instantly the sedate measured tone made Guy's heart and head throb with +impatience, awakening all the former memories so hardly battled down; +but with the impulse of anger came the thought, 'Here it is again! If I +don't keep it down now, I am undone! The enemy will seize me again!' He +forced himself not to interrupt, while Philip went calmly on. + +'While you are not open, nothing can be done.' + +'My only wish, my only desire, is to be open,' said Guy, speaking fast +and low, and repressing the feeling, which, nevertheless, affected his +voice; 'but the opportunity of explanation has never been given me.' + +'You need complain of that no longer. I am here to convey to my uncle +any explanation you may wish to address to him. I will do my best to +induce him to attend to it favourably, but he is deeply offended and +hurt by what has passed.' + +'I know--I know,' said Guy, colouring deeply, and all irritation +disappearing from voice and manner; 'I know there is no excuse for me. +I can only repeat that I am heartily sorry for whatever I may have said, +either of him or of you.' + +'Of course,' returned Philip, 'I should never think of resenting what +you may have said in a moment of irritation, especially as you express +regret for it. Consider it as entirely overlooked on my part.' + +Guy was nearly choked in uttering a 'Thank you,' which did not sound, +after all, much like acceptance of forgiveness. + +'Now to the real matter at issue,' said Philip: 'the application for the +money, which so amazed Mr. Edmonstone.' + +'I do not see that it is the point,' said Guy, 'I wanted it for a scheme +of my own: he did not think fit to let me have it, so there is an end of +the matter.' + +'Mr Edmonstone does not think so. He wishes to be convinced that you +have not spent it beforehand.' + +'What would you have beyond my word and honour that I have not?' +exclaimed Guy. + +Far be it from me to say that he doubts it,' said Philip; and as at +those words the flash of the Morville eye darted lightning, he expected +that the next moment, 'Do you?' would be thundered forth, and he could +not, with truth, answer 'No;' but it was one of his maxims that a +man need never be forced into an open quarrel, and he tranquilly +continued--'but it is better not to depend entirely on assertion. Why do +you not bring him full proofs of your good intention, and thus restore +yourself to his confidence?' + +'I have said that I am bound not to mention the purpose.' + +'Unfortunate!' said Philip; then, while Guy bit his lip till it bled, +the pain really a relief, by giving some vent to his anger at the +implied doubt, he went on,--'If it is impossible to clear this up, the +next advice I would give is, that you should show what your expenditure +has been; lay your accounts before him, and let them justify you.' + +Most people would have resented this as an impertinent proposal, were +it only that doing so would have served to conceal the awkward fact +that the accounts had not been kept at all. Guy had never been taught +to regard exactness in this respect as a duty, had no natural taste for +precision, and did not feel responsible to any person; nor if he had +kept any, could he have shown them, without exposing his uncle. To +refuse, would, however, be a subterfuge, and after a moment, he made an +effort, and confessed he had none to show, though he knew Philip would +despise him for it as a fool, and probably take it as positive evidence +against him. + +It would have been more bearable if Philip would but have said 'How +foolish,' instead of drily repeating 'Unfortunate!' + +After a pause, during which Guy was not sufficiently master of himself +to speak, Philip added--'Then this matter of the thousand pounds is to +be passed over? You have no explanation to offer?' + +'No:' and again he paused. 'When my word is not accepted, I have no more +to say. But this is not the point. What I would know is, what are the +calumnies that accuse me of having gamed? If you really wish to do me +a service, you will give me an opportunity of answering these precious +proofs.' + +'I will' answered Philip; who could venture on doing so himself, though, +for his sister's sake, it was unsafe to trust Mr. Edmonstone, with whom +what was not an absolute secret was not a secret at all. 'My uncle knows +that a thirty pound cheque of his, in your name, was paid by you to a +notorious gamester.' + +Guy did not shrink, as he simply answered--'It is true.' + +'Yet you have neither played, nor betted, nor done anything that could +come under the definition of gambling?' + +'No.' + +'Then why this payment?' + +'I cannot explain that. I know appearances are against me,' replied Guy +steadily, and with less irritation than he had hitherto shown. I once +thought my simple word would have sufficed, but, since it seems that +will not do, I will not again make what you call assertions.' + +'In fact, while you profess a desire to be open and sincere, a mystery +appears at every turn. What would you have us do?' + +'As you think fit,' he answered proudly. + +Philip had been used to feel men's wills and characters bend and give +way beneath his superior force of mind. They might, like Charles, chafe +and rage, but his calmness always gave him the ascendant almost without +exertion, and few people had ever come into contact with him without a +certain submission of will or opinion. With Guy alone it was not so; +he had been sensible of it once or twice before; he had no mastery, and +could no more bend that spirit than a bar of steel. This he could not +bear, for it obliged him to be continually making efforts to preserve +his own sense of superiority. + +'Since this is your ultimatum,' he said--'since you deny your +confidence, and refuse any reply to these charges, you have no right to +complain of suspicion. I shall do my best, both as your true friend, and +as acting with your guardian's authority, to discover all that may lead +to the elucidation of the mystery. In the first place, I am desired to +make every inquiry here as to your conduct and expenditure. I hope they +will prove satisfactory.' + +'I am very much obliged to you,' answered Guy, his voice stern and +dignified, and the smile that curled his lip was like Philip's own. + +Philip was positively annoyed, and desirous to say something to put him +down, but he had not committed himself by any vehemence, and Philip +was too cool and wise to compromise his own dignity, so he rose to go, +saying, 'Good night! I am sorry I cannot induce you to act in the only +way that can right you.' + +'Good night!' replied Guy, in the same dignified manner in which he had +spoken ever since his passion had been surmounted. + +They parted, each feeling that matters were just where they were before. +Philip went back to his inn, moralizing on the pride and perverseness +which made it impossible to make any impression on a Redclyffe Morville, +whom not even the fear of detection could lead to submission. + +Next morning, while Philip was hastily breakfasting, the door opened, +and Guy entered, pale and disturbed, as if he had been awake all night. + +'Philip!' said he, in his frank, natural voice, 'I don't think we parted +last night as your good intentions deserved.' + +'O, ho!' thought Philip; 'the fear of an investigation has brought him +to reason;' and he said, 'Well, I am very glad you see things in a truer +light this morning;' then asked if he had breakfasted. He had; and his +cousin added, + +'Have you anything to say on the matter we discussed last night?' + +'No. I can only repeat that I am not guilty, and wait for time to show +my innocence. I only came to see you once more, that I might feel we +parted friends.' + +'I shall always hope to be a true friend.' + +'I did not come here for altercation,' said Guy (an answer rather to the +spirit than the words), 'so I will say no more. If you wish to see me +again, you will find me in my rooms. Good-bye.' + +Philip was puzzled. He wondered whether Guy had come wishing to +propitiate him, but had found pride indomitable at the last moment; or +whether he had been showing himself too severely just to admit entreaty. +He would be able to judge better after he had made his inquiries, and he +proceeded with them at once. He met with no such replies as he expected. +Every one spoke of Sir Guy Morville in high terms, as strict in his +habits of application, and irreproachable in conduct. He was generally +liked, and some regret was expressed that he lived in so secluded +a manner, forming so few intimacies; but no one seemed to think it +possible that anything wrong could be imputed to him. Philip could even +perceive that there was some surprise that such inquiries should be +made at all, especially by so young a man as himself. Mr. Wellwood, the +person whom he most wished to see, was not at Oxford, but was at home +preparing for his ordination. + +Nor could Philip get nearer to the solution of the mystery when he went +to the tradesmen, who were evidently as much surprised as the tutors, +and said he always paid in ready money. Captain Morville felt like a +lawyer whose case is breaking down, no discoveries made, nothing done; +but he was not one whit convinced of his cousin's innocence, thinking +the college authorities blind and careless, and the tradesmen combined +to conceal their extortions, or else that the mischief had been done +at St. Mildred's. He was particularly provoked when he remembered Guy's +invitation to him to come to his rooms, knowing, as he must have done, +what would be the result of his inquiry. + +Philip was conscious that it would have been kind to have gone to say +that, so far, he had found nothing amiss, but he did not like giving Guy +this passing triumph. It made no difference in his real opinion; and +why renew a useless discussion? He persuaded himself that he had left +himself no time, and should miss the train, and hastened off to the +station, where he had to wait a quarter of an hour, consoling himself +with reflecting-- + +'After all, though I might have gone to him, it would have been useless. +He is obstinate, and occasions of irritating his unfortunate temper are +above all to be avoided.' + +One short year after, what would not Philip have given for that quarter +of an hour! + +By six o'clock he was at St. Mildred's, greeted with delight by his +sister, and with cordiality by Dr. Henley. They were both proud of him, +and every tender feeling his sister had was for Philip, her pet, and +her pupil in his childhood, and her most valued companion and counsellor +through her early womanhood. + +She had a picked dinner-party to meet him, for she knew the doctor's +conversation was not exactly the thing to entertain him through a whole +evening, and the guests might well think they had never seen a handsomer +or more clever brother and sister than Mrs. Henley and Captain Morville. +The old county families, if they did wonder at her marriage, were always +glad to meet her brother, and it was a great pleasure to him to see old +friends. + +Only once did his sister, in the course of the evening, make him feel +the difference of their sentiments, and that was about Miss Wellwood. +Philip defended her warmly; and when he heard that there was a plan +getting up for excluding her from the hospital, he expressed strong +disapprobation at the time; and after the guests were gone, spoke upon +the subject with his sister and her husband. The doctor entered into no +party questions, and had only been stirred up to the opposition by his +wife; he owned that the Miss Wellwoods had done a great deal of good, +and made the nurses do their duty better than he had ever known, and +was quite ready to withdraw his opposition. Mrs. Henley argued about +opinions, but Philip was a match for her in her own line; and the end +of it was, that though she would not allow herself to be convinced, +and shook her head at her brother's way of thinking, he knew he had +prevailed, and that Miss Wellwood would be unmolested. + +There was not another person in the world to whom Margaret would have +yielded; and it served to restore him to the sense of universal dominion +which had been a little shaken by his conversation with Guy. + +'Sir Guy was a great deal with the Wellwoods,' said Mrs. Henley. + +'Was he, indeed?' + +'O, you need not think of _that_. It would be too absurd. The youngest +must be twice his age.' + +'I was not thinking of any such thing,' said Philip, smiling, as he +thought of the very different course Guy's affections had taken. + +'I did hear he was to marry Lady Eveleen de Courcy. Is there anything in +that report?' + +'No; certainly not.' + +'I should pity the woman who married him, after the specimen I saw of +his temper.' + +'Poor boy!' said Philip. + +'Lady Eveleen has been a great deal at Hollywell, has she not? I rather +wondered my aunt should like to have her there, considering all things.' + +'What things, sister?' + +'Considering what a catch he would be for one of the Edmonstone girls.' + +'I thought you had just been pitying the woman who should marry him. +Perhaps my aunt had Lady Eveleen there to act as a screen for her own +daughters.' + +'That our good-natured aunt should have acted with such ultra-prudence!' +said Margaret, laughing at his grave ironical tone. 'Lady Eveleen is +very pretty, is she not? A mere beauty, I believe?' + +'Just so; she is much admired; but Guy is certainly not inclined to fall +in love with her.' + +'I should have thought him the very man to fall in love young, like his +father. Do you think there is any chance for either of the Edmonstones? +Laura's beauty he spoke of, but it was not in a very lover-like way. Do +you admire Laura so much?' + +'She is very pretty.' + +'And little Amy?' + +'She is a mere child, and will hardly ever be anything more; but she is +a very good little amiable thing.' + +'I wish poor Charles's temper was improved.' + +'So do I; but it is very far from improvement at present, in consequence +of his zeal for Guy. Guy has been very attentive and good natured to +him, and has quite won his heart; so that I should positively honour him +for his championship if it was not in great degree out of opposition to +his father and myself. To-morrow, Margaret, you must give me some guide +to the most probable quarters for learning anything respecting this poor +boy's follies.' + +Mrs. Henley did her best in that way, and Philip followed up his +inquiries with great ardour, but still unsuccessfully. Jack White, the +hero of the draft, was not at St. Mildred's, nor likely to be heard +of again till the next races; and whether Sir Guy had been on the +race-ground at all was a doubtful point. Next, Philip walked to +Stylehurst, to call on Colonel Harewood, and see if he could learn +anything in conversation with him; but the Colonel did not seem to know +anything, and his sons were not at home. Young Morville was, he thought, +a spirited lad, very good natured; he had been out shooting once or +twice with Tom, and had a very fine spaniel. If he had been at the +races, the Colonel did not know it; he had some thoughts of asking him +to join their party, but had been prevented. + +This was no reason, thought Philip, why Guy might not have been with Tom +Harewood without the Colonel's knowledge. Tom was just the man to lead +him amongst those who were given to betting; he might have been drawn +in, and, perhaps, he had given some pledge of payment when he was of +age, or, possibly, obtained an immediate supply of money from the old +steward at Redclyffe, who was devotedly attached to him. If so, +Philip trusted to be able to detect it from the accounts; on the other +supposition, there was no hope of discovery. + +The conversation with Colonel Harewood kept him so late that he had no +time for going, as usual, to his old haunts, at Stylehurst; nor did +he feel inclined just then to revive the saddening reflections they +excited. He spent the evening in talking over books with his sister, and +the next day proceeded on his journey to Thorndale Park. + +This was one of the places where he was always the most welcome, ever +since he had been a school-boy, received in a way especially flattering, +considering that the friendship was entirely owing to the uncompromising +good sense and real kindness with which he had kept in order the follies +of his former fag. + +Charles might laugh, and call them the young man and young man's +companion, and Guy more classically term them the pious Aeneas and his +fidus Achates, but it was a friendship that did honour to both; and the +value that the Thorndales set upon Captain Morville was not misplaced, +and scarcely over-rated. Not particularly clever themselves, they the +more highly appreciated his endowments, and were proud that James had +been able to make such a friend, for they knew, as well as the rest of +the world, that Captain Morville was far from seeking the acquaintance +for the sake of their situation in life, but that it was from real +liking and esteem. How far this esteem was gained by the deference the +whole family paid to his opinion, was another question; at any rate, the +courting was from them. + +The Miss Thorndales deemed Captain Morville the supreme authority in +drawing, literature, and ecclesiastical architecture; and whenever a +person came in their way who was thought handsome, always pronounced +that he was not by any means equal to James's friend. Lady Thorndale +delighted to talk over James with him, and thank him for his kindness; +and Lord Thorndale, rather a pompous man himself, liked his somewhat +stately manners, and talked politics with him, sincerely wishing he was +his neighbour at Redclyffe, and calculating how much good he would do +there. Philip listened with interest to accounts of how the Thorndale +and Morville influence had always divided the borough of Moorworth, and, +if united, might dispose of it at will, and returned evasive answers to +questions what the young heir of Redclyffe might be likely to do. + +James Thorndale drove his friend to Redclyffe, as Philip had authority +from Mr. Edmonstone to transact any business that might be required +with Markham, the steward; and, as has been said before, he expected to +discover in the accounts something that might explain why Guy had ceased +to press for the thousand pounds. However, he could find nothing amiss +in them, though--bearing in mind that it is less easy to detect the loss +of a score of sheep than of one--he subjected them to a scrutiny which +seemed by no means agreeable to the gruff old grumbling steward. He also +walked about the park, saw to the marking of certain trees that were +injuring each other; and finding that there was a misunderstanding +between Markham and the new rector, Mr. Ashford, about certain parish +matters, where the clergyman was certainly right, he bore down Markham's +opposition with Mr. Edmonstone's weight, and felt he was doing good +service. + +He paused at the gate, and looked back at the wide domain and fine old +house. He pitied them, and the simple-hearted, honest tenantry, for +being the heritage of such a family, and the possession of one so likely +to misuse them, instead of training them into the means of conferring +benefits on them, on his country. What would not Philip himself do if +those lands were his,--just what was needed to give his talents free +scope? and what would it be to see his beautiful Laura their mistress? + + + + +CHAPTER 20 + + The longing for ignoble things, + The strife for triumph more than truth, + The hardening of the heart, that brings + Irreverence for the dreams of youth. + --LONGFELLOW + + +After his week at Thorndale Park, Captain Morville returned to make his +farewell visit at Hollywell, before joining his regiment at Cork, whence +it was to sail for the Mediterranean. He reckoned much on this visit, +for not even Laura herself could fathom the depth of his affection for +her, strengthening in the recesses where he so sternly concealed it, and +viewing her ever as more faultless since she had been his own. While she +was his noble, strong-minded, generous, fond Laura, he could bear with +his disappointment in his sister, with the loss of his home, and with +the trials that had made him a grave, severe man. She had proved the +strength of her mind by the self-command he had taught her, and for +which he was especially grateful to her, as it made him safer and more +unconstrained, able to venture on more demonstration than in those early +days when every look had made her blush and tremble. + +Mr. Edmonstone brought the carriage to fetch him from the station, and +quickly began,-- + +'I suppose, as you have not written, you have found nothing out?' + +'Nothing.' + +'And you could do nothing with him. Eh?' + +'No; I could not get a word of explanation, nor break through the fence +of pride and reserve. I must do him the justice to say that he bears the +best of characters at Oxford; and if there were any debts I could not +get at them from the tradesmen.' + +'Well, well, say no more about it; he is an ungrateful young dog, and I +am sick of it. I only wish I could wash my hands of him altogether. +It was mere folly to expect any of that set could ever come to good. +There's everything going wrong all at once now; poor little Amy breaking +her heart after him, and, worse than all, there's poor Charlie laid up +again,' said Mr. Edmonstone, one of the most affectionate people in the +world; but his maundering mood making him speak of Charles's illness as +if he only regarded it as an additional provocation for himself. + +'Charles ill!' exclaimed Philip. + +'Yes; another, of those formations in the joint. I hoped and trusted +that was all over now; but he is as bad as ever,--has not been able to +move for a week, and goodness knows when he will again.' + +'Indeed! I am very sorry. Is there as much pain as before?' + +'Oh, yes. He has not slept a wink these four nights. Mayerne talks +of opium; but he says he won't have it till he has seen you, he is so +anxious about this unlucky business. If anything could persuade me to +have Guy back again it would be that this eternal fretting after him is +so bad for poor Charlie.' + +'It is on Amy's account that it is impossible to have him here,' said +Philip. + +'Ay! He shall never set eyes on Amy again unless all this is cleared +up, which it never will be, as I desire mamma to tell her. By the bye, +Philip, Amy said something of your having a slip with Charles on the +stairs.' + +There was very nearly an accident; but I believed he was not hurt. I +hope it has nothing to do with this illness?' + +'He says it was all his own fault,' said Mr. Edmonstone, 'and that he +should have been actually down but for you.' + +'But is it really thought it can have caused this attack?' + +'I can hardly suppose so; but Thompson fancies there may have been some +jar. However, don't distress yourself; I dare say it would have come on +all the same.' + +Philip did not like to be forgiven by Mr. Edmonstone, and there was +something very annoying in having this mischance connected with his +name, though without his fault; nor did he wish Charles to have the kind +of advantage over him that might be derived from seeming to pass over +his share in the misfortune. + +When they arrived at Hollywell, it was twilight, but no one was in the +drawing-room, generally so cheerful at that time of day; the fire had +lately been smothered with coals, and looked gloomy and desolate. Mr. +Edmonstone left Philip there, and ran up to see how Charles was, and +soon after Laura came in, sprang to his side, and held his hand in both +hers. + +'You bring no good news?' said she, sadly, as she read the answer in his +face. 'O! how I wish you had. It would be such a comfort now. You have +heard about poor Charlie?' + +'Yes; and very sorry I am. But, Laura, is it really thought that +accident could have occasioned it?' + +'Dr. Mayerne does not think so, only Mr. Thompson talked of remote +causes, when Amy mentioned it. I don't believe it did any harm, and +Charlie himself says you saved him from falling down-stairs.' + +Philip had begun to give Laura his version of the accident, as he had +already done to her father, when Mrs. Edmonstone came down, looking +harassed and anxious. She told her nephew that Charles was very desirous +to see him, and sent him up at once. + +There was a fire in the dressing-room, and the door was open into the +little room, which was only lighted by a lamp on a small table, where +Amy was sitting at work. After shaking hands, she went away, leaving him +alone with Charles, who lay in his narrow bed against the wall, fixed +in one position, his forehead contracted with pain, his eyelids red and +heavy from sleeplessness, his eyes very quick and eager, and his hands +and arms thrown restlessly outside the coverings. + +'I am very sorry to find you here,' said Philip, coming up to him, and +taking, rather than receiving, his hot, limp hand. 'Is the pain very +bad?' + +'That is a matter of course,' said Charles, in a sharp, quick manner, +his voice full of suffering. 'I want to hear what you have been doing at +Oxford and St. Mildred's.' + +'I am sorry I do not bring the tidings you wish.' + +'I did not expect you would. I know you too well; but I want to hear +what you have been doing--what he said,' answered Charles, in short, +impatient sentences. + +'It can be of no use, Charlie. You are not in a state to enter on +agitating subjects.' + +'I tell you I will hear all,' returned Charles, with increased asperity. +'I know you will say nothing to his advantage that you can help, but +still I know you will speak what you think the truth, and I want to +judge for myself.' + +'You speak as if I was not acting for his good.' + +'Palaver!' cried Charles, fully sensible of the advantage his illness +gave him. 'I want the facts. Begin at the beginning. Sit down--there's a +chair by you. Now tell me, where did you find him?' + +Philip could not set Charles down in his present state, and was obliged +to submit to a cross-examination, in which he showed no abatement of his +natural acuteness, and, unsparing as he always was, laid himself under +no restraint at all. Philip was compelled to give a full history of his +researches; and if he had afforded no triumph to Guy, Charles revenged +him. + +'Pray, what did Guy say when he heard the result of this fine voyage of +discovery?' + +'I did not see him again.' + +'Not see him! not tell him he was so far justified!' + +'I had no time--at least I thought not. It would have been useless, for +while these mysteries continue, my opinion is unchanged, and there was +no benefit in renewing vain disputes.' + +'Say no more!' exclaimed Charles. 'You have said all I expected, and +more too. I gave you credit for domineering and prejudice, now I see it +is malignity.' + +As he spoke, Laura entered from the dressing-room, and stood aghast at +the words, and then looked imploringly at her cousin. Dr. Mayerne was +following her, and Charles called out,-- + +'Now, doctor, give me as much opium as you please. I only want to be +stupefied till the world has turned round, and then you may wake me.' + +Philip shook hands with Dr. Mayerne, and, without betraying a shade +of annoyance, wished Charles good night; but Charles had drawn the +coverings over his head, and would not hear him. + +'Poor fellow!' said Philip to Laura, when they were out of the room. 'He +is a very generous partisan, and excitement and suffering make him carry +his zeal to excess.' + +'I knew you could not be angry with him.' + +'I could not be angry at this time at far more provocation given by any +one belonging to you, Laura.' + +Laura's heart had that sensation which the French call "se serrer", as +she heard him allude to the long separation to which there seemed no +limit; but they could say no more. + +'Amy,' said Charles, when she returned to him after dinner, 'I am more +than ever convinced that things will right themselves. I never saw +prejudice more at fault.' + +'Did he tell you all about it?' + +'I worked out of him all I could, and it is my belief Guy had the best +of it. I only wonder he did not horsewhip Philip round the quadrangle. I +wish he had.' + +'Oh, no, no! But he controlled himself?' + +'If he had not we should have heard of it fast enough;' and Charles told +what he had been able to gather, while she sat divided between joy and +pain. + +Philip saw very little more of Charles. He used to come to ask him how +he was once a day, but never received any encouragement to lengthen his +visit. These gatherings in the diseased joint were always excessively +painful, and were very long in coming to the worst, as well as +afterwards in healing; and through the week of Philip's stay at +Hollywell, Charles was either in a state of great suffering, or else +heavy and confused with opiates. His mother's whole time and thoughts +were absorbed in him; she attended to him day and night, and could +hardly spare a moment for anything else. Indeed, with all her affection +and anxiety for the young lovers, Charles was so entirely her engrossing +object, that her first feeling of disappointment at the failure of +Philip's journey of investigation was because it would grieve Charlie. +She could not think about Guy just then, and for Amy there was nothing +for it but patience; and, good little creature, it was very nice to +see her put her own troubles aside, and be so cheerful a nurse to her +brother. She was almost always in his room, for he liked to have her +there, and she could not conquer a certain shrinking from Philip. + +Laura had once pleaded hard and earnestly for Guy with Philip, but +all in vain; she was only taught to think the case more hopeless than +before. Laura was a very kind nurse and sister, but she could better be +spared than her mother and Amy, so that it generally fell to her lot to +be down-stairs, making the drawing-room habitable. Dr. Mayerne, whenever +Charles was ill, used to be more at Hollywell than at his own house, and +there were few days that he did not dine there. When Amy was out of the +way, Philip used to entertain them with long accounts of Redclyffe, how +fine a place it was, how far the estate reached on the Moorworth road, +of its capacities for improvement, wastes of moorland to be enclosed or +planted, magnificent timber needing nothing but thinning. He spoke of +the number of tenantry, and the manorial rights, and the influence in +both town and county, which, in years gone by, had been proved to the +utmost in many a fierce struggle with the house of Thorndale. Sir Guy +Morville might be one of the first men in England if he were not wanting +to himself. Mr. Edmonstone enjoyed such talk, for it made him revel in +the sense of his own magnanimity in refusing his daughter to the owner +of all this; and Laura sometimes thought how Philip would have graced +such a position, yet how much greater it was to rest entirely on his own +merits. + +'Ah, my fine fellow!' muttered Dr. Mayerne to himself one day, when +Philip and his uncle had left the room, just after a discourse of this +kind, 'I see you have not forgotten you are the next heir.' + + Laura coloured with indignation, exclaimed, 'Oh!' then checked +herself, as if such an aspersion was not worthy of her taking the +trouble to refute it. + +'Ah! Miss Edmonstone, I did not know you were there.' + +'Yes, you were talking to yourself, just as if you were at home,' said +Charlotte, who was specially pert to the old doctor, because she knew +herself to be a great pet. 'You were telling some home truths to make +Laura angry.' + +'Well, he would make a very good use of it if he had it,' said the +doctor. + +'Now you'll make me angry,' said Charlotte; 'and you have not mended +matters with Laura. She thinks nothing short of four-syllabled words +good enough for Philip.' + +'Hush! nonsense, Charlotte!' said Laura, much annoyed. + +'There Charlotte, she is avenging herself on you because she can't scold +me' said the doctor, pretending to whisper. + +'Charlotte is only growing more wild than ever for want of mamma,' said +Laura, trying to laugh it off, but there was so much annoyance evident +about her, that Dr. Mayerne said,-- + +'Seriously, I must apologize for my unlucky soliloquy; not that I +thought I was saying much harm, for I did not by any means say or +think the Captain wished Sir Guy any ill, and few men who stood next in +succession to such a property would be likely to forget it.' + +'Yes, but Philip is not like other men,' said Charlotte, who, at +fourteen, had caught much of her brother's power of repartee, and could +be quite as provoking, when unrestrained by any one whom she cared to +obey. + +Laura felt it was more for her dignity not to notice this, and replied, +with an effort for a laugh,-- + +'It must be your guilty conscience that sets you apologizing, for you +said no harm, as you observe.' + +'Yes,' said Dr. Mayerne, good-humouredly. 'He does very well without it, +and no doubt he would be one of the first men in the country if he had +it; but it is in very good hands now, on the whole. I don't think, even +if the lad has been tempted into a little folly just now, that he can +ever go very far wrong.' + +'No, indeed,' said Charlotte; 'but Charlie and I don't believe he has +done anything wrong.' + +She spoke in a little surly decided tone, as if her opinion put an end +to the matter, and Philip's return closed the discussion. + +Divided as the party were between up-stairs and down-stairs, and in +the absence of Charles's shrewd observation, Philip and Laura had more +opportunity of intercourse than usual, and now that his departure would +put an end to suspicion, they ventured on more openly seeking each +other. It never could be the perfect freedom that they had enjoyed +before the avowal of their sentiments, but they had many brief +conversations, giving Laura feverish, but exquisite, delight at each +renewal of his rare expressions of tenderness. + +'What are you going to do to-day?' he asked, on the last morning before +he was to leave Hollywell. 'I must see you alone before I go.' + +She looked down, and he kept his eyes fixed on her rather sternly, for +he had never before made a clandestine appointment, and he did not like +feeling ashamed of it. At last she said,-- + +'I go to East-hill School this afternoon. I shall come away at half-past +three.' + +Mary Ross was still absent; her six nephews and nieces having taken +advantage of her visit to have the measles, not like reasonable +children, all at once, so as to be one trouble, but one after the other, +so as to keep Aunt Mary with them as long as possible; and Mr. Ross did +not know what would have become of the female department of his parish +but for Laura, who worked at school-keeping indefatigably. + +Laura had some difficulty in shaking off Charlotte's company this +afternoon, and was obliged to make the most of the probability of rain, +and the dreadful dirt of the roads. Indeed, she represented it as so +formidable, that Mrs. Edmonstone, who had hardly time to look out of +window, much less to go out of doors, strongly advised her to stay +at home herself; and Charlotte grew all the more eager for the fun. +Luckily, however, for Laura, Dr. Mayerne came in, laughing at the +reports of the weather; and as he was wanted to prescribe for a poor +old man in an opposite direction, he took Charlotte with him to show the +way, and she was much better pleased to have him for a companion than +the grave Laura. + +Philip, in the meantime, had walked all the way to Broadstone, timing +his return exactly, that he might meet Laura as she came out of the +school, and feel as if it had been by chance. It was a gray, misty +November day, and the leaves of the elm-trees came floating round them, +yellow and damp. + +'You have had a wet walk,' said Laura, as they met. + +'It is not quite raining,' he answered; and they proceeded for some +minutes in silence, until he said,--'It is time we should come to an +understanding.' + +She looked at him in alarm, and his voice was immediately gentler; +indeed, at times it was almost inaudible from his strong emotion. 'I +believe that no affection has ever been stronger or truer than ours.' + +'Has been!' repeated Laura, in a wondering, bewildered voice. + +'And is, if you are satisfied to leave things as they are.' + +'I must be, if you are.' + +'I will not say I am satisfied with what must be, as I am situated; but +I felt it due to you to set the true state of the case before you. Few +would venture their love as I do mine with you, bound in reality, though +not formally, with no promise sought or given; yet I am not more assured +that I stand here than I am that our love is for ever.' + +'I am sure it is!' she repeated fervently. 'O Philip, there never was a +time I did not love you: and since that day on Ashen Down, I have loved +you with my whole heart. I am sometimes afraid it has left no proper +room for the rest, when I find how much more I think of your going away +than of poor Charles.' + +'Yes,' he said, 'you have understood me as none but you would have done, +through coldness and reserve, apparently, even towards yourself, and +when to others I have seemed grave and severe beyond my years. You have +never doubted, you have recognized the warmth within; you have trusted +your happiness to me, and it shall be safe in my keeping, for, Laura, it +is all mine.' + +'There is only one thing,' said Laura, timidly; 'would it not be better +if mamma knew?' + +'Laura, I have considered that, but remember you are not bound; I have +never asked you to bind yourself. You might marry to-morrow, and I +should have no right to complain. There is nothing to prevent you.' + +She exclaimed, as if with pain. + +'True,' he answered; 'you could not, and that certainty suffices me. I +ask no more without your parents' consent; but it would be giving them +and you useless distress and perplexity to ask it now. They would object +to my poverty, and we should gain nothing; for I would never be so +selfish as to wish to expose you to such a life as that of the wife of a +poor officer; and an open engagement could not add to our confidence +in each other. We must be content to wait for my promotion. By that +time'--he smiled gravely--'our attachment will have lasted so many years +as to give it a claim to respect.' + +'It is no new thing.' + +'No newer than our lives; but remember, my Laura, that you are but +twenty.' + +'You have made me feel much older,' sighed Laura, 'not that I would be a +thoughtless child again. That cannot last long, not even for poor little +Amy' + +'No one would wish to part with the deeper feelings of elder years +to regain the carelessness of childhood, even to be exempted from the +suffering that has brought them.' + +'No, indeed.' + +'For instance, these two years have scarcely been a time of great +happiness to you.' + +'Sometimes,' whispered Laura, 'sometimes beyond all words, but often +dreary and oppressive.' + +'Heaven knows how unwillingly I have rendered it so. Rather than dim the +brightness of your life, I would have repressed my own sentiments for +ever.' + +'But, then, where would have been my brightness?' + +'I would, I say, but for a peril to you. I see my fears were unfounded. +You were safe; but in my desire to guard you from what has come on poor +Amy, my feelings, though not wont to overpower me, carried me further +than I intended.' + +'Did they?' + +'Do not suppose I regret it. No, no, Laura; those were the most precious +moments in my life, when I drew from you those words and looks which +have been blessed in remembrance ever since; and doubly, knowing, as I +do, that you also prize that day.' + +'Yes--yes;--' + +'In the midst of much that was adverse, and with a necessity for a trust +and self-control of which scarce a woman but yourself would have been +capable, you have endured nobly--' + +'I could bear anything, if you were not going so far away,' + +'You will bear that too, Laura, and bravely. It will not be for ever.' + +'How long do you think?' + +'I cannot tell. Several years may pass before I have my promotion. It +may be that I shall not see that cheek in its fresh bloom again, but I +shall find the same Laura that I left, the same in love, and strength, +and trust.' + +'Ah; I shall grow faded and gray, and you will be a sun-burnt old +soldier,' said Laura, smiling, and looking, half sadly, half proudly, up +to his noble features; 'but hearts don't change like faces!' + +After they came near the house, they walked up and down the lane for a +long time, for Philip avoided a less public path, in order to keep up +his delusion that he was doing nothing in an underhand way. It grew +dark, and the fog thickened, straightening Laura's auburn ringlets, and +hanging in dew-drops on Philip's rough coat, but little recked they; it +was such an hour as they had never enjoyed before. Philip had never +so laid himself open, or assured her so earnestly of the force of his +affection; and her thrills of ecstasy overcame the desolate expectation +of his departure, and made her sensible of strength to bear seven, ten, +twenty years of loneliness and apparent neglect. She knew him, and he +would never fail her. + +Yet, when at last they went in-doors, and Amy followed her to her room, +wondering to find her so wet, and so late, who could have seen the two +sisters without reading greater peace and serenity in the face of the +younger. + +Philip felt an elder brother's interest for poor little Amy. He did not +see much of her; but he compassionated her as a victim to her mother's +imprudence, hoping she would soon be weaned from her attachment. He +thought her a good, patient little thing, so soft and gentle as probably +not to have the strength and depth that would make the love incurable; +and the better he liked her, the more unfit he thought her for Guy. It +would have been uniting a dove and a tiger; and his only fear was, that +when he was no longer at hand, Mr. Edmonstone's weak good-nature might +be prevailed on to sacrifice her. He did his best for her protection, by +making his uncle express a resolution never to admit Guy into his family +again, unless the accusation of gambling was completely disproved. + +The last morning came, and Philip went to take leave of Charles. Poor +Charles was feebler by this time, and too much subdued by pain and +languor to receive him as at first, but the spirit was the same; and +when Philip wished him good-bye, saying he hoped soon to hear he was +better, he returned for answer, + +'Good-bye, Philip, I hope soon to hear you are better. I had rather have +my hip than your mind.' + +He was in no condition to be answered, and Philip repeated his good-bye, +little thinking how they were to meet again. + +The others were assembled in the hall. His aunt's eyes were full of +tears, for she loved him dearly, her brother's only son, early left +motherless, whom she had regarded like her own child, and who had so +nobly fulfilled all the fondest hopes. All his overbearing ways and +uncalled-for interference were forgotten, and her voice gave way as she +embraced him, saying, + +'God bless you, Philip, wherever you may be. We shall miss you very +much!' + +Little Amy's hand was put into his, and he squeezed it kindly; but she +could hardly speak her 'good-bye,' for the tears that came, because she +was grieved not to feel more sorry that her highly-esteemed cousin, so +kind and condescending to her, was going away for so very long a time. + +'Good-bye, Philip,' said Charlotte; 'I shall be quite grown up by the +time you come home.' + +'Don't make such uncivil auguries, Puss,' said her father; but Philip +heard her not, for he was holding Laura's hand in a grasp that seemed as +if it never would unclose. + + + + +CHAPTER 21 + + I will sing, for I am sad, + For many my misdeeds; + It is my sadness makes me glad, + For love for sorrow pleads. + --WILLIAMS. + + +After his last interview with Philip, Guy returned to his rooms to force +himself into occupation till his cousin should come to acknowledge that +here, at least, there was nothing amiss. He trusted that when it was +proved all was right in this quarter, the prejudice with regard to the +other might be diminished, though his hopes were lower since he had +found out the real grounds of the accusation, reflecting that he should +never be able to explain without betraying his uncle. + +He waited in vain. The hour passed at which Philip's coming was +possible; Guy was disappointed, but looked for a letter; but post after +post failed to bring him one. Perhaps Philip would write from Hollywell, +or else Mr. Edmonstone would write, or at least he was sure that Charles +would write--Charles, whose confidence and sympathy, expressed in almost +daily letters, had been such a comfort. But not a line came. He reviewed +in memory his last letter to Charles, wondering whether it could have +offended him; but it did not seem possible; he thought over all that +Philip could have learnt in his visit, to see if it could by any means +have been turned to his disadvantage. But he knew he had done nothing +to which blame could be attached; he had never infringed the rules +of college discipline; and though still backward, and unlikely to +distinguish himself, he believed that was the worst likely to have been +said of him. He only wished his true character was as good as what would +be reported of him. + +As he thought and wondered, he grew more and more restless and unhappy. +He could imagine no reason for the silence, unless Mr. Edmonstone had +absolutely forbidden any intercourse, and it did not seem probable that +he would issue any commands in a manner to bind a grown-up son, more +especially as there had been no attempt at communication with Amy. It +was terrible thus, without warning, to be cut off from her, and all +besides that he loved. As long as Charles wrote, he fancied her sitting +by, perhaps sealing the letter, and he could even tell by the kind of +paper and envelope, whether they were sitting in the dressing-room or +down-stairs; but now there was nothing, no assurance of sympathy, no +word of kindness; they might all have given him up; those unhappy words +were like a barrier, cutting him off for ever from the happiness of +which he had once had a glimpse. Was the Redclyffe doom of sin and +sorrow really closing in upon him? + +If it had not been for chapel and study, he hardly knew how he should +have got through that term; but as the end of it approached, a feverish +impatience seized on him whenever the post came in, for a letter, if +only to tell him not to come to Hollywell. None came, and he saw nothing +for it but to go to Redclyffe; and if he dreaded seeing it in its +altered state when his spirits were high and unbroken, how did he shrink +from it now! He did, however, make up his mind, for he felt that his +reluctance almost wronged his own beloved home. Harry Graham wanted to +persuade him to come and spend Christmas at his home, with his lively +family, but Guy felt as if gaiety was not for him, even if he could +enjoy it. He did not wish to drown his present feelings, and steadily, +though gratefully, refused this as well as one or two other friendly +invitations. + +After lingering in vain till the last day of term, he wrote to desire +that his own room and the library might be made ready for him, and that +'something' might be sent to meet him at Moorworth. + +Railroads had come a step nearer, even to his remote corner of the world, +in the course of the last three years; but there was still thirty miles +of coach beyond, and these lay through a part of the country he had +never seen before. It was for the most part bleak, dreary moor, such as, +under the cold gray wintry sky, presented nothing to rouse him from his +musings on the welcome he might have been at that very moment receiving +at Hollywell. + +A sudden, dip in the high ground made it necessary for the coach to +put on the drag, and thus it slowly entered a village, which attracted +attention from its wretched appearance. The cottages, of the rough stone +of the country, were little better than hovels; slates were torn off, +windows broken. Wild-looking uncombed women, in garments of universal +dirt colour, stood at the doors; ragged children ran and shrieked after +the coach, the church had a hole in the roof, and stood tottering in +spite of rude repairs; the churchyard was trodden down by cattle, and +the whole place only resembled the pictures of Irish dilapidation. + +'What miserable place is this?' asked a passenger. 'Yes, that's what all +gentlemen ask,' replied the coachman; 'and well you may. There's not a +more noted place for thieves and vagabonds. They call it Coombe Prior.' + +Guy well knew the name, though he had never been there. It was a distant +offset of his own property, and a horrible sense of responsibility for +all the crime and misery there came over him. + +'Is there no one to look; after it?' continued the traveller. 'No +squire, no clergyman?' + +'A fox-hunting parson,' answered the coachman; 'who lives half-a-dozen +miles off, and gallops over for the service.' + +Guy knew that the last presentation had been sold in the days of his +grandfather's extravagance, and beheld another effect of ancestral sin. + +'Do you know who is the owner of the place?' + +'Yes, sir; 'tis Sir Guy Morville. You have heard tell of the old Sir Guy +Morville, for he made a deal of noise in the world.' + +'What! The noted--' + +'I ought not to allow you to finish your sentence,' said Guy, very +courteously, 'without telling you that I am his grandson.' + +'I beg your pardon!' exclaimed the traveller. + +'Nay,' said Guy, with a smile; 'I only thought it was fair to tell you.' + +'Sir Guy himself!' said the coachman, turning round, and touching his +hat, anxious to do the honours of his coach. 'I have not seen you on +this road before, sir, for I never forget a face; I hope you'll often be +this way.' + +After a few more civilities, Guy was at liberty to attend to the fresh +influx of sad musings on thoughtless waste affecting not only the +destiny of the individual himself, but whole generations besides. How +many souls might it not have ruined? 'These sheep, what had they done!' +His grandfather had repented, but who was to preach repentance unto +these? He did not wonder now that his own hopes of happiness had been +blighted; he only marvelled that a bright present or future had ever +been his-- + + + While souls were wandering far and wide, + And curses swarmed on every side. + + +The traveller was, meanwhile, observing the heir of Redclyffe, possessor +of wealth and wide lands. Little did he guess how that bright-eyed youth +looked upon his riches. + +Miles were passed in one long melancholy musing, till Guy was roused by +the sight of familiar scenes, and found himself rattling over the stones +of the little borough of Moorworth, with the gray, large-windowed, +old-fashioned houses, on each side, looking at him with friendly eyes. +There, behind those limes cut out in arches, was the commercial school, +where he had spent many an hour in construing with patient Mr. Potts; +and though he had now a juster appreciation of his old master's +erudition, which he had once thought so vast, he recollected with +veneration his long and patient submission to an irksome, uncongenial +life. Rumbling on, the coach was in the square market-place, the +odd-looking octagon market-house in the middle, and the inn--the +respectable old 'George'--with its long rank of stables and +out-buildings forming one side. It was at this inn that Guy had been +born, and the mistress having been the first person who had him in her +arms, considered herself privileged to have a great affection for him, +and had delighted in the greetings he always exchanged with her when he +put up his pony at her stable, and went to his tutor. + +There was a certainty of welcome here that cheered him, as he swung +himself from the roof of the coach, lifted Bustle down, and called out +to the barmaid that he hoped Mrs. Lavers was well. + +The next moment Mrs. Lavers was at the door herself, with her broad, +good-humoured face, close cap, bright shawl, and black gown, just as Guy +always recollected, and might, if he could, have recollected, when he +was born. If she had any more guests she neither saw nor cared for +them; her welcome was all for him; and he could not but smile and look +cheerful, if only that he might not disappoint her, feeling, in very +truth, cheered and gratified by her cordiality. If he was in a hurry, +he would not show it; and he allowed her to seat him in her own peculiar +abode, behind the glass-cases of tongue and cold chicken, told her he +came from Oxford, admired her good fire, and warmed his hands over it, +before he even asked if the 'something' had arrived which was to take +him home. It was coming to the door at the moment, and proved to be Mr. +Markham's tall, high-wheeled gig, drawn by the old white-faced chestnut, +and driven by Markham himself--a short, sturdy, brown-red, honest-faced +old man, with frosted hair and whiskers, an air more of a yeoman than +of a lawyer; and though not precisely gentlemanlike, yet not +ungentlemanlike, as there was no pretension about him. + +Guy darted out to meet him, and was warmly shaken by the hand, though +the meeting was gruff. + +'So, Sir Guy! how d'ye do? I wonder what brings you here on such short +notice? Good morning, Mrs. Lavers. Bad roads this winter.' + +'Good morning, Mr. Markham. It is a treat, indeed, to have Sir Guy here +once more; so grown, too.' + +'Grown--hum!' said Markham, surveying him; 'I don't see it. He'll never +be as tall as his father. Have you got your things, Sir Guy? Ay, that's +the way,--care for nothing but the dog. Gone on by the coach, most +likely.' + +They might have been, for aught Guy knew to the contrary, but Boots had +been more attentive, and they were right. Mrs. Lavers begged he would +walk in, and warm himself; but Markham answered,-- + +'What do you say, Sir Guy? The road is shocking, and it will be as dark +as a pit by the time we get home.' + +'Very well; we won't keep old Whiteface standing,' said Guy. 'Good-bye, +Mrs. Lavers thank you. I shall see you again before long.' + +Before Markham had finished a short private growl on the shocking state +of the Moorworth pavement, and a protest that somebody should be called +over the coals, Guy began,--' + +'What a horrible place Coombe Prior is!' + +'I only know I wish you had more such tenants as Todd,' was Markham's +answer. 'Pays his rent to a day, and improves his land.' + +'But what sort of man is he?' + +'A capital farmer. A regular screw, I believe; but that is no concern of +mine.' + +'There are all the cottages tumbling down.' + +'Ay? Are they? I shouldn't wonder, for they are all in his lease; and he +would not lay out an unproductive farthing. And a precious bad lot they +are there, too! There were actually three of them poaching in Cliffstone +hanger this autumn; but we have them in jail. A pretty pass of impudence +to be coming that distance to poach.' + +Guy used to be kindled into great wrath by the most distant hint of +poachers; but now he cared for men, not for game; and instead of asking, +as Markham expected, the particulars of their apprehension, continued-- + +'The clergyman is that Halroyd, is he not?' + +'Yes; every one knows what he is. I declare it went against me to take +his offer for the living; but it could not be helped. Money must be had; +but there! least said, soonest mended.' + +'We must mend it,' said Guy, so decidedly, that Markham looked at him +with surprise. + +'I don't see what's to be done till Halroyd dies; and then you may give +the living to whom you please. He lives so hard he can't last long, that +is one comfort.' + +Guy sighed and pondered; and presently Markham resumed the conversation. + +'And what has brought you home at a moment's notice? You might as well +have written two or three days before, at least.' + +'I was waiting in hopes of going to Hollywell,' said Guy sorrowfully. + +'Well, and what is the matter? You have not been quarrelling with your +guardian, I hope and trust! Going the old way, after all!' exclaimed +Markham, not in his usual gruff, grumbling note, but with real anxiety, +and almost mournfulness. + +'He took up some unjust suspicion of me. I could not bear it patiently, +and said something that has offended him.' + +'Oh, Sir Guy! hot and fiery as ever. I always told you that hasty temper +would be the ruin of you.' + +'Too true!' said Guy, so dejectedly, that the old man instantly grew +kinder, and was displeased with Mr. Edmonstone. + +'What could he have taken into his head to suspect you of?' + +'Of gaming at St. Mildred's.' + +'You have not?' + +'Never!' + +'Then why does not he believe you?' + +'He thinks he has proof against me. I can't guess how he discovered it; +but I was obliged to pay some money to a gambling sort of man, and he +thinks I lost it.' + +'Then why don't you show him your accounts?' + +'For one reason--because I have kept none.' + +As if it was an immense relief to his mind, Markham launched out into a +discourse on the extreme folly, imprudence, and all other evils of +such carelessness. He was so glad to find this was the worst, that +his lecture lasted for two miles and a half, during which Guy, though +attentive at first, had ample space for all the thrills of recognition +at each well-known spot. + +There was the long green-wooded valley between the hills where he had +shot his first woodcock; there was the great stone on which he had +broken his best knife in a fit of geological research; there was the +pool where he used to skate; there the sudden break in the lulls that +gave the first view of the sea. He could not help springing up at the +sight--pale, leaden, and misty as it was; and though Markham forthwith +rebuked him for not listening, his heart was still beating as at the +first sight of a dear old friend, when that peep was far behind. More +black heaths, with stacks of peat and withered ferns. Guy was straining +his eyes far off in the darkness to look for the smoke of the old +keeper's cottage chimney, and could with difficulty refrain from +interrupting Markham to ask after the old man. + +Another long hill, and then began a descent into a rich valley, +beautiful fields of young wheat, reddish soil, full of fatness, large +spreading trees with noble limbs, cottages, and cottage gardens, very +unlike poor Coombe Prior; Markham's house--a perfect little snuggery +covered all over with choice climbing plants, the smart plastered +doctor's house, the Morville Arms, looking honest and venerable, the +church, with its disproportionately high tower, the parsonage rather +hidden behind it; and, on the opposite side of the road, the park-wall +and the gate, where old Sarah stood, in an ecstasy of curtsies. + +Guy jumped out to meet her, and to spare Whiteface; for there was a +sharp, steep bit of hill, rising from the lodge, trying to horses, in +spite of the road being cut out in long spirals. On he ran, leaving the +road to Markham, straight up the high, steep, slippery green slope. He +came in sight at the great dark-red sandstone pile of building; but he +passed it, and ran on to where the ground rose on one side of it still +more abruptly, and at the highest point was suddenly broken away and cut +off into a perpendicular crag, descending in some parts sheer down to +the sea, in others a little broken, and giving space for the growth of +stunted brushwood. He stood at the highest point, where the precipice +was most abrupt. The sea was dashing far beneath; the ripple, dash, and +roar were in his ears once more; the wind--such wind as only blows over +the sea--was breathing on his face; the broad, free horizon far before +him; the field of waves, in gray and brown shade indeed, but still his +own beloved waves; the bay, shut in with rocks, and with Black Shag +Island and its train of rocks projecting far out to the west, and almost +immediately beneath him, to the left, the little steep street of the +fishing part of the village, nestled into the cove, which was formed +by the mouth of a little mountain-stream, and the dozen boats it could +muster rocking on the water. + +Guy stood and looked as if he could never cease looking, or enjoying the +sea air and salt breeze. It was real pleasure at first, for there were +his home, his friends, and though there was a throb and tightness of +heart at thinking how all was changed but such as this, and how all must +change; how he had talked with Amy of this very thing, and had longed to +have her standing beside him there; yet there was more of soothing than +suffering in the sensation. + +So many thoughts rushed through his mind, that he fancied he had stood +there a long time, when he turned and hastened down again, but he had +been so rapid as to meet Markham before the servants had had time to +miss him. + +The servants were indeed few. There was, alas! William of Deloraine, +waiting to hold Whiteface; there was Arnaud, an old Swiss, first courier +and then butler to old Sir Guy; there was Mrs. Drew, the housekeeper, +also a very old servant; and these were all; but their welcome was of +the heartiest, in feeling, if not in demonstration as the gig went with +an echoing, thundering sound under the deep archway that led into the +paved quadrangle; round which the house was built, that court where, as +Philip had truly averred, the sun hardly ever shone, so high were the +walls on each side. + +Up the stone steps into the spacious dark hall, and into the large, +gloomy library, partially lighted by a great wood fire, replying to Mrs. +Drew's questions about his dinner and his room, and asking Markham to +stay and dine with him, Guy at length found himself at home, in the +very room where he had spent every evening of his boyhood, with the same +green leather arm-chair, in the very place where his grandfather used to +sit. + +Markham consented to dine with him, and the evening was spent in talking +over the news of Redclyffe. Markham spoke with much bitterness of the +way in which Captain Morville had taken upon him; his looking into the +accounts, though any one was welcome to examine them, was, he thought, +scarcely becoming in so young a man--the heir-at-law, too. + +'He can't help doing minutely whatever he undertakes,' said Guy. If you +had him here, you would never have to scold him like me.' + +'Heaven forbid!' said Markham, hastily. 'I know the same place would not +hold him and me long.' + +'You have told me nothing of our new vicar. How do you get on with him?' + +'None the better for that same Captain Morville,' replied Markham, +plunging forthwith into his list of grievances, respecting which he was +waging a petty warfare, in the belief that he was standing up for his +master's rights. + +Mr. Bernard, the former clergyman, had been a quiet, old-fashioned man, +very kind-hearted, but not at all active, and things had gone on in +a sleepy, droning, matter-of-fact way, which Markham being used to, +thought exactly what ought to be. Now, Mr. Ashford was an energetic +person, desirous to do his utmost for the parish, and whatever he did +was an offence to Markham, from the daily service, to the objecting to +the men going out fishing on Sunday. He opposed every innovation with +all his might, and Captain Morville's interference, which had borne +Markham down with Mr. Edmonstone's authority, had only made him more +determined not to bate an inch. He growled every time Guy was inclined +to believe Mr. Ashford in the right, and brought out some fresh +complaint. The grand controversy was at present about the school. +There was a dame's school in the cove or fishing part of the parish, +maintained at the expense of the estate, in a small cottage far from the +church, and Mr. and Mrs. Ashford had fixed their eyes on a house in the +village, and so near the church as to be very convenient for a Sunday +School. It only wanted to be floored, and to have a partition taken +down, but to this Markham would not consent, treating it as a monstrous +proposal to take away the school from old Jenny Robinson. + +'I suppose Mr. Ashford meant to pension her off?' said Guy. + +'He did say something about it; but who is to do it, I should like to +know?' + +'We are, I suppose.' + +'Pay two schoolmistresses mistresses at once! One for doing nothing! A +pretty tolerable proposal for Mr. Ashford to be making?' + +'I don't see why. Of course it is my business!' + +'Besides, I don't see that she is not as fit to keep school as ever she +was.' + +'That may well be,' said Guy, smiling. 'We never used to be noted for +our learning.' + +'Don't you be for bringing new lights into the parish, Sir Guy, or we +shall never have any more peace.' + +'I shall see about old Jenny,' answered Guy. 'As to the house, that must +be done directly. Her cottage is not fit to keep school in.' + +Grunt, grunt; but though a very unbending viceroy, a must from the +reigning baronet had a potent effect on Markham, whether it was for good +or evil. He might grumble, but he never disobeyed, and the boy he was +used to scold and order had found that Morville intonation of the must, +which took away all idea of resistance. He still, however remonstrated. + +'As you please, Sir Guy, but we shall have the deer frightened, and the +plantations cut to pieces, if the boys from the Cove are to be crossing +the park.' + +'I'll be answerable for all the damage. If they are once properly spoken +to, they will be on honour to behave well. I have seen a little of what +a village school ought to be at East-hill, and I should like to see +Redclyffe like it.' + +Grunt again; and Guy found that to make Markham amiable, he must inquire +after all his nephews and nieces. + +All the evening he had much to occupy him, and the dreaded sense +of solitude and bereavement did not come on till he had parted with +Markham, and stood alone before the fire in the large, gloomy room, +where the light of the lamp seemed absorbed in the darkness of the +distant corners, and where he had scarcely been since the moment when +he found his grandfather senseless in that very chair. How different +had that room once been in his eyes, when his happy spirits defied every +association of gloom, and the bookshelves, the carved chairs, the heavy +dark-green curtains and deep windows were connected with merry freaks, +earnest researches, delightful achievements or discoveries! How long ago +that time seemed! and how changed was he! + +There was a certain tendency to melancholy in Guy's mind. High spirits, +prosperity, and self-discipline, had kept it from developing itself +until the beginning of his troubles, but since that time it had been +gradually gaining ground, and this was a time of great suffering, as he +stood alone in his forefathers' house, and felt himself, in his early +youth, a doomed man, destined to bear the penalty of their crimes in the +ruin of his dearest hopes, as if his heirloom of misery had but waited +to seize on him till the very moment when it would give him the most to +endure. + +'But bear it, I must and will!' said he, lifting his head from the +carved chimney-piece, where he had been resting it. 'I have been in will +a murderer myself, and what right have I to repine like the Israelites, +with their self-justifying proverb? No; let me be thankful that I was +not given up even then, but have been able to repent, and do a little +better next time. It will be a blessing as yet ungranted to any of us, +if indeed I should bear to the full the doom of sorrow, so that it may +be vouchsafed me only to avoid actual guilt. Yes, Amy, your words are +still with me--"Sintram conquered his doom,"--and it was by following +death! Welcome, then, whatever may be in store for me, were it even a +long, cheerless life without you, Amy. There is another world!' + +With the energy of freshened resolution, he lighted his candle, and +walked, with echoing steps, up the black oak staircase, along the broad +gallery, up another flight, down another passage, to his own room. He +had expressly written 'his own room,' and confirmed it on his arrival, +or Mrs. Drew would have lodged him as she thought more suitably for the +master of the house. Nothing had been done to alter its old familiar +aspect, except lighting a fire, which he had never seen there before. +There were all his boyish treasures, his bows and arrows, his collection +of birds' wings, his wonderful weapons and contrivances, from his +fire-balloon down to the wren's-egg, all just as he left them, their +good condition attesting the care that Mrs. Drew had taken for his sake. + +He renewed his acquaintance with them with a sort of regretful affection +and superiority; but there was a refreshment in these old memories which +aided the new feeling of life imparted to him by his resolution to bear. +Nor had he only to bear, he had also to do; and before the late hour at +which he fell asleep, he had made up his mind what was the first step +to be taken about Coombe Priory, and had remembered with rejoicing that +whereas he had regretted leaving the chapel at college which had so +comforted and helped him, there was now daily service at Redclyffe +Church. The last thing in his mind, before reflection was lost in sleep, +was this stanza-- + + + Gales from Heaven, if so He will, + Sweeter melodies may wake + On the lowly mountain rill + Than the meeting waters make. + Who hath the Father and the Son, + May be left, but not alone. + + + + +CHAPTER 22 + + And when the solemn deep church-bell + Entreats the soul to pray, + The midnight phantoms feel the spell, + The shadows sweep away. + + Down the broad Vale of Tears afar, + The spectral camp is fled; + Faith shineth as a morning star, + Our ghastly fears are dead. + --LONGFELLOW + + +Mr. Ashford was a connection of Lady Thorndale's, and it was about a +year since the living of Redclyffe had been presented to him. Mr. and +Mrs. Ashford were of course anxious to learn all they could about their +young squire, on whom the welfare of the parish depended, even more than +in most cases, as the whole was his property. Their expectations were +not raised by Mr. Markham's strenuous opposition to all their projects, +and his constant appeals to the name of 'Sir Guy'; but, on the other +hand, they were pleased by the strong feeling of affection that all the +villagers manifested for their landlord. + +The inhabitants of Redclyffe were a primitive race, almost all related +to each other, rough and ignorant, and with a very strong feudal feeling +for 'Sir Guy,' who was king, state, supreme authority, in their eyes; +and Mrs. Ashford further found that 'Master Morville,' as the old women +called him in his individual character, was regarded by them with great +personal affection. + +On the occasion when Captain Morville came to Redclyffe, and left James +Thorndale to spend a couple of hours at the parsonage, they interrogated +the latter anxiously on his acquaintance with Sir Guy. He had not the +least idea of creating prejudice, indeed, he liked him as a companion, +but he saw everything through the medium of his friend, and spoke +something to this effect: He was very agreeable; they would like his +manners; he was tolerably clever, but not to be named in the same day +with his cousin for abilities, far less in appearance. Very pleasant, +generally liked, decidedly a taking man; but there was some cloud over +him just now--debts, probably. Morville had been obliged to go to Oxford +about it; but Mr. Thorndale did not profess to understand it, as of +course Morville said as little of it as he could. Thereupon all began to +admire the aforesaid Morville, already known by report, and whose fine +countenance and sensible conversation confirmed all that had been said +of him. + +And as, after his interference, Mr. Markham's opposition became surly, +as well as sturdy, and Sir Guy's name was sure to stand arrayed against +them whichever way they turned, the younger part of the family learnt to +regard him somewhat in the light of an enemy, and their elders awaited +his majority with more of fear than of hope. + +'Mamma!' cried Edward Ashford, rushing in, so as to bring the first news +to his mother, who had not been to the early service, 'I do believe Sir +Guy is come!' + +'Sir Guy was at church!' shouted Robert, almost at the same moment. + +Mr. Ashford confirmed the intelligence. + +'I saw him speaking, after church, to some of the old men, so afterwards +I went to ask old John Barton, and found him with tears in his eyes, +positively trembling with delight, for he said he never thought to have +heard his cheery voice again, and that he was coming down by and by to +see the last letter from Ben, at sea.' + +'That is very nice! Shall you call?' + +'Yes. Even if he is only here for a day or two, it will be better to +have made the acquaintance.' + +Mr. Ashford went to the Park at two in the afternoon, and did not return +till near four. + +'Well,' said he, 'it is as James Thorndale says, there is something very +prepossessing about him.' + +'Have you been there all this time?' + +'Yes. He was not at home; so I left my card, and was coming away, when I +met him at the turn leading to the Cove. He need not have seen me unless +he had liked, but he came up in a good-natured cordial way, and thanked +me for coming to call.' + +'Is he like his cousin?' + +'Not in the least; not nearly so tall or so handsome, but with a very +pleasant face, and seeming made up of activity, very slight, as if he +was all bone and sinew. He said he was going to see the Christmas ox +at the farm, and asked me to come with him. Presently we came to a high +gate, locked up. He was over it in an instant, begged me to wait while +he ran on to the farm for the key, and was back in a second with it.' + +'Did he enter on any of the disputed subjects!' + +'He began himself about the school, saying the house should be altered +directly; and talked over the whole matter very satisfactorily; +undertook himself to speak to Jenny Robinson; and was very glad to hear +you meant her still to keep the infants at the Cove; so I hope that +matter is in a right train.' + +'If Mr. Markham will but let him.' + +'O, he is king or more here! We met Markham at the farm; and the first +thing, after looking at the cattle, Sir Guy found some planks lying +about, and said they were the very thing for flooring the school. +Markham mentioned some barn they were intended for, but Sir Guy said the +school must be attended to at once, and went with us to look at it. That +was what kept me so long, measuring and calculating; and I hope it may +be begun in a week.' + +'This is delightful! What more could we wish?' + +'I don't think he will give trouble in parish matters, and in personal +intercourse he will be sure to be most agreeable. I wish I knew there +was nothing amiss. It seems strange for him to come here for the +vacation, instead of going to his guardian's, as usual, and altogether +he had an air of sadness and depression, not like a youth, especially +such an active one. I am afraid something is wrong; those engaging +people are often unstable. One thing I forgot to tell you. We were +walking through that belt of trees on the east side of the hill, when +he suddenly called out to ask how came the old ash-tree to be marked. +Markham answered in his gruff way, it was not his doing, but the +Captain's. He turned crimson, and began some angry exclamation, but as +Markham was going on to tell something else about it, he stopped him +short, saying, 'Never mind! I dare say it's all right. I don't want to +hear any more!' And I don't think he spoke much again till we got into +the village. I am afraid there is some misunderstanding between the +cousins.' + +'Or more likely Mr. Markham is teaching him some jealousy of his heir. +We could not expect two Captain Morvilles in one family, and I am glad +it is no worse.' + +All that the Ashfords further saw of their young baronet made an +impression in his favour; every difficulty raised by the steward +disappeared; their plans were forwarded, and they heard of little but +his good-nature to the poor people; but still they did not know how far +to trust these appearances, and did not yet venture to form an opinion +on him, or enter into intimacy. + +'So the singers will not come to us on Christmas Eve, because they say +they must go to the Park,' said Edward, rather savagely. + +'I was thinking,' said Mrs. Ashford, 'how forlorn it will be for that +poor youth to spend his Christmas-day alone in that great house. Don't +you think we might ask him to dinner?' + +Before Mr. Ashford could answer, the boys made such an uproar at the +proposal of bringing a stranger to spoil their Christmas, that their +parents gave up the idea. + +It was that Christmas-day that Guy especially dreaded, as recalling so +many contrasts both with those passed here and at Hollywell. Since his +return, he had been exerting himself to attend to what he felt to be +his duty, going about among his people, arranging for their good or +pleasure, and spending a good deal of time over his studies. He had +written to Mr. Ross, to ask his advice about Coombe Prior, and had set +Markham, much against his will, to remonstrate with Farmer Todd about +the repairs; but though there was a sort of satisfaction in doing these +things--though the attachment of his dependants soothed him, and brought +a new sense of the relation between himself and them--though views +of usefulness were on each side opening before him--yet there was a +dreariness about everything; he was weary even while he undertook and +planned energetically; each new project reminding him that there was no +Amy to plan with him. He could not sufficiently care for them. + +Still more dreary was his return to his old haunts, and to the scenery +which he loved so devotedly--the blue sea and purple hills, which had +been like comrades and playfellows, before he had known what it was to +have living companions. They used to be everything to him, and he +had scarcely a wish beyond; afterwards his dreams had been of longing +affection for them, and latterly the idea of seeing Amy love them and +admire them had been connected with every vision of them; and now the +sight of the reality did but recall the sense that their charm had +departed; they could no longer suffice to him as of old; and their +presence brought back to him, with fresh pangs of disappointment, +the thought of lost happiness and ruined hopes, as if Amy alone could +restore their value. + +The depression of his spirits inclined him to dwell at present more +on the melancholy history of his parents than on anything else. He had +hitherto only heard the brief narration of his grandfather, when he +could ask no questions; but he now obtained full particulars from +Markham, who, when he found him bent on hearing all, related everything, +perhaps intending it as a warning against the passions which, when +once called into force, he dreaded to find equally ungovernable in his +present master. + +Mr. Morville had been his great pride and glory, and, in fact, had been +so left to his care, as to have been regarded like a son of his own. He +had loved him, if possible, better than Guy, because he had been more +his own; he had chosen his school, and given him all the reproofs which +had ever been bestowed on him with his good in view, and how he had +grieved for him was never known to man. It was the first time he had +ever talked it over, and he described, with strong, deep feeling, the +noble face and bearing of the dark-eyed, gallant-looking stripling, his +generosity and high spirit tainted and ruined by his wild temper and +impatience of restraint. There seemed to have been a great sweetness of +disposition, excellent impulses, and so strong a love of his father, in +spite of early neglect and present resentment, as showed what he might +have been with only tolerable training, which gave Guy's idea of him +more individuality than it had ever had before, and made him better +understand what his unhappy grandfather's remorse had been. Guy doubted +for a moment whether it had not been selfish to make Markham narrate the +history of the time when he had suffered so much; and Markham, when he +had been led into telling it, and saw the deepening sadness on his young +master's countenance, wished it had not been told, and ended by saying +it was of no use to stir up what was better forgotten. + +He would have regretted the telling it still more if he had known how +Guy acted it all over in his solitude; picturing his father standing an +outcast at the door of his own home, yielding his pride and resentment +for the sake of his wife, ready to do anything, yearning for +reconciliation, longing to tread once more the friendly, familiar hall, +and meeting only the angry repulse and cruel taunt! He imagined +the headlong passion, the despair, the dashing on his horse in +whirlwind-like swiftness, then the blow--the fall--the awful stillness +of the form carried back to his father's house, and laid on that table +a dead man! Fierce wrath--then another world! Guy worked himself up in +imagining the horror of the scene, till it was almost as if he had been +an actor in it. + +Yet he had never cared so much for the thought of his father as for +his mother. His yearning for her which he had felt in early days at +Hollywell, had returned in double force, as he now fancied that she +would have been here to comfort him, and to share his grief, to be a +Mrs. Edmonstone, whose love no fault and no offence could ever cancel. + +He rode to Moorworth, and made Mrs. Lavers tell him all she remembered. +She was nothing loath, and related how she had been surprised by Mr. +Morville arriving with his fair, shrinking young wife, and how she had +rejoiced in his coming home again. She described Mrs. Morville with +beautiful blue eyes and flaxen hair, looking pale and delicate, and with +clinging caressing ways like a little child afraid to be left. + +'Poor thing!' said Mrs. Lavers, wiping her eyes; 'when he was going, she +clung about him, and cried, and was so timid about being left, that at +last he called me, and begged me to stay with her, and take care of her. +It was very pretty to see how gentle and soft he was to her, sharp and +hasty as he was with most; and she would not let him go, coaxing him not +to stay away long; till at last he put her on the sofa, saying, "There, +there, Marianne, that will do. Only be a good child, and I'll come for +you." I never forget those words, for they were the last I ever heard +him speak.' + +'Well?' + +'Poor dear! she cried heartily at first; but after a time she cheered +up, and quite made friends with me. I remember she told me which were +Mr. Morville's favourite songs, and sang little scraps of them.' + +'Can you remember what they were?' eagerly exclaimed Guy. + +'Law, no, air; I never had no head for music. And she laughed about her +journey to Scotland, and got into spirits, only she could not bear I +should go out of the room; and after a time she grew very anxious for +him to come back. I made her some tea, and tried to get her to bed, +but she would not go, though she seemed very tired; for she said Mr. +Morville would come to take her to Redclyffe, and she wanted to hear all +about the great house, listening for him all the time, and I trying to +quiet her, and telling her the longer he stayed the better chance there +was. Then came a call for me, and down-stairs I found everything in +confusion; the news had come--I never knew how. I had not had time to +hear it rightly myself, when there was a terrible cry from up-stairs. +Poor thing! whether she thought he was come, or whether her mind misgave +her, she had come after me to the head of the stairs, and heard what +they were saying. I don't believe she ever rightly knew what had +happened, for before I could get to her she had fainted; and she was +very ill from that moment.' + +'And it was the next day she died!' said Guy, looking up, after a long +silence. 'Did she--could she take any notice of me?' + +'No, sir; she lived but half an hour, or hardly that, after you were +born.' I told her it was a son; but she was not able to hear or mind me, +and sank away, fainting like. I fancied I heard her say something like +"Mr. Morville," but I don't know; and her breath was very soon gone. +Poor dear!' added Mrs. Lavers, wiping away her tears. 'I grieved for her +as if she had been my own child; but then I thought of her waking up to +hear he was dead. I little thought then, Sir Guy, that I should ever see +you stand there,--strong and well grown. I almost thought you were dead +already when I sent for Mr. Harrison to baptize you.' + +'Was it you that did so?' said Guy, his face, mournful before, lighting +up in a sudden beam of gratitude. 'Then I have to thank you for more +than all the world besides.' + +'Law, sir!' said Mrs. Lavers, smiling, and looking pleased, though as +if but half entering into his meaning. 'Yes, it was in that very china +bowl; I have kept it choice ever since, and never let it be used for +anything. I thought it was making very bold, but the doctor and all +thought you could not live, and Mr. Harrison might judge. I was very +glad just before he came that Mr. Markham came from Redclyffe. He had +not been able to leave poor Sir Guy before.' + +Guy soon after set out on his homeward ride. His yearning to hear of +his mother had been satisfied; but though he could still love the fair, +sweet vision summoned up by her name, he was less disposed to feel that +it had been hard upon him that she died. It was not Amy. In spite of his +tender compassion and affection, he knew that he had not lost a Verena +in her. None could occupy that place save Amy; and his mind, +from custom, reverted to Amy as still his own, thrilled like a +freshly-touched wound, and tried to realize the solace that even yet she +might be praying for him. + +It was dreariness and despondency by day, and he struggled with it by +energy and occupation; but it was something even worse in the evening, +in the dark, solitary library, where the very size of the room gave +an additional sense of loneliness; and in the silence he could hear, +through the closed shutters, the distant plash and surge of the tide,--a +sound, of which, in former years, he had never been sensible. There, +evening after evening, he sat,--his attention roaming from his +employment to feed on his sad reflections. + +One evening he went to the large dark dining-room, unlocked the door, +which echoed far through the house, and found his way through the +packed-up furniture to a picture against the wall, to which he held up +his light. It was a portrait by Lely, a half-length of a young man, one +hand on his sword, the other holding his plumed hat. His dark chestnut +hair fell on each side of a bright youthful face, full of life and +health, and with eyes which, even in painting, showed what their +vividness must have been. The countenance was full of spirit and joy; +but the mouth was more hard and stern than suited the rest; and there +was something in the strong, determined grasp of the sword, which made +it seem as if the hand might be a characteristic portrait. In the corner +of the picture was the name--'Hugo Morville. AEt. 2O, 1671.' + +Guy stood holding up his light, and looking fixedly at it for a +considerable time. Strange thoughts passed through his mind as the +pictured eyes seemed to gaze piercingly down into his own. When he +turned away, he muttered aloud,-- + +'He, too, would have said--"Is thy servant a dog, that he should do +this?"' + +It seemed to him as if he had once been in a happier, better world, with +the future dawning brightly on him; but as if that once yielding to the +passions inherited from that wretched man, had brought on him the doom +of misery. He had opened the door to the powers of evil, and must bear +the penalty. + +These feelings might partly arise from its having been only now that, +had all been well, he could have been with Amabel; so that it seemed as +if he had never hitherto appreciated the loss. He had at first comforted +himself by thinking it was better to be without her than to cause her +distress; but now he found how hard it was to miss her--his bright +angel. Darkness was closing on him; a tedious, aimless life spread out +before him; a despair of doing good haunted him, and with it a sense of +something like the presence of an evil spirit, triumphing in his having +once put himself within its grasp. + +It was well for Guy that he was naturally active, and had acquired +power over his own mind. He would not allow himself to brood over +these thoughts by day, and in the evening he busied himself as much as +possible with his studies, or in going over with Markham matters that +would be useful to him to know when he came to the management of his +property. Yet still these thoughts would thicken on him, in spite of +himself, every evening when he sat alone in the library. + +The late hours of Christmas Eve was the time when he had most to suffer. +The day had been gloomy and snowy, and he had spent it almost entirely +in solitude, with no companion or diversion to restore the tone of his +mind, when he had tried it with hard study. He tried to read, but it +would not do; and he was reduced to sit looking at the fire, recalling +this time last year, when he had been cutting holly, helping the sisters +to deck the house, and in the evening enjoying a merry Christmas party, +full of blitheness and glee, where there were, of course, special +recollections of Amabel. + +As usual, he dwelt on the contrast, mused on the estrangement of Mrs. +Edmonstone, and tormented himself about Charles's silence, till he fell +into the more melancholy train of thought of the destiny of his race. + +Far better for him to bear all alone than to bring on Amy grief and +horror, such as had fallen on his own mother, but it was much to bear +that loneliness and desolation for a lifetime. The brow was contracted, +and the lip drawn into a resolute expression of keeping down suffering, +like that of a man enduring acute bodily pain; as Guy was not yielding, +he was telling himself--telling the tempter, who would have made him +give up the struggle--that it was only for a life, and that it was shame +and ingratitude to be faint-hearted, on the very night when he ought to +be rejoicing that One had come to ruin the power of the foe, and set him +free. But where was his rejoicing? Was he cheered,--was he comforted? +Was not the lone, blank despondency that had settled on him more heavily +than ever, a token that he was shut out from all that was good,--nay, +that in former years there had been no true joy in him, only enjoyment +of temporal pleasure? Had his best days of happiness been, then, nothing +but hollowness and self-deception? + +At that moment the sound of a Christmas carol came faintly on his ear. +It was one of those tunes which, when the village choir were the only +musicians he knew, he had thought, unrivalled; and now, even to his +tutored, delicate ear, softened as it was by distance, and endeared by +association, it was full of refreshing, soothing harmony. He undrew the +curtain, opened the shutter, and looked into the court, where he saw +some figures standing. As soon as the light shone from the window, the +carol was resumed, and the familiar tones were louder and harsher, but +he loved them, with all their rudeness and dissonance, and throwing up +the window, called the singers by name, asking why they stood out in the +snow, instead of coming into the hall, as usual. + +The oldest of the set came to the window to answer,--so old a man that +his voice was cracked, and his performance did more harm than good in +the psalms at church. + +'You see, Sir Guy,' said he, 'there was some of us thought you might not +like to have us coming and singing like old times, 'cause 'tis not all +as it used to be here with you. Yet we didn't like not to come at all, +when you had been away so long, so we settled just to begin, and see +whether you took any notice.' + +'Thank you. It was a very kind thought, James,' said Guy, touched by the +rough delicacy of feeling manifested by these poor men; 'I had rather +hear the carols than anything. Come to the front door; I'll let you in.' + +'Thank you, sir,' with a most grateful touch of the hat; and Guy +hastened to set things in order, preferring the carols to everything at +that moment, even though disabused of his pristine admiration for James +Robinson's fiddle, and for Harry Ray's grand shake. A long space was +spent in listening, and a still longer in the endeavour to show what Mr. +Ashford meant by suggesting some improvements which they were regarding +with dislike and suspicion, till they found Sir Guy was of the same +mind. In fact, when he had sung a verse or two to illustrate his +meaning, the opinion of the choir was, that, with equal advantages, Sir +Guy might sing quite as well as Harry Ray. + +It was the first time he had heard his own voice, except at church, +since the earlier days of St. Mildred's, but as he went up the long +stairs and galleries to bed, he found himself still singing. It was, + + Who lives forlorn, + On God's own word doth rest, + His path is bright + With heavenly light, + His lot among the blest. + +He wondered, and remembered finding music for it with Amy's help. He +sighed heavily, but the anguish of feeling, the sense of being in the +power of evil, had insensibly left him, and though sad and oppressed, +the unchangeable joy and hope of Christmas were shedding a beam on him. + +They were not gone when he awoke, and rose to a solitary breakfast +without one Christmas greeting. The light of the other life was +beginning to shine out, and make him see how to do and to bear, with +that hope before him. The hope was becoming less vague; the resolution, +though not more firm, yet less desponding, that he would go on to +grapple with temptation, and work steadfastly; and with that hope before +him, he now felt that even a lifetime without Amy would be endurable. + +The power of rejoicing came more fully at church, and the service +entered into his soul as it never had done before. It had never been +such happiness, though repentance and mournful feelings were ever +present with him; nor was his 'Verena' absent from his mind. He +walked about between the services, saw the poor people dining in their +holly-decked houses, exchanging Christmas wishes with them, and gave +his old, beautiful, bright smile as he received demonstrations of their +attachment, or beheld their enjoyment. He went home in the dark, allowed +Mrs. Drew to have her own way, and serve him and Bustle with a dinner +sufficient for a dozen people, and was shut up for the solitary +Christmas evening which he had so much dreaded, and which would have +been esteemed a misfortune even by those who had no sad thoughts to +occupy them. + +Yet when the clock struck eleven he was surprised, and owned that it had +been more than not being unhappy. The dark fiends of remorse and despair +had not once assaulted him, yet it had not been by force of employment +that they had been averted. He had read and written a little, but very +little, and the time had chiefly been spent in a sort of day-dream, +though not of a return to Hollywell, nor of what Redclyffe might be with +Amy. It had been of a darkened and lonely course, yet, in another sense, +neither dark nor lonely, of a cheerless home and round of duties, with +a true home beyond; and still it had been a happy, refreshing dream, and +he began the next morning with the fresh brightened spirit of a man who +felt that such an evening was sent him to reinvigorate his energies, and +fit him for the immediate duties that lay before him. + +On the breakfast-table was what he had not seen for a long time--a +letter directed to him. It was from Mr. Ross, in answer to his question +about Coombe Prior, entering readily into the subject, and advising +him to write to the Bishop, altogether with a tone of friendly interest +which, especially as coming from one so near Hollywell, was a great +pleasure, a real Christmas treat. There was the wonted wish of the +season--a happy Christmas--which he took gratefully, and lastly there +was a mention that Charles Edmonstone was better, the suffering over, +though he was not yet allowed to move. + +It was a new light that Charles's silence had been occasioned by +illness, and his immediate resolution was to write at once to Mr. Ross, +to beg for further particulars. In the meantime, the perception that +there had been no estrangement was such a ray as can hardly be imagined +without knowing the despondency it had enlivened. The truth was, +perhaps, that the tone of mind was recovering, and after having fixed +himself in his resolution to endure, he was able to receive comfort and +refreshment from without as well as from within. + +He set to work to write at once to the Bishop, as Mr. Ross advised. He +said he could not bear to lose time, and therefore wrote at once. He +should be of age on the 28th of March, and he hoped then to be able to +arrange for a stipend for a curate, if the Bishop approved, and would +kindly enter into communication on the appointment with Mr. Halroyd, the +incumbent. After considering his letter a little while, and wishing he +was sufficiently intimate with Mr. Ashford to ask him if it would do, he +wrote another to Mr. Ross, to inquire after Charles; then he worked for +an hour at mathematics, till a message came from the gamekeeper to +ask whether he would go out shooting, whereat Bustle, evidently +understanding, jumped about, and wagged his tail so imploringly, that +Guy could not resist, so he threw his books upon the top of the great +pile on the sofa, and, glad that at least he could gratify dog and man, +he sent word that he should be ready in five minutes. + +He could not help enjoying the ecstasy of all the dogs, and, indeed he +was surprised to find himself fully alive to the delight of forcing his +way through a furze-brake, hearing the ice in the peaty bogs crackle +beneath his feet; getting a good shot, bringing down his bird, finding +snipe, and diving into the depths of the long, winding valleys and +dingles, with the icicle-hung banks of their streamlets. He came home +through the village at about half-past three o'clock, sending the keeper +to leave some of his game at the parsonage, while he went himself to see +how the work was getting on at the school. Mr. and Mrs. Ashford and the +boys were come on the same errand, in spite of the cloud of dust rising +from the newly-demolished lath-and-plaster partition. The boys looked +with longing eyes at the gun in his hand, and the half-frozen compound +of black and red mud on his gaiters; but they were shy, and their enmity +added to their shyness, so that even when he shook hands with them, and +spoke good-naturedly, they did not get beyond a monosyllable. + +Mr. and Mrs. Ashford, feeling some compunction for having left him to +his solitude so long, asked him to dinner for one of the ensuing days, +with some idea of getting some one to meet him, and named six o'clock. + +'Won't that put you out? Don't you always dine early?' said he. 'If you +would let me, I should like to join you at your tea-time.' + +'If you will endure a host of children,' said Mr. Ashford, 'I should +like it of all things,' said Guy. 'I want to make acquaintance very +much,' and he put his hand on Robert's shoulder. 'Besides, I want to +talk to you about the singing, and how we are to get rid of that fiddle +without breaking James Robinson's heart.' + +The appointment was made, and Guy went home to his hasty dinner, his +Greek, and a little refreshing return afterwards to the books which had +been the delight of younger days. There was no renewal of the burthen of +despair that had so long haunted his evenings. Employments thickened on +his hands as the days passed on. There was further correspondence about +Coombe Prior and the curate, and consultations with Markham about farmer +Todd, who was as obstinate and troublesome as possible. Guy made Markham +come to Coombe Prior with him, examine and calculate about the cottages, +and fairly take up the subject, though without much apparent chance of +coming to any satisfactory result. A letter came from Mr. Ross, telling +him even more than he had ventured to hope, for it brought a message +from Charles himself. Charles had been delighted to hear of him, and had +begged that he might be told how very sorry he had been not to write; +and how incapable he had been, and still was; but that he hoped Guy +would write to him, and believe him in the same mind. Mr. Ross added an +account of Charles's illness, saying the suffering had been more severe +than usual, and had totally disabled him for many weeks; that they had +since called in a London surgeon, who had given him hope that he might +be better now than ever before, but had prescribed absolute rest for +at least six weeks longer, so that Charles was now flat on his back all +day, beginning to be able to be amused, and very cheerful and patient. + +The pleasure of entering into communication with Hollywell again, and +knowing that Charles at least would be glad to hear from him, was so +exquisite, that he was almost surprised, considering that in essentials +he was where he was before, and even Charles could not be Amy. + + + + +CHAPTER 23 + + They hadna sailed a league, a league, + A league, but barely three, + When the lift grew dark, and the wind grew loud, + And gurly grew the sea. + --SIR PATRICK SPENS.--(Old Ballad.) + + +Guy's evening with the Ashfords threw down many of the barriers in the +way of intimacy. He soon made friends with the children, beginning with +the two years old baby, and ending with gaining even the shy and sturdy +Robin, who could not hold out any longer, when it appeared that Sir +Guy could tell him the best place for finding sea-urchins, the present +objects of his affections. + +'But we should have to go through the park,' said Edward, +disconsolately, when Guy had described the locality. + +'Well, why not?' + +'We must not go into the park!' cried the children, in chorus. + +'Not go into the park!' exclaimed Guy, looking at Mrs. Ashford, in +amazement; then, as it flashed on him that it was his part to give +leave, he added,--'I did not know I was such a dog in the manger. I +thought all the parish walked naturally in the park. I don't know what +else it is good for. If Markham will lock it up, I must tell him to give +you a key.' + +The boys were to come the next day--to be shown the way to the bay of +urchins, and thenceforth they became his constant followers to such a +degree, that their parents feared they were very troublesome, but he +assured them to the contrary; and no mother in the world could have +found it in her heart to keep them away from so much happiness. There +was continually a rushing home with a joyous outcry,--'Mamma! Sir Guy +gave me a ride on his horse!' 'Mamma! Sir Guy helped us to the top of +that great rock!' 'Oh, papa! Sir Guy says we may come out shooting with +him to-morrow, if you will let us!' 'Mamma! papa! look! Do you see? I +shot this rabbit my own self with Sir Guy's gun!' 'Papa! papa! Sir Guy +showed us his boat, and he says he will take us out to the Shag Rock, if +you will give us leave!' + +This was beyond what papa, still further beyond what mamma, could like, +since the sea was often very rough in parts near the Shag; there were +a good many sunken rocks, and boys, water, and rocks, did not appear by +any means a safe conjunction, so Mrs. Ashford put the matter off for the +present by the unseasonableness of the weather; and Mr. Ashford asked +one or two of the fishermen how far they thought landing on the Shag a +prudent attempt. + +They did not profess to have often tried, they always avoided those +rocks; but it could hardly be very dangerous, they said, for when Sir +Guy was a boy, he used to be about there for ever, at first with an +old boatman, and afterwards alone in his little boat. They had often +wondered he was trusted there; but if any one knew the rocks, he did. + +Still, Mrs. Ashford could not make up her mind to like the idea, and the +boys came to Sir Guy in a state of great discomposure. + +'Never mind' he said, 'perhaps we shall manage it in the summer. We will +get your father to go out with us himself; and, in the meantime, who +likes to come with me after the rabbits in Cliffstone Copse? Farmer +Holt will thank Robin for killing a dozen or so, for he makes grievous +complaints of them.' + +Guy conducted the boys out of sight of the sea, and, to console them, +gave them so much more use of the gun than usual, that it might be +considered as a wonder that he escaped being shot. Yet it did not +prevent a few sighs being spent on the boating. + +'Can't you forget it?' said Guy, smiling. 'You have no loss, after all, +for we are likely to have no boating weather this long time. Hark! don't +you hear the ground-swell?' + +'What's that?' said the boys, standing still to listen to the distant +surge, like a continuous low moan, or roar, far, far away, though there +was no wind, and the sea was calm. + +'It is the sound that comes before stormy weather,' said Guy. 'It is as +if the sea was gathering up its forces for the tempest.' + +'But what?--how? Tell me what it really is,' said Robin. + +'I suppose it is the wind on the sea before it has reached us,' said +Guy. 'How solemn it is!' + +Too solemn for the boys, who began all manner of antics and noises, by +way of silencing the impression of awfulness. Guy laughed, and joined in +their fun; but as soon as they were gone home, he stood in silence for +a long time, listening to the sound, and recalling the mysterious dreams +and fancies with which it was connected in his boyhood, and which he had +never wished thus to drive away. + +The storm he had predicted came on; and by the evening of the following +day, sea and wind were thundering, in their might, against the foot of +the crags. Guy looked from the window, the last thing at night, and +saw the stars twinkling overhead, with that extreme brilliancy which +is often seen in the intervals of fitful storms, and which suggested +thoughts that sent him to sleep in a vague, soothing dream. + +He was wakened by one tremendous continued roar of sea, wind, and +thunder combined. Such was the darkness, that he could not see the form +of the window, till a sheet of pale blue lightning brought it fully out +for the moment. He sat up, and listened to the 'glorious voice' that +followed it, thought what an awful night at sea, and remembered when he +used to fancy it would be the height of felicity to have a shipwreck at +Redclyffe, and shocked Mrs. Bernard by inhuman wishes that a ship would +only come and be wrecked. How often had he watched, through sounds like +these, for a minute gun! Nay, he had once actually called up poor Arnaud +in the middle of the night for an imaginary signal. Redclyffe Bay was +a very dangerous one; a fine place for a wreck, with its precipitous +crags, its single safe landing-place, and the great Shag Stone, on the +eastern side, with a whole progeny of nearly sunken rocks, dreaded +in rough weather by the fishermen themselves; but it was out of the +ordinary track of vessels, and there were only a few traditions of +terrible wrecks long before his time. + +It seemed as if he had worked up his fancy again, for the sound of a gun +was for a moment in his ear. It was lost in the rush of hail against the +window, and the moaning of the wind round the old house; but presently +it returned too surely to be imaginary. He sprang to the window, and the +broad, flickering glare of lightning revealed the black cliff and pale +sea-line; then all was dark and still, while the storm was holding +its breath for the thunder-burst which in a few more seconds rolled +overhead, shaking door and window throughout the house. As the awful +sound died away, in a moment's lull, came the gun again. He threw up the +window, and as the blast of wind and rain swept howling into the room, +it brought another report. + +To close the window, light his candle, throw on his clothes, and hasten +down-stairs, was the work of a very few seconds. Luckily, the key of +the boat-house was lying on the table in the hall, where he had left it, +after showing the boat to the Ashford boys; he seized it, caught up the +pocket telescope, put on a rough coat, and proceeded to undo the endless +fastenings of the hall-door, a very patience-trying occupation; and, +when completed, the gusts that were eddying round the house, ready to +force their way in everywhere, took advantage of the first opening to +blow out his candle. + +However, they had in one way done good service, for the shower had +been as brief as it was violent, and the inky cloud was drifting away +furiously towards the east, leaving the moon visible, near her setting, +and allowing her white cold light to shine forth, contrasting with the +distant sheets of pale lightning, growing fainter and fainter. + +Guy ran across the court, round to the west side of the house, and +struggled up the slope in the face of the wind, which almost swept him +down again; and when at length he had gained the summit, came rushing +against him with such force that he could hardly stand. He did, however, +keep his ground, and gazed out over the sea. The swell was fearful; +marked by the silver light on one side, where it caught the moonbeams, +and the black shade on the other, ever alternating, so that the eye +could, not fix on them for a moment; the spray leapt high in its +whiteness, and the Shag stood up hard, bold, and black. The waves +thundered, bursting on the cliff and, high as he stood, the spray dashed +almost blinding in his face, while the wind howled round him, as if +gathering its might for the very purpose of wrenching him from the +cliff; but he stood firm, and looked out again, to discern clearly +what he thought he had seen. It was the mast of a vessel, seen plainly +against the light silvery distance of sea on the reef west of the Shag. +It was in a slanting direction, and did not move; he could not doubt +that the ship had struck on the dangerous rocks at the entrance of the +bay; and as his eyes became more accustomed to the unusual light, and +made out what objects were or were not familiar, he could perceive the +ship herself. He looked with the glass, but could see no one on board, +nor were any boats in sight; but observing some of the lesser rocks, +he beheld some moving figures on them. Help!--instant help!--was his +thought; and he looked towards the Cove. Lights were in the cottage +windows, and a few sounds came up to him, as if the fishing population +were astir. + +He hastened to the side of the cliff, which was partly clothed with +brushwood. There was a descent--it could hardly be called a path--which +no one ventured to attempt but himself and a few of the boldest +birds'-nesting boys of the village; but he could lose no time, and +scrambling, leaping, swinging himself by the branches, he reached the +foot of the cliff in safety, and in five minutes more was on the little +quay at the end of the steep street of the Cove. + +The quay was crowded with the fisher-people, and there was a strange +confusion of voices; some saying all was lost; some that the crew had +got to the rock; others, that some one ought to put off and help them; +others, that a boat would never live in such a sea; and an old telescope +was in great requisition. + +Ben Robinson, a tall, hardy young man, of five-and-twenty, wild, +reckless, high-spirited and full of mischief and adventure, was standing +on a pile at the extreme verge above the foaming water, daring the +others to go with him to the rescue; and, though Jonas Ledbury, a feeble +old man, was declaring, in a piteous tone, it was a sin and a shame to +let so many poor creatures be lost in sight, without one man stirring to +help them; yet all stood irresolute, watching the white breakers dashing +on the Shag, and the high waves that swelled and rolled between. + +'Do you know where the crew are?' exclaimed Guy, shouting as loud as he +could, for the noise of the winds and waves was tremendous. + +'There, sir, on the flat black stone,' said the fortunate possessor +of the telescope. 'Some ten or eleven of them, I fancy, all huddled +together.' + +'Ay, ay!' said old Ledbury. 'Poor creatures! there they be; and what +is to be done, I can't say! I never saw a boat in such a sea, since the +night poor Jack, my brother, was lost, and Will Ray with him.' + +'I see them,' said Guy, who had in the meantime looked through his +glass. 'How soon is high water?' + +It was an important question, for the rocks round the Shag were covered +before full tide, even when the water was still. There was a looking up +at the moon, and then Guy and the fishermen simultaneously exclaimed, +that it would be in three hours; which gave scarcely an hour to spare. + +Without another word, Guy sprang from the quay to the boat-house, +unlocked it, and, by example, showed that the largest boat was to be +brought out. The men helped him vigorously, and it stood on the narrow +pebbly beach, the only safe landing-place in the whole bay; he +threw into it a coil of rope, and called out in his clear commanding +voice--'Five to go with me!' + +Hanging back was at an end. They were brave men, who had wanted nothing +but a leader, and with Sir Guy at their head, were ready for anything. +Not five, but five-and-twenty were at his command; and even in the hurry +of the moment, a strong, affectionate feeling filled his eyes with tears +as he saw these poor fellows ready to trust their lives in his hands. + +'Thank you--thank you!' he exclaimed. 'Not all, though; you, Ben +Robinson, Harry Ray, Charles Ray, Ben Ledbury, Wat Green.' + +They were all young men, without families, such as could best be spared; +and each, as his name was called, answered, 'Here, Sir Guy!' and came +forward with a resolute satisfied air. + +'It would be best to have a second boat,' said Guy. 'Mr. Brown,' to the +owner of the telescope, 'will you lend yours? 'tis the strongest and +lightest. Thank you. Martin had best steer it, he knows the rocks;' and +he went on to name the rest of the crew; but at the last there was a +moment's pause, as if he doubted. + +A tall athletic young fisherman took advantage of it to press forward. + +'Please your honour, Sir Guy, may not I go?' + +'Better not, Jem,' answered Guy. 'Remember,' in a lower voice, 'your +mother has no one but you. Here!' he called, cheerfully, 'Jack Horn, you +pull a good oar! Now, then, are we ready?' + +'All ready,--yes, sir!' + +The boat was launched, not without great difficulty, in the face of such +a sea. The men stoutly took their oars, casting a look forward at the +rocks, then at the quay, and on the face of their young steersman. +Little they guessed the intense emotion that swelled in his breast as he +took the helm, to save life or to lose it; enjoying the enterprise, yet +with the thought that his lot might be early death; glad it was right +thus to venture, earnest to save those who had freely trusted to him, +and rapidly, though most earnestly, recalling his own repentance. +All this was in his mind, though nothing was on his face but cheerful +resolution. + +Night though it was, tidings of the wreck had reached the upper part +of the village; and Mr. Ashford, putting his head out of his window to +learn the cause of the sounds in the street, was informed by many voices +that a ship was on the Shag reef, and that all were lost. To hasten +to the Cove to learn the truth, and see if any assistance could yet +be afforded, was his instant thought; and he had not taken many steps +before he was overtaken by a square, sturdy figure, wrapped in an +immense great-coat. + +'So, Mr. Markham, you are on your way to see about this wreck.' + +'Why, ay,' said Markham, roughly, though not with the repellent manner +usual with him towards Mr. Ashford, 'I must be there, or that boy will +be in the thickest of it. Wherever is mischief, there is he. I only +wonder he has not broken his neck long ago.' + +'By mischief, you mean danger?' + +'Yes. I hope he has not heard of this wreck, for if he has, no power on +earth would keep him back from it.' + +Comparing the reports they had heard, the clergyman and steward walked +on, Markham's anxiety actually making him friendly. They reached the top +of the steep street of the Cove; but though there was a good view of the +sea from thence, they could distinguish nothing, for another cloud was +rising, and had obscured the moon. They were soon on the quay, now still +more crowded, and heard the exclamations of those who were striving to +keep their eyes on the boats. + +'There's one!' 'No!' 'Yes, 'tis!' 'That's Sir Guy's!' + +'Sir Guy!' exclaimed Markham. 'You don't mean he is gone? Then I am too +late! What could you be thinking of, you old fool, Jonas, to let that +boy go? You'll never see him again, I can tell you. Mercy! Here comes +another squall! There's an end of it, then!' + +Markham seemed to derive some relief from railing at the fishermen, +singly and collectively, while Mr. Ashford tried to learn the real +facts, and gather opinions as to the chance of safety. The old fishermen +held that there was frightful risk, though the attempt was far from +hopeless; they said the young men were all good at their oars, Sir Guy +knew the rocks very well, and the chief fear was, that he might not know +how to steer in such a sea; but they had seen that, though daring, +he was not rash. They listened submissively to Mr. Markham, but +communicated in an under-tone to the vicar, how vain it would have been +to attempt to restrain Sir Guy. + +'Why, sir,' said old James Robinson, 'he spoke just like the captain of +a man-of-war, and for all Mr. Markham says, I don't believe he'd have +been able to gainsay him.' + +'Your son is gone with him?' + +'Ay, sir; and I would not say one word to stop him. I know Sir Guy won't +run him into risk for nothing; and I hope, please God, if Ben comes back +safe, it may be the steadying of him.' + +''Twas he that volunteered to go before Sir Guy came, they say?' + +'Yes, sir,' said the old man, with a pleased yet melancholy look. 'Ben's +brave enough; but there's the difference. He'd have done it for the +lark, and to dare the rest; but Sir Guy does it with thought, and +because it is right. I wish it may be the steadying of Ben!' + +The shower rushed over them again, shorter and less violent than the +former one, but driving in most of the crowd, and only leaving on the +quay the vicar, the steward, and a few of the most anxious fishermen. +They could see nothing; for the dark slanting line of rain swept over +the waves, joining together the sea and thick low cloud; and the roaring +of the sea and moaning of the wind were fearful. No one spoke, till +at last the black edges of the Shag loomed clearer, the moon began to +glance through the skirts of the cloud, and the heaving and tossing of +the sea, became more discernible. + +'There!--there!' shouted young Jem, the widow's son. + +'The boats?' + +'One!' + +'Where?--where?--for heaven's sake! That's nothing!' cried Markham. + +'Yes--yes! I see both,' said Jem. 'The glass! Where's Mr. Brown's +glass!' + +Markham was trying to fix his own, but neither hand nor eye were +steady enough; he muttered,--'Hang the glass!' and paced up and down +in uncontrollable anxiety. Mr. Ashford turned with him, trying to +speak consolingly, and entirely liking the old man. Markham was not +ungrateful, but he was almost in despair. + +'It is the same over again!' said he. 'He is the age his father was, +though Mr. Morville never was such as he--never--how should he? He is +the last of them--the best--he would have been--he was. Would to heaven +I were with him, that, if he is lost, we might all go together.' + +'There, sir,' called Jem, who, being forbidden to do anything but watch, +did so earnestly; 'they be as far now as opposite West Cove. Don't you +see them, in that light place?' + +The moon had by this time gone down, but the first great light of dawn +was beginning to fall on the tall Shag, and show its fissures and dark +shades, instead of leaving it one hard, unbroken mass. Now and then Jem +thought he saw the boats; but never so distinctly as to convince the +watchers that they had not been swamped among the huge waves that +tumbled and foamed in that dangerous tract. + +Mr. Ashford had borrowed Markham's telescope, and was looking towards +the rock, where the shipwrecked crew had taken refuge. + +'There is some one out of the boat, climbing on the rocks. Can you make +him out, Jem?' + +'I see--I see,' said Mr. Brown; 'there are two of them. They are +climbing along the lee-side of the long ridge of rocks.' + +'Ay, ay,' said old Ledbury; 'they can't get in a boat close to the flat +rocks, they must take out a line. Bold fellows!' + +'Where are the boats?' asked Mr. Ashford. + +'I can tell that,' said Ledbury; 'they must have got under the lee of +the lesser Shag. There's a ring there that Sir Guy had put in to moor +his boat to. They'll be made fast there, and those two must be taking +the rope along that ledge, so as for the poor fellows on the rock to +have a hold of, as they creep along to where the boats are.' + +'Those broken rocks!' said Mr. Ashford. 'Can there be a footing, and in +such a sea?' + +'Can you give a guess who they be, sir?' asked Robinson, earnestly. 'If +you'd only let Jem have a look, maybe he could guess.' + +Markham's glass was at his service. + +'Hullo! what a sea! I see them now. That's Ben going last--I know his +red cap. And the first--why, 'tis Sir Guy himself!' + +'Don't be such a fool, Jem' cried Markham, angrily. 'Sir Guy knows +better. Give me the glass.' + +But when it was restored, Markham went on spying in silence, while +Brown, keeping fast possession of his own telescope, communicated his +observations. + +'Ay, I see them. Where are they? He's climbing now. There's a breaker +just there, will wash them off, as sure as they're alive! I don't see +'em. Yes, I do--there's Redcap! There's something stirring on the rock!' + +So they watched till, after an interval, in which the boats +disappeared behind the rocks, they were seen advancing over the waters +again--one--yes--both, and loaded. They came fast, they were in sight +of all, growing larger each moment, mounting on the crest of the huge +rolling waves, then plunged in the trough so long as to seem as if +they were lost, then rising--rising high as mountains. Over the roaring +waters came at length the sound of voices, a cheer, pitched in a +different key from the thunder of wind and wave; they almost fancied +they knew the voice that led the shout. Such a cheer as rose in answer, +from all the Redclyffe villagers, densely crowded on quay, and beach, +and every corner of standing ground! + +The sun was just up, his beams gilded the crests of the leaping waves, +and the spray danced up, white and gay, round the tall rocks, whose +shadow was reflected in deep green, broken by the ever-moving swell. The +Shag and its attendant rocks, and the broken vessel, were bathed in the +clear morning light; the sky was of a beautiful blue, with magnificent +masses of dark cloud, the edges, where touched by the sunbeams, of a +pearly white; and across the bay, tracing behind them glittering streams +of light, came up the two boats with their freight of rescued lives. +Martin's boat was the first to touch the landing-place. + +'All saved,' he said; 'all owing to him,' pointing back to Sir Guy. + +There was no time for questions; the wan, drenched sailors had to be +helped on shore, and the boat hauled up out of the way. In the meantime, +Guy, as he steered in past the quay, smiled and nodded to Mr. Ashford +and Markham, and renewed the call, 'All safe!' Mr. Ashford thought that +he had never seen anything brighter than his face--the eyes radiant in +the morning sun, the damp hair hanging round it, and life, energy, and +promptitude in every feature and movement. + +The boat came in, the sailors were assisted out, partly by their +rescuers, partly by the spectators. Guy stood up, and, with one foot on +the seat, supported on his knee and against his arm a little boy, round +whom his great-coat was wrapped. + +'Here, Jem!' he shouted, to his rejected volunteer, who had been very +active in bringing in the boat, 'here's something for you to do. This +poor little fellow has got a broken arm. Will you ask your mother to +take him in? She's the best nurse in the parish. And send up for Mr. +Gregson.' + +Jem received the boy as tenderly as he was given; and, with one bound, +Guy was by the side of his two friends. Mr. Ashford shook hands with +heartfelt gratulation; Markham exclaimed,-- + +'There, Sir Guy, after the old fashion! Never was man so mad in this +world! I've done talking! You'll never be content till you have got your +death. As if no one could do anything without you.' + +'Was it you who carried out the line on the rock?' said Mr. Ashford. + +'Ben Robinson and I. I had often been there, after sea anemones and +weeds, and I had a rope round me, so don't be angry, Markham.' + +'I have no more to say,' answered Markham, almost surly. 'I might as +well talk to a sea-gull at once. As if you had any right to throw away +your life!' + +'I enjoyed it too much to have anything to say for myself,' said Guy; +'besides, we must see after these poor men. There were two or three +nearly drowned. Is no one gone for Mr. Gregson?' + +Mr. Gregson, the doctor, was already present, and no one who had +any authority could do anything but attend to the disposal of the +shipwrecked crew. Mr. Ashford went one way, Markham another, Guy a +third; but, between one cottage and another, Mr. Ashford learnt some +particulars. The crew had been found on a flat rock and the fishermen +had at first thought all their perils in vain, for it was impossible +to bring the boats up, on account of the rocks, which ran out in a long +reef. Sir Guy, who knew the place, steered to the sheltered spot where +he had been used to make fast his own little boat, and undertook to +make his way from thence to the rock where the crew had taken refuge, +carrying a rope to serve as a kind of hand-rail, when fastened from one +rock to the other. Ben insisted on sharing his peril, and they had +crept along the slippery, broken reefs, lashed by the surge, for such +a distance, that the fishermen shuddered as they spoke of the danger of +being torn off by the force of the waves, and dashed against the rocks. +Nothing else could have saved the crew. They had hardly accomplished the +passage through the rising tide, even with the aid of the rope and the +guidance of Sir Guy and Ben, and, before the boats had gone half a mile +on their return, the surge was tumbling furiously over the stones where +they had been found. + +The sailors were safely disposed of, in bed, or by the fireside, the +fishers vying in services to them. Mr. Ashford went to the cottage of +Charity Ledbury, Jem's mother, to inquire for the boy with the broken +arm. As he entered the empty kitchen, the opposite door of the stairs +was opened, and Guy appeared, stepping softly, and speaking low. + +'Poor little fellow!' he said; 'he is just going to sleep. He bore it +famously!' + +'The setting his arm?' + +'Yes. He was quite sensible, and very patient, and that old Charity +Ledbury is a capital old woman. She and Jem are delighted to have him, +and will nurse him excellently. How are all the others? Has that poor +man come to his senses?' + +'Yes. I saw him safe in bed at old Robinson's. The captain is at the +Browns'.' + +'I wonder what time of day it is?' + +'Past eight. Ah! there is the bell beginning. I was thinking of going +to tell Master Ray we are not too much excited to remember church-going +this morning; but I am glad he has found it out only ten minutes too +late. I must make haste. Good-bye!' + +'May not I come, too, or am I too strange a figure?' said Guy, looking +at his dress, thrown on in haste, and saturated with sea-water. + +'May you?' said Mr. Ashford, smiling. 'Is it wise, with all your wet +things?' + +'I am not given to colds,' answered Guy, and they walked on quickly +for some minutes; after which he said, in a low voice and hurried +manner,--'would you make some mention of it in the Thanksgiving?' + +'Of course I will' said Mr. Ashford, with much emotion. 'The danger must +have been great.' + +'It was,' said Guy, as if the strong feeling would show itself. 'It was +most merciful. That little boat felt like a toy at the will of the winds +and waves, till one recollected who held the storm in His hand.' + +He spoke very simply, as if he could not help it, with his eye fixed +on the clear eastern sky, and with a tone of grave awe and thankfulness +which greatly struck Mr. Ashford, from the complete absence of +self-consciousness, or from any attempt either to magnify or depreciate +his sense of the danger. + +'You thought the storm a more dangerous time than your expedition on the +rock?' + +'It was not. The fishermen, who were used to such things, did not think +much of it; but I am glad to have been out on such a night, if only for +the magnificent sensation it gives to realize one's own powerlessness +and His might. As for the rock, there was something to do to look to +one's footing, and cling on; no time to think.' + +'It was a desperate thing!' + +'Not so bad as it looked. One step at a time is all one wants, you know, +and that there always was. But what a fine fellow Ben Robinson is! He +behaved like a regular hero--it was the thorough contempt and love of +danger one reads of. There must be a great deal of good in him, if one +only knew how to get hold of it.' + +'Look there!' was Mr. Ashford's answer, as he turned his head at the +church wicket; and, at a short distance behind, Guy saw Ben himself +walking up the path, with his thankful, happy father, a sight that had +not been seen for months, nay, for years. + +'Ay,' he said, 'such a night as this, and such a good old man as the +father, could not fail to bring out all the good in a man.' + +'Yes,' thought Mr. Ashford, 'such a night, under such a leader! The +sight of so much courage based on that foundation is what may best touch +and save that man.' + +After church, Guy walked fast away; Mr. Ashford went home, made a long +breakfast, having the whole story to tell, and was on to the scene +of action again, where he found the master, quite restored, and was +presently joined by Markham. Of Sir Guy, there was no news, except that +Jem Ledbury said he had looked in after church to know how the cabin boy +was going on, and the master, understanding that he had been the leader +in the rescue, was very anxious to thank him, and walked up to the house +with Markham and Mr. Ashford. + +Markham conducted them straight to the library, the door of which was +open. He crossed the room, smiled, and made a sign to Mr. Ashford, who +looked in some surprise and amusement. It has been already said that +the room was so spacious that the inhabited part looked like a little +encampment by the fire, though the round table was large, and the green +leather sofa and arm chair were cumbrous. + +However, old Sir Guy's arm-chair was never used by his grandson; Markham +might sit there, and Bustle did sometimes, but Guy always used one of +the unpretending, unluxurious chairs, which were the staple of the room. +This, however, was vacant, and on the table before it stood the remains +of breakfast, a loaf reduced to half its dimensions, an empty plate and +coffee-cup. The fire was burnt down to a single log, and on the sofa, +on all the various books with which it was strewed, lay Guy, in anything +but a comfortable position, his head on a great dictionary, fairly +overcome with sleep, his very thick, black eyelashes resting on his +fresh, bright cheek, and the relaxation of the grave expression of his +features making him look even younger than he really was. He was so +sound asleep that it was not till some movement of Markham's that he +awoke, and started up, exclaiming,-- + +'What a horrid shame! I am very sorry!' + +'Sorry! what for?' said Markham. 'I am glad, at any rate, you have been +wise enough to change your things, and eat some breakfast.' + +'I meant to have done so much,' said Guy; 'but sea-wind makes one so +sleepy!' Then, perceiving the captain, he came forward, hoping he was +quite recovered. + +The captain stood mystified, for he could not believe this slim youth +could be the Sir Guy of whose name he had heard so much, and, after +answering the inquiry, he began,-- + +'If I could have the honour of seeing Sir Guy--' + +'Well?' said Guy. + +'I beg your pardon, sir!' said the captain, while they all laughed, 'I +did not guess you could be so young a gentleman. I am sure, sir, 'tis +what any man might be proud of having done, and--I never saw anything +like it!' he added, with a fresh start, 'and it will do you honour +everywhere. All our lives are owing to you, sir.' + +Guy did not cut him short, though very glad when it was over. He felt he +should not, in the captain's place, like to have his thanks shortened, +and besides, if ever there was happiness or exultation, it was in the +glistening eyes of old Markham, the first time he had ever been able +to be justly proud of one of the family, whom he loved with so much +faithfulness and devotion. + + + + +CHAPTER 24 + + Is there a word, or jest, or game, + But time encrusteth round + With sad associate thoughts the same? + --ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. + + +Among the persons who spent a forlorn autumn was Mr. Ross, though his +troubles were not quite of the same description as those of his young +parishioners. He missed his daughter very much; all his household +affairs got out of order; the school-girls were naughty, and neither +he, nor Miss Edmonstone, nor the mistress, could discover the culprits; +their inquiries produced nothing but a wild confusion of mutual +accusations, where the truth was undistinguishable. The cook never could +find anything to make broth of, Mr. Ross could, never lay his hands on +the books he wanted for himself or anybody else; and, lastly, none of +his shirts ever had their buttons on. + +Mary, meanwhile, had to remain through a whole course of measles, then +to greet the arrival of a new nephew, and to attend his christening: but +she had made a vow that she would be at home by Christmas, and she kept +it. + +Mr. Ross had the satisfaction of fetching her home from the station the +day before Christmas Eve, and of seeing her opposite to him, on her +own side of the table, in the evening, putting on the buttons, and +considering it an especial favour and kindness, for which to be for ever +grateful, that he had written all his Christmas sermons beforehand, +so as to have a whole evening clear before her. He was never a great +letter-writer, and Mary had a great deal to hear, for all that had come +to her were the main facts, with very few details. + +'I have had very few letters, even from Hollywell,' said she. 'I suppose +it is on account of Charles's illness. You think him really better?' + +'Yes, much better. I forgot to tell you, you are wanted for their +Christmas party to-morrow night.' + +'Oh! he is well enough for them not to put it off! Is he able to be out +of bed?' + +'No, he lies perfectly flat, and looks very thin. It has been a very +severe illness. I don't think I ever knew him suffer so much; but, +at the same time, I never knew him behave so well, or show so much +patience, and consideration for other people, I was the more surprised, +because at first he seemed to have relapsed into all the ways he thought +he had shaken off; he was so irritable and fretful, that poor Mrs. +Edmonstone looked worn out; but it seems to have been only the beginning +of the illness; it was very different after he was laid up.' + +'Has he had you to see him?' + +'Yes, he asked for it, which he never did before, and Amabel reads to +him every morning. There is certainly much more that is satisfactory +about those young Edmonstones than there once seemed reason to expect.' + +'And now tell me about Sir Guy. What is the matter? Why does he not come +home this winter!' + +'I cannot tell you the rights of it, Mary. Mr. Edmonstone is very much +offended about something he is reported to have said, and suspects +him of having been in mischief at St. Mildred's; but I am not at all +persuaded that it is not one of Mr. Edmonstone's affronts.' + +'Where is he?' + +'At Redclyffe. I have a letter from him which I am going to answer +to-night. I shall tell the Edmonstones about it, for I cannot believe +that, if he had been guilty of anything very wrong, his mind would be +occupied in this manner;' and he gave Mary the letter. + +'Oh, no!' exclaimed Mary, as she read. 'I am sure he cannot be in any +mischief. What an admirable person he is! I am very sorry this cloud has +arisen! I was thinking last summer how happy they all were together.' + +'Either this or Charles's illness has cast a gloom over the whole house. +The girls are both grown much graver.' + +'Amy graver?' said Mary, quickly. + +'I think so. At least she did not seem to cheer up as I should have +expected when her brother grew better. She looks as if she had been +nursing him too closely, and yet I see her walking a good deal.' + +'Poor little Amy!' said Mary, and she asked no more questions, but was +anxious to make her own observations. + +She did not see the Edmonstones till the next evening, as the day was +wet, and she only received a little note telling her that one carriage +would be sent to fetch her and Mr. Ross. The whole of the family, except +Charles, were in the drawing-room, but Mary looked chiefly at Amy. She +was in white, with holly in her hair, and did not look sorrowful; +but she was paler and thinner than last summer, and though she spoke, +smiled, and laughed when she ought, it was without the gay, childish +freedom of former times. She was a small, pale, quiet girl now, not a +merry, caressing kitten. Mary recollected what she had been in the wood +last summer, and was sure it was more than Charles's illness that had +altered her; yet still Amy had not Laura's harassed look. + +Mary had not much talk with Amy, for it was a large party, with a good +many young ladies and children, and Amy had a great deal of work in the +way of amusing them. She had a wearied look, and was evidently exerting +herself to the utmost. + +'You look tired,' said Mary, kindly. + +'No, it is only stupidity,' said Amy, smiling rather sadly. 'We can't be +entertaining without Charlie.' + +'It has been a melancholy winter,' began Mary, but she was surprised, +for Amy's face and neck coloured in a moment; then, recovering herself, +with some hesitation, she said,-- + +'Oh! but Charlie is much better, and that is a great comfort. I am glad +you are come home, Mary.' + +'We are going to have some magic music,' was said at the other end of +the room. 'Who will play?' + +'Little Amy!' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'Where is she? She always does it to +admiration. Amy, come and be a performer.' + +Amy rose, and came forward, but the colour had flushed into her cheeks +again, and the recollection occurred to Mary, that her fame as a +performer, in that way, arose from the very amusing manner in which she +and Sir Guy had conducted the game last year. At the same moment her +mother met her, and whispered,-- + +'Had you rather not, my dear?' + +'I can do it, mamma, thank you--never mind.' + +'I should like to send you up to Charlie--he has been so long alone.' + +'Oh! thank you, dear mamma,' with a look of relief. + +'Here is Charlotte wild to be a musician,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. +'Perhaps you will see how she can manage; for I think Charles must want +a visit from his little nurse.' + +Amy moved quietly away, and entered Charles's room, full of warm +gratitude for the kindness which was always seeking how to spare her. + +Charles was asleep, and throwing a shawl round her, she sat down in the +dim light of the lamp, relieved by the stillness, only broken by now and +then a louder note of the music down-stairs. It was very comfortable, +after all that buzz of talk, and the jokes that seemed so nonsensical +and tiresome. There were but two people who could manage to make a party +entertaining, and that was the reason it was so different last year. +Then Amy wondered if she was the only person who felt sick at heart and +dreary; but she only wondered for a moment--she murmured half aloud to +herself, 'I said I never would think of him except at my prayers! Here I +am doing it again, and on Christmas night. I won't hide my eyes and moan +over my broken reed; for Christmas is come, and the circles of song are +widening round! Glory! good will, peace on earth! How he sang it last +year, the last thing, when the people were gone, before we went up to +bed. But I am breaking my resolution again. I must do something.' + +She took up a book of sacred poetry, and began to learn a piece which +she already nearly knew; but the light was bad, and it was dreamy work; +and probably she was half asleep, for her thoughts wandered off to +Sintram and the castle on the Mondenfelsen, which seemed to her like +what she had pictured the Redclyffe crags, and the castle itself was +connected in her imagination with the deep, echoing porch, while Guy's +own voice seemed to be chanting-- + + + Who lives forlorn, + On God's own word doth rest; + His path is bright + With heavenly light, + His lot among the blest. + + +'Are you there, Amy?' said Charles, waking. 'What are you staying here +for? Don't they want you?' + +'Mamma was so kind as to send me up.' + +'I am glad you are come, for I have something to tell you. Mr. Ross has +been up to see me, you know, and he has a letter from Guy.' + +Amy's heart beat fast, and, with eyes fixed on the ground, she listened +as Charles continued to give an account of Guy's letter about Coombe +Prior. 'Mr. Ross is quite satisfied about him, Amy,' he concluded. 'I +wish you could have heard the decided way in which he said, "He will +_live_ it down."' + +Amy's answer was to stoop down and kiss her brother's forehead. + +Another week brought Guy's renewal of the correspondence. + +'Amy, here is something for you to read,' said Charles, holding up the +letter as she came into the room. + +She knew the writing. 'Wait one moment, Charlie, dear;' and she ran out +of the room, found her mother fortunately alone, and said, averting her +face,--'Mamma, dear, do you think I ought to let Charlie show me that +letter?' + +Mrs. Edmonstone took hold of her hand, and drew her round so as to look +into the face through its veiling curls. The hand shook, and the face +was in a glow of eagerness. 'Yes, dearest!' said she, for she could not +help it; and then, as Amy ran back again, she asked herself whether it +was foolish, and bad for her sweet little daughter, then declared to +herself that it must--it should--it would come right. + +There was not a word of Amy in the letter, but it, or something else, +made her more bright and cheerful than she had been for some time past. +It seemed as if the lengthening days of January were bringing renewed +comfort with them, when Charles, who ever since October had been +confined to bed, was able to wear the Chinese dressing-gown, be lifted +to a couch, and wheeled into the dressing-room, still prostrate, but +much enjoying the change of scene, which he called coming into the +world. + +These were the events at quiet Hollywell, while Redclyffe was still +engrossed with the shipwreck, which seemed to have come on purpose to +enliven and occupy this solitary winter. It perplexed the Ashfords +about their baronet more than ever. Mr. Ashford said that no one whose +conscience was not clear could have confronted danger as he had done; +and yet the certainty that he was under a cloud, and the sadness, so +inconsistent with his age and temperament still puzzled them. Mrs. +Ashford thought she had made a discovery. The second day after the +wreck, the whole crew, except the little cabin-boy, were going to set +off to the nearest sea-port; and the evening preceding their departure, +they were to meet their rescuers, the fishermen, at a supper in the +great servants' hall at the park. Edward and Robert were in great glory, +bringing in huge branches of evergreens to embellish the clean, cold +place; and Mr. and Mrs. Ashford and Grace were to come to see the +entertainment, after having some coffee in the library. + +Guy prepared it for his company by tumbling his books headlong from +the sofa to a more remote ottoman, sticking a bit of holly on the +mantel-shelf, putting out his beloved old friend, Strutt's 'Sports and +Pastimes,' to amuse Grace, and making up an immense fire; and then, +looking round, thought the room was uncommonly comfortable; but the +first thing that struck Mrs. Ashford, when, with face beaming welcome, +he ushered her in from the great hall, was how forlorn rooms looked that +had not a woman to inhabit them. + +The supper went off with great eclat. Arnaud at the head of the table +carved with foreign courtesies, contrasted with the downright bluff way +of the sailors. As soon as Sir Guy brought Mrs. Ashford to look in on +them, old James Robinson proposed his health, with hopes he would soon +come and live among them for good, and Jonas Ledbury added another +wish, that 'Lady Morville' might soon be there too. At these words, an +expression of pain came upon Guy's face; his lips were rigidly pressed +together; he turned hastily away, and paced up and down before he could +command his countenance. All were so busy cheering, that no one heeded +his change of demeanour save Mrs. Ashford; and though, when he returned +to the place where he had been standing, his complexion was deepened, +his lip quivered, and his voice trembled in returning thanks, Mr. +Ashford only saw the emotion naturally excited by his people's +attachment. + +The lady understood it better; and when she talked it over with her +husband in the evening, they were convinced the cause of his trouble +must be some unfortunate attachment, which he might think it his duty +to overcome; and having settled this, they became very fond of him, and +anxious to make Redclyffe agreeable to him. + +Captain and crew departed; the little boy was better, and his hosts, +Charity and Jem Ledbury, only wished to keep him for ever; the sensation +at Redclyffe was subsiding, when one morning Markham came, in a state of +extreme satisfaction and importance, to exhibit the county paper, with +a full account of the gallant conduct of the youthful baronet. Two or +three days after, on coming home from a ride to Coombe Prior, Guy found +Lord Thorndale's card, and heard from Arnaud that 'my lord had made +particular inquiries how long he would be in the country, and had been +to the cliff to see where the wreck was.' + +Markham likewise attached great importance to this visit, and went +off into a long story about his influence, and the representation +of Moorworth, or even of the county. As soon as Guy knew what he was +talking about, he exclaimed, 'Oh, I hope all that is not coming on me +yet! Till I can manage Todd and Coombe Prior, I am sure I am not fit to +manage the country!' + +A few mornings after, he found on the table an envelope, which +he studied, as if playing with his eagerness. It had an East-hill +post-mark, and a general air of Hollywell writing, but it was not in the +hand of either of the gentlemen, nor was the tail of the y such as Mrs. +Edmonstone was wont to make. It had even a resemblance to Amabel's own +writing that startled him. He opened it at last, and within found the +hand he could not doubt--Charles's, namely--much more crooked than +usual, and the words shortened and blotted:-- + + +'DEAR G.,--I ought not to do this, but I must; I have tyrannized over +Charlotte, and obtained the wherewithal. Write me a full account of your +gallant conduct. I saw it first in A.'s face. It has done you great good +with my father. I will write more when I can. I can't get on now. 'C. M. +E.' + + +He might well say he had first seen it in his sister's face. She had +brought him the paper, and was looking for something he wanted her to +read to him, when 'Redclyffe Bay' met her eye, and then came the whole +at one delightful glance. He saw the heightened colour, the exquisite +smile, the tear-drop on the eyelash. + +'Amy! what have you there?' + +She pointed to the place, gave the paper into his hand, and burst into +tears, the gush of triumphant feeling. Not one was shed because she was +divided from the hero of the shipwreck; they were pure unselfish tears +of joy, exultation, and thankfulness. Charles read the history, and she +listened in silence; then looked it over again with him, and betrayed +how thoroughly she had been taught the whole geography of Redclyffe Bay. +The next person who came in was Charlotte; and as soon as she understood +what occupied them, she went into an ecstasy, and flew away with the +paper, rushing with it straight into her father's room, where she broke +into the middle of his letter-writing, by reading it in a voice of +triumph. + +Mr. Edmonstone was delighted. He was just the person who would be far +more taken with an exploit of this kind, such as would make a figure in +the world, than by steady perseverance in well-doing, and his heart was +won directly. His wrath at the hasty words had long been diminishing, +and now was absolutely lost in his admiration. 'Fine fellow! noble +fellow!' he said. 'He is the bravest boy I ever heard of, but I knew +what was in him from the first. I wish from my heart there was not this +cloud over him. I am sure the whole story has not a word of truth in it, +but he won't say a word to clear himself, or else we would have him here +again to-morrow.' + +This was the first time Mr. Edmonstone had expressed anything of real +desire to recall Guy, and it was what Charles meant in his letter. + +The tyranny over Charlotte was exercised while the rest were at dinner, +and they were alone together. They talked over the adventure for the +tenth time that day, and Charles grew so excited that he vowed that he +must at once write to Guy, ordered her to give him the materials, and +when she hesitated, forced her into it, by declaring that he should get +up and reach the things himself, which would be a great deal worse. She +wanted to write from his dictation, but he would not consent, thinking +that his mother might not consider it proper, and he began vigorously; +but though long used to writing in a recumbent posture, he found himself +less capable now than he had expected, and went on soliloquizing thus: +'What a pen you've given me, Charlotte. There goes a blot! Here, another +dip, will you! and take up that with the blotting paper before it +becomes more like a spider.' + +'Won't you make a fresh beginning?' + +'No, that has cost me too much already. I've got no more command over my +fingers. Here we go into the further corner of the paper. Well! C. M. E. +There 'tis--do it up, will you? If he can read it he'll be lucky. How my +arms ache!' + +'I hope it has not hurt you, Charlie; but I am sure he will be very glad +of it. Oh! I am glad you said that about Amy.' + +'Who told you to read it, Puss?' + +'I could not help it, 'tis so large.' + +'I believe I _didn't_ _ought_ to have said it. Don't tell her I did,' +said Charles; 'but I couldn't for the life of me--or what is more to the +purpose, for the trouble of it--help putting it. He is too true a knight +not to hear that his lady, not exactly smiled, but cried.' + +'He is a true knight,' said Charlotte, emphatically, as with her best +pen, and with infinite satisfaction, she indited the 'Sir Guy Morville, +Bart., Redclyffe Park, Moorworth,' only wishing she could lengthen out +the words infinitely. + +'Do you remember, Charlie, how we sat here the first evening he came, +and you took me in about the deadly feud?' + +'It was no take-in,' said Charles; 'only the feud is all on one side.' + +'Oh, dear! it has been such a stupid winter without Guy,' sighed +Charlotte; 'if this won't make papa forgive him, I don't know what +will.' + +'I wish it would, with all my heart,' said Charles; 'but logically, if +you understand the word, Charlotte, it does not make much difference to +the accusation. It would not exactly be received as exculpatory evidence +in a court of justice.' + +'You don't believe the horrid stories?' + +'I believe that Guy has gamed quite as much as I have myself; but I want +to see him cleared beyond the power of Philip to gainsay or disbelieve +it. I should like to have such a force of proof as would annihilate +Philip, and if I was anything but what I am, I would have it. If you +could but lend me a leg for two days, Charlotte.' + +'I wish I could.' + +'One thing shall be done,' proceeded Charles: 'my father shall go and +meet him in person when he comes of age. Now Don Philip is out of the +way, I trust I can bring that about.' + +'If he would but come here!' + +'No, that must not be, as mamma says, till there is some explanation; +but if I was but in my usual state, I would go with papa and meet him +in London. I wonder if there is any chance of it. The 28th of March--ten +weeks off! If I can but get hold of those trusty crutches of mine by +that time I'll do, and I'll do, and I'll do. We will bring back Amy's +knight with flying colours.' + +'Oh how happy we should be!' + +'If I only knew what sort of sense that Markham of his may have, I would +give him a hint, and set him to ferret out at St. Mildred's. Or shall I +get Dr. Mayerne to order me there for change of air?' + +So schemed Charles; while Guy, on his side, busied himself at Redclyffe +as usual; took care and thought for the cabin-boy--returned Lord +Thorndale's call without finding him at home--saw the school finished, +and opened--and became more intimate with the Ashfords. + +He said he should not come home at Easter, as he should be very busy +reading for his degree; and as his birthday this year fell in Holy +Week, there could be no rejoicings; besides, as he was not to have his +property in his own hands till he was five-and-twenty, it would make +no difference to the people. The Ashfords agreed they had rather he was +safe at home for the vacation, and were somewhat anxious when he spoke +of coming home to settle, after he had taken his degree. + +For his own part he was glad the season would prevent any rejoicings, +for he was in no frame of mind to enter into them and his birthday had +been so sad a day for his grandfather, that he had no associations of +pleasure connected with it. + +Markham understood the feeling, liked it, and shared it, only saying +that they would have their day of rejoicing when he married. Guy could +not answer, and the old steward remarked the look of pain. + +'Sir Guy,' said he, 'is it that which is wrong with you? Don't be angry +with an old man for asking the question, but I only would hope and trust +you are not getting into any scrape.' + +'Thank you, Markham,' said Guy, after an effort; 'I cannot tell you +about it. I will only set you at rest by saying it is nothing you could +think I ought to be ashamed of.' + +'Then why--what has come between? What could man or woman object to in +you?' said Markham, regarding him proudly. + +'These unhappy suspicions,' said Guy. + +I can't make it out,' said Markham. 'You must have been doing something +foolish to give rise to them.' + +Guy told nearly what he had said on the first day of his return, but +nothing could be done towards clearing up the mystery, and he returned +to Oxford as usual. + +March commenced, and Charles, though no longer absolutely recumbent, and +able to write letters again, could not yet attempt to use his crutches, +so that all his designs vanished, except that of persuading his father +to go to London to meet Guy and Markham there, and transact the business +consequent on his ward's attaining his majority. He trusted much to +Guy's personal influence, and said to his father, 'You know no one has +seen him yet but Philip, and he would tell things to you that he might +not to him.' + +It was an argument that delighted Mr. Edmonstone. + +'Of course I have more weight and experience, and--and poor Guy is very +fond of us. Eh, Charlie?' + +So Charles wrote to make an appointment for Guy to meet his guardian and +Markham in London on Easter Tuesday. 'If you will clear up the gambling +story,' he wrote, 'all may yet be well.' + +Guy sighed as he laid aside the letter. 'All in vain, kind Charlie,' +said he to himself, 'vain as are my attempts to keep my poor uncle +from sinking himself further! Is it fair, though,' continued he, with +vehemence, 'that the happiness of at least one life should be sacrificed +to hide one step in the ruin of a man who will not let himself be saved? +Is it not a waste of self-devotion? Have I any right to sacrifice hers? +Ought I not rather'--and a flash of joy came over him--'to make my uncle +give me back my promise of concealment? I can make it up to him. It +cannot injure him, since only the Edmonstones will know it! But'--and +he pressed his lips firmly together--'is this the spirit I have been +struggling for this whole winter? Did I not see that patient waiting and +yielding is fit penance for my violence. It would be ungenerous. I will +wait and bear, contented that Heaven knows my innocence at least in +this. For her, when at my best I dreaded that my love might bring sorrow +on her--how much more now, when I have seen my doom face to face, +and when the first step towards her would be what I cannot openly and +absolutely declare to be right? That would be the very means of bringing +the suffering on her, and I should deserve it.' + +Guy quitted these thoughts to write to Markham to make the appointment, +finishing his letter with a request that Markham would stop at St. +Mildred's on his way to London, and pay Miss Wellwood, the lady with +whom his uncle's daughter was placed, for her quarter's board. 'I hope +this will not be a very troublesome request,' wrote Guy; 'but I know +you had rather I did it in this way, than disobey your maxims, as to not +sending money by the post.' + +The time before the day of meeting was spent in strengthening himself +against the pain it would be to refuse his confidence to Mr. Edmonstone, +and thus to throw away the last chance of reconciliation, and of Amy. +This would be the bitterest pang of all--to see them ready to receive +him, and he forced to reject their kindness. + +So passed the preceding week, and with it his twenty-first birthday, +spent very differently from the way in which it would ordinarily be +passed by a youth in his position. It went by in hard study and sad +musings, in bracing himself to a resolution that would cost him all he +held dear, and, as the only means of so bracing himself, in trying to +fix his gaze more steadily beyond the earth. + +Easter day steadied the gaze once more for him, and as the past week had +nerved him in the spirit of self-sacrifice, the feast day brought him +true unchanging joy, shining out of sadness, and enlightening the path +that would lead him to keep his resolution to the utmost, and endure the +want of earthly hope. + + + + +CHAPTER 25 + + Already in thy spirit thus divine, + Whatever weal or woe betide, + Be that high sense of duty still thy guide, + And all good powers will aid a soul like thine. + --SOUTHEY + + +'Now for it!' thought Guy, as he dismissed his cab, and was shown +up-stairs in the hotel. 'Give me the strength to withstand!' + +The door was opened, and he beheld Mr. Edmonstone, Markham, and +another--it surely was Sebastian Dixon! All sprung up to receive him; +and Mr. Edmonstone, seizing him by both hands, exclaimed-- + +'Here he is himself! Guy, my boy, my dear boy, you are the most generous +fellow in the world! You have been used abominably. I wish my two hands +had been cut off before I was persuaded to write that letter, but it is +all right now. Forget and forgive--eh, Guy? You'll come home with me, +and we will write this very day for Deloraine.' + +Guy was almost giddy with surprise. He held one of Mr. Edmonstone's +hands, and pressed it hard; his other hand he passed over his eyes, as +if in a dream. 'All right?' he repeated. + +'All right!' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'I know where your money went, and I +honour you for it, and there stands the man who told me the whole story. +I said, from the first, it was a confounded slander. It was all owing to +the little girl.' + +Guy turned his face in amazement towards his uncle, who was only waiting +to explain. 'Never till this morning had I the least suspicion that I +had been the means of bringing you under any imputation. How could you +keep me in ignorance?' + +'You have told--' + +'Of the cheque,' broke in Mr. Edmonstone, 'and of all the rest, and +of your providing for the little girl. How could you do it with that +pittance of an allowance of yours? And Master Philip saying you never +had any money! No wonder, indeed!' + +'If I had known you were pinching yourself,' said Dixon, 'my mind would +have revolted--' + +'Let me understand it,' said Guy, grasping the back of a chair. 'Tell +me, Markham. Is it really so? Am I cleared? Has Mr. Edmonstone a right +to be satisfied?' + +'Yes, Sir Guy,' was Markham's direct answer. 'Mr. Dixon has accounted +for your disposal of the thirty pound cheque, and there is an end of the +matter.' + +Guy drew a long breath, and the convulsive grasp of his fingers relaxed. + +'I cannot thank you enough!' said he to his uncle; then to Mr. +Edmonstone, 'how is Charles?' + +'Better--much better, you shall see him to-morrow--eh, Guy?' + +'But I cannot explain about the one thousand pounds.' + +'Never mind--you never had it, so you can't have misspent it. That's +neither here nor there.' + +'And you forgive my language respecting you?' + +'Nonsense about that! If you never said anything worse than that Philip +was a meddling coxcomb, you haven't much to repent of; and I am sure I +was ten old fools when I let him bore me into writing that letter.' + +'No, no; you did right under your belief; and circumstances were strong +against me. And is it clear? Are we where we were before?' + +'We are--we are in everything, only we know better what you are worth, +Guy. Shake hands once more. There's an end of all misunderstanding and +vexation, and we shall be all right at home again!' + +The shake was a mighty one. Guy shaded his face for a moment or two, and +then said-- + +'It is too much. I don't understand it. How did you know this matter +wanted explanation?' said he, turning to his uncle. + +'I learnt it from Mr. Markham, and you will do me the justice to +believe, that I was greatly shocked to find that your generosity--' + +'The truth of the matter is this,' said Markham. 'You sent me to Miss +Wellwood's, at St. Mildred's. The principal was not within, and while +waiting for her to make the payment, I got into conversation with her +sister, Miss Jane. She told me that the child, Mr. Dixon's daughter, +was always talking of your kindness, especially of a morning at St. +Mildred's, when you helped him in some difficulty. I thought this threw +some light on the matter, found out Mr. Dixon this morning, and you see +the result.' + +'I do, indeed,' said Guy; 'I wish I could attempt to thank you all.' + +'Thanks enough for me to see you look like yourself,' said Markham. 'Did +you think I was going to sit still and leave you in the mess you had got +yourself into, with your irregularity about keeping your accounts?' + +'And to you,' said Guy, looking at his uncle, as if it was especially +pleasant to be obliged to him. 'You never can guess what I owe to you!' + +'Nay, I deserve no thanks at all,' said Sebastian, 'since I was the +means of bringing the imputation on you; and I am sure it is enough for +a wretch like me, not to have brought only misery wherever I turn--to +have done something to repair the evil I have caused. Oh, could I but +bring back your father to what he was when first I saw him as you are +now!' + +He was getting into one of those violent fits of self-reproach, at once +genuine and theatrical, of which Guy had a sort of horror, and it was +well Mr. Edmonstone broke in, like comedy into tragedy. + +'Come, what's past can't be helped, and I have no end of work to be +done, so there's speechifying enough for once. Mr. Dixon, you must not +be going. Sit down and look over the newspaper, while we sign these +papers. You must dine with us, and drink your nephew's health, though it +is not his real birthday.' + +Guy was much pleased that Mr. Edmonstone should have given this +invitation, as well as with the consideration Markham had shown for +Dixon in his narration. Mr. Dixon, who had learnt to consider parents +and guardians as foes and tyrants, stammered and looked confused +and enraptured; but it appeared that he could not stay, for he had a +professional engagement. He gave them an exhortation to come to the +concert where he was employed, and grew so ardent in his description of +it, that Guy could have wished to go; but his companions were in haste +to say there was far too much to do. And the next moment Guy told +himself, that Mr. Edmonstone's good-natured face and joyous 'eh, Guy?' +were more to him than any music he could hear nearer than Hollywell. + +He went down-stairs with his uncle, who all the way raved about the +music, satisfied to find ears that could comprehend, and was too full of +it even to attend or respond to the parting thanks, for his last words +were something about a magnificent counter-tenor. + +Guy walked up slowly, trying to gather his thoughts: but when it came +back to him that Amy was his again, his brain seemed to reel with +ecstasy, and it would have taken far more time than he could spare to +recall his sober senses, so he opened the door, to convince himself at +least of Mr. Edmonstone's presence, and was received with another shake +of the hand. + +'So here you are again. I was afraid he was carrying you off to his +concert after all! I believe you have half a mind for it. Do you like +to stay in London for the next? Eh, Guy?' and it was good to hear Mr. +Edmonstone's hearty laugh, as he patted his ward on the shoulder, saw +his blushing, smiling shake of the head, and gave a knowing look, which +let in a fresh light on Markham, and luckily was unseen by Guy. + +'Well,' continued Mr. Edmonstone, 'the man is more gentlemanlike than I +expected. A good sort of fellow at the bottom, I dare say. He was pretty +considerably shocked to find he had brought you into such a scrape.' + +'He is very generous,' said Guy. 'Oh, there is much of a noble character +in him.' + +'Noble! humph!' put in Markham. 'He has gone down-hill fast enough, +since I used to see him in your father's time; but I am glad he had the +decency not to be the undoing of you.' + +'His feeling is his great point,' said Guy, 'when you can once get at +it. I wish--' But breaking off short, 'I can't make it out. What did +little Marianne tell you? Or was it Miss Wellwood?' + +'It was first the youngest sister,' said Markham. 'I sat there talking +to her some little time; she said you had been very kind to the family, +and the child was very grateful to you--was always talking of some +morning when you and your dog came, and helped her mother. Her father +had been out all night, and her mother was crying, she said, and +declaring he would be sent to prison, till you came and helped them.' + +'Yes, that's it,' said Guy. + +'Well, I remembered what you had told me of the mystery of the draft, +and guessed that this might be the clue to it. I begged to see the +child, and in she came, the very image of your mother, and a sharp +little thing that knew what she meant, but had not much idea of the +shame, poor child, about her father. She told me the story of his coming +home in the morning, and her mother being in great distress, and saying +they were ruined, till you came and talked to her mother, and gave her +something. I asked if it was money, and she said it was paper. I showed +her a draft, and she knew it was like that. So then I made her tell me +where to find her father, whom I used to know in old times, and had to +write to, now and then. I hunted him up, and a creditable figure he was, +to be sure; but I got the truth out of him at last, and when he heard +you had got into disgrace on his account, he raved like a tragedy hero, +and swore he would come and tell your guardian the whole story. I put +him into a cab for fear he should repent, and he had just got to the end +of it when you came in.' + +'It is of no use to thank you again, Markham!' + +'Why, I have been getting your family out of scrapes these forty years +or thereabouts,' said Markham; ''tis all I am good for; and if they had +been no worse than this one it would be better for all of us. But time +is getting on, and there is enough to do.' + +To the accounts they went at once. There was a good deal to be settled; +and though Guy had as yet no legal power, according to his grandfather's +will, he was of course consulted about everything. He was glad that, +since he could not be alone to bring himself to the realization of his +newly-recovered happiness, he should have this sobering and engrossing +occupation. There he sat, coolly discussing leases and repairs, and only +now and then allowing himself a sort of glimpse at the treasury of +joy awaiting him whenever he had time to dwell on it. The Coombe Prior +matters were set in a better train, the preliminary arrangements about +the curacy were made, and Guy had hopes it would be his friend Mr. +Wellwood's title for Orders. + +There was no time to write to Hollywell, or rather Mr. Edmonstone forgot +to do so till it was too late, and then consoled himself by observing +that it did not signify if his family were taken by surprise, since joy +killed no one. + +His family were by no means of opinion that it did not signify when the +next morning's post brought them no letter. Mrs Edmonstone and Charles +had hoped much, and Amy did not know how much she hoped until the +melancholy words, 'no letter,' passed from one to the other. + +To make it worse, by some of those mismanagements of Mr. Edmonstone's +which used to run counter to his wife's arrangements, a dinner-party had +been fixed for this identical Wednesday, and the prospect was agreeable +to no one, especially when the four o'clock train did not bring Mr. +Edmonstone, who, therefore, was not to be expected till seven, when all +the world would be arrived. + +Laura helped Amy to dress, put the flowers in her hair, kissed her, and +told her it was a trying day; and Amy sighed wearily, thanked her, and +went down with arms twined in hers, whispering, 'If I could help being +so foolish as to let myself have a little hope!' + +Laura thought the case so hopeless, that she was sorry Amy could not +cease from the foolishness, and did not answer. Amy sat down at the foot +of the sofa, whither Charles was now carried down every day, and without +venturing to look at him, worked at her netting. A carriage--her +colour came and went, but it was only some of the guests; another--the +Brownlows. Amy was speaking to Miss Brownlow when she heard more +greetings; she looked up, caught by the arm of the sofa, and looked +again. Her father was pouring out apologies and welcomes, and her mother +was shaking hands with Guy. + +Was it a dream? She shut her eyes, then looked again. He was close to +her by this time, she felt his fingers close on her white glove for +one moment, but she only heard his voice in the earnest 'How are you, +Charlie?' Her father came to her, gave her first his usual kiss of +greeting, then, not letting her go, looked at her for a moment, and, as +if he could not help it, kissed her on both cheeks, and said, 'How d'ye +do, my little Amy?' in a voice that meant unutterable things. All the +room was swimming round; there was nothing for it but to run away, and +she ran, but from the ante-room she heard the call outside, 'Sir Guy's +bag to his room,' and she could not rush out among the servants. At that +moment, however, she spied Mary Ross and her father; she darted up to +them, said something incoherent about Mary's bonnet, and took her up to +her own room. + +'Amy, my dear, you look wild. What has come to you?' + +'Papa is come home, and--' the rest failed, and Amy was as red as the +camellia in her hair. + +'And?' repeated Mary, 'and the mystery is explained?' + +'Oh! I don't know; they are only just come, and I was so silly, I ran +away,--I did not know what to do.' + +'_They_ are come, are they?' thought Mary. 'My little Amy, I see it +all.' + +She made the taking off her bonnet and the settling her lace as +elaborate an operation as she could, and Amy flitted about as if she did +not by any means know what she was doing. A springy, running step was +heard on the stairs and in the passage, and Mary, though she could not +see her little friend's face, perceived her neck turn red for a moment, +after which Amy took her arm, pressed it affectionately, and they went +down. + +Mrs. Edmonstone was very glad to see Amabel looking tolerably natural. +'Mamma' was of course burning to hear all, but she was so confident that +the essentials were safe, that her present care was to see how her two +young lovers would be able to comport themselves, and to be on her guard +against attending to them more than to her guests. + +Amy, after passing by Charles, and getting a squeeze from his +ever-sympathizing hand, put herself away behind Mary, while Laura talked +to every one, hoping to show that there was some self-possession in the +family. Guy reappeared, but, after one glance to see if Amy was present, +he did not look at her again, but went and leant over the lower end of +Charles's sofa, just as he used to do; and Charles lay gazing at him, +and entirely forgetting what he had been trying to say just before to +Mrs. Brownlow, professing to have come from London that morning, +and making the absent mistakes likely to be attributed to the lovers +themselves. + +Mr. Edmonstone came, and dinner followed. As Mrs. Edmonstone paired off +her company, she considered what to do with her new arrival. + +'If you had come two hours ago,' said she, within herself, 'I would have +let you be at home. Now you must be a great man, and be content with me. +It will be better for Amy.' + +Accordingly Guy was between her and Mrs. Gresham. She did not try +to speak to him, and was amused by his fitful attempts at making +conversation with Mrs. Gresham, when it struck him that he ought to be +taking notice of her. Amy (very fortunately, in her own opinion) was out +of sight of him, on the same side of the table, next to Mr. Ross, who, +like his daughter, guessed enough about the state of things to let her +alone. + +Charles was enjoying all manner of delightful conjectures with +Charlotte, till the ladies returned to the drawing-room, and then he +said as much as he dared to Mary Ross, far more than she had gained from +Laura, who, as they came out of the dining-room, had said,-- + +'Don't ask me any questions, for I know nothing at all about it.' + +Amy was talked to by Mrs. Gresham about club-books, and new flowers, to +which she was by this time able to attend very well, satisfied that +his happiness had returned, and content to wait till the good time for +knowing how. She could even be composed when the gentlemen came in, Guy +talking to Mr. Ross about Coombe Prior, and then going to Charles; but +presently she saw no more, for a request for music was made, and she was +obliged to go and play a duet with Laura. She did not dislike this, but +there followed a persecution for some singing. Laura would have spared +her, but could not; and while she was turning over the book to try to +find something that was not impossible to begin, and Laura whispering +encouragingly, 'This--try this--your part is almost nothing; or can't +you do this?' another hand turned over the leaves, as if perfectly at +home in them, and, without speaking, as if it was natural for him to +spare Amy, found a song which they had often sung together, where she +might join as much or as little as she chose, under cover of his voice. +She had not a thought or sensation beyond the joy of hearing it again, +and she stood, motionless, as if in a trance. When it was over, he said +to Laura, 'I beg your pardon for making such bad work. I am so much out +of practice.' + +Mrs. Brownlow was seen advancing on them; Amy retreated, leaving Guy +and Laura to fulfil all that was required of them, which they did with +a very good grace, and Laura's old familiar feeling began to revive, +so much that she whispered while he was finding the place, 'Don't you +dislike all this excessively?' + +'It does as well as anything else, thank you,' was the answer. 'I can do +it better than talking.' + +At last they were released, and the world was going away. Mary could not +help whispering to Mrs. Edmonstone, 'How glad you must be to get rid of +us!' and, as Mrs. Edmonstone answered with a smile, she ventured further +to say,--'How beautifully Amy has behaved!' + +Little Amy, as soon as she had heard the last carriage roll off, wished +every one good night, shook hands with Guy, holding up the lighted +candle between him and her face as a veil, and ran away to her own room. +The others remained in a sort of embarrassed silence, Mr. Edmonstone +rubbing his hands; Laura lighted the candles, Charlotte asked after +Bustle, and was answered that he was at Oxford, and Charles, laying hold +of the side of the sofa, pulled himself by it into a sitting posture. + +'Shall I help you?' said Guy. + +'Thank you, but I am not ready yet; besides, I am an actual log now, and +am carried as such, so it is of no use to wait for me. Mamma shall have +the first turn, and I won't even leave my door open.' + +'Yes, yes, yes; go and have it out with mamma, next best to Amy herself, +as she is run away--eh, Guy?' said Mr. Edmonstone. + +Guy and Mrs. Edmonstone had not hitherto trusted themselves to speak +to each other, but they looked and smiled; then, wishing the rest good +night, they disappeared. Then there was a simultaneous outbreak of +'Well?' + +'All right!' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'Every word was untrue. He is the +noblest fellow in the world, as I knew all the time, and I was an old +fool for listening to a pack of stories against him.' + +'Hurrah!' cried Charles, drumming on the back of his sofa. 'Let us hear +how the truth came out, and what it was.' + +'It was that Dixon. There has he been helping that man for ever, sending +his child to school, giving him sums upon sums, paying his gaming debts +with that cheque!' + +'Oh, oh!' cried Charles. + +'Yes that was it! The child told Markham of it, and Markham brought +the father to tell me. It puts me in a rage to think of the monstrous +stories Philip has made me believe!' + +'I was sure of it!' cried Charles. 'I knew it would come out that he had +only been so much better than other people that nobody could believe it. +Cleared! cleared! Why, Charlotte, Mr. Ready-to-halt will be for footing +it cleverly enough!' as she was wildly curvetting round him. + +'I was always sure,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'I knew it was not in him to +go wrong. It was only Philip, who would persuade me black was white.' + +'I never believed one word of it,' said Charles; 'still less after I saw +Philip's animosity.' + +'"Les absens ont toujours tort,"' interrupted Laura; then, afraid of +saying too much, she added,--'Come, Charlotte, it is very late.' + +'And I shall be the first to tell Amy!' cried Charlotte. 'Good night, +papa!--good night, Charlie!' + +She rushed up-stairs, afraid of being forestalled. Laura lingered, +putting some books away in the ante-room, trying to overcome the weary +pain at her heart. She did not know how to be confident. Her father's +judgment was worthless in her eyes, and Philip had predicted that Amy +would be sacrificed after all. To see them happy made her sigh at the +distance of her own hopes, and worse than all was self-reproach +for unkindness in not rejoicing with the rest, in spite of her real +affection for Guy himself. When she thought of him, she could not +believe him guilty; when she thought of Philip's belief, she could not +suppose him innocent, and she pitied her sister for enjoying a delusive +happiness. With effort, however, she went to her room, and, finding her +a little overpowered by Charlotte's tumultuous joy, saw that peace +and solitude were best for her till she could have more certain +intelligence, and, after very tender good-nights, carried off Charlotte. + +It would be hard to describe Mrs. Edmonstone's emotion, as she preceded +Guy to the dressing-room, and sat down, looking up to him as he stood in +his old place by the fire. She thought he did not look well, though it +might be only that the sun-burnt colour had given place to his natural +fairness; his eyes, though bright as ever, did not dance and sparkle; +a graver expression sat on his brow; and although he still looked very +young, a change there certainly was, which made him man instead of +boy--a look of having suffered, and conquered suffering. She felt even +more motherly affection for him now than when he last stood there in the +full tide of his first outburst of his love for her daughter, and her +heart was almost too full for speech; but he seemed to be waiting for +her, and at last she said,--'I am very glad to have you here again.' + +He smiled a little, then said, 'May I tell you all about it?' + +'Sit down here. I want very much to hear it. I am sure you have gone +through a good deal.' + + I have, indeed,' said he, simply and gravely; and there was a silence, +while she was certain that, whatever he might have endured, he did not +feel it to have been in vain. + +'But it is at an end,' said she. 'I have scarcely seen Mr. Edmonstone, +but he tells me he is perfectly satisfied.' + +'He is so kind as to be satisfied, though you know I still cannot +explain about the large sum I asked him for.' + +'We will trust you,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling, 'but I am very +anxious to hear how you came to an understanding.' + +Guy went over the story in detail, and very much affected she was to +hear how entirely unfounded had been the suspicion, and how thankful he +was for Mr. Edmonstone's forgiveness. + +'You had rather to forgive us!' said she. + +'You forget how ill I behaved,' said Guy, colouring. 'If you knew the +madness of those first moments of provocation, you would think that the +penance of a lifetime, instead of only one winter, would scarce have +been sufficient.' + +'You would not say, as Charles does, that the suspicion justified your +anger?' + +'No, indeed!' He paused, and spoke again. 'Thank Heaven, it did not last +long; but the insight it gave me into the unsubdued evil about me was a +fearful thing.' + +'But you conquered it. They were the unguarded exclamations of the first +shock. Your whole conduct since, especially the interview with Philip, +has shown that your anger has not been abiding, and that you have learnt +to subdue it.' + +'It could not abide, for there was no just cause of offence. Of course +such a dreadful outburst warned me to be on my guard; and you know the +very sight of Philip is a warning that there is danger in that way! I +mean,' said Guy, becoming conscious that he had been very severe, 'I +mean that I know of old that I am apt to be worried by his manner, and +that ought to make me doubly cautious.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was struck by the soberer manner in which he spoke +of his faults. He was as ready to take full blame, but without the +vehemence which he used to expend in raving at himself instead of at the +offender. It seemed as if he had brought himself to the tone he used to +desire so earnestly. + +'I am very glad to be able to explain all to Philip,' he said. + +'I will write as soon as possible. Oh, Mrs. Edmonstone! if you knew what +it is to be brought back to such unhoped-for happiness, to sit here +once more, with you,'--his voice trembled, and the tears were in her +eyes,--'to have seen _her_, to have all overlooked, and return to all I +hoped last year. I want to look at you all, to believe that it is true,' +he finished, smiling. + +'You both behaved very well this evening,' said she, laughing, because +she could do so better than anything else at that moment. + +'You both!' murmured Guy to himself. + +'Ah! little Amy has been very good this winter.' + +He answered her with a beautiful expression of his eyes, was silent a +little while, and suddenly exclaimed, in a candid, expostulating tone, +'But now, seriously, don't you think it a very bad thing for her?' + +'My dear Guy,' said she, scarcely repressing a disposition to laugh, 'I +told you last summer what I thought of it, and you must settle the rest +with Amy to-morrow. I hear the drawing-room bell, which is a sign I must +send you to bed. Good night!' + +'Good night!' repeated Guy, as he held her hand. 'It is so long since I +have had any one to wish me good night! Good night, mamma!' + +She pressed his hand, then as he ran down to lend a helping hand in +carrying Charles, she, the tears in her eyes, crossed the passage to see +how it was with her little Amy, and to set her at rest for the night. +Amy's candle was out, and she was in bed, lying full in the light of the +Easter moon, which poured in glorious whiteness through her window. She +started up as the door opened. 'Oh, mamma! how kind of you to come!' + +'I can only stay a moment, my dear; your papa is coming up; but I must +just tell you that I have been having such a nice talk with dear Guy. +He has behaved beautifully, and papa is quite satisfied. Now, darling, +I hope you will not lie awake all night, or you won't be fit to talk to +him to-morrow.' + +Amy sat up in bed, and put her arms round her mother's neck. 'Then he is +happy again,' she whispered. 'I should like to hear all.' + +'He shall tell you himself to-morrow, my dear. Now, good night! you have +been a very good child. Now, go to sleep, my dear one.' + +Amy lay down obediently. 'Thank you for coming to tell me, dear mamma,' +she said. 'I am very glad; good night.' + +She shut her eyes, and there was something in the sweet, obedient, +placid look of her face, as the white moonlight shone upon it, that made +her mother pause and gaze again with the feeling, only tenderer, left +by a beautiful poem. Amy looked up to see why she delayed; she gave her +another kiss, and left her in the moonlight. + +Little Amy's instinct was to believe the best and do as she was bidden, +and there was a quietness and confidence in the tone of her mind which +gave a sort of serenity of its own even to suspense. A thankful, happy +sensation that all was well, mamma said so, and Guy was there, had taken +possession of her, and she did not agitate herself to know how or why, +for mamma, had told her to put herself to sleep; so she thought of all +the most thanksgiving verses of her store of poetry, and before the +moon had passed away from her window, Amabel Edmonstone was wrapped in a +sleep dreamless and tranquil as an infant's. + + + + +CHAPTER 26 + + Hence, bashful cunning, + And prompt me, plain and holy innocence. + I am your wife if you will marry me. + --TEMPEST + + +Amabel awoke to such a sense of relief and repose that she scarcely +liked to ask herself the cause, lest it might ruffle her complete peace. +Those words 'all right,' seemed to be enough to assure her that the +cloud was gone. + +Her mother came in, told her one or two of the main facts, and took her +down under her wing, only stopping by the way for a greeting to Charles, +who could not rise till after breakfast. He held her fast, and gazed up +in her face, but she coloured so deeply, cast down her eyes, and looked +so meek and submissive, that he let her go, and said nothing. + +The breakfast party were for the most part quiet, silent, and happy. +Even Charlotte was hushed by the subdued feeling of the rest, and Mr. +Edmonstone's hilarity, though replied to in turn by each, failed to wake +them into mirth. Guy ran up and down-stairs continually, to wait upon +Charles; and thus the conversation was always interrupted as fast as it +began, so that the only fact that came out was the cause of the lateness +of their arrival yesterday. Mr. Edmonstone had taken it for granted that +Guy, like Philip, would watch for the right time, and warn him, while +Guy, being excessively impatient, had been so much afraid of letting +himself fidget, as to have suffered the right moment to pass, and then +borne all the blame. + +'How you must have wanted to play the Harmonious Blacksmith,' said +Charlotte. + +'I caught myself going through the motions twice,' said Guy. + +Mrs. Edmonstone said to herself that he might contest the palm of temper +with Amy even; the difference being, that hers was naturally sweet, his +a hasty one, so governed that the result was the same. When breakfast +was over, as they were rising, Guy made two steps towards Amabel, +at whom he had hitherto scarcely looked, and said, very low, in his +straightforward way: 'Can I speak to you a little while?' + +Amy's face glowed as she moved towards him, and her mother said +something about the drawing-room, where the next moment she found +herself. She did not use any little restless arts to play with her +embarrassment; she did not torment the flowers or the chimney ornaments, +nor even her own rings, she stood with her hands folded and her head a +little bent down, like a pendant blossom, ready to listen to whatever +might be said to her. + +He did not speak at first, but moved uneasily about. At last he came +nearer, and began speaking fast and nervously. + +'Amabel, I want you to consider--you really ought to think whether this +is not a very bad thing for you.' + +The drooping head was raised, the downcast lids lifted up, and the +blue eyes fixed on him with a look at once confiding and wondering. He +proceeded-- + +'I have brought you nothing but unhappiness already. So far as you have +taken any interest in me, it could cause you only pain, and the more I +think of it, the more unfit it seems that one so formed for light, and +joy, and innocent mirth, should have anything to do with the darkness +that is round me. Think well of it. I feel as if I had done a selfish +thing by you, and now, you know, you are not bound. You are quite free! +No one knows anything about it, or if they did, the blame would rest +entirely with me. I would take care it should. So, Amy, think, and think +well, before you risk your happiness.' + +'As to that,' replied Amy, in a soft, low voice, with _such_ a look of +truth in her clear eyes, 'I must care for whatever happens to you, and +I had rather it was with you, than without you,' she said, casting them +down again. + +'My Amy!--my own!--my Verena!'--and he held fast one of her hands, as +they sat together on the sofa--'I had a feeling that so it might be +through the very worst, yet I can hardly believe it now.' + +'Guy,' said Amy, looking up, with the gentle resolution that had lately +grown on her, 'you must not take me for more than I am worth, and I +should like to tell you fairly. I did not speak last time, because +it was all so strange and so delightful, and I had no time to think, +because I was so confused. But that is a long time ago, and this has +been a very sad winter, and I have thought a great deal. I know, and you +know, too, that I am a foolish little thing; I have been silly little +Amy always; you and Charlie have helped me to all the sense I have, and +I don't think I could ever be a clever, strong-minded woman, such as one +admires.' + +'Heaven forbid!' ejaculated Guy; moved, perhaps, by a certain +remembrance of St. Mildred's. + +'But,' continued Amy, 'I believe I do really wish to be good, and I know +you have helped me to wish it much more, and I have been trying to learn +to bear things, and so'--out came something, very like a sunny smile, +though some tears followed--'so if you do like such a silly little +thing, it can't be helped, and we will try to make the best of her. Only +don't say any more about my being happier without you, for one thing I +am very sure of, Guy, I had rather bear anything with you, than know you +were bearing it alone. I am only afraid of being foolish and weak, and +making things worse for you.' + +'So much worse! But still,' he added, 'speak as you may, my Amy, I +cannot, must not, feel that I have a right to think of you as my own, +till you have heard all. You ought to know what my temper is before you +risk yourself in its power. Amy, my first thought towards Philip was +nothing short of murder.' + +She raised her eyes, and saw how far entirely he meant what he said. + +'The first--not the second,' she murmured. + +'Yes, the second--the third. There was a moment when I could have given +my soul for my revenge!' + +'Only a moment!' + +'Only a moment, thank Heaven! and I have not done quite so badly since. +I hope I have not suffered quite in vain; but if that shock could +overthrow all my wonted guards, it might, though I pray Heaven it may +not, it might happen again.' + +'I think you conquered yourself then, and that you will again,' said +Amy. + +'And suppose I was ever to be mad enough to be angry with you?' + +Amy smiled outright here. 'Of course, I should deserve it; but I think +the trouble would be the comforting you afterwards. Mamma said'--she +added, after a long silence, during which Guy's feeling would not let +him speak--'mamma said, and I think, that you are much safer and better +with such a quick temper as yours, because you are always struggling and +fighting with it, on the real true religious ground, than a person more +even tempered by nature, but not so much in earnest in doing right.' + +'Yes, if I did not believe myself to be in earnest about that, I could +never dare to speak to you at all.' + +'We will help each other,' said Amy; 'you have always helped me, long +before we knew we cared for each other!' + +'And, Amy, if you knew how the thought of you helped me last winter, +even when I thought I had forfeited you for ever.' + +Their talk only ceased when, at one o'clock, Mrs. Edmonstone, who had +pronounced in the dressing-room that three hours was enough for them +at once, came in, and asked Guy to go and help to carry Charles +down-stairs. + +He went, and Amy nestled up to her mother, raising her face to be +kissed. + +'It is very nice!' she whispered; and then arranged her brother's sofa, +as she heard his progress down-stairs beginning. He was so light and +thin as to be very easily carried, and was brought in between Guy +and one of the servants. When he was settled on the sofa, he began +thus,--'There was a grand opportunity lost last winter. I was +continually rehearsing the scene, and thinking what waste it was to go +through such a variety of torture without the dignity of danger. If I +could but have got up ever so small an alarm, I would have conjured my +father to send for Guy, entreated pathetically that the reconciliation +might be effected, and have drawn my last breath clasping their hands, +thus! The curtain falls!' + +He made a feint of joining their hands, put his head back, and shut his +eyes with an air and a grace that put Charlotte into an ecstasy, and +made even Amy laugh, as she quitted the room, blushing. + +'But if it had been your last breath,' said Charlotte, 'you would not +have been much the wiser.' + +'I would have come to life again in time to enjoy the "coup de theatre". +I had some thoughts of trying an overdose of opium; but I thought Dr. +Mayerne would have found me out. I tell you, because it is fair I +should have the credit; for, Guy, if you knew what she was to me all the +winter, you would perceive my superhuman generosity in not receiving you +as my greatest enemy.' + +'I shall soon cease to be surprised at any superhuman generosity,' said +Guy. 'But how thin you are, Charlie; you are a very feather to carry; I +had no notion it had been such a severe business.' + +'Most uncommon!' said Charles, shaking his head, with a mock solemnity. + +'It was the worst of all,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'six weeks of constant +pain.' + +'How very sorry Philip must have been!' exclaimed Guy. + +'Philip?' said Charlotte. + +'Why, was it not owing to him? Surely, your father told me so. Did not +he let you fall on the stairs?' + +'My dear father!' exclaimed Charles, laughing; 'every disaster that +happens for the next twelvemonth will be imputed to Philip.' + +'How was it, then?' said Guy. + +'The fact was this,' said Charles; 'it was in the thick of the +persecution of you, and I was obliged to let Philip drag me upstairs, +because I was in a hurry. He took the opportunity of giving me some +impertinent advice which I could not stand. I let go his arm, forgetting +what a dependent mortal I am, and down I should assuredly have gone, if +he had not caught me, and carried me off, as a fox does a goose, so +it was his fault, as one may say, in a moral, though not in a physical +sense.' + +'Then,' said his mother, 'you do think your illness was owing to that +accident?' + +'I suppose the damage was brewing, and that the shake brought it into an +active state. There's a medical opinion for you!' + +'Well, I never knew what you thought of it before,' said Mrs. +Edmonstone. + +'Why, when I had a condor to pick on Guy's account with Philip, I was +not going to pick a crow on my own,' said Charles. 'Oh! is luncheon +ready; and you all going? I never see anybody now. I want the story of +the shipwreck, though, of course, Ben What's-his-name was the hero, and +Sir Guy Morville not a bit of it.' + +Laura wanted to walk to East Hill, and the other young people agreed to +go thither, too. + +'It will be nice to go to church there to-day' said Amy, in a +half-whisper, heard only by Guy, and answered by a look that showed how +well he understood and sympathized. + +'Another thing,' said Amy, colouring a good deal; 'shall you mind my +telling Mary? I behaved so oddly last night, and she was so kind to me +that I think I ought.' + +Mary had seen enough last night to be very curious to-day, though hardly +expecting her curiosity to be gratified. However, as she was putting on +her bonnet for church, she looked out of her window, and saw the four +coming across the fields from Hollywell. Guy and Amy did not walk into +the village arm-in-arm; but, as they came under the church porch, Guy, +unseen by all held out his hand, sought hers, and, for one moment, +pressed it fervently. Amy knew he felt this like their betrothal. + +After the service, they stood talking with Mr. Ross and Mary, for some +little time. Amy held apart, and Mary saw how it was. As they were about +to turn homewards, Amy said quickly, 'Come and walk a little way home +with me.' + +She went on with Mary before the rest, and when out of sight of them +all, said, 'Mary!' and then stopped short. + +'I guess something, Amy,' said Mary. + +'Don't tell any one but Mr. Ross.' + +'Then I have guessed right. My dear little Amy, I am very glad! So that +was the reason you flew out of the room last evening, and looked so +bright and glowing!' + +'It was so good of you to ask no questions!' + +'I don't think I need ask any now, Amy; for I see in your face how right +and happy it all is.' + +'I can't tell you all, Mary, but I must one thing,--that the whole +terrible story arose from his helping a person in distress. I like you +to know that.' + +'Papa was always sure that he had not been to blame,' said Mary. + +'Yes; so Charlie told me, and that is the reason I wanted you to know.' + +'Then, Amy, something of this had begun last summer?' + +'Yes; but not as it is now. I did not half know what it was then.' + +'Poor dear little Amy,' said Mary; 'what a very sad winter it must have +been for you!' + +'Oh, very!' said Amy; 'but it was worse for him, because he was quite +alone; and here every one was so kind to me. Mamma and Laura, and poor +Charlie, through all his illness and pain, he was so very kind. And do +you know, Mary, now it is all over, I am very glad of this dismal time; +for I think that it has taught me how to bear things better.' + +She looked very happy. Yet it struck Mary that it was strange to hear +that the first thought of a newly-betrothed maiden was how to brace +herself in endurance. She wondered, however, whether it was not a more +truly happy and safe frame than that of most girls, looking forward to a +life of unclouded happiness, such as could never be realized. At least, +so it struck Mary, though she owned to herself that her experience of +lovers was limited. + +Mary walked with Amy almost to the borders of Hollywell garden; and when +the rest came up with them, though no word passed, there was a great +deal of congratulation in her warm shake of Guy's hand, and no lack of +reply in his proud smile and reddening cheek. Charlotte could not help +turning and going back with her a little way, to say, 'Are not you +delighted, Mary? Is not Amy the dearest thing in the world? And you +don't know, for it is a secret, and I know it, how very noble Guy has +been, while they would suspect him.' + +'I am very, very glad, indeed! It is everything delightful.' + +'I never was so happy in my life,' said Charlotte; 'nor Charlie, either. +Only think of having Guy for our brother; and he is going to send for +Bustle to-morrow.' + +Mary laughed, and parted with Charlotte, speculating on the cause of +Laura's graver looks. Were they caused by the fear of losing her sister, +or by a want of confidence in Guy? + +That evening, how happy was the party at Hollywell, when Charles put +Guy through a cross-examination on the shipwreck, from the first puff of +wind to the last drop of rain; and Guy submitted very patiently, since +he was allowed the solace of praising his Redclyffe fishermen. + +Indeed, this time was full of tranquil, serene happiness. It was like +the lovely weather only to be met with in the spring, and then but +rarely, when the sky is cloudless, and intensely blue,--the sunshine +one glow of clearness without burning,--not a breath of wind checks the +silent growth of the expanding buds of light exquisite green. Such days +as these shone on Guy and Amabel, looking little to the future, or if +they did so at all, with a grave, peaceful awe, reposing in the present, +and resuming old habits,--singing, reading, gardening, walking as of +old, and that intercourse with each other that was so much more than +ever before. + +It was more, but it was not quite the same; for Guy was a very +chivalrous lover; the polish and courtesy that sat so well on his frank, +truthful manners, were even more remarkable in his courtship. His +ways with Amy had less of easy familiarity than in the time of their +brother-and-sister-like intimacy, so that a stranger might have imagined +her wooed, not won. It was as if he hardly dared to believe that she +could really be his own, and treated her with a sort of reverential love +and gentleness, while she looked up to him with ever-increasing honour. +She was better able to understand him now than in her more childish days +last summer; and she did not merely see, as before, that she was looking +at the upper surface of a mystery. He had, at the same time, grown in +character, his excitability and over-sensitiveness seemed to have been +smoothed away, and to have given place to a calmness of tone, that was +by no means impassibility. + +When alone with Amy, he was generally very grave, often silent and +meditative, or else their talk was deep and serious; and even with the +family he was less merry and more thoughtful than of old, though very +bright and animated, and showing full, free affection to them all, as +entirely accepted and owned as one of them. + +So, indeed, he was. Mr. Edmonstone, with his intense delight in lovers, +patronized them, and made commonplace jokes, which they soon learnt +to bear without much discomposure. Mrs. Edmonstone was all that her +constant appellation of 'mamma' betokened, delighting in Guy's having +learnt to call her so. Charles enjoyed the restoration of his friend, +the sight of Amy's happiness, and the victory over Philip, and was +growing better every day. Charlotte was supremely happy, watching the +first love affair ever conducted in her sight, and little less so in the +return of Bustle, who resumed his old habits as regularly as if he had +only left Hollywell yesterday. + +Laura alone was unhappy. She did not understand her own feelings; but +sad at heart she was; with only one who could sympathize with her, and +he far away, and the current of feeling setting against him. She could +not conceal her depression, and was obliged to allow it to be attributed +to the grief that one sister must feel in parting with another; and as +her compassion for her little Amy, coupled with her dread of her latent +jealousy, made her particularly tender and affectionate, it gave even +more probability to the supposition. This made Guy, who felt as if he +was committing a robbery on them all, particularly kind to her, as if +he wished to atone for the injury of taking away her sister; and his +kindness gave her additional pain at entertaining such hard thoughts of +him. + +How false she felt when she was pitied! and how she hated the +congratulations, of which she had the full share! She thought, however, +that she should be able to rejoice when she had heard Philip's opinion; +and how delightful it would be for him to declare himself satisfied with +Guy's exculpation. + + + + +CHAPTER 27 + + I forgave thee all the blame, + I could not forgive the praise. + --TENNYSON + + +'If ever there was a meddlesome coxcomb on this earth!' Such was the +exclamation that greeted the ears of Guy as he supported Charles into +the breakfast-room; and, at the same time, Mr. Edmonstone tossed a +letter into Guy's plate, saying,-- + +'There's something for you to read.' + +Guy began; his lips were tightly pressed together; his brows made one +black line across his forehead, and his eye sparkled even through his +bent-down eyelashes; but this lasted only a few moments; the forehead +smoothed, again, and there was a kind of deliberate restraint and force +upon himself, which had so much power, that no one spoke till he had +finished, folded it up with a sort of extra care, and returned it, only +saying, + +'You should not show one such letters, Mr. Edmonstone.' + +'Does not it beat everything?' cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'If that is not +impertinence, I should like to know what is! But he has played my +Lord Paramount rather too long, as I can tell him! I ask his consent, +forsooth! Probation, indeed! You might marry her to-morrow, and welcome. +There, give it to mamma. See if she does not say the same. Mere spite +and malice all along.' + +Poor Laura! would no one refute such cruel injustice? Yes, Guy spoke, +eagerly,-- + +'No no; that it never was. He was quite right under his belief.' + +'Don't tell me! Not a word in his favour will I hear!' stormed on Mr. +Edmonstone. 'Mere envy and ill-will.' + +'I always told him so,' said Charles. 'Pure malignity!' + +'Nonsense, Charlie!' said Guy, sharply; 'there is no such thing about +him.' + +'Come, Guy; I can't stand this,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'I won't have him +defended; I never thought to be so deceived; but you all worshipped the +boy as if every word that came out of his mouth was Gospel truth, and +you've set him up till he would not condescend to take an advice of his +own father, who little thought what an upstart sprig he was rearing; but +I tell him he has come to the wrong shop for domineering--eh, mamma?' + +'Well!' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, who had read till near the end with +tolerable equanimity; this really is too bad!' + +'Mamma and all!' thought poor Laura, while her mother continued,--'It +is wilful prejudice, to say the least,--I never could have believed him +capable of it!' + +Charles next had the letter, and was commenting on it in a style of +mingled sarcasm and fury; while Laura longed to see it justify itself, +as she was sure it would. + +'Read it, all of you--every bit,' said Mr. Edmonstone, 'that you may see +this paragon of yours!' + +'I had rather not,' said Amy, shrinking as it came towards her. + +'I should like you to do so, if you don't dislike it very much,' said +Guy. + +She read in silence; and then came the turn of Laura, who marvelled at +the general injustice as she read. + + + 'CORK, April 8th. +'MY DEAR UNCLE,--I am much obliged to you for the communication of your +intention with regard to Amabel; but, indeed, I must say I am a good +deal surprised that you should have so hastily resolved on so important +a step, and have been satisfied with so incomplete an explanation of +circumstances which appeared to you, as well as to myself, to show that +Guy's character was yet quite unsettled, and his conduct such as to +create considerable apprehension that he was habitually extremely +imprudent, to say the least of it, in the management of his own affairs. +How much more unfit, therefore, to have the happiness of another +intrusted to him? I believe--indeed, I understood you to have declared +to me that you were resolved never to allow the engagement to be +renewed, unless he should, with the deference which is only due to +you as his guardian, consent to clear up the mystery with which he +has thought fit to invest all his pecuniary transactions, and this, it +appears, he refuses, as he persists in denying all explanation of his +demand for that large sum of money. As to the cheque, which certainly +was applied to discreditable uses, though I will not suffer myself to +suppose that Guy was in collusion with his uncle, yet it is not at +all improbable that Dixon, not being a very scrupulous person, may, on +hearing of the difficulties in which his nephew has been placed, come +forward to relieve him from his embarrassment, in the hope of further +profit, by thus establishing a claim on his gratitude. In fact, this +proof of secretly renewed intercourse with Dixon rather tends to +increase the presumption that there is something wrong. I am not writing +this in the expectation that the connection should be entirely broken +off, for that, indeed, would be out of the question as things stand at +present, but for my little cousin's sake, as well as his own, I entreat +of you to pause. They are both extremely young--so young, that if there +was no other ground, many persons would think it advisable to wait a few +years; and why not wait until the time fixed by his grandfather for +his coming into possession of his property? If the character of his +attachment to Amabel is firm and true, the probation may be of infinite +service to him, as keeping before him, during the most critical period +of his life, a powerful motive for restraining the natural impetuosity +of his disposition; while, on the other hand, if this should prove +to have been a mere passing fancy for the first young lady into whose +society he has been thrown on terms of easy familiar intercourse, you +will then have the satisfaction of reflecting that your care and caution +have preserved your daughter from a life of misery. My opinion has +never altered respecting him, that he is brave and generous, with good +feelings and impulses, manners peculiarly attractive, and altogether a +character calculated to inspire affection, but impetuous and unsteady, +easily led into temptation, yet obstinate in reserve, and his temper of +unchecked violence. I wish him happiness of every kind; and, as you well +know, would, do my utmost for his welfare; but my affection for your +whole family, and my own conscientious conviction, make me feel it my +duty to offer this remonstrance, which I hope will be regarded as by no +means the result of any ill-will, but simply of a sincere desire for the +good of all parties, such as can only be evinced by plain speaking. + + 'Yours affectionately, + 'P. MORVILLE.' + + +All the time Laura was reading, Guy was defending Philip against the +exaggerated abuse that Mr. Edmonstone and Charles were pouring out, till +at last, Mrs. Edmonstone, getting out of patience, said,-- + +'My dear Guy, if we did not know you so well, we should almost accuse +you of affectation.' + +'Then I shall go away,' said Guy, laughing as he rose. 'Can you come +out with me?' said he, in a lower tone, leaning over the back of Amy's +chair. + +'No; wait a bit,' interposed Mr. Edmonstone; 'don't take her out, or +you won't be to be found, anywhere, and I want to speak to you before +I write my letter, and go to the Union Meeting. I want to tell Master +Philip, on the spot, that the day is fixed, and we snap our fingers at +him and his probation. Wait till twenty-five! I dare say!' + +At 'I want to speak to you,' the ladies had made the first move towards +departure, but they were not out of hearing at the conclusion. Guy +looked after Amy, but she would not look round, and Charles lay twisting +Bustle's curls round his fingers, and smiling to himself at the manner +in which the letter was working by contraries. The overthrow of Philip's +influence was a great triumph for him, apart from the way in which it +affected his friend and his sister. + +Mr. Edmonstone was disappointed that Guy would not set about fixing the +day, in time for him to announce it in a letter to be written in the +course of an hour. Guy said he had not begun on the subject with Amy, +and it would never do to hurry her. Indeed, it was a new light to +himself that Mr. Edmonstone would like it to take place so soon. + +'Pray, when did you think it was to be?' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'Upon my +word, I never in all my days saw a lover like you, Guy!' + +'I was too happy to think about the future; besides, I did not know +whether you had sufficient confidence in me.' + +'Confidence, nonsense! I tell you if I had a dozen daughters, I would +trust them all to you.' + +Guy smiled, and was infected by Charles's burst of laughing, but Mr. +Edmonstone went on unheeding--'I have the most absolute confidence +in you! I am going to write to Philip this minute, to tell him he has +played three-tailed Bashaw rather too long. I shall tell him it is to +be very soon, at any rate; and that if he wishes to see how I value his +pragmatical advice, he may come and dance at the wedding. I declare, +your mamma and that colonel of his have perfectly spoilt him with their +flattery! I knew what would come of it; you all would make a prodigy of +him, till he is so puffed up, that he entirely forgets who he is!' + +'Not I' said Charles; 'that can't be laid to my door.' + +'But I'll write him such a letter this instant as shall make him +remember what he is, and show him who he has to deal with. Eh, Charlie?' + +'Don't you think,' said Guy, preparing to go, 'that it might be better +to wait a day or two, till we see our way clearer, and are a little +cooler?' + +'I tell you, Guy, there is no one that puts me out of patience now, but +yourself. You are as bad as Philip himself. Cool? I am coolness itself, +all but what's proper spirit for a man to show when his family is +affronted, and himself dictated to, by a meddling young jackanapes. I'll +serve him out properly!' + +A message called him away. Guy stood looking perplexed and sorrowful. + +'Never mind,' said Charles, 'I'll take care the letter is moderate. +Besides, it is only Philip, and he knows that letter-writing is not his +forte.' + +'I am afraid things will be said in irritation, which you will both +regret. There are justice and reason in the letter.' + +'There shall be more in the answer, as you will see.' + +'No, I will not see. It is Mr. Edmonstone's concern, not mine. I am the +last person who should have anything to do with it.' + +'Just what the individual in question would not have said.' + +'Would you do one thing to oblige me, Charlie?' + +'Anything but not speaking my mind to, or of, the captain.' + +'That is the very thing, unluckily. Try to get the answer put off till +to-morrow, and that will give time to look at this letter candidly.' + +'All the candour in the world will not make me think otherwise than that +he is disappointed at being no longer able to make us the puppets of his +malevolence. Don't answer, or if you do, tell me what you say in favour +of that delicate insinuation of his.' + +Guy made a step towards the window, and a step back again. ''Tis not +fair to ask such questions,' he replied, after a moment. 'It is throwing +oil on the fire. I was trying to forget it. He neither knows my uncle +nor the circumstances.' + +'Well, I am glad there is a point on which you can't even pretend to +stand up for him, or I should have thought you crazed with Quixotism. +But I am keeping you when you want to be off to Amy. Never mind Mr. +Ready-to-halt; I shall wait till my father comes back. If you want the +letter put off you had better give some hopes of--Oh! he is gone, and +disinterested advice it is of mine, for what is to become of me without +Amy remains to be proved. Laura, poor thing, looks like Patience on a +monument. I wonder whether Philip's disgrace has anything to do with it. +Hum! If mamma's old idea was right, the captain has been more like moth +and candle than consistent with his prudence, unless he thought it "a +toute epreuve". I wonder what came to pass last autumn, when I was ill, +and mamma's head full of me. He may not intend it, and she may not know +it, but I would by no means answer for Cupid's being guiltless of that +harassed look she has had ever since that ball-going summer. Oh! there +go that pretty study, Amy and her true knight. As to Guy, he is more +incomprehensible than ever; yet there is no avoiding obeying him, on the +principle on which that child in the "Moorland cottage" said she should +obey Don Quixote.' + +So when his father came in, Charles wiled him into deferring the letter +till the next day, by giving him an indistinct hope that some notion +when the marriage would be, might be arrived at by that time. He +consented the more readily, because he was in haste to investigate a +complaint that had just been made of the union doctor; but his last +words to his wife and son before he went, were--'Of course, they must +marry directly, there is nothing on earth to wait for. Live at Redclyffe +alone? Not to be thought of. No, I'll see little Amy my Lady Morville, +before Philip goes abroad, if only to show him I am not a man to be +dictated to.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone sighed; but when he was gone, she agreed with Charles +that there was nothing to wait for, and that it would be better for Guy +to take his wife at once with him, when he settled at Redclyffe. So it +must be whenever Amy could make up her mind to it; and thereupon they +made plans for future meetings, Charles announcing that the Prince of +the Black Isles would become locomotive, and Charlotte forming grand +designs upon Shag Island. + +In the meantime, Guy and Amy were walking in the path through the wood, +where he began: 'I would not have asked you to do anything so unpleasant +as reading that letter, but I thought you ought to consider of it.' + +'It was just like himself! How could he?' said Amy, indignantly. + +'I wonder whether he will ever see his own harshness?' said Guy. 'It +is very strange, that with all his excellence and real kindness, there +should be some distortion in his view of all that concerns me. I cannot +understand it.' + +'You must let me call it prejudice, Guy, in spite of your protest. It is +a relief to say something against him.' + +'Amy, don't be venomous!' said Guy, in a playful tone of reproach. + +'Yes; but you know it is not _me_ whom he has been abusing.' + +'Well,' said Guy, musingly, 'I suppose it is right there should be this +cloud, or it would be too bright for earth. It has been one of my chief +wishes to have things straight with Philip, ever since the time he +stayed at Redclyffe as a boy. I saw his superiority then; but it fretted +me, and I never could make a companion of him. Ever since, I have +looked to his approval as one of the best things to be won. It shows +his ascendancy of character; yet, do what I will, the mist has gone on +thickening between us; and with reason, for I have never been able to +give him the confidence he required, and his conduct about my uncle has +so tried my patience, that I never have been quite sure whether I ought +to avoid him or not.' + +'And now you are the only person who will speak for him. I don't wonder +papa is provoked with you,' said she, pretending to be wilful. 'I only +hope you don't want to make me do the same. I could bear anything better +than his old saying about your attractive manners and good impulses, +and his opinion that has never altered. O Guy, he is the most provoking +person in all the world. Don't try to make me admire him, nor be sorry +for him.' + +'Not when you remember how he was looked on here? and how, without +doing anything worthy of blame, nay, from his acting unsparingly, as he +thought right, every one has turned against him? even mamma, who used to +be so fond of him?' + +'Not Laura.' + +'No, not Laura, and I am thankful to her for it; for all this makes me +feel as if I had supplanted him.' + +'Yes, yes, yes, it is like you; but don't ask me to feel that yet,' said +Amy, with tears in her eyes,' or I shall be obliged to tell you what you +won't like to hear, about his tone of triumph that terrible time last +year. It was so very different, I don't think I could ever forgive him, +if it had not made me so miserable too.' + +Guy pressed her arm. 'Yes; but he thought himself right. He meant to do +the kindest thing by you,' said he, so entirely without effort, that no +one could doubt it came straight from his heart. 'So he thinks still, +Amy; there is fairness, justice, good sense in his letter, and we +must not blind our eyes to it, though there is injustice, at least, +harshness. I did fail egregiously in my first trial.' + +'Fail!' + +'In temper.' + +'Oh!' + +'And, Amy, I wanted to ask what you think about the four years he +speaks of. Do you think, as he says, my habits might be more fixed, and +altogether you might have more confidence?' + +'I don't look on you quite as he does now,' said Amy, with a very pretty +smile. 'Do you think his opinion of you will ever alter?' + +'But what do you think? Is there not some reason in what he says?' + +'The only use I can see is, that perhaps I should be wiser at +twenty-four, and fitter to take care of such a great house; but then you +have been always helping me to grow wiser, and I am not much afraid but +that you will be patient with me. Indeed, Guy, I don't know whether it +is a thing I ought to say,' she added, blushing, 'but I think it would +be dismal for you to go and live all alone at Redclyffe.' + +'Honestly, Amy,' replied he, after a little pause, 'if you feel so, and +your father approves, I don't think it will be better to wait. I know +your presence is a safeguard, and if the right motives did not suffice +to keep me straight, and I was only apparently so from hopes of you, why +then I should be so utterly good for nothing at the bottom, if not on +the surface, that you had better have nothing to say to me.' + +Amy laughed incredulously. + +'That being settled,' proceeded Guy, 'did you hear what your father said +as you left the breakfast-room?' + +She coloured all over, and there was silence. 'What did you answer?' +said she, at length. + +'I said, whatever happened, you must not be taken by surprise in having +to decide quickly. Do you wish to have time to think? I'll go in and +leave you to consider, if you like.' + +'I only want to know what you wish,' said Amy, not parting with his arm. + +'I had rather you did just as suits you best. Of course, you know what +my wish must be.' + +Amy walked on a little way in silence. 'Very well,' said she, presently, +'I think you and mamma had better settle it. The worst'--she had tears +in her eyes--'the going away--mamma--Charlie--all that will be as bad at +one time as at another.' The tears flowed faster. 'It had better be as +you all like best.' + +'O Amy! I wonder at myself for daring to ask you to exchange your bright +cheerful home for my gloomy old house.' + +'No, your home,' said Amy, softly. + +'I used to wonder why it was called gloomy; but it will be so no more +when you are there. Yet there is a shadow hanging over it, which +makes it sometimes seem too strange that you and it should be brought +together.' + +'I have read somewhere that there is no real gloom but what people raise +for themselves.' + +'True. Gloom is in sin, not sorrow. Yes, there would be no comfort if I +were not sure that if aught of grief or pain should come to you through +me, it will not, cannot really hurt you, my Amy.' + +'No, unless by my own fault, and you will help me to meet it. Hark! was +that a nightingale?' + +'Yes, the first! How beautiful! There--don't you see it? Look on that +hazel, you may see its throat moving. Well!' when they had listened for +a long time,--'after all, that creature and the sea will hardly let one +speak of gloom, even in this world, to say nothing of other things. + +'The sea! I am glad I have never seen it, because now you will show it +to me for the first time.' + +'You will never, can never imagine it, Amy! and he sung,-- + + + 'With all tones of waters blending, + Glorious is the breaking deep, + Glorious, beauteous, without ending, + Songs of ocean never sleep.' + + +A silence followed, only broken by the notes of the birds, and presently +by the strokes of the great clock. Guy looked at his watch. + +'Eleven, Amy! I must go to my reading, or you will have to be very much +ashamed of me.' + +For, after the first few days, Guy had returned to study regularly every +day. He said it was a matter of necessity, not at all of merit, for +though he did not mean to try for honours, Amy must not marry a plucked +man. His whole career at Oxford had been such a struggle with the +disadvantages of his education, that all his diligence had, he thought, +hardly raised him to a level with his contemporaries. Moreover, +courtship was not the best preparation for the schools, so that +though he knew he had done his best, he expected no more than to pass +respectably, and told Amy it was very good of her to be contented with a +dunce, whereat she laughed merrily. But she knew him too well to try to +keep him lingering in the April sunshine, and in they went, Guy to his +Greek, and Amy to her mother. Charlotte's lessons had been in +abeyance, or turned over to Laura of late, and Mrs. Edmonstone and her +dressing-room were always ready for the confidences of the family, who +sought her there in turn--all but one, and that the one whose need was +the sorest. + +Amy and her mother comforted themselves with a good quiet cry, that was +not exactly sorrowful, and came to the conclusion that Guy was the most +considerate person in the world, and they would do whatever best suited +him and papa. So, when Mr. Edmonstone came home, he was rewarded for +putting off the letter by finding every one willing to let the marriage +take place whenever he pleased. There were various conferences in the +dressing-room, and Guy and Amy both had burning faces when they came +down to dinner. Laura beheld them with a throbbing heart, while she +mechanically talked to Dr. Mayerne, as if nothing was going on. She +was glad there was no singing that evening, for she felt incapable of +joining; and when at night Charles and his father talked of sitting up +to write to Philip, the misery was such that she had no relief till she +had shut herself in her room, to bear or to crush the suffering as best +she might. + +She was still sitting helpless in her wretchedness when Amy knocked +at the door, and came in glowing with blushes and smiles, though her +eyelashes were dewy with tears. + +'Laura, dearest! if you would not be so very unhappy! I wish I knew what +to do for you.' + +Laura laid her head on her shoulder, and cried. It was a great comfort, +little as Amy could understand her trouble. Amy kissed her, soothed her +caressingly, cried too, and said, in broken sentences, how often they +would be together, and how comfortable it was that Charlie was so much +better, and Charlotte quite a companion. + +'Then you have fixed the day?' whispered Laura, at last. + +'The Tuesday in Whitsun-week,' returned Amy, resting her forehead on +Laura's shoulder. 'They all thought it right.' + +Laura flung her arms round her, and wept too much to speak. + +'Dear, dear Laura!' said Amy, after a time, 'it is very kind of you, +but--' + +'Oh, Amy! you don't know. You must not think so much better of me than +I deserve. It is not only--No, I would not be so selfish, if but--but--' +Never had her self-command so given way. + +'Ah! you are unhappy about Philip,' said Amy; and Laura, alarmed lest +she might have betrayed him, started, and tried to recover herself; +but she saw Amy was quite unsuspicious, and the relief from this fright +helped her through what her sister was saying,--'Yes, you, who were so +fond of him, must be vexed at this unkindness on his part.' + +'I am sure it is his real wish for your good,' murmured Laura. + +'I dare say!' said Amy, with displeasure. Then changing her tone, 'I beg +your pardon, dear Laura, but I don't think I can quite bear to hear any +one but Guy defend him.' + +'It is very generous.' + +'Oh, is not it, Laura? and he says he is so grieved to see us turned +against Philip, after being so fond of him; he says it makes him feel +as if he had supplanted him, and that he is quite thankful to you for +taking his part still.' + +'How shall I bear it?' sighed Laura, to herself. + +'I wonder whether he will come?' said Amy, thoughtfully. + +'He will,' said Laura. + +'You think so?' said Amy. 'Well, Guy would be glad. Yes. O Laura, if +Philip would learn to do Guy justice, I don't think there would be any +more to wish!' + +'He will in time,' said Laura. 'He is too generous not to be won by +such generosity as Guy's; and when all this is forgotten, and all these +accusations have been lived down, he will be the warmest of friends.' + +'Yes,' said Amy, as if she wished to be convinced; 'but if he would only +leave off saying his opinion has never altered, I think I could bring +myself to look on him as Guy wants me to do. Good night! dear Laura, +and don't be unhappy. Oh! one thing I must tell you; Guy made Charles +promise to do all he could not to let it be a hasty letter. Now, good +night!' + +Poor Laura, she knew not whether gratitude to Guy was not one of her +most painful sensations. She wished much to know what had been said in +the letter; but only one sentence transpired, and that was, that Mr. +Edmonstone had never heard it was necessary to apply to a nephew for +consent to a daughter's marriage. It seemed as if it must have been +as cutting as Charles could make it; but Laura trusted to Philip's +knowledge of the family, and desire for their good, to make him forgive +it, and the expectation of seeing him again at the wedding, cheered her. +Indeed, a hope of still greater consequences began to rise in her mind, +after Charles one day said to her, 'I think you ought to be much obliged +to Guy. This morning, he suddenly exclaimed, "I say, Charlie, I wish you +would take care Amy's fortune is not settled on her so that it can't be +got rid of." I asked how he meant to make ducks and drakes of it; and he +explained, that if either of you two did not happen to marry for money, +like Amy, it might do you no harm.' + +'We are very much obliged to him,' said Laura, more earnestly than +Charles had expected. 'Do you know what it is, Charlie?' + +'Oh! you want to calculate the amount of your obligation! Somewhere +about five thousand pounds, I believe.' + +Charles watched Laura, and the former idea recurred, as he wondered +whether there was any particular meaning in her inquiry. + +Meaning, indeed, there was. Laura knew nothing about the value of money; +she did not know what Philip had of his own; how far five, or even ten, +thousand would go in enabling them to marry, or whether it was available +in her father's lifetime; but she thought this prospect might smooth the +way to the avowal of their attachment, as effectually as his promotion; +she reckoned on relief from the weary oppression of secrecy, and fully +expected that it would all be told in the favourable juncture, when her +parents were full of satisfaction in Amy's marriage. Gratitude to Guy +would put an end to all doubt, dislike, and prejudice, and Philip would +receive him as a brother. + +These hopes supported Laura, and enabled her to take part with more +appearance of interest in the consultations and arrangements for the +marriage, which were carried on speedily, as the time was short, and Mr. +Edmonstone's ideas were on a grand scale. It seemed as if he meant +to invite all the world, and there were no limits to his views of +breakfast, carriages, and splendours. His wife let him run on without +contradiction, leaving the plans either to evaporate or condense, as +time might prove best. Guy took Amy out walking, and asked what she +thought of it. + +'Do you dislike it very much?' she said. + +'I can hardly tell. Of course, as a general rule, the less parade and +nonsense the better; but if your father wishes it, and if people do find +enjoyment in that way, it seems hard they should not have all they can +out of it.' + +'Oh, yes; the school children and poor people,' said Amy. + +'How happy the Ashford children will be, feasting the poor people at +Redclyffe! Old Jonas Ledbury will be in high glory.' + +'To be sure it does not seem like merit to feast one's poor neighbours +rather than the rich. It is so much pleasanter.' + +'However, since the poor will be feasted, I don't think the rich ones +will do us much harm.' + +'I am sure I shall know very little about them,' said Amy. + +'The realities are so great to us, that they will swallow up the +accessories. There must be the church, and all that; and for the rest, +Amy, I don't think I shall find out whether you wear lace or grogram.' + +'There's encouragement for me!' said Amy, laughing. 'However, what I +mean is, that I don't care about it, if I am not obliged to attend, and +give my mind, to those kind of things just then, and that mamma will +take care of.' + +'Is it not a great trouble for her? I forgot that. It was selfish; for +we slip out of the fuss, and it all falls on her.' + +'Yes,' said Amy; 'but don't you think it would tease her more to have to +persuade papa out of what he likes, and alter every little matter? That +would be worry, the rest only exertion; and, do you know, I think,' said +she, with a rising tear, 'that it will be better for her, to keep her +from thinking about losing me.' + +'I see. Very well, we will take the finery quietly. Only one thing, Amy, +we will not be put out of,--we will not miss the full holy-day service.' + +'Oh, yes; that will be the comfort.' + +'One other thing, Amy. You know I have hardly a friend of my own; but +there is one person I should like to ask,--Markham. He has been so +kind, and so much attached to me; he loved my father so devotedly, and +suffered so much at his death, that it is a pity he should not be made +happy; and very happy he will be.' + +'And there is one person I should like to ask, Guy, if mamma thinks we +can do it. I am sure little Marianne ought to be one of my bridesmaids. +Charlotte would take care of her, and it would be very nice to have +her.' + + + + +CHAPTER 28 + + But no kind influence deign they shower, + Till pride be quelled and love be free. + --SCOTT + + +Kilcoran was about twenty miles from Cork, and Captain Morville was +engaged to go and spend a day or two there. Maurice de Courcy drove him +thither, wishing all the way for some other companion, since no one ever +ventured to smoke a cigar in the proximity of 'Morville'; and, besides, +Maurice's conversational powers were obliged to be entirely bestowed +on his horse and dog, for the captain, instead of, as usual, devoting +himself to suit his talk to his audience, was wrapped in the deepest +meditation, now and then taking out a letter and referring to it. + +This letter was the reply jointly compounded by Mr. Edmonstone and +Charles, and the subject of his consideration was, whether he should +accept the invitation to the wedding. Charles had taken care fully to +explain how the truth respecting the cheque had come out, and Philip +could no longer suspect that it had been a fabrication of Dixon's; but +while Guy persisted in denial of any answer about the thousand pounds, +he thought the renewal of the engagement extremely imprudent. He was +very sorry for poor little Amy, for her comfort and happiness were, he +thought, placed in the utmost jeopardy, with such a hot temper, under +the most favourable circumstances; and there was the further peril, that +when the novelty of the life with her at Redclyffe had passed off, Guy +might seek for excitement in the dissipation to which his uncle had +probably already introduced him. In the four years' probation, he +saw the only hope of steadying Guy, or of saving Amy, and he was much +concerned at the rejection of his advice, entirely for their sakes, for +he could not condescend to be affronted at the scornful, satirical tone +towards himself, in which Charles's little spitefulness was so fully +apparent. + +The wedding was a regular sacrifice, and Amabel was nothing but a +victim; but an invitation to Hollywell had a charm for him that he +scarcely could resist. To see Laura again, after having parted, as he +thought, for so many years, delighted him in anticipation; and it would +manifest his real interest in his young cousins, and show that he was +superior to taking offence at the folly of Charles or his father. + +These were his first thoughts and inclinations; his second were, that +it was contrary to his principles to sanction so foolish and hasty a +marriage by his presence; that he should thus be affording a triumph to +Guy, and to one who would use it less moderately--to Charles. It would +be more worthy of himself, more consistent with his whole course of +conduct, to refuse his presence, instead of going amongst them when they +were all infatuated, and unable to listen to sober counsel. If he stayed +away now, when Guy should have justified his opinion, they would all +own how wisely he had acted, and would see the true dignity which had +refused, unlike common minds, to let his complaisance draw him into +giving any sanction to what he so strongly disapproved. Laura, too, +would pass through this trying time better if she was not distracted +by watching him; she would understand the cause of his absence, and he +could trust her to love and comprehend him at a distance, better than +he could trust her to hear the marriage-service in his presence without +betraying herself. Nor did he wish to hear her again plead for the +confession of their engagement; and, supposing any misadventure should +lead to its betrayal, what could be more unpleasant than for it to be +revealed at such a time, when Charles would so turn it against him, that +all his influence and usefulness would be for ever at an end? + +Love drew him one way, and consistency another. Captain Morville had +never been so much in the condition of Mahomet's coffin in his life; and +he grew more angry with his uncle, Charles, and Guy, for having put him +in so unpleasant a predicament. So the self-debate lasted all the way +to Kilcoran and he only had two comforts--one, that he had sent the +follower who was always amenable to good advice, safe out of the way +of Lady Eveleen, to spend his leave of absence at Thorndale--the other, +that Maurice de Courcy was, as yet, ignorant of the Hollywell news, and +did not torment him by talking about it. + +This satisfaction, however, lasted no longer than till their arrival at +Kilcoran; for, the instant they entered the drawing-room, Lady Eveleen +exclaimed, 'O Maurice, I have been so longing for you to come! Captain +Morville, I hope you have not told him, for I can't flatter myself to be +beforehand with you, now at least.' + +'He has told me nothing,' said Maurice; 'indeed, such bad company has +seldom been seen as he has been all the way.' + +'You don't mean that you don't know it? How delightful! O, mamma! think +of knowing something Captain Morville does not!' + +'I am afraid I cannot flatter you so far,' said Philip, knowing this was +no place for allowing his real opinion to be guessed. + +'Then you do know?' said Lady Kilcoran, sleepily; 'I am sure it is a +subject of great rejoicing.' + +'But what is it, Eva? Make haste and tell,' said Maurice. + +'No; you must guess!' + +'Why, you would not be in such a way about it if it was not a wedding.' + +'Right, Maurice; now, who is it?' + +'One of the Edmonstones, I suppose. 'Tis Laura?' + +'Wrong!' + +'What, not Laura! I thought she would have been off first. Somebody's +got no taste, then, for Laura is the prettiest girl I know.' + +'Ah! your heart has escaped breaking this time, Maurice. It is that +little puss, Amy, that has made a great conquest. Now guess.' + +'Oh! young Morville, of course. But what possessed him to take Amy, and +leave Laura?' + +'Perhaps Laura was not to be had. Men are so self-sufficient, that they +always think they may pick and choose. Is it not so, Captain Morville? +I like Sir Guy better than most men, but Laura is too good for any one +I know. If I could make a perfect hero, I would at once, only Charles +would tell me all the perfect heroes in books are bores. How long have +you known of it, Captain Morville?' + +'For the last ten days.' + +'And you never mentioned it?' + +'I did not know whether they intended to publish it.' + +'Now, Captain Morville, I hope to make some progress in your good +opinion. Of course, you believe I can't keep a secret; but what do you +think of my having known it ever since last summer, and held my tongue +all that time?' + +'A great effort, indeed,' said Philip, smiling. 'It would have +been greater, I suppose, if the engagement had been positive, not +conditional.' + +'Oh! every one knew what it must come to. No one could have the least +fear of Sir Guy. Yes; I saw it all. I gave my little aid, and I am +sure I have a right to be bridesmaid, as I am to be. Oh! won't it be +charming? It is to be the grandest wedding that ever was seen. It is to +be on Whit-Tuesday; and papa is going to take me and Aunt Charlotte; +for old Aunt Mabel says Aunt Charlotte must go. There are to be six +bridesmaids, and a great party at the breakfast; everything as splendid +as possible; and I made Mrs. Edmonstone promise from the first that we +should have a ball. You must go, Maurice.' + +'I shall be on the high seas!' + +'Oh yes, that is horrid! But you don't sail with the regiment, I think, +Captain Morville. You surely go?' + +'I am not certain,' said Philip; especially disgusted by hearing of the +splendour, and thinking that he had supposed Guy would have had more +sense; and it showed how silly Amy really was, since she was evidently +only anxious to enjoy the full paraphernalia of a bride. + +'Not certain!' exclaimed Maurice and Eveleen, in a breath. + +'I am not sure that I shall have time. You know I have been intending to +make a walking tour through Switzerland before joining at Corfu.' + +'And you really would prefer going by yourself--"apart, unfriended, +melancholy, slow."' + +'Very slow, indeed,' said Maurice. + +'A wedding is a confused melancholy affair,' said Philip. 'You know I am +no dancing man, Lady Eveleen; one individual like myself can make little +difference to persons engrossed with their own affairs; I can wish my +cousins well from a distance as well as at hand; and though they +have been kind enough to ask me, I think that while their house is +overflowing with guests of more mark, my room will be preferred to my +company.' + +'Then you do not mean to go?' said Lady Kilcoran. 'I do not,' she +continued, 'for my health is never equal to so much excitement, and it +would only be giving poor Mrs. Edmonstone additional trouble to have to +attend to me.' + +'So you really mean to stay away?' said Eveleen. + +'I have not entirely decided.' + +'At any rate you must go and tell old Aunt Mabel all about them,' said +Eveleen. 'She is so delighted. You will be quite worshipped, at +the cottage, for the very name of Morville. I spend whole hours in +discoursing on Sir Guy's perfections.' + +Philip could not refuse; but his feelings towards Guy were not warmed +by the work he had to go through, when conducted to the cottage, where +lived old Lady Mabel Edmonstone and her daughter, and there required +to dilate on Guy's excellence. He was not wanted to speak of any of the +points where his conscience would not let him give a favourable report; +it was quite enough for him to tell of Guy's agreeable manners and +musical talents, and to describe the beauty and extent of Redclyffe. +Lady Mabel and Miss Edmonstone were transported; and the more Philip saw +of the light and superficial way in which the marriage was considered, +the more unwilling he became to confound himself with such people by +eagerness to be present at it, and to join in the festivities. Yet he +exercised great forbearance in not allowing one word of his disapproval +or misgivings to escape him; no censure was uttered, and Lady Eveleen +herself could not make out whether he rejoiced or not. He was grave and +philosophical, superior to nonsensical mirth, that was all that she +saw; and he made himself very agreeable throughout his visit, by taking +condescending interest in all that was going on, and especially to Lady +Eveleen, by showing that he thought her worthy of rational converse. + +He made himself useful, as usual. Lord Kilcoran wanted a tutor for +his two youngest boys, and it had been proposed to send them to Mr. +Wellwood, at his curacy at Coombe Prior. He wished to know what Captain +Morville thought of the plan; and Philip, thinking that Mr. Wellwood had +been very inattentive to Guy's proceedings at St. Mildred's, though +he would not blame him, considered it very fortunate that he had a +different plan to recommend. One of the officers of his regiment had +lately had staying with him a brother who had just left Oxford, and was +looking out for a tutorship, a very clever and agreeable young man, whom +he liked particularly, and he strongly advised Lord Kilcoran to keep his +sons under his own eye, and place them under the care of this gentleman. +His advice, especially when enforced by his presence, was almost sure to +prevail, and thus it was in the present case. + +The upshot of his visit was, that he thought worse and worse of the +sense of the whole Edmonstone connection,--considered that it would be +of no use for him to go to Hollywell,--adhered to his second resolution, +and wrote to his uncle a calm and lofty letter, free from all token of +offence, expressing every wish for the happiness of Guy and Amabel, and +thanking his uncle for the invitation, which, however, he thought it +best to decline, much as he regretted losing the opportunity of seeing +Hollywell and its inhabitants again. His regiment would sail for Corfu +either in May or June; but he intended, himself, to travel on foot +through Germany and Italy, and would write again before quitting +Ireland. + +'So,' said Charles, 'there were at the marriage the Picanninies, and the +Joblillies, and the Garryulies, but not the grand Panjandrum himself.' + +'Nor the little round button at top!' rejoined Charlotte. + +'Well, it's his own look out,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'It is of a piece +with all the rest.' + +'I am sure we don't want him,' said Charlotte. + +'Not in this humour,' said her mother. + +Amy said nothing; and if she did not allow herself to avow that +his absence was a relief, it was because she saw it was a grief and +disappointment to Guy. + +Laura was, of course, very much mortified,--almost beyond the power of +concealment. She thought he would have come for the sake of seeing +her, and she had reckoned so much on this meeting that it was double +vexation. He did not know what he was missing by not coming; and she +could not inform him, for writing to him was impossible, without the +underhand dealings to which they would never, either of them, have +recourse. So much for herself; and his perseverance in disapproval, in +spite of renewed explanation, made her more anxious and sorry on Amy's +account. Very mournful were poor Laura's sensations; but there was +no remedy but to try to bewilder and drive them away in the bustle of +preparation. + +Guy had to go and take his degree, and then return to make his own +preparations at Redclyffe. Amy begged him, as she knew he would like, +to leave things alone as much as possible; for she could not bear old +places to be pulled to pieces to suit new-comers; and she should like to +find it just as he had been used to it. + +He smiled, and said, 'It should only be made habitable.' She must have +a morning-room, about which he would consult Mrs. Ashford: and he would +choose her piano himself. The great drawing-room had never been unpacked +since his grandmother's time, so that must be in repair; and, as for a +garden, they would lay it out together. There could not be much done; +for though they did not talk of it publicly, lest they should shock Mr. +Edmonstone, they meant to go home directly after their marriage. + +To Oxford, then, went Guy; his second letter announced that he had done +tolerably well on his examination; and it came round to the Edmonstones, +that it was a great pity he had not gone up for honours, as he would +certainly have distinguished himself. + +Redclyffe was, of course, in a state of great excitement at the news +that Sir Guy was going to be married. Markham was very grand with the +letter that announced it, and could find nothing to grumble about but +that the lad was very young, and it was lucky it was no worse. + +Mrs. Ashford was glad it was so good a connection, and obtained all the +intelligence she could from James Thorndale, who spoke warmly of the +Hollywell family in general; and, in particular, said that the young +ladies looked after schools and poor people,--that Miss Edmonstone was +very handsome and clever--a very superior person; but as to Miss Amabel, +he did not know that there was anything to say about her. She was just +like other young ladies, and very attentive to her invalid brother. + +Markham's enmity to Mr. Ashford had subsided at the bidding of his +master; and he informed him one day, with great cordiality, that Sir Guy +would be at home the next. He was to sleep that night at Coombe Prior, +and ride to Redclyffe in the morning; and, to the great delight of the +boys, it was at the parsonage door that he dismounted. + +Mrs. Ashford looked up in his bright face, and saw no more of the shade +that had perplexed her last winter. His cheeks were deeper red as she +warmly shook hands with him; and then the children sprung upon him for +their old games,--the boys claiming his promise, with all their might, +to take them out to the Shag. She wondered when she should venture to +talk to him about Miss Amabel. He next went to find Markham, and met +him before he reached his house. Markham was too happy not to grant and +grumble more than ever. + +'Well, Sir Guy; so here you are! You've lost no time about it, however. +A fine pair of young housekeepers, and a pretty example of early +marriages for the parish!' + +Guy laughed. 'You must come and see the example, Markham. I have a +message from Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone, to ask you to come to Hollywell at +Whitsuntide.' + +Grunt! 'You are making a fool of me, Sir Guy. What's a plain old man +like me to do among all your lords and ladies, and finery and flummery? +I'll do no such thing.' + +'Not to oblige me?' + +'Oblige you? Nonsense! Much you'll care for me!' + +'Nay, Markham, you must not stay away. You, my oldest and best +friend,--my only home friend. I owe all my present happiness to you, and +it would really be a great disappointment to me if you did not come. She +wishes it, too.' + +'Well, Sir Guy,' and the grunt was of softer tone, 'if you do choose to +make a fool of me, I can't help it. You must have your own way; though +you might have found a friend that would do you more credit.' + +'Then I may say that you will come?' + +'Say I am very much obliged to Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone for their +invitation. It is very handsome of them.' + +'Then you will have the settlements ready by that time. You must, +Markham.' + +'I'll see about it.' + +'And the house must be ready to come home to at once.' + +'You don't know what you are talking of, Sir Guy!' exclaimed Markham, at +once aghast and angry. + +'Yes, I do. We don't intend to turn the house upside down with new +furniture.' + +'You may talk as you please, Sir Guy, but I know what's what; and it is +mere nonsense to talk of bringing a lady to a house in this condition. +A pretty notion you have of what is fit for your bride! I hope she knows +what sort of care you mean to take of her!' + +'She will be satisfied,' said Guy. 'She particularly wishes not to have +everything disarranged, I only must have two rooms furnished for her.' + +'But the place wants painting from head to foot, and the roof is in such +a state--' + +'The roof? That's serious!' + +'Serious; I believe so. You'll have it about your ears in no time, if +you don't look sharp.' + +'I'll look this minute,' said Guy, jumping up. 'Will you come with me?' + +Up he went, climbing about in the forest of ancient timbers, where he +could not but be convinced that there was more reason than he could wish +in what Markham said, and that his roof was in no condition to bring +his bride to. Indeed it was probable that it had never been thoroughly +repaired since the time of old Sir Hugh, for the Morvilles had not been +wont to lay out money on what did not make a display. Guy was in dismay, +he sent for the builder from Moorworth; calculated times and costs; +but, do what he would, he could not persuade himself that when once the +workmen were in Redclyffe, they would be out again before the autumn. + +Guy was very busy during the fortnight he spent at home. There were the +builder and his plans, and Markham and the marriage settlements, and +there were orders to be given about the furniture. He came to Mrs. +Ashford about this, conducted her to the park, and begged her to be so +kind as to be his counsellor, and to superintend the arrangement. He +showed her what was to be Amy's morning-room--now bare and empty, but +with the advantages of a window looking south, upon the green wooded +slope of the park, with a view of the church tower, and of the moors, +which were of very fine form. He owned himself to be profoundly ignorant +about upholstery matters, and his ideas of furniture seemed to consist +in prints for the walls, a piano, a bookcase, and a couch for Charles. + +'You have heard about Charles?' said he, raising his bright face from +the list of needful articles which he was writing, using the window-seat +as a table. + +'Not much,' said Mrs. Ashford. 'Is he entirely confined to the sofa?' + +'He cannot move without crutches; but no one could guess what he is +without seeing him. He is so patient, his spirits never flag; and it is +beautiful to see how considerate he is, and what interest he takes +in all the things he never can share, poor fellow. I don't know what +Hollywell would be without Charlie! I wonder how soon he will be able to +come here! Hardly this year, I am afraid, for things must be comfortable +for him, and I shall never get them so without Amy, and then it will be +autumn. Well, what next? Oh, you said window-curtains. Some blue sort +of stuff, I suppose, like the drawing-room ones at Hollywell. What's the +name of it?' + +In fact, Mrs. Ashford was much of his opinion, that he never would make +things comfortable without Amy, though he gave his best attention to the +inquiries that were continually made of him; and where he had an idea, +carried it out to the utmost. He knew much better what he was about in +the arrangements for Coombe Prior, where he had installed his friend, +Mr. Wellwood, and set on foot many plans for improvements, giving them +as much attention as if he had nothing else to occupy his mind. Both the +curate and Markham were surprised that he did not leave these details +till his return home; but he answered,-- + +'Better do things while we may. The thought of this unhappy place is +enough to poison everything; and I don't think I could rest without +knowing that the utmost was being done for it.' + +He was very happy making arrangements for a village feast on the +wedding-day. The Ashfords asked if he would not put it off till his +return, and preside himself. + +'It won't hurt them to have one first. Let them make sure of all the +fun they can,' he answered; and the sentiment was greatly applauded by +Edward and Robert, who followed him about more than ever, and grew so +fond of him, that it made them very angry to be reminded of the spirit +of defiance in which their acquaintance had begun. Nevertheless they +seemed to be preparing the same spirit for his wife, for when their +mother told them they must not expect to monopolize him thus when he was +married, they declared, that they did not want a Lady Morville at all, +and could not think why he was so stupid as to want a wife. + +Their father predicted that he would never have time to fulfil his old +engagement of taking them out to the Shag Rock, but the prediction was +not verified, for he rowed both them and Mr. Ashford thither one fine +May afternoon, showed them all they wanted to see, and let them scramble +to their heart's content. He laughed at their hoard of scraps of the +wood of the wreck, which they said their mamma had desired them to fetch +for her. + +So many avocations came upon Guy at once,--so many of the neighbours +came to call on him,--such varieties of people wanted to speak +to him,--the boys followed him so constantly,--and he had so many +invitations from Mr. Wellwood and the Ashfords, that he never had any +time for himself, except what must be spent in writing to Amabel. There +was a feeling upon him, that he must have time to commune with himself, +and rest from this turmoil of occupation, in the solitude of which +Redclyffe had hitherto been so full. He wanted to be alone with his old +home, and take leave of it, and of the feelings of his boyhood, before +beginning on this new era of his life; but whenever he set out for a +solitary walk, before he could even get to the top of the crag, either +Markham marched up to talk over some important question,--a farmer +waylaid him to make some request,--some cottager met him, to tell of a +grievance,--Mr. Wellwood rode over,--or the Ashford boys rushed up, and +followed like his shadow. + +At length, on Ascension day, the last before he was to leave Redclyffe, +with a determination that he would escape for once from his pursuers, he +walked to the Cove as soon as he returned from morning service, launched +his little boat and pushed off into the rippling whispering waters. It +was a resumption of the ways of his boyhood; it seemed like a holiday to +have left all these cares behind him, just as it used to be when all his +lessons were prepared, and he had leave to disport himself, by land or +water, the whole afternoon, provided he did not go out beyond the Shag +Rock. He took up his sculls and rowed merrily, singing and whistling to +keep time with their dash, the return to the old pleasure quite enough +at first, the salt breeze, the dashing waves, the motion of the boat. +So he went on till he had come as far as his former boundary, then +he turned and gazed back on the precipitous rocks, cleft with deep +fissures, marbled with veins of different shades of red, and tufted here +and therewith clumps of samphire, grass, and a little brushwood, bright +with the early green of spring. The white foam and spray were leaping +against their base, and roaring in their hollows; the tract of wavelets +between glittered in light, or heaved green under the shadow of the +passing clouds; the sea-birds floated smoothly in sweeping undulating +lines, + + + As though life's only call and care + Were graceful motion; + + +the hawks poised themselves high in air near the rocks. The Cove lay in +sunshine, its rough stone chimneys and rude slate roofs overgrown +with moss and fern, rising rapidly, one above the other, in the +fast descending hollow, through which a little stream rushed to the +sea,--more quietly than its brother, which, at some space distant, fell +sheer down over the crag in a white line of foam, brawling with a tone +of its own, distinguishable among all the voices of the sea contending +with the rocks. Above the village, in the space where the outline of two +hills met and crossed, rose the pinnacled tower of the village church, +the unusual height of which was explained by the old custom of lighting +a beacon-fire on its summit, to serve as a guide to the boats at sea. +Still higher, apparently on the very brow of the beetling crag that +frowned above, stood the old Gothic hall, crumbling and lofty, a fit +eyrie for the eagles of Morville. The sunshine was indeed full upon +it; but it served to show how many of the dark windows were without the +lining of blinds and curtains, that alone gives the look of life and +habitation to a house. How crumbled by sea-wind were the old walls, and +the aspect altogether full of a dreary haughtiness, suiting with the +whole of the stories connected with its name, from the time when it +was said the very dogs crouched and fled from the presence of the +sacrilegious murderer of the Archbishop, to the evening when the heir of +the line lay stretched a corpse before his father's gate. + +Guy sat resting on his oars, gazing at the scene, full of happiness, +yet with a sense that it might be too bright to last, as if it scarcely +befitted one like himself. The bliss before him, though it was surely a +beam from heaven, was so much above him, that he hardly dared to believe +it real: like a child repeating, 'Is it my own, my very own?' and +pausing before it will venture to grasp at a prize beyond its hopes. He +feared to trust himself fully, lest it should carry him away from his +self-discipline, and dazzle him too much to let him keep his gaze on the +light beyond; and he rejoiced in this time of quiet, to enable him +to strive for power over his mind, to prevent himself from losing in +gladness the balance he had gained in adversity. + +It was such a check as he might have wished for, to look at that grim +old castle, recollect who he was, and think of the frail tenure of all +earthly joy, especially for one of the house of Morville. Could that +abode ever be a home for a creature like Amy, with the bright innocent +mirth that seemed too soft and sweet ever to be overshadowed by gloom +and sorrow? Perhaps she might be early taken from him in the undimmed +beauty of her happiness and innocence, and he might have to struggle +through a long lonely life with only the remembrance of a short-lived +joy to lighten it; and when he reflected that this was only a melancholy +fancy, the answer came from within, that there was nothing peculiar to +him in the perception that earthly happiness was fleeting. It was +best that so it should be, and that he should rest in the trust that +brightened on him through all,--that neither life nor death, sorrow nor +pain, could separate, for ever, him and his Amy. + +And he looked up into the deep blue sky overhead, murmuring to himself, +'In heart and mind thither ascend, and with Him continually dwell,' and +gazed long and intently as he rocked on the green waters, till he again +spoke to himself,--'Why stand ye here gazing up into heaven?' then +pulled vigorously back to the shore, leaving a shining wake far behind +him. + + + + +CHAPTER 29 + + Hark, how the birds do sing, + And woods do ring! + All creatures have their joy, and man hath his; + Yet if we rightly measure, + Man's joy and pleasure + Rather hereafter than in present is: + + Not that he may not here + Taste of the cheer, + But as birds drink and straight lift up the head, + So must he sip and think + Of better drink + He may attain to after he is dead. + --HERBERT + + +Guy returned to Hollywell on the Friday, there to spend a quiet week +with them all, for it was a special delight to Amy that Hollywell and +her family were as precious to him for their own sakes as for hers. It +was said that it was to be a quiet week--but with all the best efforts +of Mrs. Edmonstone and Laura to preserve quiet, there was an amount, of +confusion that would have been very disturbing, but for Amy's propensity +never to be ruffled or fluttered. + +What was to be done in the honeymoon was the question for consideration. +Guy and Amy would have liked to make a tour among the English +cathedrals, pay a visit at Hollywell, and then go home and live in a +corner of the house till the rest was ready; for Amy could not see why +she should take up so much more room than old Sir Guy, and Guy declared +he could not see that happiness was a reason for going pleasure-hunting; +but Charles pronounced this very stupid, and Mr. Edmonstone thought a +journey on the Continent was the only proper thing for them to do. Mrs. +Edmonstone wished Amy to see a little of the world. Amy was known to +have always desired to see Switzerland; it occurred to Guy that it would +be a capital opportunity of taking Arnaud to see the relations he +had been talking for the last twenty years of visiting, and so they +acquiesced; for as Guy said, when they talked it over together, it did +not seem to him to come under the denomination of pleasure-hunting, +since they had not devised it for themselves; they had no house to +go to; they should do Arnaud a service, and perhaps they should meet +Philip. + +'That will not be pleasure-hunting, certainly,' said Amy; then, +remembering that he could not bear to hear Philip under-rated, she +added, 'I mean, unless you could convince him, and then it would be more +than pleasure.' + +'It would be my first of unattained wishes,' said Guy. 'Then we will +enjoy the journey.' + +'No fear on that score,' + +'And for fear we should get too much into the stream of enjoyment, as +people abroad forget home-duties, let us stick to some fixed time for +coming back.' + +'You said Redclyffe would be ready by Michaelmas.' + +'I have told the builder it must be. So, Amy, as far as it depends on +ourselves, we are determined to be at home by Michaelmas.' + +All seemed surprised to find the time for the wedding so near at hand. +Charles's spirits began to flag, Amy was a greater loss to him than to +anybody else; she could never again be to him what she had been, and +unable as he was to take part in the general bustle and occupation, he +had more time for feeling this, much more than his mother and Laura, who +were employed all day. He and Guy were exemplary in their civilities to +each other in not engrossing Amy, and one who had only known him three +years ago, when he was all exaction and selfishness, could have hardly +believed him to be the same person who was now only striving to avoid +giving pain, by showing how much it cost him to yield up his sister. He +could contrive to be merry, but the difficulty was to be cheerful; he +could make them all laugh in spite of themselves, but when alone with +Amy, or when hearing her devolve on her sisters the services she had +been wont to perform for him, it was almost more than he could endure; +but then he dreaded setting Amy off into one of her silent crying-fits, +for which the only remedy was the planning a grand visit to Redclyffe, +and talking overall the facilities of railroads and carriages. + +The last day had come, and a long strange one it was; not exactly joyful +to any, and very sad to some, though Amy, with her sweet pensive face, +seemed to have a serenity of her own that soothed them whenever they +looked at her. Charlotte, though inclined to be wild and flighty, +was checked and subdued in her presence; Laura could not be entirely +wretched about her; Charles lay and looked at her without speaking; her +father never met her without kissing her on each side of her face, and +calling her his little jewel; her mother--but who could describe Mrs. +Edmonstone on that day, so full of the present pain, contending with the +unselfish gladness. + +Guy kept out of the way, thinking Amy ought to be left to them. He sat +in his own room a good while, afterwards rode to Broadstone, in coming +home made a long visit to Mr. Ross; and when he returned, he found +Charles in his wheeled chair on the lawn, with Amy sitting on the grass +by his side. He sat down by her and there followed a long silence,--one +of those pauses full of meaning. + +'When shall we three meet again?' at length said Charles, in a would-be +lively tone. + +'And where?' said Amy. + +'Here,' said Charles; 'you will come here to tell your adventures, and +take up Bustle.' + +'I hope so,' said Guy. 'We could not help it. The telling you about it +will be a treat to look forward to all the time.' + +'Yes; your sight-seeing is a public benefit. You have seen many a thing +for me.' + +'That is the pleasure of seeing and hearing, the thing that is not +fleeting,' said Guy. + +'The unselfish part, you mean,' said Charles; and mused again, till Guy, +starting up, exclaimed-- + +'There are the people!' as a carriage came in view in the lane. 'Shall I +wheel you home, Charlie?' + +'Yes, do.' + +Guy leant over the back, and pushed him along; and as he did so murmured +in a low tremulous tone, 'Wherever or whenever we may be destined to +meet, Charlie, or if never again, I must thank you for a great part of +my happiness here--for a great deal of kindness and sympathy.' + +Charles looked straight before him, and answered--'The kindness was +all on your part. I had nothing to give in return but ill-temper and +exactions. But, Guy, you must not think I have not felt all you have +done for me. You have made a new man of me, instead of a wretched stick, +laughing at my misery, to persuade myself and others that I did not feel +it. I hope you are proud of it.' + +'As if I had anything to do with it!' + +'Hadn't, you, that's all! I know what you won't deny, at any rate--what +a capital man-of-all-work you have been to me, when I had no right to +ask it, as now we have,' he added, smiling, because Amy was looking at +him, but not making a very successful matter of the smile. 'When you +come back, you'll see me treat you as indeed "a man and a brother."' + +This talk retarded them a little, and they did not reach the house till +the guests were arriving. The first sight that met the eyes of Aunt +Charlotte and Lady Eveleen as they entered, was, in the frame of the +open window, Guy's light agile figure, assisting Charles up the step, +his brilliant hazel eyes and glowing healthy complexion contrasting with +Charles's pale, fair, delicate face, and features sharpened and refined +by suffering. Amy, her deep blushes and downcast eyes almost hidden by +her glossy curls, stood just behind, carrying her brother's crutch. + +'There they are,' cried Miss Edmonstone, springing forward from her +brother and his wife, and throwing her arms round Amy in a warm embrace. +'My dear, dear little niece, I congratulate you with all my heart, and +that I do.' + +'I'll spare your hot cheeks, Amy dearest!' whispered Eveleen, as Amy +passed to her embrace, while Aunt Charlotte hastily kissed Charles, +and proceeded--'I don't wait for an introduction;' and vehemently shook +hands with Guy. + +'Ay, did I say a word too much in his praise?' said Mr. Edmonstone. +'Isn't he all out as fine a fellow as I told you?' + +Guy was glad to turn away to shake hands with Lord Kilcoran, and the +next moment he drew Amy out of the group eagerly talking round Charles's +sofa, and holding her hand, led her up to a sturdy, ruddy-brown, elderly +man, who had come in at the same time, but after the first reception had +no share in the family greetings. 'You know him, already,' said Guy; and +Amy held out her hand, saying-- + +'Yes, I am sure I do.' + +Markham was taken by surprise, he gave a most satisfied grunt, and shook +hands as heartily as if she had been his favourite niece. + +'And the little girl?' said Amy. + +'O yes.--I picked her up at St. Mildred's: one of the servants took +charge of her in the hall.' + +'I'll fetch her,' cried Charlotte, as Amy was turning to the door, and +the next moment she led in little Marianne Dixon, clinging to her hand. +Amy kissed her, and held her fast in her arms, and Marianne looked up, +consoled in her bewilderment, by the greeting of her dear old friend, +Sir Guy. + +Mr. Edmonstone patted her head; and when the others had spoken kindly to +her, Charlotte, under whose especial charge Guy and Amy had placed her, +carried her off to the regions up-stairs. + +The rest of the evening was hurry and confusion. Mrs. Edmonstone was +very busy, and glad to be so, as she must otherwise have given way; and +there was Aunt Charlotte to be talked to, whom they had not seen since +Charles's illness. She was a short, bustling, active person, with a +joyous face, inexhaustible good-humour, a considerable touch of Irish, +and referring everything to her mother,--her one thought. Everything was +to be told to her, and the only drawback to her complete pleasure was +the anxiety lest she should be missed at home. + +Mrs. Edmonstone was occupied with her, telling her the history of the +engagement, and praising Guy; Amy went up as soon as dinner was over, +to take leave of old nurse, and to see little Marianne; and Eveleen sat +between Laura and Charlotte, asking many eager questions, which were not +all convenient to answer. + +Why Sir Guy had not been at home at Christmas was a query to which it +seemed as if she should never gain a reply; for that Charles had been +ill, and Guy at Redclyffe, was no real answer; and finding she should +not be told, she wisely held her tongue. Again she made an awkward +inquiry-- + +'Now tell me, is Captain Morville pleased about this or not?' + +Laura would have been silent, trusting to Eveleen's propensity for +talking, for bringing her to some speech that it might be easier to +answer, but Charlotte exclaimed, 'What has he been saying about it?' + +'Saying? O nothing. But why does not he come?' + +'You have seen him more lately than we have,' said Laura. + +'That is an evasion,' said Eveleen; 'as if you did not know more of his +mind than I could ever get at, if I saw him every day of my life.' + +'He is provoking, that is all,' answered Charlotte. 'I am sure we don't +want him; but Laura and Guy will both of them take his part.' + +A call came at that moment,--the box of white gloves was come, and Laura +must come and count them. She would fain have taken Charlotte with her; +but neither Charlotte nor Eveleen appeared disposed to move, and she +was obliged to leave them. Eva had already guessed that there was more +chance of hearing the facts from Charlotte, and presently she knew a +good deal. Charlotte had some prudence, but she thought she might +tell her own cousin what half the neighbourhood knew--that Philip had +suspected Guy falsely, and had made papa very angry with him, that the +engagement had been broken off, and Guy had been banished, while all the +time he was behaving most gloriously. Now it was all explained; but +in spite of the fullest certainty, Philip would not be convinced, and +wanted them to have waited five years. + +Eveleen agreed with Charlotte that this was a great deal too bad, +admired Guy, and pitied Amy to her heart's content. + +'So, he was banished, regularly banished!' said she. 'However of course +Amy never gave him up.' + +'Oh, she never mistrusted him one minute.' + +'And while he had her fast, it was little he would care for the rest.' + +'Yes, if he had known it, but she could not tell him.' + +Eveleen looked arch. + +'But I am sure she did not,' said Charlotte, rather angrily. + +'You know nothing about it, my dear.' + +'Yes, but I do; for mamma said to Charlie how beautifully she did +behave, and he too,--never attempting any intercourse.' + +'Very good of you to believe it.' + +'I am sure of it, certain sure,' said Charlotte. 'How could you venture +to think they would either of them do anything wrong?' + +'I did not say they would.' + +'What, not to write to each other when papa had forbidden it, and do it +in secret, too?' + +'My dear, don't look so innocently irate. Goodness has nothing to do +with it, it would be only a moderate constancy. You know nothing at all +of lovers.' + +'If I know nothing of lovers, I know a great deal of Amy and Guy, and I +am quite sure that nothing on earth would tempt them to do anything in +secret that they were forbidden.' + +'Wait till you are in love, and you'll change your mind.' + +'I never mean to be in love,' said Charlotte indignantly. Eveleen +laughed the more, Charlotte grew more angry and uncomfortable at the +tone of the conversation, and was heartily glad that it was broken off +by the entrance of the gentlemen. Guy helped Charles to the sofa, and +then turned away to continue his endless talk on Redclyffe business with +Markham. Charlotte flew up to the sofa, seized an interval when no one +was in hearing, and kneeling down to bring her face on a level with her +brother's whispered--'Charlie, Eva won't believe but that Guy and Amy +kept up some intercourse last winter.' + +'I can't help it, Charlotte.' + +'When I tell her they did not, she only laughs at me. Do tell her they +did not.' + +'I have too much self-respect to lay myself open to ridicule.' + +'Charlie, you don't think it possible yourself?' exclaimed Charlotte, in +consternation. + +'Possible--no indeed.' + +'She _will_ say it is not wrong, and that I know nothing of lovers.' + +'You should have told her that ours are not commonplace lovers, but far +beyond her small experience.' + +'I wish I had! Tell her so, Charlie; she will believe you.' + +'I sha'n't say one word about it.' + +'Why not?' + +'Because she is not worthy. If she can't appreciate them, I would let +her alone. I once thought better of Eva, but it is very bad company she +keeps when she is not here.' + +Charles, however, was not sorry when Eveleen came to sit by him, for a +bantering conversation with her was the occupation of which he was moat +capable. Amy, returning, came and sat in her old place beside him, with +her hand in his, and her quiet eyes fixed on the ground. + +The last evening for many weeks that she would thus sit with him,--the +last that she would ever be a part of his home. She had already ceased +to belong entirely to him; she who had always been the most precious to +him, except his mother. + +Only his mother could have been a greater loss,--he could not dwell +on the anticipation; and still holding her hand, he roused himself to +listen, and answer gaily to Eveleen's description of the tutor, Mr. +Fielder, 'a thorough gentleman, very clever and agreeable, who had read +all the books in the world; the ugliest, yes, without exaggeration, the +most quaintly ugly man living,--little, and looking just as if he was +made of gutta percha, Eveleen said, 'always moving by jerks,--so Maurice +advised the boys not to put him near the fire, lest he should melt.' + +'Only when he gives them some formidable lesson, and they want to +melt his heart,' said Charles, talking at random, in hopes of saying +something laughable. + +'Then his eyes--'tis not exactly a squint, but a cast there is, and one +set of eyelashes are black and the other light, and that gives him just +the air of a little frightful terrier of Maurice's named Venus, with a +black spot over one eye. The boys never call him anything but Venus.' + +'And you encourage them in respect for their tutor?' + +'Oh, he holds his own at lessons, I trow; but he pretends to have such +a horror of us wild Irish, and to wonder not to find us eating potatoes +with our fingers, and that I don't wear a petticoat over my head instead +of a bonnet, in what he calls the classical Carthaginian Celto-Hibernian +fashion.' + +'Dear me,' said Charlotte, 'no wonder Philip recommended him.' + +'O, I assure you he has the gift, no one else but Captain Morville talks +near as well.' + +So talked on Eveleen, and Charles answered her as much in her own +fashion as he could, and when at last the evening came to an end, every +one felt relieved. + +Laura lingered long in Amy's room, perceiving that hitherto she had +known only half the value of her sister her sweet sister. It would +be worse than ever now, when left with the others, all so much less +sympathizing, all saying sharp things of Philip, none to cling to her +with those winsome ways that had been unnoted till the time when they +were no more to console her, and she felt them to have been the only +charm that had softened her late dreary desolation. + +So full was her heart, that she must have told Amy all her grief but for +the part that Philip had acted towards Guy, and her doubts of Guy would +not allow her the consolation of dwelling on Amy's happiness, which +cheered the rest. She could only hang about her in speechless grief, and +caress her fondly, while Amy cried, and tried to comfort her, till her +mother came to wish her good night. + +Mrs. Edmonstone did not stay long, because she wished Amy, if possible +to rest. + +'Mamma' said Amy, as she received her last kiss, 'I can't think why I am +not more unhappy.' + +'It is all as it should be,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. + +Amabel slept, and awakened to the knowledge that it was her wedding-day. +She was not to appear at the first breakfast, but she came to meet +Charles in the dressing-room; and as they sat together on the sofa, +where she had watched and amused so many of his hours of helplessness, +he clasped round her arm his gift,--a bracelet of his mother's hair. His +fingers trembled and his eyes were hazy, but he would not let her help +him. Her thanks were obliged to be all kisses, no words would come but +'Charlie; Charlie! how could I ever have promised to leave you?' + +'Nonsense! who ever dreamt that my sisters were to be three monkeys tied +to a dog?' + +It was impossible not to smile, though it was but for a +moment,--Charles's mirth was melancholy. + +'And, dear Charlie, you will not miss me so very much; do pray let +Charlotte wait upon you.' + +'After the first, perhaps, I may not hate her. Oh, Amy, I little knew +what I was doing when I tried to get him back again for you. I was +sawing off the bough I was sitting on. But there! I will not flatter +you, you've had enough to turn that head of yours. Stand up, and let +me take a survey. Very pretty, I declare,--you do my education credit. +There, if it will be for your peace, I'll do my best to wear on without +you. I've wanted a brother all my life, and you are giving me the very +one I would have picked out of a thousand--the only one I could forgive +for presuming to steal you, Amy. Here he is. Come in,' he added, as Guy +knocked at his door, to offer to help him down-stairs. + +Guy hardly spoke, and Amy could not look in his face. It was late, and +he took down Charles at once. After this, she had very little quiet, +every one was buzzing about her, and putting the last touches to her +dress; at last, just as she was quite finished, Charlotte exclaimed, +'Oh, there is Guy's step; may I call him in to have one look?' + +Mrs. Edmonstone did not say no; and Charlotte, opening the dressing-room +door, called to him. He stood opposite to Amy for some moments, then +said, with a smile, 'I was wrong about the grogram. I would not for +anything see you look otherwise than you do.' + +It seemed to Mrs. Edmonstone and Laura that these words made them lose +sight of the details of lace and silk that had been occupying them, so +that they only saw the radiance, purity, and innocence of Amy's bridal +appearance. No more was said, for Mr. Edmonstone ran up to call Guy, who +was to drive Charles in the pony-carriage. + +Amabel, of course, went with her parents. Poor child! her tears flowed +freely on the way, and Mr. Edmonstone, now that it had really come to +the point of parting with his little Amy, was very much overcome, while +his wife, hardly refraining from tears, could only hold her daughter's +hand very close. + +The regular morning service was a great comfort, by restoring their +tranquillity, and by the time it was ended, Amabel's countenance had +settled into its own calm expression of trust and serenity. She scarcely +even trembled when her father led her forward; her hand did not shake, +and her voice, though very low, was firm and audible, while Guy's deep, +sweet tones had a sort of thrill and quiver of intense feeling. + +No one could help observing that Laura was the most agitated person +present; she trembled so much that she was obliged to lean on Charlotte, +and her tears gave the infection to the other bridesmaids--all but Mary +Ross, who could never cry when other people did, and little Marianne, +who did nothing but look and wonder. + +Mary was feeling a great deal, both of compassion for the bereaved +family and of affectionate admiring joy for the young pair who knelt +before the altar. It was a showery day, with gleams of vivid sunshine, +and one of these suddenly broke forth, casting a stream of colour from a +martyr's figure in the south window, so as to shed a golden glory on the +wave of brown hair over Guy's forehead, then passing on and tinting the +bride's white veil with a deep glowing shade of crimson and purple. + +Either that golden light, or the expression of the face on which it +beamed, made Mary think of the lines-- + + + Where is the brow to wear in mortal's sight, + The crown of pure angelic light? + + +Charles stood with his head leaning against a pillar as if he could not +bear to look up; Mr. Edmonstone was restless and almost sobbing; Mrs. +Edmonstone alone collected, though much flushed and somewhat trembling, +while the only person apparently free from excitement was the little +bride, as there she knelt, her hand clasped in his, her head bent down, +her modest, steadfast face looking as if she was only conscious of +the vow she exchanged, the blessing she received, and was, as it were, +lifted out of herself. + +It was over now. The feast, in its fullest sense, was held, and the +richest of blessings had been called down on them. + +The procession came out of the vestry in full order, and very pretty it +was; the bride and bridegroom in the fresh bright graciousness of +their extreme youth, and the six bridesmaids following; Laura and Lady +Eveleen, two strikingly handsome and elegant girls; Charlotte, with the +pretty little fair Marianne; Mary Ross, and Grace Harper. The village +people who stood round might well say that such a sight as that was +worth coming twenty miles to see. + +The first care, after the bridal pair had driven off, was to put Charles +into his pony-carriage. Charlotte, who had just pinned on his favour, +begged to drive him, for she meant to make him her especial charge, +and to succeed to all Amy's rights. Mrs. Edmonstone asked whether Laura +would not prefer going with him, but she hastily answered, + +'No, thank you, let Charlotte;' for with her troubled feelings, she +could better answer talking girls than parry the remarks of her shrewd, +observant brother. + +Some one said it would rain, but Charlotte still pleaded earnestly. + +'Come, then, puss,' said Charles, rallying his spirits, 'only don't +upset me, or it will spoil their tour.' + +Charlotte drove off with elaborate care,--then came a deep sigh, and she +exclaimed, 'Well! he is our brother, and all is safe.' + +'Yes,' said Charles; 'no more fears for them.' + +'Had you any? I am very glad if you had.' + +'Why?' + +'Because it was so like a book. I had a sort of feeling, all the time, +that Philip would come in quite grand and terrible.' + +'As if he must act Ogre. I am not sure that I had not something of +the same notion,--that he might appear suddenly, and forbid the banns, +entirely for Amy's sake, and as the greatest kindness to her.' + +'Oh!' + +'However, he can't separate them now; let him do his worst, and while +Amy is Guy's wife, I don't think we shall easily be made to quarrel. I +am glad the knot is tied, for I had a fatality notion that the feud was +so strong, that it was nearly a case of the mountains bending and the +streams ascending, ere she was to be our foeman's bride.' + +'No,' said Charlotte, 'it ought to be like that story of Rosaura and +her kindred, don't you remember? The fate would not be appeased by the +marriage, till Count Julius had saved the life of one of the hostile +race. That would be _it_,--perhaps they will meet abroad, and Guy will +_do_ _it_.' + +'That won't do. Philip will never endanger his precious life, nor ever +forgive Guy the obligation. Well, I suppose there never was a prettier +wedding--how silly of me to say so, I shall be sick of hearing it before +night.' + +'I do wish all these people were gone; I did not know it would be so +horrid. I should like to shut myself up and cry, and think what I could +ever do to wait on you. Indeed, Charlie, I know I never can be like Amy +but if you--' + +'Be anything but sentimental; I don't want to make a fool of myself' +said Charles, with a smile and tone as if he was keeping sorrow at bay. +'Depend upon it if we were left to ourselves this evening, we should be +so desperately savage that we should quarrel furiously, and there would +be no Amy to set us to rights.' + +'How Aunt Charlotte did cry! What a funny little woman she is.' + +'Yes, I see now who you take after, puss. You'll be just like her when +you are her age.' + +'So I mean to be,--I mean to stay and take care of you all my life, as +she does of grandmamma.' + +'You do, do you?' + +'Yes. I never mean to marry, it is so disagreeable. O dear! But how +lovely dear Amy did look.' + +'Here's the rain!' exclaimed Charles, as some large drops began to fall +in good time to prevent them from being either savage or sentimental, +though at the expense of Charlotte's pink and white; for they had no +umbrella, and she would not accept a share of Charles's carriage-cloak. +She laughed, and drove on fast through the short cut, and arrived at the +house-door, just as the pelting hail was over, having battered her thin +sleeves, and made her white bonnet look very deplorable. The first thing +they saw was Guy, with Bustle close to him, for Bustle had found out +that something was going on that concerned his master, and followed him +about more assiduously than ever, as if sensible of the decree, that he +was to be left behind to Charlotte's care. + +'Charlotte, how wet you are.' + +'Never mind, Charlie is not.' She sprung out, holding his hand, and +felt as if she could never forget that moment when her new brother first +kissed her brow. + +'Where's Amy?' + +'Here!' and while Guy lifted Charles out, Charlotte was clasped in her +sister's arms. + +'Are you wet, Charlie?' + +'No, Charlotte would not be wise, and made me keep the cloak to myself.' + +'You are wet through, poor child; come up at once, and change,' said +Amy, flying nimbly up the stairs,--up even to Charlotte's own room, the +old nursery, and there she was unfastening the drenched finery. + +'O Amy, don't do all this. Let me ring.' + +'No, the servants are either not come home or are too busy. Charles +won't want me, he has Guy. Can I find your white frock?' + +'Oh, but Amy--let me see!' Charlotte made prisoner the left hand, and +looked up with an arch smile at the face where she had called up a +blush. 'Lady Morville must not begin by being lady's-maid.' + +'Let me--let me, Charlotte, dear, I sha'n't be able to do anything for +you this long time.' Amy's voice trembled, and Charlotte held her fast +to kiss her again. + +'We must make haste,' said Amy, recovering herself. 'There are the +carriages.' + +While the frock was being fastened, Charlotte looked into the +Prayer-book Amy had laid down. There was the name, Amabel Frances +Morville, and the date. + +'Has he just written it?' said Charlotte. + +'Yes; when we came home.' + +'O Amy! dear, dear Amy; I don't know whether I am glad or sorry!' + +'I believe I am both,' said Amy. + +At that moment Mrs. Edmonstone and Laura hastened in. Then was the time +for broken words, tears and smiles, as Amy leant against her mother, who +locked her in a close embrace, and gazed on her in a sort of trance, at +once of maternal pride and of pain, at giving up her cherished nestling. +Poor Laura! how bitter were her tears, and how forced her smiles,--far +unlike the rest! + +No one would care to hear the details of the breakfast, and the +splendours of the cake; how Charlotte recovered her spirits while +distributing the favours: and Lady Eveleen set up a flirtation with +Markham, and forced him into wearing one, though he protested, with many +a grunt, that she was making a queer fool of him; how often Charles was +obliged to hear it had been a pretty wedding; and how well Lord Kilcoran +made his speech proposing the health of Sir Guy and Lady Morville. All +the time, Laura was active and useful,--feeling as if she was acting a +play, sustaining the character of Miss Edmonstone, the bridesmaid at +her sister's happy marriage; while the true Laura, Philip's Laura, was +lonely, dejected, wretched; half fearing for her sister, half jealous +of her happiness, forced into pageantry with an aching heart,--with only +one wish, that it was over, and that she might be again alone with her +burden. + +She was glad when her mother rose, and the ladies moved into the +drawing-room,--glad to escape from Eveleen's quick eye, and to avoid +Mary's clear sense,--glad to talk to comparative strangers,--glad of +the occupation of going to prepare Amabel for her journey. This lasted +a long time,--there was so much to be said, and hearts were so full, +and Amy over again explained to Charlotte how to perform all the little +services to Charles which she relinquished; while her mother had so many +affectionate last words, and every now and then stopped short to look at +her little daughter, saying, she did not know if it was not a dream. + +At length Amabel was dressed in her purple and white shot silk, her +muslin mantle, and white bonnet. Mrs. Edmonstone left her and Laura +to have a few words together, and went to the dressing-room. There she +found Guy, leaning on the mantelshelf, as he used to do when he brought +his troubles to her. He started as she entered. + +'Ought I not to be here? he said. 'I could not help coming once more. +This room has always been the kernel of my home, my happiness here.' + +'Indeed, it has been a very great pleasure to have you here.' + +'You have been very kind to me,' he proceeded, in a low, reflecting +tone. 'You have helped me very much, very often; even when--Do you +remember the day I begged you to keep me in order, as if I were Charles? +I did not think then--' + +He was silent; and Mrs. Edmonstone little able to find words, smiling, +tried to say,--'I little thought how truly and how gladly I should be +able to call you my son;' and ended by giving him a mother's kiss. + +'I wish I could tell you half,' said Guy,--'half what I feel for the +kindness that made a home to one who had no right to any. Coming as a +stranger, I found--' + +'We found one to love with all our hearts,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'I +have often looked back, and seen that you brought a brightness to us +all--especially to poor Charles. Yes, it dates from your coming; and I +can only wish and trust, Guy, that the same brightness will rest on your +own home.' + +'There must be brightness where she is,' said Guy. + +'I need not tell you to take care of her,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, +smiling. 'I think I can trust you; but I feel rather as I did when first +I sent her and Laura to a party of pleasure by themselves.' + +Laura at this moment, came in. Alone with Amy, she could not speak, she +could only cry; and fearful of distressing her sister, she came away; +but here, with Guy, it was worse, for it was unkind not to speak one +warm word to him. Yet what could she say! He spoke first-- + +'Laura, you must get up your looks again, now this turmoil is over. +Don't do too much mathematics, and wear yourself down to a shadow.' + +Laura gave her sad, forced smile. + +'Will you do one thing for me, Laura? I should like to have one of +your perspective views of the inside of the church. Would it be too +troublesome to do?' + +'Oh, no; I shall be very glad.' + +'Don't set about it till you quite like it, and have plenty of time. +Thank you. I shall think it is a proof that you can forgive me for all +the pain I am causing you. I am very sorry. + +'You are so very kind,' said Laura, bursting into tears; and, as her +mother was gone, she could not help adding, 'but don't try to comfort +me, Guy; don't blame yourself,--'tisn't only that,--but I am so very, +very unhappy.' + +'Amy told me you were grieved for Philip. I wish I could help it, Laura. +I want to try to meet him in Switzerland, and, if we can, perhaps it may +be set right. At any rate he will be glad to know you see the rights of +it.' + +Laura wept still more; but she could never again lose the sisterly +feeling those kind words had awakened. If Philip had but known what he +missed! + +Charlotte ran in. 'Oh, I am glad to find you here, Guy; I wanted to put +you in mind of your promise. You must write me the first letter you sign +"Your affectionate brother!"' + +'I won't forget, Charlotte.' + +'Guy! Where's Guy?' called Mr. Edmonstone. 'The rain's going off. You +must come down, both of you, or you'll be too late.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone hastened to call Amabel. Those moments that she had +been alone, Amabel had been kneeling in an earnest supplication that all +might be forgiven that she had done amiss in the home of her childhood, +that the blessings might be sealed on her and her husband, and that she +might go forth from her father's house in strength sent from above. Her +mother summoned her; she rose, came calmly forth, met Guy at the head of +the stairs, put her arm in his, and they went down. + +Charles was on the sofa in the ante-room, talking fast, and striving for +high spirits. + +'Amy, woman, you do us credit! Well, write soon, and don't break your +heart for want of me.' + +There was a confusion of good-byes, and then all came out to the hall +door; even Charles, with Charlotte's arm. One more of those fast-locked +embraces between the brother and sister, and Mr. Edmonstone put Amabel +into the carriage. + +'Good-bye, good-bye, my own dearest little one! Bless you, bless you! +and may you be as happy as a Mayflower! Guy, goodbye. I've given you +the best I had to give,--and 'tis you that are welcome to her. Take care +what you do with her, for she's a precious little jewel! Good-bye, my +boy!' + +Guy's face and grasping hand were the reply. As he was about to spring +into the carriage, he turned again. 'Charlotte, I have shut Bustle up in +my room. Will you let him out in half an hour? I've explained it all to +him, and he will be very good. Good-bye.' + +'I'll take care of him. I'll mention him in every letter.' + +'And, Markham, mind, if our house is not ready by Michaelmas, we shall +be obliged to come and stay with you.' + +Grunt! + +Lastly, as if he could not help it, Guy dashed up the step once more, +pressed Charles's hand, and said, 'God bless you, Charlie!' + +In an instant he was beside Amabel, and they drove off,--Amabel leaning +forward, and gazing wistfully at her mother and Charles, till she was +startled by a long cluster of laburnums, their yellow bloom bent down +and heavy with wet, so that the ends dashed against her bonnet, and the +crystal drops fell on her lap. + +'Why, Amy, the Hollywell flowers are weeping for the loss of you! + +She gave a sweet, sunny smile through her tears. At that moment they +came beyond the thick embowering shrubs, while full before them was the +dark receding cloud, on which the sunbeams were painting a wide-spanned +rainbow. The semicircle was perfect, and full before them, like an arch +of triumph under which they were to pass. + +'How beautiful!' broke from them both. + +'Guy,' said the bride, after a few minutes had faded the rainbow, and +turned them from its sight, 'shall I tell you what I was thinking? I +was thinking, that if there is a doom on us, I am not afraid, if it will +only bring a rainbow.' + +'The rainbow will come after, if not with it,' said Guy. + + + + +CHAPTER 30 + + She's a winsome wee thing, + She's a handsome wee thing, + She's a bonnie wee thing, + This sweet wee wifie of mine. + --BURNS + + +'Look here, Amy,' said Guy, pointing to a name in the traveller's book +at Altdorf. + +'Captain Morville!' she exclaimed, 'July 14th. That was only the day +before yesterday.' + +'I wonder whether we shall overtake him! Do you know what was this +gentleman's route?' inquired Guy, in French that was daily becoming more +producible. + +The gentleman having come on foot, with nothing but his knapsack, had +not made much sensation. There was a vague idea that he had gone on +to the St. Gothard; but the guide who was likely to know, was not +forthcoming, and all Guy's inquiries only resulted in, 'I dare say we +shall hear of him elsewhere.' + +To tell the truth, Amabel was not much disappointed, and she could see, +though he said nothing, that Guy was not very sorry. These two months +had been so very happy, there had been such full enjoyment, such freedom +from care and vexation, or aught that could for a moment ruffle the +stream of delight. Scenery, cathedrals music, paintings, historical +association, had in turn given unceasing interest and pleasure; and, +above all, Amabel had been growing more and more into the depths of her +husband's mind, and entering into the grave, noble thoughts inspired by +the scenes they were visiting. It had been a sort of ideal happiness, +so exquisite, that she could hardly believe it real. A taste of society, +which they had at Munich, though very pleasant, had only made them +more glad to be alone together again; any companion would have been an +interruption, and Philip, so intimate, yet with his carping, persecuting +spirit towards Guy, was one of the last persons she could wish to +meet; but knowing that this was by no means a disposition Guy wished to +encourage, she held her peace. + +For the present, no more was said about Philip; and they proceeded to +Interlachen, where they spent a day or two, while Arnaud was with his +relations; and they visited the two beautiful lakes of Thun and Brientz. +On first coming among mountains, Amabel had been greatly afraid of +the precipices, and had been very much alarmed at the way in which Guy +clambered about, with a sureness of foot and steadiness of head acquired +long ago on the crags of Redclyffe, and on which the guides were always +complimenting him; but from seeing him always come down safe, and from +having been enticed by him to several heights, which had at first seemed +to her most dizzy and dangerous, she had gradually laid aside her fears, +and even become slightly, very slightly, adventurous herself. + +One beautiful evening, they were wandering on the side of the +Beatenberg, in the little narrow paths traced by the tread of the goats +and their herdsmen. Amabel sat down to try to sketch the outline of the +white-capped Jung Frau and her attendant mountains, wishing she could +draw as well as Laura, but intending her outline to aid in describing +the scene to those whose eyes she longed to have with her. While she was +drawing, Guy began to climb higher, and was soon out of sight, though +she still heard him whistling. The mountains were not easy to draw, +or rather she grew discontented with her black lines and white paper, +compared with the dazzling snow against the blue sky, tinged by the +roseate tints of the setting sun, and the dark fissures on the rocky +sides, still blacker from the contrast. + +She put up her sketching materials, and began to gather some of the +delightful treasury of mountain flowers. A gentle slope of grass was +close to her, and on it grew, at some little distance from her, a tuft +of deep purple, the beautiful Alpine saxifrage, which she well knew by +description. She went to gather it, but the turf was slippery, and when +once descending, she could not stop herself; and what was the horror of +finding herself half slipping, half running down a slope, which became +steeper every moment, till it was suddenly broken off into a sheer +precipice! She screamed, and grasped with both hands at some low bushes, +that grew under a rock at the side of the treacherous turf. She caught +a branch, and found herself supported, by clinging to it with her hands, +while she rested on the slope, now so nearly perpendicular, that to lose +her hold would send her instantly down the precipice. Her whole weight +seemed to depend on that slender bough, and those little hands that +clenched it convulsively,--her feet felt in vain for some hold. 'Guy! +Guy!' she shrieked again. Oh, where was he? His whistle ceased,--he +heard her,--he called, + +'Here!' + +'Oh, help me!' she answered. But with that moment's joy came the horror, +he could not help her--he would only fall himself. 'Take care! don't +come on the grass!' she cried. She must let go the branch in a short, +time then a slip, the precipice,--and what would become of him? Those +moments were hours. + +'I am coming--hold fast!' She heard his voice above her, very near. +To find him so close made the agony of dread and of prayer even more +intense. To be lost, with her husband scarcely a step from her! Yet how +could he stand on the slippery turf, and so as to be steady enough to +raise her up? + +'Now, then!' he said, speaking from the rock under which the brushwood +grew, 'I cannot reach you unless you raise up your hand to me--your left +hand--straight up. Let go. Now!' + +It was a fearful moment. Amabel could not see him, and felt as if +relinquishing her grasp of the tree was certain destruction. The +instinct of self-preservation had been making her cling desperately with +that left hand, especially as it held by the thicker part of the bough. +But the habit of implicit confidence and obedience was stronger still; +she did not hesitate, and tightening her hold with the other hand, she +unclasped the left and stretched it upwards. + +Joy unspeakable to feel his fingers close over her wrist, like iron, +even while the bush to which she had trusted was detaching itself, +almost uprooted by her weight! If she had waited a second she would have +been lost, but her confidence had been her safety. A moment or two more, +and with closed eyes she was leaning against him; his arm was round +her, and he guided her steps, till, breathless, she found herself on the +broad well-trodden path, out of sight of the precipice. + +'Thank heaven!' he said, in a very low voice, as he stood still. 'Thank +God! my Amy, I have you still.' + +She looked up and saw how pale he was, though his voice had been so +steady throughout. She leant on his breast, and rested her head on +his shoulder again in silence, for her heart was too full of awe and +thankfulness for words, even had she not been without breath or power to +speak, and needing his support in her giddiness and trembling. + +More than a minute passed thus. Then, beginning to recover, she looked +up to him again, and said, 'Oh, it was dreadful! I did not think you +could have saved me.' + +'I thought so too for a moment!' said Guy, in a stifled voice. 'You are +better now? You are not hurt? are you sure?' + +'Quite sure! I did not fall, you know, only slipped. No, I have nothing +the matter with me, thank you.' + +She tried to stand alone, but the trembling returned. He made her sit +down, and she rested against him, while he still made her assure him +that she was unhurt. 'Yes, quite unhurt--quite well; only this wrist is +a little strained, and no wonder. Oh, I am sure it was Providence that +made those bushes grow just there!' + +'How did it happen?' + +'It was my fault. I went after a flower; my foot slipped on the turf, +and I could not stop myself. I thought I should have run right down the +precipice.' + +She shut her eyes and shuddered again. 'It was frightful!' he said, +holding her fast. 'It was a great mercy, indeed. Thank heaven, it is +over! You are not giddy now.' + +'Oh, no; not at all!' + +'And your wrist?' + +'Oh, that's nothing. I only told you to show you what was the worst,' +said Amy, smiling with recovered playfulness, the most re-assuring of +all. + +'What flower was it?' + +'A piece of purple saxifrage. I thought there was no danger, for it did +not seem steep at first.' + +'No, it was not your fault. You had better not move just yet; sit still +a little while.' + +'O Guy, where are you going?' + +'Only for your sketching tools and my stick. I shall not be gone an +instant. Sit still and recover.' + +In a few seconds he came back with her basket, and in it a few of the +flowers. + +'Oh, I am sorry,' she said, coming to meet him; 'I wish I had told you I +did not care for them. Why did you?' + +'I did not put myself in any peril about them. I had my trusty staff, +you know.' + +'I am glad I did not guess what you were doing. I thought it so +impossible, that I did not think of begging you not. I shall keep them +always. It is a good thing for us to be put in mind how frail all our +joy is.' + +'All?' asked Guy, scarcely as if replying to her, while, though his arm +pressed hers, his eye was on the blue sky, as he answered himself, 'Your +joy no man taketh from you.' + +Amabel was much impressed, as she thought what it would have been +for him if his little wife bad been snatched from him so suddenly and +frightfully. His return--his meeting her mother--his desolate home and +solitary life. She could almost have wept for him. Yet, at the moment of +relief from the fear of such misery, he could thus speak. He could look +onward to the joy beyond, even while his cheek was still blanched with +the horror and anguish of the apprehension; and how great they had +been was shown by the broken words he uttered in his sleep, for several +nights afterwards, while by day he was always watching and cautioning +her. Assuredly his dependence on the joy that could not be lost did not +make her doubt his tenderness; it only made her feel how far behind him +she was, for would it have been the same with her, had the danger been +his? + +In a couple of days they arrived at the beautiful Lugano, and, as usual, +their first walk was to the post-office, but disappointment awaited +them. There had been some letters addressed to the name of Morville, +but the Signor Inglese had left orders that such should be forwarded to +Como. Amabel, in her best Italian, strove hard to explain the difference +between the captain and Sir Guy, the Cavaliere Guido, as she translated +him, who stood by looking much amused by the perplexities of his lady's +construing; while the post-master, though very polite and sorry for the +Signora's disappointment, stuck to the address being Morville, poste +restante. + +'There is one good thing,' said the cavaliere, as they walked away, 'we +can find the captain now. I'll write and ask him--shall I say to meet us +at Varenna or at Bellagio?' + +'Whichever suits him best, I should think. It can't make much difference +to us.' + +'Your voice has a disconsolate cadence,' said Guy, looking at her with a +smile. + +'I did not mean it,' she answered; 'I have not a word to say against it. +It is quite right, and I am sure I don't wish to do otherwise.' + +'Only it is the first drawback in our real day-dream.' + +'Just so, and that is all,' said Amy; 'I am glad you feel the same, not +that I want you to change your mind.' + +'Don't you remember our resolution against mere pleasure-hunting? That +adventure at Interlachen seemed to be meant to bring us up short just as +we were getting into that line.' + +'You think we were?' + +'I was, at least; for I know it was a satisfaction not to find a letter, +to say Redclyffe was ready for us.' + +'I had rather it was Redclyffe than Philip.' + +'To be sure, I would not change my own dancing leaping waves for this +clear blue looking-glass of a lake, or even those white peaks. I want +you to make friends with those waves, Amy. But it is a more real matter +to make friends with Philip, the one wish of my life. Not that I exactly +expect to clear matters up, but if some move is not made now, when it +may, we shall stand aloof for life, and there will be the feud where it +was before.' + +'It is quite right,' said Amy; 'I dare say that, meeting so far from +home, he will be glad to see us, and to hear the Hollywell news. I +little thought last autumn where I should meet him again.' + +On the second evening from that time, Philip Morville was walking, hot +and dusty, between the high stone walls bordering the road, and shutting +out the beautiful view of the lake, at the entrance of Ballagio, +meditating on the note he had received from Guy, and intending to be +magnanimous, and overlook former offences for Amabel's sake. He would +show that he considered the marriage to have cleared off old scores, and +that as long as she was happy, poor little thing, her husband should +be borne with, though not to the extent of the spoiling the Edmonstones +gave him. + +Thus reflecting, he entered the town, and walked on in search of the +hotel. He presently found himself on a terrace, looking out on the +deep blue lake, there divided by the promontory of Bellagio, into two +branches, the magnificent mountain forms rising opposite to him. A +little boat was crossing, and as it neared the landing-place, he saw +that it contained a gentleman and lady, English--probably his cousins +themselves. They looked up, and in another moment had waved their +recognition. Gestures and faces were strangely familiar, like a bit +of Hollywell transplanted into that Italian scene. He hastened to the +landing-place, and was met by a hearty greeting from Guy, who seemed +full of eagerness to claim their closer relationship, and ready to be +congratulated. + +'How d'ye do, Philip? I am glad we have caught you at last. Here she +is.' + +If he had wished to annoy Philip, he could hardly have done so more +effectually than by behaving as if nothing was amiss, and disconcerting +his preparations for a reconciliation. But the captain's ordinary manner +was calculated to cover all such feelings; and as he shook hands, he +felt much kindness for Amabel, as an unconscious victim, whose very +smiles were melancholy, and plenty of them there were, for she rejoiced +sincerely in the meeting, as Guy was pleased, and a home face was a +welcome sight. + +'I have your letters in my knapsack; I will unpack them as soon as we +get to the hotel. I thought it safer not to send them in search of you +again, as we were to meet so soon.' + +'Certainly. Are there many?' + +'One for each of you, both from Hollywell. I was very sorry to have +engrossed them; but not knowing you were so near, I only gave my +surname.' + +'It was lucky for us,' said Guy, 'otherwise we could not have traced +you. We saw your name at Altdorf, and have been trying to come up with +you ever since.' + +'I am glad we have met. What accounts have you from home?' + +'Excellent,' said Amy; 'Charlie is uncommonly well, he has been out of +doors a great deal, and has even dined out several times.' + +'I am very glad.' + +'You know he has been improving ever since his great illness.' + +'You would be surprised to see how much better he moves,' said Guy; 'he +helps himself so much more.' + +'Can he set his foot to the ground?' + +'No,' said Amy, 'there is no hope of that; but he is more active, +because his general health is improved; he can sleep and eat more.' + +'I always thought exertion would do more for him than anything else.' + +Amabel was vexed, for she thought exertion depended more on health, than +health on exertion; besides, she thought Philip ought to take some blame +to himself for the disaster on the stairs. She made no answer, and Guy +asked what Philip had been doing to-day. + +'Walking over the hills from Como. Do you always travel in this fashion, +"impedimentis relictis"?' + +'Not exactly,' said Guy; 'the "impedimenta" are, some at Varenna, some +at the inn with Arnaud.' + +'So you have Arnaud with you?' + +'Yes, and Anne Trower,' said Amy, for her maid was a Stylehurst person, +who had lived at Hollywell ever since she had been fit for service. 'She +was greatly pleased to hear we were going to meet the captain.' + +'We amuse ourselves with thinking how she gets on with Arnaud,' said +Guy. 'Their introduction took place only two days before we were +married, since which, they have had one continued tete-a-tete, which +must have been droll at first.' + +'More so at last,' said Amy. 'At first Anne thought Mr. Arnaud so fine a +gentleman, that she hardly dared to speak to him. I believe nothing +awed her so much as his extreme courtesy; but lately he has been quite +fatherly to her, and took her to dine at his sister's chalet, where +I would have given something to see her. She tells me he wants her +to admire the country, but she does not like the snow, and misses our +beautiful clover-fields very much.' + +'Stylehurst ought to have been better training for mountains,' said +Philip. + +They were fast losing the stiffness of first meeting. Philip could not +but acknowledge to himself that Amy was looking very well, and so happy +that Guy must be fulfilling the condition on which he was to be borne +with. However, these were early days, and of course Guy must be kind to +her at least in the honeymoon, before the wear and tear of life began. +They both looked so young, that having advised them to wait four years, +he was ready to charge them with youthfulness, if not as a fault, at +least as a folly; indeed, the state of his own affairs made him inclined +to think it a foible, almost a want of patience, in any one to marry +before thirty. It was a conflict of feeling. Guy was so cordial and +good-humoured, that he could not help being almost gained; but, on the +other hand, he had always thought Guy's manners eminently agreeable; and +as happiness always made people good-humoured, this was no reason for +relying on him. Besides, the present ease and openness of manner might +only result from security. + +Other circumstances combined, more than the captain imagined, in what is +popularly called putting him out. He had always been hitherto on equal +terms with Guy; indeed, had rather the superiority at Hollywell, from +his age and assumption of character, but here Sir Guy was somebody, the +captain nobody, and even the advantage of age was lost, now that Guy was +married and head of a family, while Philip was a stray young man and his +guest. Far above such considerations as he thought himself, and +deeming them only the tokens of the mammon worship of the time, Philip, +nevertheless, did not like to be secondary to one to whom he had always +been preferred; and this, and perhaps the being half ashamed of it, made +him something more approaching to cross than ever before; but now and +then, the persevering amiability of both would soften him, and restore +him to his most gracious mood. + +He gave them their letters when they reached the inn, feeling as if he +had a better right than they, to one which was in Laura's writing, and +when left in solitary possession of the sitting-room--a very pleasant +one, with windows opening on the terrace just above the water--paced up +and down, chafing at his own perplexity of feeling. + +Presently they came back; Guy sat down to continue their joint +journal-like letter to Charles, while Amabel made an orderly arrangement +of their properties, making the most of their few books, and taking out +her work as if she had been at home. Philip looked at the books. + +'Have you a "Childe Harold" here?' said he. 'I want to look at something +in it.' + +'No, we have not.' + +'Guy, you never forget poetry; I dare say you can help me out with those +stanzas about the mists in the valley.' + +'I have never read it,' said Guy. 'Don't you remember warning me against +Byron?' + +'You did not think that was for life! Besides,' he continued, feeling +this reply inconsistent with his contempt for Guy's youth, 'that +applied to his perversions of human passions, not to his descriptions of +scenery.' + +'I think,' said Guy, looking up from his letter, 'I should be more +unwilling to take a man like that to interpret nature than anything +else, except Scripture. It is more profane to attempt it.' + +'I see what you mean,' said Amabel, thoughtfully. + +'More than I do,' said Philip. 'I never supposed you would take my +advice "au pied de la lettre",' he had almost added, 'perversely.' + +'I have felt my obligations for that caution ever since I have come to +some knowledge of what Byron was,' said Guy. + +'The fascination of his "Giaour" heroes has an evil influence on some +minds,' said Philip. 'I think you do well to avoid it. The half truth, +resulting from its being the effect of self-contemplation, makes it more +dangerous.' + +'True,' said Guy, though he little knew how much he owed to having +attended to that caution, for who could have told where the mastery +might have been in the period of fearful conflict with his passions, if +he had been feeding his imagination with the contemplation of revenge, +dark hatred, and malice, and identifying himself with Byron's brooding +and lowering heroes! + +'But,' continued Philip, 'I cannot see why you should shun the fine +descriptions which are almost classical--the Bridge of Sighs, the +Gladiator.' + +'He may describe the gladiator as much as he pleases,' said Guy; 'indeed +there is something noble in that indignant line-- + + + Butchered to make a Roman holiday; + + +but that is not like his meddling with these mountains or the sea.' + +'Fine description is the point in both. You are over-drawing.' + +'My notion is this,' said Guy,--'there is danger in listening to a +man who is sure to misunderstand the voice of nature,--danger, lest by +filling our ears with the wrong voice we should close them to the true +one. I should think there was a great chance of being led to stop +short at the material beauty, or worse, to link human passions with the +glories of nature, and so distort, defile, profane them.' + +'You have never read the poem, so you cannot judge,' said Philip, +thinking this extremely fanciful and ultra-fastidious. 'Your rule would +exclude all descriptive poetry, unless it was written by angels, I +suppose?' + +'No; by men with minds in the right direction.' + +'Very little you would leave us.' + +'I don't think so,' said Amabel. 'Almost all the poetry we really care +about was written by such men.' + +'Shakspeare, for instance?' + +'No one can doubt of the bent of his mind from the whole strain of his +writings,' said Guy. 'So again with Spenser; and as to Milton, though +his religion was not quite the right sort, no one can pretend to say he +had it not. Wordsworth, Scott--' + +'Scott?' said Philip. + +'Including the descriptions of scenery in his novels,' said Amy, 'where, +I am sure, there is the spirit and the beauty.' + +'Or rather, the spirit is the beauty,' said Guy. + +'There is a good deal in what you say,' answered Philip, who would not +lay himself open to the accusation of being uncandid, 'but you will +forgive me for thinking it rather too deep an explanation of the grounds +of not making Childe Harold a hand-book for Italy, like other people.' + +Amabel thought this so dogged and provoking, that she was out of +patience; but Guy only laughed, and said, 'Rather so, considering that +the fact was that we never thought of it.' + +There were times when, as Philip had once said, good temper annoyed him +more than anything, and perhaps he was unconsciously disappointed at +having lost his old power of fretting and irritating Guy, and watching +him champ the bit, so as to justify his own opinion of him. Every +proceeding of his cousins seemed to give him annoyance, more especially +their being at home together, and Guy's seeming to belong more to +Hollywell than himself. He sat by, with a book, and watched them, as Guy +asked for Laura's letter, and Amy came to look over his half-finished +answer, laughing over it, and giving her commands and messages, looking +so full of playfulness and happiness, as she stood with one hand on the +back of her husband's chair, and the other holding the letter, and Guy +watching her amused face, and answering her remarks with lively words +and bright smiles. 'People who looked no deeper than the surface would, +say, what a well-matched pair,' thought Philip; 'and no doubt they were +very happy, poor young things, if it would but last.' Here Guy turned, +and asked him a question about the line of perpetual snow, so much in +his own style, that he was almost ready to accuse them of laughing at +him. Next came what hurt him most of all, as they talked over Charles's +letter, and a few words passed about Laura, and the admiration of some +person she had met at Allonby. The whole world was welcome to admire +her: nothing could injure his hold on her heart, and no joke of Charles +could shake his confidence; but it was hard that he should be forced to +hear such things, and ask no questions, for they evidently thought him +occupied with his book, and did not intend him to listen. The next thing +they said, however, obliged him to show that he was attending, for it +was about her being better. + +'Who? Laura!' he said, in a tone that, in spite of himself, had a +startled sound. 'You did not say she had been ill?' + +'No, she has not,' said Amy. 'Dr. Mayerne said there was nothing really +the matter: but she has been worried and out of spirits lately; and +mamma thought it would be good for her to go out more.' + +Philip would not let himself sigh, in spite of the oppressing +consciousness of having brought the cloud over her, and of his own +inability to do aught but leave her to endure it in silence and +patience. Alas! for how long! Obliged, meanwhile, to see these young +creatures, placed, by the mere factitious circumstance of wealth, in +possession of happiness which they had not had time either to earn or to +appreciate. He thought it shallow, because of their mirth and gaiety, as +if they were only seeking food for laughter, finding it in mistakes, for +which he was ready to despise them. + +Arnaud had brought rather antiquated notions to the renewal of his +office as a courier: his mind had hardly opened to railroads and +steamers, and changes had come over hotels since his time. Guy and +Amabel, both young and healthy, caring little about bad dinners, and +unwilling to tease the old man by complaints, or alterations of his +arrangements, had troubled themselves little about the matter; took +things as they found them, ate dry bread when the cookery was bad, +walked if the road was 'shocking'; went away the sooner, if the inns +were 'intolerable'; made merry over every inconvenience, and turned +it into an excellent story for Charles. They did not even distress +themselves about sights which they had missed seeing. + +Philip thought all this very foolish and absurd, showing that they were +unfit to take care of themselves, and that Guy was neglectful of his +wife's comforts: in short, establishing his original opinion of their +youth and folly. + +So passed the first evening; perhaps the worst because, besides what he +had heard about Laura, he had been somewhat over-fatigued by various hot +days' walks. + +Certain it is, that next morning he was not nearly so much inclined +to be displeased with them for laughing, when, in speaking to Anne, he +inadvertently called her mistress Miss Amabel. + +'Never mind,' said Amy, as Anne departed--and he looked disconcerted, as +a precise man always does when catching himself in a mistake--'Anne is +used to it, Guy is always doing it, and puzzles poor Arnaud sorely by +sending him for Miss Amabel's parasol.' + +'And the other day,' said Guy, 'when Thorndale's brother, at Munich, +inquired after Lady Morville, I had to consider who she was.' + +'Oh! you saw Thorndale's brother, did you?' + +'Yes; he was very obliging. Guy had to go to him about our passports: +and when he found who we were, he brought his wife to call on us, and +asked us to an evening party.' + +'Did you go?' + +'Guy thought we must, and it was very entertaining. We had a curious +adventure there. In the morning, we had been looking at those +beautiful windows of the great church, when I turned round, and saw a +gentleman--an Englishman--gazing with all his might at Guy. We met again +in the evening, and presently Mr. Thorndale came and told us it was Mr. +Shene.' + +'Shene, the painter?' + +'Yes. He had been very much struck with Guy's face: it was exactly what +he wanted for a picture he was about, and he wished of all things just +to be allowed to make a sketch.' + +'Did you submit?' + +'Yes' said Guy; 'and we were rewarded. I never saw a more agreeable +person, or one who gave so entirely the impression of genius. The next +day he took us through the gallery, and showed us all that was worth +admiring.' + +'And in what character is he to make you appear?' + +'That is the strange part of it,' said Amabel. 'Don't you remember how +Guy once puzzled us by choosing Sir Galahad for his favourite hero? It +is that very Sir Galahad, when he kneels to adore the Saint Greal.' + +'Mr. Shene said he had long been dreaming over it, and at last, as he +saw Guy's face looking upwards, it struck him that it was just what he +wanted: it would be worth anything to him to catch the expression.' + +'I wonder what I was looking like!' ejaculated Guy. + +'Did he take you as yourself, or as Sir Galahad?' + +'As myself, happily.' + +'How did he succeed?' + +'Amy likes it; but decidedly I should never have known myself.' + +'Ah,' said his wife-- + + + 'Could some fay the giftie gie us, + To see ourselves as others see us.' + + +'As far as the sun-burnt visage is concerned, the glass does that every +morning.' + +'Yes, but you don't look at yourself exactly as you do at a painted +window,' said Amy, in her demure way. + +'I cannot think how you found time for sitting,' said Philip. + +'O, it is quite a little thing, a mere sketch, done in two evenings and +half an hour in the morning. He promises it to me when he has done with +Sir Galahad,' said Amy. + +'Two--three evenings. You must have been a long time at Munich.' + +'A fortnight,' said Guy, 'there is a great deal to see there.' + +Philip did not quite understand this, nor did he think it very +satisfactory that they should thus have lingered in a gay town, but he +meant to make the best of them to-day, and returned to his usual fashion +of patronizing and laying down the law. They were so used to this that +they did not care about it; indeed, they had reckoned on it as the most +amiable conduct to be expected on his part. + +The day was chiefly spent in an excursion on the lake, landing at the +most beautiful spots, walking a little way and admiring, or while in the +boat, smoothly moving over the deep blue waters, gaining lovely views of +the banks, and talking over the book with which their acquaintance had +begun, "I Promessi Sposi". Never did tourists spend a more serene and +pleasant day. + +On comparing notes as to their plans, it appeared that each party had +about a week or ten days to spare; the captain before he must embark for +Corfu, and Sir Guy and Lady Morville before the time they had fixed +for returning home. Guy proposed to go together somewhere, spare the +post-office further blunders, and get the Signor Capitano to be their +interpreter. Philip thought it would be an excellent thing for his young +cousins for him to take charge of them, and show them how people ought +to travel; so out came his little pocket map, marked with his route, +before he left Ireland, whereas they seemed to have no fixed object, +but to be always going 'somewhere.' It appeared that they had thought of +Venice, but were easily diverted from it by his design of coasting the +eastern bank of the Lago di Como, and so across the Stelvio into the +Tyrol, all together as far as Botzen, whence Philip would turn southward +by the mountain paths, while they would proceed to Innsbruck on their +return home. + +Amabel was especially pleased to stay a little longer on the banks of +the lake, and to trace out more of Lucia's haunts; and if she secretly +thought it would have been pleasanter without a third person, she was +gratified to see how much Guy's manner had softened Philip's injustice +and distrust, making everything so smooth and satisfactory, that at the +end of the day, she told her husband that she thought his experiment had +not failed. + +She was making the breakfast the next morning, when the captain came +into the room, and she told him Guy was gone to settle their plans with +Arnaud. After lingering a little by the window, Philip turned, and with +more abruptness than was usual with him, said-- + +'You don't think there is any cause of anxiety about Laura?' + +'No; certainly not!' said Amy, surprised. 'She has not been looking well +lately, but Dr. Mayerne says it is nothing, and you know'--she blushed +and looked down--'there were many things to make this a trying time.' + +'Is she quite strong? Can she do as much as usual?' + +'She does more than ever: mamma is only afraid of her overworking +herself, but she never allows that she is tired. She goes to school +three days in the week, besides walking to East-hill on Thursday, to +help in the singing; and she is getting dreadfully learned. Guy gave her +his old mathematical books, and Charlie always calls her Miss Parabola.' + +Philip was silent, knowing too well why she sought to stifle care in +employment; and feeling embittered against the whole world, against her +father, against his own circumstances, against the happiness of others; +nay, perhaps, against the Providence which had made him what he was. + +Presently Guy came in, and the first thing he said was, 'I am afraid we +must give up our plan.' + +'How?' exclaimed both Philip and Amy. + +'I have just heard that there is a fever at Sondrio, and all that +neighbourhood, and every one says it would be very foolish to expose +ourselves to it.' + +'What shall we do instead?' said Amy. + +'I told Arnaud we would let him know in an hour's time; I thought of +Venice.' + +'Venice, oh, yes, delightful.' + +'What do you say, Philip?' said Guy. + +'I say that I cannot see any occasion for our being frightened out of +our original determination. If a fever prevails among the half-starved +peasantry, it need not affect well-fed healthy persons, merely passing +through the country.' + +'You see we could hardly manage without sleeping there,' said Guy: 'we +must sleep either at Colico, or at Madonna. Now Colico, they say, is a +most unhealthy place at this time of year, and Madonna is the very +heart of the fever--Sondrio not much better. I don't see how it is to +be safely done; and though very likely we might not catch the fever, I +don't see any use in trying.' + +'That is making yourself a slave to the fear of infection.' + +'I don't know what purpose would be answered by running the risk,' said +Guy. + +'If you chose to give it so dignified a name as a risk,' said Philip. + +'I don't, then,' said Guy, smiling. 'I should not care if there was +any reason for going there, but, as there is not, I shall face Mr. +Edmonstone better if I don't run Amy into any more chances of mischief.' + +'Is Amy grateful for the care,' said Philip, 'after all her wishes for +the eastern bank?' + +'Amy is a good wife,' said Guy. 'For Venice, then. I'll ring for Arnaud. +You will come with us, won't you, Philip?' + +'No, I thank you; I always intended to see the Valtelline, and an +epidemic among the peasantry does not seem to me to be sufficient to +deter.' + +'O Philip, you surely will not?' said Amy. + +'My mind is made up, Amy, thank you.' + +'I wish you would be persuaded,' said Guy. 'I should like particularly +to have you to lionize us there; and I don't fancy your running into +danger.' + +The argument lasted long. Philip by no means approved of Venice, +especially after the long loitering at Munich, thinking that in both +places there was danger of Guy's being led into mischief by his musical +connections. Therefore he did his best, for Amabel's sake, to turn them +from their purpose, persuaded in his own mind that the fever was a +mere bugbear, raised up by Arnaud; and, perhaps, in his full health +and strength, almost regarding illness itself as a foible, far more +the dread of it. He argued, therefore, in his most provoking strain, +becoming more vexatious as the former annoyance was revived at +finding the impossibility of making Guy swerve from his purpose, while +additional mists of suspicion arose before him, making him imagine that +the whole objection was caused by Guy's dislike to submit to him, and +a fit of impatience of which Amy was the victim; nay, that his cousin +wanted to escape from his surveillance, and follow the beat of his +inclinations; and the whole heap of prejudices and half-refuted +accusations resumed their full ascendancy. Never had his manner been +more vexatious, though without departing from the coolness which always +characterized it; but all the time, Guy, while firm and unmoved in +purpose, kept his temper perfectly, and apparently without effort. Even +Amabel glowed with indignation, at the assumption with which he was +striving to put her husband down, though she rejoiced to see its entire +failure: for some sensible argument, or some gay, lively, good-humoured +reply, was the utmost he could elicit. Guy did not seem to be in the +least irritated or ruffled by the very behaviour which used to cause him +so many struggles. Having once seriously said that he did not think it +right to run into danger, without adequate cause, he held his position +with so much ease, that he could afford to be playful, and laugh at his +own dread of infection, his changeableness, and credulity. Never had +temper been more entirely subdued; for surely if he could bear this, he +need never fear himself again. + +So passed the hour; and Amabel was heartily glad when the debate was +closed by Arnaud's coming for orders. Guy went with him; Amabel began to +collect her goods; and Philip, after a few moments' reflection, spoke in +the half-compassionate, half-patronizing manner with which he used, now +and then, to let fall a few crumbs of counsel or commendation for silly +little Amy. + +'Well, Amy, you yielded very amiably, and that is the only way. You will +always find it best to submit.' + +He got no further in his intended warning against the dissipations of +Venice, for her eyes were fixed on him at first with a look of extreme +wonder. Then her face assumed an expression of dignity, and gently, but +gravely, she said, 'I think you forget to whom you are speaking.' + +The gentlemanlike instinct made him reply, 'I beg your pardon'--and +there he stopped, as much taken by surprise as if a dove had flown in +his face. He actually was confused; for in very truth, he had, after a +fashion, forgotten that she was Lady Morville, not the cousin Amy with +whom Guy's character might be freely discussed. He had often presumed as +far with his aunt; but she, though always turning the conversation, had +never given him a rebuff. Amabel had not done; and in her soft voice, +firmly, though not angrily, she spoke on. 'One thing I wish to say, +because we shall never speak on this subject again, and I was always +afraid of you before. You have always misunderstood him, I might almost +say, chosen to misunderstand him. You have tried his temper more than +any one, and never appreciated the struggles that have subdued it. It +is not because I am his wife that I say this--indeed I am not sure it +becomes me to say it; yet I cannot bear that you should not be told of +it, because you think he acts out of enmity to you. You little know +how your friendship has been his first desire--how he has striven for +it--how, after all you have done and written, he defended you with +all his might when those at home were angry--how he sought you out on +purpose to try to be real cordial friends' + +Philip's face had grown rigid, and chiefly at the words, 'those at home +were angry.' 'It is not I that prevent that friendship,' said he: 'it is +his own want of openness. My opinion has never changed.' + +'No; I know it has never changed' said Amy, in a tone of sorrowful +displeasure. 'Whenever it does, you will be sorry you have judged him so +harshly.' + +She left the room, and Philip held her in higher esteem. He saw there +was spirit and substance beneath that soft girlish exterior, and hoped +she would better be able to endure the troubles which her precipitate +marriage was likely to cause her; but as to her husband, his +combined fickleness and obstinacy had only become more apparent than +ever--fickleness in forsaking his purpose, obstinacy in adherence to his +own will. + +Displeased and contemptuous, Philip was not softened by Guy's freedom +and openness of manner and desire to help him as far as their roads lay +together. He was gracious only to Lady Morville, whom he treated with +kindness, intended to show that he was pleased with her for a reproof +which became her position well, though it could not hurt him. Perhaps +she thought this amiability especially insufferable: for when she +arrived at Varenna her chief thought was that here they should be free +of him. + +'Come, Philip,' said Guy, at that last moment, 'I wish you would think +better of it after all, and come with us to Milan.' + +'Thank you, my mind is made up.' + +'Well, mind you don't catch the fever: for I don't want the trouble of +nursing you.' + +'Thank you; I hope to require no such services of my friends,' said +Philip, with a proud stem air, implying, 'I don't want you.' + +'Good-bye, then,' said Guy. Then remembering his promise to Laura, he +added, 'I wish we could have seen more of you. They will be glad to hear +of you at Hollywell. You have had one warm friend there all along.' + +He was touched for a moment by this kind speech, and his tone was less +grave and dignified. 'Remember me to them when you write,' he answered, +'and tell Laura she must not wear herself out with her studies. +Good-bye, Amy, I hope you will have a pleasant journey.' + +The farewells were exchanged and the carriage drove off. 'Poor little +Amy!' said Philip to himself, 'how she is improved. He has a sweet +little wife in her. The fates have conspired to crown him with all man +can desire, and little marvel if he should abuse his advantages. Poor +little Amy! I have less hope than ever, since even her evident wishes +could not bend his determination in this trifle; but she is a good +little creature, happy in her blindness. May it long continue! It is my +uncle and aunt who are to be blamed.' + +He set himself to ascend the mountain path, and they looked back, +watching the firm vigorous steps with which he climbed the hill side, +then stood to wave his hand to Amabel looking a perfect specimen of +health and activity. + +'Just like himself,' said Amy, drawing so long a breath that Guy smiled, +but did not speak. + +'Are you much vexed?' said she. + +'I don't feel as if I had made the most of my opportunities.' + +'Then if you have not, I can tell you who has. What do you think of his +beginning to give me a lecture how to behave to you?' + +'Did he think you wanted it very much?' + +'I don't know: for of course I could not let him go on.' + +Guy was so much diverted at the idea of her wanting a lecture +on wife-like deportment, that he had no time to be angry at the +impertinence, and he made her laugh also by his view that was all force +of habit. + +'Now, Guido--good Cavaliere Guido--do grant me one satisfaction,' said +she, coaxingly. 'Only say you are very glad he is gone his own way.' + +On the contrary, I am sorry he is running his head into a fever,' said +Guy, pretending to be provoking. + +'I don't want you to be glad of that, I only want you to be glad he is +not sitting here towering over us.' Guy smiled, and began to whistle-- + + + 'Cock up your beaver, and cock it fu' sprush!' + + + + +CHAPTER 31 + + And turned the thistles of a curse + To types beneficent. + --WORDSWORTH + + +It was about three weeks after the rendezvous at Bellagio, that Sir Guy +and Lady Morville arrived at Vicenza, on their way from Venice. They +were in the midst of breakfast when Arnaud entered, saying,-- + +'It was well, Sir Guy, that you changed your intention of visiting the +Valtelline with Captain Morville.' + +'What! Have you heard anything of him?' + +'I fear that his temerity has caused him to suffer. I have just heard +that an Englishman of your name is severely ill at Recoara.' + +'Where?' + +'At "la badia di Recoara". It is what in English we call a +watering-place, on the mountains to the north, where the Vicentini do +go in summer for "fraicheur", but they have all returned in the last two +days for fear of the infection.' + +'I'll go and make inquiries' said Guy, rising in haste. Returning in a +quarter of an hour, he said,--'It is true. It can be no other than poor +Philip. I have seen his doctor, an Italian, who, when he saw our name +written, said it was the same. He calls it "una febbre molto grave".' + +'Very heavy! Did he only know the name in writing?' + +'Only from seeing it on his passport. He has been unable to give any +directions.' + +'How dreadfully ill he must be! And alone! What shall we do? You won't +think of leaving me behind you, whatever you do?' exclaimed Amabel, +imploringly. + +'It is at no great distance, and--' + +'O, don't say that. Only take me with you. I will try to bear it, if you +don't think it right; but it will be very hard.' + +Her eyes were full of tears, but she struggled to repress them, and was +silent in suspense as she saw him considering. + +'My poor Amy!' said he, presently; 'I believe the anxiety would be worse +for you if I were to leave you here.' + +'Oh, thank you!' exclaimed she. + +'You will have nothing to do with the nursing. No, I don't think there +is much risk; so we will go together.' + +'Thank you! thank you! and perhaps I may be of some use. But is it very +infectious?' + +'I hope not: caught at Colico, and imported to a fresh place. I should +think there was little fear of its spreading. However, we must soon +be off: I am afraid he is very ill, and almost deserted. In the first +place, I had better send an express to the Consul at Venice, to ask him +to recommend us a doctor, for I have not much faith in this Italian.' + +They were soon on the way to Recoara, a road bordered on one side by +high rocks, on the other by a little river flowing down a valley, shut +in by mountains. The valley gradually contracted in the ascent, till +it became a ravine, and further on a mere crevice marked by the thick +growth of the chestnut-trees; but before this greater narrowing, they +saw the roofs of the houses in the little town. The sun shone clear, the +air had grown fresh as they mounted higher; Amabel could hardly imagine +sickness and sorrow in so fair a spot, and turned to her husband to say +so, but he was deep in thought, and she would not disturb him. + +The town was built on the bank of the stream, and very much shut in by +the steep crags, which seemed almost to overhang the inn, to which they +drove, auguring favourably of the place from its fresh, clean aspect. + +Guy hastened to the patient; while Amabel was conducted to a room with +a polished floor, and very little furniture, and there waited anxiously +until he returned. There was a flush on his face, and almost before he +spoke, he leant far out of the window to try to catch a breath of air. + +'We must find another room for him directly,' said he. 'He cannot +possibly exist where he is--a little den--such an atmosphere of +fever--enough to knock one down! Will you have one got ready for him?' + +'Directly,' said Amabel, ringing. 'How is he?' + +'He is in a stupor; it is not sleep. He is frightfully ill, I never felt +anything like the heat of his skin. But that stifling hole would account +for much; very likely he may revive, when we get him into a better +atmosphere. No one has attended to him properly. It is a terrible thing +to be ill in a foreign country without a friend!' + +Arnaud came, and Amabel sent for the hostess, while Guy returned to his +charge. Little care had been taken for the solitary traveller on foot, +too ill to exact attention, and whose presence drove away custom; but +when his case was taken up by a Milord Inglese, the people of the inn +were ready to do their utmost to cause their neglect to be forgotten, +and everything was at the disposal of the Signora. The rooms were many, +but very small, and the best she could contrive was to choose three +rooms on the lower floor, rather larger than the rest, and opening into +each other, as well as into the passage, so that it was possible to +produce a thorough draught. Under her superintendence, Anne made the +apartment look comfortable, and almost English, and sending word that +all was ready, she proceeded to establish herself in the corresponding +rooms on the floor above. + +Philip was perfectly unconscious when he was carried to his new room. +His illness had continued about a week, and had been aggravated first by +his incredulous and determined resistance of it, and then by the neglect +with which he had been treated. It was fearful to see how his great +strength had been cut down, as there he lay with scarcely a sign of +life, except his gasping, labouring breath. Guy stood over him, let the +air blow in from the open window, sprinkled his face with vinegar, and +moistened his lips, longing for the physician, for whom, however, +he knew he must wait many hours. Perplexed, ignorant of the proper +treatment, fearing to do harm, and extremely anxious, he still was +almost rejoiced: for there was no one to whom he was so glad to do a +service, and a hope arose of full reconciliation. + +The patient was somewhat revived by the fresh air, he breathed more +freely, moved, and made a murmuring sound, as if striving painfully for +a word. + +'"Da bere",' at last he said; and if Guy had not known its meaning, it +would have been plain from the gasping, parched manner in which it was +uttered. + +'Some water?' said Guy, holding it to his lips, and on hearing the +English, Philip opened his eyes, and, as he drank, gazed with a heavy +sort of wonder. 'Is that enough? Do you like some on your forehead?' + +'Thank you.' + +'Is that more comfortable? We only heard to-day you were ill.' + +He turned away restlessly, as if hardly glad to see Guy, and not awake +to the circumstances, in a dull, feverish oppression of the senses. +Delirium soon came on, or, more properly, delusion. He was distressed by +thinking himself deserted, and struggling to speak Italian, and when Guy +replied in English, though the native tongue seemed to fall kindly on +his ear, yet, to Guy's great grief, the old dislike appeared to prevent +all comfort in his presence, though he could not repel his attentions. +At night the wandering increased, till it became unintelligible raving, +and strength was required to keep him in bed. + +Amabel seldom saw her husband this evening. He once came up to see her, +when she made him drink some coffee, but he soon went, telling her he +should wait up, and begging her to go to rest quietly, as she looked +pale and tired. The night was a terrible one, and morning only brought +insensibility. The physician arrived, a sharp-looking Frenchman, who +pronounced it to be a very severe and dangerous case, more violent than +usual in malaria fever, and with more affection of the brain. Guy was +glad to be set to do something, instead of standing by in inaction; but +ice and blisters were applied without effect, and they were told that it +was likely to be long before the fever abated. + +Day after day passed without improvement, and with few gleams of +consciousness, and even these were not free from wandering; they were +only intervals in the violent ravings, or the incoherent murmurs, and +were never clear from some torturing fancy that he was alone and ill at +Broadstone, and neither the Edmonstones nor his brother-officers would +come to him, or else that he was detained from Stylehurst. 'Home' +was the word oftenest on his lips. 'I would not go home,' the only +expression that could sometimes be distinctly heard. He was obliged to +depend on Guy as the only Englishman at hand; but whenever he recognized +him, the traces of repugnance were evident, and in his clearer +intervals, he always showed a preference for Arnaud's attendance. Still +Guy persevered indefatigably, sitting up with him every night, and +showing himself an invaluable nurse, with his tender hand, modulated +voice, quick eye, and quiet activity. His whole soul was engrossed: he +never appeared to think of himself, or to be sensible of fatigue; but +was only absorbed in the one thought of his patient's comfort! He seldom +came to Amabel except at meals, and now and then for a short visit to +her sitting-room to report on Philip's condition. If he could spare a +little more time when Philip was in a state of stupor, she used to try +to persuade him to take some rest; and if it was late, or in the heat +of noon, she could sometimes get him, as a favour to her, to lie down +on the sofa, and let her read to him; but it did not often end in +sleep, and he usually preferred taking her out into the fresh air, and +wandering about among the chestnut-trees and green hillocks higher up in +the ravine. + +Very precious were these walks, with the quiet grave talk that the scene +and the circumstances inspired--when he would tell the thoughts that had +occupied him in his night-watches, and they shared the subdued and +deep reflection suited to this period of apprehension. These were her +happiest times, but they were few and uncertain. She had in the meantime +to wait, to watch, and hope alone, though she had plenty of employment; +for besides writing constant bulletins, all preparations for the +sickroom fell to her share. She had to send for or devise substitutes +for all the conveniences that were far from coming readily to hand in a +remote Italian inn--to give orders, send commissions to Vicenza, or even +to Venice, and to do a good deal, with Anne's' assistance, by her own +manual labour. Guy said she did more for Philip outside his room than +he did inside, and often declared how entirely at a loss he should have +been if she had not been there, with her ready resources, and, above +all, with her sweet presence, making the short intervals he spent out of +the sick chamber so much more than repose, such refreshment at the time, +and in remembrance. + +Thus it had continued for more than a fortnight, when one evening as the +French physician was departing, he told Guy that he would not fail to +come the next night, as he saw every reason to expect a crisis. Guy sat +intently marking every alteration in the worn, flushed, suffering face +that rested helplessly on the pillows, and every unconscious movement +of the wasted, nerveless limbs stretched out in pain and helplessness, +contrasting his present state with what he was when last they parted, +in the full pride of health, vigour, and intellect. He dwelt on all that +had passed between them from the first, the strange ancestral enmity +that nothing had as yet overcome, the misunderstandings, the prejudices, +the character whose faultlessness he had always revered, and the +repeated failure of all attempts to be friends, as if his own impatience +and passion had borne fruit in the merited distrust of the man whom of +all others he respected, and whom he would fain love as a brother. He +earnestly hoped that so valuable a life might be spared; but if that +might not be, his fervent wish was, that at least a few parting words +of goodwill and reconciliation might be granted to be his comfort in +remembrance. + +So mused Guy during the night, as he watched the heavy doze between +sleep and stupor, and tried to catch the low, indistinct mutterings that +now and then seemed to ask for something. Towards morning Philip awoke +more fully, and as Guy was feeling his pulse, he faintly asked,-- + +'How many?' while his eyes had more of their usual expression. + +'I cannot count,' returned Guy; 'but it is less than in the evening. +Some drink?' + +Philip took some, then making an effort to look round, said,--'What day +is it?' + +'Saturday morning, the 23rd of August.' + +'I have been ill a long time!' + +'You have indeed, full three weeks; but you are better to-night.' + +He was silent for some moments; then, collecting himself, and +looking fixedly at Guy, he said, in his own steady voice, though very +feeble,--'I suppose, humanly speaking, it is an even chance between life +and death?' + +'Yes,' said Guy, firmly, the low sweet tones of his voice full of +tenderness. 'You are very ill; but not without hope.' Then, after a +pause, during which Philip looked thoughtful, but calm, he added,--'I +have tried to bring a clergyman here, but I could not succeed. Would you +like me to read to you?' + +'Thank you-presently--but I have something to say. Some more +water;--thank you.' Then, after pausing, 'Guy, you have thought I judged +you harshly; I meant to act for the best.' + +'Don't think of that,' said Guy, with a rush of joy at hearing the words +of reconciliation he had yearned for so long. + +'And now you have been most kind. If I live, you shall see that I am +sensible of it;' and he feebly moved his hand to his cousin, who pressed +it, hardly less happy than on the day he stood before Mrs. Edmonstone in +the dressing-room. Presently, Philip went on. 'My sister has my will. My +love to her, and to--to--to poor Laura.' His voice suddenly failed; +and while Guy was again moistening his lips, he gathered strength, and +said,--'You and Amy will do what you can for her. Do not let the blow +come suddenly. Ah! you do not know. We have been engaged this long +time.' + +Guy did not exclaim, but Philip saw his amazement. 'It was very wrong; +it was not her fault,' he added. 'I can't tell you now; but if I live +all shall be told. If not, you will be kind to her?' + +'Indeed we will.' + +'Poor Laura!' again said Philip, in a much weaker voice, and after lying +still a little longer, he faintly whispered,--'Read to me.' + +Guy read till he fell into a doze, which lasted till Arnaud came in the +morning, and Guy went up to his wife. + +'Amy,' said he, entering with a quiet bright look, 'he has spoken to me +according to my wish.' + +'Then it is all right,' said Amabel, answering his look with one as calm +and sweet. 'Is he better?' + +'Not materially; his pulse is still very high; but there was a gleam of +perfect consciousness; he spoke calmly and clearly, fully understanding +his situation. Come what will, it is a thing to be infinitely thankful +for! I am very glad! Now for our morning reading.' + +As soon as it was over, and when Guy had satisfied himself that the +patient was still quiet, they sat down to breakfast. Guy considered a +little while, and said,-- + +'I have been very much surprised. Had you any idea of an attachment +between him and Laura?' + +'I know she is very fond of him, and she has always been his favourite. +What? Has he been in love with her all this time, poor fellow?' + +'He says they are engaged.' + +'Laura? Our sister! Oh, Guy, impossible! He must have been wandering.' + +'I could have almost thought so; but his whole manner forbade me to +think there was any delusion. He was too weak to explain; but he said it +was not her fault, and was overcome when speaking of her. He begged +us to spare her from suddenly hearing of his death. He was as calm and +reasonable as I am at this moment. No, Amy, it was not delirium.' + +'I don't know how to believe it!' said Amabel. 'It is so impossible for +Laura, and for him too. Don't you know how, sometimes in fevers, people +take a delusion, and are quite rational about everything else, and that, +too; if only it was true; and don't you think it very likely, that if he +really has been in love with her all this time, (how much he must have +gone through!) he may fancy he has been secretly engaged, and reproach +himself?' + +'I cannot tell,' said Guy; 'there was a reality in his manner of +speaking that refuses to let me disbelieve him. Surely it cannot be one +of the horrors of death that we should be left to reproach ourselves +with the fancied sins we have been prone to, as well as with our real +ones. Then'--and he rose, and walked about the room--'if so, more than +ever, in the hour of death, good Lord, deliver us!' + +Amabel was silent, and presently he sat down, saying,--'Well, time will +show!' + +'I cannot think it' said Amy. 'Laura! How could she help telling mamma!' +And as Guy smiled at the recollection of their own simultaneous coming +to mamma, she added,--'Not only because it was right, but for the +comfort of it.' + +'But, Amy, do you remember what I told you of poor Laura's fears, and +what she said to me, on our wedding-day?' + +'Poor Laura!' said Amy. 'Yet--' She paused, and Guy presently said,-- + +'Well, I won't believe it, if I can possibly help it. I can't afford to +lose my faith in my sister's perfection, or Philip's, especially now. +But I must go; I have loitered too long, and Arnaud ought to go to his +breakfast.' + +Amabel sat long over the remains of her breakfast. She did not puzzle +herself over Philip's confession, for she would not admit it without +confirmation; and she could not think of his misdoings, even those +of which she was certain, on the day when his life was hanging in the +balance. All she could bear to recollect was his excellence; nay, in the +tenderness of her heart, she nearly made out that she had always been +very fond of him, overlooking that even before Guy came to Hollywell, +she had always regarded him with more awe than liking, been disinclined +to his good advice, shrunk from his condescension, and regularly enjoyed +Charles's quizzing of him. All this, and all the subsequent injuries +were forgotten, and she believed, as sincerely as her husband, that +Philip had been free from any unkind intention. But she chiefly dwelt on +her own Guy, especially that last speech, so unlike some of whom she had +heard, who were rather glad to find a flaw in a faultless model, if only +to obtain a fellow-feeling for it. + +'Yes,' thought she, 'he might look far without finding anything better +than himself, though he won't believe it. If ever he could make me +angry, it will be by treating me as if I was better than he. Such +nonsense! But I suppose his goodness would not be such if he was +conscious of it, so I must be content with him as he is. I can't be so +unwifelike after all; for I am sure nothing makes me feel so small and +foolish as that humility of his! Come, I must see about some dinner for +the French doctor.' + +She set to work on her housewifery cares; but when these were +despatched, it was hard to begin anything else on such a day of +suspense, when she was living on reports from the sick room. The +delirium had returned, more violent than ever; and as she sat at her +open window she often heard the disconnected words. She could do nothing +but listen--she could neither read nor draw, and even letter-writing +failed her to-day, for it seemed cruel to send a letter to his sister, +and if Philip was not under a delusion, it was still worse to write to +Hollywell; it made her shudder to think of the misery she might have +inflicted in the former letters, where she had not spared the detail of +her worst fears and conjectures, and by no means softened the account, +as she had done to his sister. + +Late in the afternoon the physician came, and she heard of his being +quieter; indeed, there were no sounds below. It grew dark; Arnaud +brought lights, and told her Captain Morville had sunk into stupor. +After another long space, the doctor came to take some coffee, and said +the fever was lessening, but that strength was going with it, and if "le +malade" was saved, it would be owing to the care and attention of "le +chevalier". + +Of Guy she saw no more that evening. The last bulletin was pencilled by +him on a strip of paper, and sent to her at eleven at night: + +'Pulse almost nothing; deadly faintness; doctor does not give him up; it +may be many hours: don't sit up; you shall hear when there is anything +decisive.' + +Amy submitted, and slowly put herself to bed, because she thought Guy +would not like to find her up; but she had little sleep, and that was +dreamy, full of the same anxieties as her waking moments, and perhaps +making the night seem longer than if she had been awake the whole time. + +At last she started from a somewhat sounder doze than usual, and saw it +was becoming light, the white summits of the mountains were beginning to +show themselves, and there was twilight in the room. Just then she heard +a light, cautious tread in the passage; the lock of Guy's dressing-room +was gently, slowly turned. It was over then! Life or death? Her heart +beat as she heard her husband's step in the next room, and her suspense +would let her call out nothing but--'I am not asleep!' + +Guy came forward, and stood still, while she looked up to the outline +of his figure against the window. With a kind of effort he said, with +forced calmness--'He'll do now! and came to the bedside. His face was +wet with tears, and her eyes were over-flowing. After a few moments he +murmured a few low words of deep thanksgivings, and again there was a +silence. + +'He is asleep quietly and comfortably,' said Guy, presently, 'and his +pulse is steadier. The faintness and sinking have been dreadful; the +doctor has been sitting with his hand on his pulse, telling me when to +put the cordial into his mouth. Twice I thought him all but gone; and +till within the last hour, I did not think he could have revived; but +now, the doctor says we may almost consider the danger as over.' + +'Oh, how glad I am! Was he sensible? Could he speak?' + +'Sensible at least when not fainting; but too weak to speak, or often, +to look up. When he did though, it was very kindly, very pleasantly. And +now! This is joy coming in the morning, Amy!' + +'I wonder if you are happier now than after the shipwreck,' said Amy, +after a silence. + +'How can you ask? The shipwreck was a gleam, the first ray that came to +cheer me in those penance hours, when I was cut off from all; and now, +oh, Amy! I cannot enter into it. Such richness and fullness of blessing +showered on me, more than I ever dared to wish for or dream of, both in +the present and future hopes. It seems more than can belong to man, at +least to me, so unlike what I have deserved, that I can hardly believe +it. It must be sent as a great trial.' + +Amabel thought this so beautiful, that she could not answer; and he +presently gave her some further particulars. He went back in spite of +her entreaties that he would afford himself a little rest, saying that +the doctor was obliged to go away, and Philip still needed the most +careful watching. Amy could not sleep any more, but lay musing over that +ever-brightening goodness which had lately at all times almost startled +her from its very unearthliness. + + + + + +CHAPTER 32 + + Sure all things wear a heavenly dress, + Which sanctifies their loveliness, + Types of that endless resting day, + When we shall be as changed as they. + --HYMN FOR SUNDAY + + +From that time there was little more cause for anxiety. Philip was, +indeed, exceedingly reduced, unable to turn in bed, to lift his head, +or to speak except now and then a feeble whisper; but the fever was +entirely gone, and his excellent constitution began rapidly to repair +its ravages. Day by day, almost hour by hour, he was rallying, spending +most of his time profitably in sleep, and looking very contented in +his short intervals of waking. These became each day rather longer, his +voice became stronger, and he made more remarks and inquiries. His +first care, when able to take heed of what did not concern his immediate +comfort, was that Colonel Deane should be written to, as his leave of +absence was expired; but he said not a word about Hollywell, and Amabel +therefore hoped her surmise was right, that his confession had been +prompted by a delirious fancy, though Guy thought something was implied +by his silence respecting the very persons of whom it would have been +natural to have talked. + +He was very patient of his weakness and dependence, always thankful and +willing to be pleased, and all that had been unpleasant in his manner to +Guy was entirely gone. He liked to be waited on by him, and received +his attentions without laborious gratitude, just in the way partly +affectionate, partly matter of course, that was most agreeable; showing +himself considerate of his fatigue, though without any of his old +domineering advice. + +One evening Guy was writing, when Philip, who had been lying still, as +if asleep, asked, 'Are you writing to Hollywell?' + +'Yes, to Charlotte; but there is no hurry, it won't go till tomorrow. +Have you any message? + +'No, thank you.' + +Guy fancied he sighed; and there was a long silence, at the end of which +he asked, 'Guy, have I said anything about Laura?' + +'Yes,' said Guy, putting down the pen. + +'I thought so; but I could not remember,' said Philip, turning round, +and settling himself for conversation, with much of his ordinary +deliberate preparation; 'I hope it was not when I had no command of +myself?' + +'No, you were seldom intelligible, you were generally trying to speak +Italian, or else talking about Stylehurst. The only time you mentioned +her was the night before the worst.' + +'I recollect,' said Philip. 'I will not draw back from the resolution +I then made, though I did not know whether I had spoken it, let the +consequences be what they may. The worst is, that they will fall the +most severely on her: and her implicit reliance on me was her only +error.' + +His voice was very low, and so full of painful feeling that Guy doubted +whether to let him enter on such a subject at present; but remembering +the relief of free confession, he thought it best to allow him to +proceed, only now and then putting in some note of sympathy or of +interrogation, in word or gesture. + +'I must explain,' said Philip, 'that you may see how little blame can be +imputed to her. It was that summer, three years ago, the first after you +came. I had always been her chief friend. I saw, or thought I saw, cause +for putting her on her guard. The result has shown that the danger +was imaginary; but no matter--I thought it real. In the course of the +conversation, more of my true sentiments were avowed than I was aware +of; she was very young, and before we, either of us, knew what we were +doing, it had been equivalent to a declaration. Well! I do not speak to +excuse the concealment, but to show you my motive. If it had been known, +there would have been great displeasure and disturbance; I should have +been banished; and though time might have softened matters, we should +both have had a great deal to go through. Heaven knows what it may be +now! And, Guy,' he added, breaking off with trembling eagerness, 'when +did you hear from Hollywell? Do you know how she has borne the news of +my illness?' + +'We have heard since they knew of it,' said Guy; 'the letter was from +Mrs. Edmonstone to Amy; but she did not mention Laura.' + +'She has great strength; she would endure anything rather than give way; +but how can she have borne the anxiety and silence? You are sure my aunt +does not mention her?' + +'Certain. I will ask Amy for the letter, if you like.' + +'No, do not go; I must finish, since I have begun. We did not speak of +an engagement; it was little more than an avowal of preference; I doubt +whether she understood what it amounted to, and I desired her to be +silent. I deceived myself all along, by declaring she was free; and I +had never asked for her promise; but those things will not do when we +see death face to face, and a resolve made at such a moment must be +kept, let it bring what it may.' + +'True.' + +'She will be relieved; she wished it to be known; but I thought it best +to wait for my promotion--the only chance of our being able to marry. +However, it shall be put into her father's hands as soon as I can hold +a pen. All I wish is, that she should not have to bear the brunt of his +anger.' + +'He is too kind and good-natured to keep his displeasure long.' + +'If it would only light on the right head, instead of on the head of the +nearest. You say she was harassed and out of spirits. I wish you were at +home; Amy would comfort her and soften them.' + +'We hope to go back as soon as you are in travelling condition. If you +will come home with us, you will be at hand when Mr. Edmonstone is ready +to forgive, as I am sure he soon will be. No one ever was so glad to +forget his displeasure.' + +'Yes; it will be over by the time I meet him, for she will have borne it +all. There is the worst! But I will not put off the writing, as soon +as I have the power. Every day the concealment continues is a further +offence.' + +'And present suffering is an especial earnest and hope of forgiveness,' +said Guy. 'I have no doubt that much may be done to make Mr. Edmonstone +think well of it.' + +'If any suffering of mine would spare hers!' sighed Philip. 'You cannot +estimate the difficulties in our way. You know nothing of poverty,--the +bar it is to everything; almost a positive offence in itself!' + +'This is only tiring yourself with talking,' said Guy, perceiving how +Philip's bodily weakness was making him fall into a desponding strain. +'You must make haste to get well, and come home with us, and I think we +shall find it no such bad case after all. There's Amy's fortune to begin +with, only waiting for such an occasion. No, I can't have you answer; +you have talked, quite long enough.' + +Philip was in a state of feebleness that made him willing to avoid the +trouble of thinking, by simply believing what he was told, 'that it was +no bad case.' He was relieved by having confessed, though to the person +whom, a few weeks back, he would have thought the last to whom he could +have made such a communication, over whom he had striven to assume +superiority, and therefore before whom he could have least borne to +humble himself--nay, whose own love he had lately traversed with an +arrogance that was rendered positively absurd by this conduct of his +own. Nevertheless, he had not shrunk from the confession. His had been +real repentance, so far as he perceived his faults; and he would have +scorned to avail himself of the certainty of Guy's silence on what he +had said at the time of his extreme danger. He had resolved to speak, +and had found neither an accuser nor a judge, not even one +consciously returning good for evil, but a friend with honest, simple, +straightforward kindness, doing the best for him in his power, and +dreading nothing so much as hurting his feelings. It was not the way in +which Philip himself could have received such a confidence. + +As soon as Guy could leave him, he went up to his wife. 'Amy,' said he, +rather sadly, 'we have had it out. It is too true.' + +Her first exclamation surprised him: 'Then Charlie really is the +cleverest person in the world.' + +'How? Had he any suspicion?' + +'Not that I know of; but, more than once, lately, I have been alarmed by +recollecting how he once said that poor Laura was so much too wise for +her age, that Nature would some day take her revenge, and make her do +something very foolish. But has Philip told you all about it?' + +'Yes; explained it all very kindly. It must have cost him a great deal; +but he spoke openly and nobly. It is the beginning of a full confession +to your father.' + +'So, it is true!' exclaimed Amabel, as if she heard it for the first +time. 'How shocked mamma will be! I don't know how to think it possible! +And poor Laura! Imagine what she must have gone through, for you know I +never spared the worst accounts. Do tell me all.' + +Guy told what he had just heard, and she was indignant. + +'I can't be as angry with him as I should like,' said she, 'now that he +is sorry and ill; but it was a great deal too bad! I can't think how he +could look any of us in the face, far less expect to rule us all, and +interfere with you!' + +'I see I never appreciated the temptations of poverty,' said Guy, +thoughtfully. 'I have often thought of those of wealth, but never of +poverty.' + +'I wish you would not excuse him. I don't mind your doing it about +ourselves, because, though he made you unhappy, he could not make you +do wrong. Ah! I know what you mean; but that was over after the first +minute; and he only made you better for all his persecution; but I don't +know how to pardon his making poor Laura so miserable, and leading her +to do what was not right. Poor, dear girl! no wonder she looked so worn +and unhappy! I cannot help being angry with him, indeed, Guy!' said she, +her eyes full of tears. + +'The best pleading is his own repentance, Amy. I don't think you can +be very unrelenting when you see how subdued and how altered he is. You +know you are to make him a visit to-morrow, now the doctor says all fear +of infection is over.' + +'I shall be thinking of poor Laura the whole time.' + +'And how she would like to see him in his present state? What shall +you do if I bring him home to Redclyffe? Shall you go to Hollywell, to +comfort Laura?' + +'I shall wait till you send me. Besides, how can you invite company till +we know whether we have a roof over our house or not? What is he doing +now?' + +'As usual, he has an unlimited capacity for sleep.' + +'I wish you had. I don't think you have slept two hours together since +you left off sitting up.' + +'I am beginning to think it a popular delusion. I do just as well +without it.' + +'So you say; but Mr. Shene would never have taken such a fancy to you, +if you always had such purple lines as those under your eyes. Look! +Is that a face for Sir Galahad, or Sir Guy, or any of the Round Table? +Come, I wish you would lie down, and be read to sleep.' + +'I should like a walk much better. It is very cool and bright. Will you +come?' + +They walked for some time, talking over the conduct of Philip and +Laura. Amabel seemed quite oppressed by the thought of such a burthen of +concealment. She said she did not know what she should have done in +her own troubles without mamma and Charlie; and she could not imagine +Laura's keeping silence through the time of Philip's danger; more +especially as she recollected how appalling some of her bulletins had +been. The only satisfaction was in casting as much of the blame on him +as possible. + +'You know he never would let her read novels; and I do believe that was +the reason she did not understand what it meant.' + +'I think there is a good deal in that,' said Guy, laughing, 'though +Charlie would say it is a very _novel_ excuse for a young lady falling +imprudently in love.' + +'I do believe, if it was any one but Laura, Charlie would be very glad +of it. He always fully saw through Philip's supercilious shell.' + +'Amy!' + +'No; let me go on, Guy, for you must allow that it was much worse in +such a grave, grand, unromantic person, who makes a point of thinking +before he speaks, than if it had been a hasty, hand-over-head man like +Maurice de Courcy, who might have got into a scrape without knowing it. + +'That must have made the struggle to confess all the more painful; and a +most free, noble, open-hearted confession it was.' + +They tried to recollect all that had passed during that summer, and to +guess against whom he had wished to warn her; but so far were they from +divining the truth, that they agreed it must either have been Maurice, +or some other wild Irishman. + +Next, they considered what was to be done. Philip must manage his +confession his own way; but they had it in their power greatly to +soften matters; and there was no fear that, after the first shock, +Mr. Edmonstone would insist on the engagement being broken off, Philip +should come to recover his health at Redclyffe, where he would be ready +to meet the first advance towards forgiveness,--and Amabel thought it +would soon be made. Papa's anger was sharp, but soon over; he was very +fond of Philip, and delighted in a love affair, but she was afraid mamma +would not get over it so soon, for she would be excessively hurt and +grieved. 'And when I was naughty,' said Amy, 'nothing ever made me so +sorry as mamma's kindness.' + +Guy launched out into more schemes for facilitating their marriage than +ever he had made for himself; and the walk ended with extensive castle +building on Philip's account, in the course of which Amy was obliged +to become much less displeased. Guy told her, in the evening, that she +would have been still more softened if she could have heard him talk +about Stylehurst and his father. Guy had always wished to hear him speak +of the Archdeacon, though they had never been on terms to enter on such +a subject. And now Philip had been much pleased by Guy's account of his +walks to Stylehurst, and taken pleasure in telling which were his old +haunts, making out where Guy had been, and describing his father's ways. + +The next day was Sunday, and Amabel was to pay her cousin a visit. Guy +was very eager about it, saying it was like a stage in his recovery; and +though the thought of her mother and Laura could not be laid aside, she +would not say a word to damp her husband's pleasure in the anticipation. +It seemed as if Guy, wanting to bestow all he could upon his cousin in +gratitude for his newly-accorded friendship, thought the sight of his +little wife the very best thing he had to give. + +It was a beautiful day, early in September, with a little autumnal +freshness in the mountain breezes that they enjoyed exceedingly. +Philip's convalescence, and their own escape, might be considered as so +far decided, that they might look back on the peril as past. Amabel felt +how much cause there was for thankfulness; and, after all, Philip +was not half as bad now as when he was maintaining his system of +concealment; he had made a great effort, and was about to do his best +by way of reparation; but it was so new to her to pity him, that she did +not know how to begin. + +She tried to make the day seem as Sunday-like as she could, by putting +on her white muslin dress and white ribbons, with Charles's hair +bracelet, and a brooch of beautiful silver workmanship, which Guy had +bought for her at Milan, the only ornament he had ever given to her. +She sat at her window, watching the groups of Italians in their holiday +costume, and dwelling on the strange thoughts that had passed through +her mind often before in her lonely Sundays in this foreign land, +thinking much of her old home and East-hill Church, wondering whether +the letter had yet arrived which was to free them from anxiety, and +losing herself in a maze of uncomfortable marvels about Laura. + +'Now, then,' at length said Guy, entering, 'I only hope he has not +knocked himself up with his preparations, for he would make such a +setting to rights, that I told him I could almost fancy he expected the +queen instead of only Dame Amabel Morville.' + +He led her down, opened the door, and playfully announced, 'Lady +Morville! I have done it right this time. Here she is'! + +She had of course expected to see Philip much altered, but she was +startled by the extent of the change; for being naturally fair and +high-coloured, he was a person on whom the traces of illness were +particularly visible. The colour was totally gone, even from his lips; +his cheeks were sunken, his brow looked broader and more massive +from the thinness of his face and the loss of his hair, and his eyes +themselves appeared unlike what they used to be in the hollows round +them. He seemed tranquil, and comfortable, but so wan, weak, and +subdued, and so different from himself, that she was very much shocked, +as smiling and holding out a hand, where the white skin seemed hardly +to cover the bone and blue vein, he said, in a tone, slow, feeble, and +languid, though cheerful,-- + +'Good morning, Amy. You see Guy was right, after all. I am sorry to have +made your wedding tour end so unpleasantly.' + +'Nay, most pleasantly, since you are better,' said Amabel, laughing, +because she was almost ready to cry, and her displeasure went straight +out of her head. + +'Are you doing the honours of my room, Guy?' said Philip, raising his +head from the pillow, with a becoming shade of his ceremonious courtesy. +'Give her a chair.' + +Amy smiled and thanked him, while he lay gazing at her as a sick person +is apt to do at a flower, or the first pretty enlivening object from +which he is able to derive enjoyment, and as if he could not help +expressing the feeling, he said-- + +'Is that your wedding-dress, Amy?' + +'Oh, no; that was all lace and finery.' + +'You look so nice and bridal--' + +'There's a compliment that such an old wife ought to make the most of, +Amy,' said Guy, looking at her with a certain proud satisfaction in +Philip's admiration. 'It is high time to leave off calling you a bride, +after your splendid appearance at the party at Munich, in all your +whiteness and orange-flowers.' + +'That was quite enough of it,' said Amy, smiling. + +'Not at all,' said Philip; 'you have all your troubles in the visiting +line to come, when you go home.' + +'Ah! you know the people, and will be a great help to us,' said Amy, +and Guy was much pleased to hear her taking a voluntary share in the +invitation, knowing as he did that she only half liked it. + +'Thank you; we shall see,' replied Philip. + +'Yes; we shall see when you are fit for the journey, and it will not be +long before we can begin, by short stages. You have got on wonderfully +in the last few days. How do you think he is looking, Amy?' finished +Guy, with an air of triumph, that was rather amusing, considering what a +pale skeleton face he was regarding with so much satisfaction. + +'I dare say he is looking much mended,' said Amy; 'but you must not +expect me to see it.' + +'You can't get a compliment for me, Guy,' said Philip. 'I was a good +deal surprised when Arnaud brought me the glass this morning.' + +'It is a pity you did not see yourself a week ago,' said Guy, shaking +his head drolly. + +'It is certain, as the French doctor says, that monsieur has a very +vigorous constitution.' + +'Charles says, having a good constitution is only another name for +undergoing every possible malady,' said Amy. + +'Rather good' said Guy; 'for I certainly find it answer very well to +have none at all.' + +'Haven't you?' said Amy, rather startled. + +'Or how do you know?' said Philip; 'especially as you never were ill.' + +'It is a dictum of old Walters, the Moorworth doctor, the last time +I had anything to do with him, when I was a small child. I suppose I +remembered it for its oracular sound, and because I was not intended +to listen. He was talking over with Markham some illness I had just got +through, and wound up with, "He may be healthy and active now; but he +has no constitution, there is a tendency to low fever, and if he meets +with any severe illness, it will go hard with him."' + +'How glad I am I did not know that before' cried Amy. + +'Did you remember it when you came here?' said Philip. + +'Yes,' said Guy, not in the least conscious of the impression his words +made on the others. 'By the bye, Philip, I wish you would tell us how +you fared after we parted, and how you came here.' + +'I went on according to my former plan,' said Philip, 'walking through +the Valtelline, and coming down by a mountain path. I was not well at +Bolzano, but I thought it only fatigue, which a Sunday's rest would +remove, so on I went for the next two days, in spite of pain in head and +limbs.' + +'Not walking!' said Amy. + +'Yes, walking. I thought it was stiffness from mountain climbing, and +that I could walk it off; but I never wish to go through anything like +what I did the last day, between the up and downs of that mountain path, +and the dazzle of the snow and heat of the sun. I meant to have reached +Vicenza, but I must have been quite knocked up when I arrived here, +though I cannot tell. My head grew so confused, that my dread, all the +way, was that I should forget my Italian; I can just remember conning a +phrase over and over again, lest I should lose it. I suppose I was able +to speak when I came here, but the last thing I remember was feeling +very ill in some room, different from this, quite alone, and with a +horror of dying deserted. The next is a confused recollection of the +relief of hearing English again, and seeing my excellent nurse here.' + +There was a little more talk, but a little was enough for Philip's +feeble voice, and Guy soon told him he was tired, and ordered in his +broth. He begged that Amy would stay, and it was permitted on condition +that he would not talk, Guy even cutting short a quotation of,--'As Juno +had been sick and he her dieter,'--appropriate to the excellence of +the broths, which Amabel and her maid, thanks to their experience of +Charles's fastidious tastes, managed to devise and execute, in spite +of bad materials. It was no small merit in Guy to stop the compliment, +considering how edified he had been by his wife's unexpected ingenuity, +and what a comical account he had written of it to her mother, such, as +Amy told him, deserved to be published in a book of good advice to young +ladies, to show what they might come to if they behaved well. However, +she was glad to have ocular demonstration of the success of the cookery, +which she had feared might turn out uneatable; and her gentle +feelings towards Philip were touched, by seeing one wont to be full of +independence and self-assertion, now meek and helpless, requiring to +be lifted, and propped up with pillows, and depending entirely and +thankfully upon Guy. + +When he had been settled and made comfortable, they read the service; +and she thought her husband's tones had never been so sweet as now, +modulated to the pitch best suited to the sickroom, and with the +peculiarly beautiful expression he always gave such reading. It was the +lesson from Jeremiah, on the different destiny of Josiah and his sons, +and he read that verse, 'Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him, +but weep sore for him that goeth away; for he shall return no more, nor +see his native country;' with so remarkable a melancholy and beauty in +his voice, that she could hardly refrain from tears, and it also greatly +struck Philip, who had been so near 'returning no more, neither seeing +his native country.' + +When the reading was over, and they were leaving him to rest, while they +went to dinner, he said, as he wished Amy good-bye, 'Till now I never +discovered the practical advantage of such a voice as Guy's. There never +was such a one for a sick-room. Last week, I could not bear any one else +to speak at all; and even now, no one else could have read so that I +could like it.' + +'Your voice; yes,' said Amy, after they had returned to their own +sitting-room. 'I want to hear it very much. I wonder when you will sing +to me again.' + +'Not till he has recovered strength to bear the infliction with +firmness,' said Guy; 'but, Amy, I'll tell you what we will do, if you +are sure it is good for you. He will have a good long sleep, and we will +have a walk on the green hillocks.' + +Accordingly they wandered in the cool of the evening on the grassy +slopes under the chestnut-trees, making it a Sunday walk, calm, bright +and meditative, without many words, but those deep and grave, 'such as +their walks had been before they were married,' as Amabel said. + +'Better,' he answered. + +A silence, broken by her asking, 'Do you recollect your melancholy +definition of happiness, years ago?' + +'What was it?' + +'Gleams from another world, too soon eclipsed or forfeited. It made me +sad then. Do you hold to it now?' + +'Don't you?' + +'I want to know what you would say now?' + +'Gleams from another world, brightening as it gets nearer.' + +Amabel repeated-- + + + Ever the richest, tenderest glow, + Sets round the autumnal sun; + But their sight fails, no heart may know + The bliss when life is done. + + +'Old age,' she added; 'that seems very far off.' + +'Each day is a step,' he answered, and then came a silence while both +were thinking deeply. + +They sat down to rest under a tree, the mountains before them with heavy +dark clouds hanging on their sides, and the white crowns clear against +the blue sky, a perfect stillness on all around, and the red glow of an +Italian sunset just fading away. + +'There is only one thing wanting,' said Amy. 'You may sing now. You are +far from Philip's hearing. Suppose we chant this afternoon's psalms.' + +It was the fifth day of the month, and the psalms seemed especially +suitable to their thoughts. Before the 29th was finished, it was +beginning to grow dark. There were a few pale flashes of lightning +in the mountains, and at the words 'The voice of the Lord shaketh the +wilderness,' a low but solemn peal of thunder came as an accompaniment. + +'The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.' + +The full sweet melody died away, but the echo caught it up and answered +like the chant of a spirit in the distance--'The blessing of peace.' + +The effect was too solemn and mysterious to be disturbed by word or +remark. Guy drew her arm into his, and they turned homewards. + +They had some distance to walk, and night had closed in before they +reached the village, but was only more lovely. The thunder rolled +solemnly among the hills, but the young moon shone in marvellous +whiteness on the snowy crowns, casting fantastic shadows from the crags, +while whole showers of fire-flies were falling on them from the trees, +floating and glancing in the shade. + +'It is a pity to go in,' said Amy. But Arnaud did not seem to be of the +same opinion: he came out to meet them very anxiously, expostulating on +the dangers of the autumnal dew; and Guy owned that though it had been +the most wonderful and delightful evening he had ever known, he was +rather fatigued. + + + + +CHAPTER 33 + + From darkness here and dreariness, + We ask not full repose. + --CHRISTIAN YEAR + + +It seemed as if the fatigue which Guy had undergone was going to make +itself felt at last, for he had a slight headache the next morning, and +seemed dull and weary. Both he and Amabel sat for some time with Philip, +and when she went away to write her letters, Philip began discussing +a plan which had occurred to him of offering himself as chief of the +constabulary force in the county where Redclyffe was situated. It was +an office which would suit him very well, and opened a new hope of +his marriage, and he proceeded to reckon on Lord Thorndale's interest, +counting up all the magistrates he knew, and talking them over with Guy, +who, however, did not know enough of his own neighbourhood to be of much +use; and when he came up-stairs a little after, said he was vexed +at having been so stupid. He was afraid he had seemed unkind and +indifferent. But the truth was that he was so heavy and drowsy, that he +had actually fallen twice into a doze while Philip was talking. + +'Of course,' said Amy, 'gentle sleep will take her revenge at last for +your calling her a popular delusion. Lie down, let her have her own way, +and you will be good for something by and by.' + +He took her advice, slept for a couple of hours, and awoke a good deal +refreshed, so that though his head still ached, he was able to attend as +usual to Philip in the evening. + +He did not waken the next morning till so late, that he sprung up +in consternation, and began to dress in haste to go to Philip; but +presently he came back from his dressing-room with a hasty uncertain +step, and threw himself down on the bed. Amabel came to his side in an +instant, much frightened at his paleness, but he spoke directly. 'Only +a fit of giddiness--it is going off;' and he raised himself, but was +obliged to lie down again directly. + +'You had better keep quiet' said she. 'Is it your headache?' + +'It is aching,' said Guy, and she put her hand over it. + +'How hot and throbbing!' said she. 'You must have caught cold in that +walk. No, don't try to move; it is only making it worse.' + +'I must go to Philip,' he answered, starting up; but this brought on +such a sensation of dizziness and faintness, that he sunk back on the +pillow. + +'No; it is of no use to fight against it,' said Amy, as soon as he was a +little better. 'Never mind Philip, I'll go to him. You must keep quiet, +and I will get you a cup of hot tea.' + +As he lay still, she had the comfort of seeing him somewhat revived, but +he listened to her persuasions not to attempt to move. It was later than +she had expected, and she found that breakfast was laid out in the next +room. She brought him some tea; but he did not seem inclined to lift +his head to drink it; and begged her to go at once to Philip, fearing +he must be thinking himself strangely forgotten, and giving her many +directions about the way he liked to be waited on at breakfast. + +Very much surprised was Philip to see her instead, of her husband, and +greatly concerned to hear that Guy was not well. + +'Over-fatigue,' said he. 'He could not but feel the effects of such +long-continued exertion.' Then, after an interval, during which he had +begun breakfast, with many apologies for letting her wait on him, he +said, with some breaks, 'Never was there such a nurse as he, Amy; I have +felt much more than I can express, especially now. You will never have +to complain of my harsh judgment again!' + +'It is too much for you to talk of these things,' said Amabel, moved +by the trembling of his feeble voice, but too anxious to return to +her husband to like to wait even to hear that Philip's opinion _had_ +altered. It required much self-command not to hurry, even by manner, +her cousin's tardy, languid movements; but she had been well trained by +Charles in waiting on sick breakfasts. + +When at length she was able to escape, she found that Guy had undressed, +and gone to bed again. He said he was more comfortable, and desired +her to go and take her own breakfast before coming back to him, and she +obeyed as well as she could, but very soon was again with him. He +looked flushed and oppressed, and when she put her cool hand across his +forehead, she was frightened at the increased throbbing of his temples. + +'Amy,' said he, looking steadily at her, 'this is the fever.' + +Without answering, she drew his hand into hers, and felt his pulse, +which did indeed plainly respond fever. Each knew that the other was +recollecting what he had said, on Sunday, of the doctor's prediction, +and Amy knew he was thinking of death; but all that passed was a +proposal to send at once for the French physician. Amabel wrote her note +with steadiness, derived from the very force of the shock. She could +not think; she did not know whether she feared or hoped. To act from +one moment to another was all she attempted, and it was well that her +imagination did not open to be appalled at her own situation--so young, +alone with the charge of two sick men in a foreign country; her cousin, +indeed, recovering, but helpless, and not even in a state to afford her +counsel; her husband sickening for this frightful fever, and with +more than ordinary cause for apprehension, even without the doctor's +prophecy, when she thought of his slight frame, and excitable +temperament, and that though never as yet tried by a day's illness, he +certainly had more spirit than strength, while all the fatigue he +had been undergoing was likely to tell upon him now. She did not +look forward, she did not look round; she did not hope or fear; she +_trusted_, and did her best for each, as she was wanted, trying not to +make herself useless to both, by showing that she wished to be in two +places at once. + +It was a day sufficiently distressing in itself had there been no +further apprehension, for there was the restlessness of illness, working +on a character too active and energetic to acquiesce without a trial in +the certainty that there was no remedy for present discomfort. There was +no impatience nor rebellion against the illness itself, but a wish to +try one after another the things that had been effective in relieving +Philip during his recovery. At the same time, he could not bear that +Amabel should do anything to tire herself, and was very anxious that +Philip should not be neglected. He tossed from one side to the other +in burning oppression or cold chills; Amy saw him looking wistful, +suggested something by way of alleviation, then found he had been +wishing for it, but refraining from asking in order to spare her, and +that he was sorry when she procured it. Again and again this happened; +she smoothed the coverings, and shook up the pillow: he would thank +her, look at her anxiously, beg her not to exert herself, but soon grew +restless, and the whole was repeated. + +At last, as she was trying to arrange the coverings, he exclaimed,-- + +'I see how it is. This is impatience. Now, I will not stir for an hour,' +and as he made the resolution, he smiled at treating himself so like a +child. His power of self-restraint came to his aid, and long before the +hour was over he had fallen asleep. + +This was a relief; yet that oppressed, flushed, discomposed slumber, and +heavy breathing only confirmed her fears that the fever had gained full +possession of him. She had not the heart to write such tidings, at least +till the physician should have made them too certain, nor could she even +bear to use the word 'feverish,' in her answers to the anxious inquiries +Philip made whenever she went into his room, though when he averted his +face with a heavy sigh, she knew his conclusion was the same as her own. + +The opinion of the physician was the only thing wanting to bring home +the certainty, and that fell on her like lead in the evening; with one +comfort, however, that he thought it a less severe case than the former +one. It was a great relief, too, that there was no wandering of mind, +only the extreme drowsiness and oppression; and when Guy was roused by +the doctor's visit, he was as clear and collected as possible, making +inquiries and remarks, and speaking in a particularly calm and quiet +manner. As soon as the doctor was gone, he looked up to Amabel, saying, +with his own smile, only very dim,-- + +'It would be of no use, and it would not be true, to say I had rather +you did not nurse me. The doctor hopes there is not much danger of +infection, and it is too late for precautions.' + +'I am very glad,' said Amy. + +'But you must be wise, and not hurt yourself. Will you promise me not to +sit up?' + +'It is very kind of you to tell me nothing worse,' said she, with a sad +submissiveness. + +He smiled again. 'I am very sorry for you,' he said, looking very +tenderly at her. 'To have us both on your hands at once! But it comes +straight from Heaven, that is one comfort, and you made up your mind to +such things when you took me.' + +Sadness in his eye, a sweet smile on his lip, and serenity on his brow, +joined with the fevered cheek, the air of lassitude, and the panting, +oppressed breath, there was a strange, melancholy beauty about him; +and while Amy felt an impulse of ardent, clinging affection to one so +precious to her, there was joined with it a sort of awe and veneration +for one who so spoke, looked, and felt. She hung over him, and sprinkled +him with Eau-de-Cologne; then as his hair teased him by falling into his +eyes, he asked her to cut the front lock off. There was something sad +in doing this, for that 'tumble-down wave,' as Charlotte called it, was +rather a favourite of Amy's; it always seemed to have so much sympathy +with his moods, and it was as if parting with it was resigning him to a +long illness. However, it was too troublesome not to go, and he looked +amused at the care with which she folded up the glossy, brown wave, and +treasured it in her dressing-case, then she read to him a few verses of +a psalm, and he soon fell into another doze. + +There was little more of event, day after day. The fever never ran as +high as in Philip's case, and there was no delirium. There was almost +constant torpor, but when for any short space he was thoroughly +awakened, his mind was perfectly clear, though he spoke little, and then +only on the subject immediately presented to him. There he lay for +one quiet hour after another, while Amy sat by him, with as little +consciousness of time as he had himself, looking neither forward nor +backward, only to the present, to give him drink, bathe his face and +hands, arrange his pillows, or read or repeat some soothing verse. It +always was a surprise when meal times summoned her to attend to Philip, +when she was asked for the letters for the post, when evening twilight +gathered in, or when she had to leave the night-watch to Arnaud, and go +to bed in the adjoining room. + +This was a great trial, but he would not allow her to sit up; and her +own sense showed her that if this was to be a long illness, it would +not do to waste her strength. She knew he was quiet at night, and her +trustful temper so calmed and supported her, that she was able to sleep, +and thus was not as liable to be overworked as might have been feared, +and as Philip thought she must be. + +She always appeared in his room with her sweet face mournful and +anxious, but never ruffled, or with any air of haste or discomfiture, +desirous as she was to return to her husband; for, though he frequently +sent her to take care of herself or of Philip, she knew that while she +was away he always grew more restless and uncomfortable, and his look of +relief at her re-entrance said as much to her as a hundred complaints of +her absence would have done. + +Philip was in the meantime sorely tried by being forced to be entirely +inactive and dependent, while he saw Amabel in such need of assistance; +and so far from being able to requite Guy's care, he could only look on +himself as the cause of their distress, and an addition to it--a burthen +instead of a help. If he had been told a little while ago what would be +the present state of things, he would almost have laughed the speaker +to scorn. He would never have thought a child as competent as Amy to the +sole management of two sick persons, and he not able either to advise +or cheer her. Yet he could not see anything went wrong that depended on +her. His comforts were so cared for, that he was often sorry she should +have troubled herself about them; and though he could have little of her +company, he never was allowed to feel himself deserted. Anne, Arnaud, +the old Italian nurse, or Amy herself, were easily summoned, and gave +him full care and attention. + +He was, however, necessarily a good deal alone; and though his cousin's +books were at his disposal, eyes and head were too weak for reading, and +he was left a prey to his own thoughts. His great comfort was, that Guy +was less ill than he had been himself, and that there was no present +danger; otherwise, he could never have endured the conviction that all +had been caused by his own imprudence. Imprudence! Philip was brought +very low to own that such a word applied to him, yet it would have been +well for him had that been the chief burthen on his mind. Was it only an +ordinary service of friendship and kindred that Guy had, at the peril +of his own life, rendered him? Was it not a positive return of good +for evil? Yes, evil! He now called that evil, or at least harshness and +hastiness in judgment, which he had hitherto deemed true friendship and +consideration for Guy and Amy. Every feeling of distrust and jealousy +had been gradually softening since his recovery began; gratitude had +done much, and dismay at Guy's illness did more. It would have been +noble and generous in Guy to act as he had done, had Philip's surmises +been correct, and this he began to doubt, though it was his only +justification, and even to wish to lose it. He had rather believe Guy +blameless. He would do so, if possible; and he resolved, on the first +opportunity, to beg him to give him one last assurance that all was +right, and implicitly believe him. But how was it possible again +to assume to be a ruler and judge over Guy after it was known +how egregiously he himself had erred? There was shame, sorrow, +self-humiliation, and anxiety wherever he turned, and it was no wonder +that depression of spirits retarded his recovery. + +It was not till the tenth day after Guy's illness had begun that Philip +was able to be dressed, and to come into the next room, where Amabel had +promised to dine with him. As he lay on the sofa, she thought he looked +even more ill than in bed, the change from his former appearance being +rendered more visible, and his great height making him look the more +thin. He was apparently exhausted with the exertion of dressing, for he +was very silent all dinner-time, though Amabel could have better talked +to-day than for some time past, since Guy had had some refreshing sleep, +was decidedly less feverish, seemed better for nourishing food, and said +that he wanted nothing but a puff of Redclyffe wind to make him well. +He was pleased to hear of Philip's step in recovery, and altogether, Amy +was cheered and happy. + +She left her cousin as soon as dinner was over, and did not come to him +again for nearly an hour and a half. She was then surprised to find +him finishing a letter, resting his head on one hand, and looking wan, +weary, and very unhappy. + +'Have you come to letter writing?' + +'Yes,' he answered, in a worn, dejected tone, 'I must ask you to direct +this, I can't make it legible,' + +No wonder, so much did his hand tremble, as he held out the envelope. + +'To your sister?' she asked. + +'No; to yours. I never wrote to her before. There's one enclosed to your +father, to tell all.' + +'I am glad you have done it,' answered Amy, in a quiet tone of sincere +congratulation. 'You will be better now it is off your mind. But how +tired you are. You must go back to bed. Shall I call Arnaud?' + +'I must rest first'--and his voice failing, he laid back on the sofa, +closed his eyes, turned ashy pale, and became so faint that she could +not leave him, and was obliged to apply every restorative within reach +before she could bring him back to a state of tolerable comfort. + +The next minute her work was nearly undone, when Anne came in to ask for +the letters for the post. 'Shall I send yours?' asked Amy. + +He muttered an assent. But when she looked back to him after speaking to +Anne, she saw a tremulous, almost convulsed working of the closed eyes +and mouth, while the thin hands were clenched together with a force +contrasting with the helpless manner in which they had hung a moment +before. She guessed at the intensity of anguish it mast cost a temper so +proud, a heart of so strong a mould, and feelings so deep, to take the +first irrevocable step in self-humiliation, giving up into the hands of +others the engagement that had hitherto been the cherished treasure +of his life; and above all, in exposing Laura to bear the brunt of the +penalty of the fault into which he had led her. 'Oh, for Guy to comfort +him,' thought she, feeling herself entirely incompetent, dreading to +intrude on his feelings, yet thinking it unkind to go away without one +sympathizing word when he was in such distress. + +'You will be glad, in time,' at last she said. He made no answer. + +She held the stimulants to him again, and tried to arrange him more +comfortably. + +'Thank you,' at last he said. 'How is Guy?' + +'He has just had another nice quiet sleep, and is quite refreshed.' + +'That is a blessing, at least. But does not he want you? I have been +keeping you a long time?' + +'Thank you, as he is awake, I should like to go back. You are better +now.' + +'Yes, while I don't move.' + +'Don't try. I'll send Arnaud, and as soon as you can, you had better go +to bed again.' + +Guy was still awake, and able to hear what she had to tell him about +Philip. + +'Poor fellow!' said he. 'We must try to soften it.' + +'Shall I write?' said Amy. 'Mamma will be pleased to hear of his having +told you, and they must be sorry for him, when they hear how much the +letter cost him.' + +'Ah! they will not guess at half his sorrow.' + +'I will write to papa, and send it after the other letters, so that he +may read it before he hears of Philip's.' + +'Poor Laura!' said Guy. 'Could not you write a note to her too? I want +her to be told that I am very sorry, if I ever gave her pain by speaking +thoughtlessly of him.' + +'Nay,' said Amy, smiling, 'you have not much to reproach yourself with +in that way. It was I that always abused him.' + +'You can never do so again.' + +'No, I don't think I can, now I have seen his sorrow.' + +Amabel was quite in spirits, as she brought her writing to his bed-side, +and read her sentences to him as she composed the letter to her father, +while he suggested and approved. It was a treat indeed to have him able +to consult with her once more, and he looked so much relieved and +so much better, that she felt as if it was the beginning of real +improvement, though still his pulse was fast, and the fever, though +lessened, was not gone. + +The letter was almost as much his as her own, and he ended his dictation +thus: 'Say that I am sure that if I get better we may make arrangements +for their marriage.' + +Then, as Amy was finishing the letter with her hopes of his amendment, +he added, speaking to her, and not dictating--'If not,'--she shrank and +shivered, but did not exclaim, for he looked so calm and happy that she +did not like to interrupt him--'If not, you know, it will be very easy +to put the money matters to rights, whatever may happen.' + + + + +CHAPTER 34 + + Sir, + It is your fault I have loved Posthumus; + You bred him as my playfellow; and he is + A man worth any woman, over-buys me + Almost the sum he pays. + --CYMBELINE + + +The first tidings of Philip's illness arrived at Hollywell one morning +at breakfast, and were thus announced by Charles-- + +'There! So he has been and gone and done it.' + +'What? Who? Not Guy?' + +'Here has the Captain gone and caught a regular bad fever, in some +malaria hole; delirious, and all that sort of thing, and of course our +wise brother and sister must needs go and nurse him, by way of a pretty +little interlude in their wedding tour!' + +Laura's voice alone was unheard in the chorus of inquiry. She sat cold, +stiff, and silent, devouring with her ears each reply, that fell like +a death-blow, while she was mechanically continuing the occupations of +breakfast. When all was told, she hurried to her own room, but the want +of sympathy was becoming intolerable. If Amabel had been at home, she +must have told her all. There was no one else; and the misery to +be endured in silence was dreadful. Her dearest--her whole joy and +hope--suffering, dying, and to hear all round her speaking of him with +kindness, indeed, but what to her seemed indifference; blaming him for +wilfulness, saying he had drawn it on himself,--it seemed to drive her +wild. She conjured up pictures of his sufferings, and dreaded Guy's +inexperience, the want of medical advice, imagining everything that was +terrible. Her idol, to whom her whole soul was devoted, was passing +from her, and no one pitied her; while the latent consciousness of +disobedience debarred her from gaining solace from the only true source. +All was blank desolation--a wild agony, untempered by resignation, +uncheered by prayer; for though she did pray, it was without trust, +without hope, while her wretchedness was rendered more overwhelming by +her efforts to conceal it. These were so far ineffectual that no one +could help perceiving that she was extremely unhappy, but then all the +family knew she was very fond of Philip, and neither her mother nor +brother could be surprised at her distress, though it certainly appeared +to them excessive. Mrs. Edmonstone was very sorry for her, and very +affectionate and considerate; but Laura was too much absorbed, in her +own feelings to perceive or to be grateful for her kindness; and as each +day brought a no better report, her despair became so engrossing that +she could not attempt any employment. She wandered in the garden, sat in +dreamy fits of silence in the house, and at last, after receiving one of +the worst accounts, sat up in her dressing-gown the whole of one night, +in one dull, heavy, motionless trance of misery. + +She recollected that she must act her part, dressed in the morning and +came down; but her looks were ghastly; she tasted no food, and as soon +as possible left the breakfast-room. Her mother was going in quest +of her when old nurse came with an anxious face to say,--'Ma'am, I am +afraid Miss Edmonstone must be very ill, or something. Do you know, +ma'am, her bed has not been slept in all night?' + +'You don't say so, nurse!' + +'Yes, ma'am, Jane told me so, and I went to look myself. Poor child, +she is half distracted about Master Philip, and no wonder, for they were +always together; but I thought you ought to know, ma'am, for she will +make herself ill, to a certainty.' + +'I am going to see about her this moment, nurse,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; +and presently she found Laura wandering up and down the shady walk, in +the restlessness of her despair. + +'Laura, dearest,' said she, putting her arm round her, 'I cannot bear to +see you so unhappy.' + +Laura did not answer; for though solitude was oppressive, every one's +presence was a burthen. + +'I cannot think it right to give way thus,' continued her mother. 'Did +you really sit up all night, my poor child?' + +'I don't know. They did so with him!' + +'My dear, this will never do. You are making yourself seriously unwell.' + +'I wish--I wish I was ill; I wish I was dying!' broke from Laura, almost +unconsciously, in a hoarse, inward voice. + +'My dear! You don't know what you are saying. You forget that this +self-abandonment, and extravagant grief would be wrong in any one; and, +if nothing else, the display is unbecoming in you.' + +Laura's over-wrought feelings could bear no more, and in a tone which, +though too vehement to be addressed to a parent, had in it an agony +which almost excused it, by showing how unable she was to restrain +herself, she broke forth:----'Unbecoming! Who has a right to grieve for +him but me?--his own, his chosen,--the only one who can love him, or +understand him. Her voice died away in a sob, though without tears. + +Her mother heard the words, but did not take in their full meaning; +and, believing that Laura's undeveloped affection had led her to this +uncontrolled grief, she spoke again, with coldness, intended to rouse +her to a sense that she was compromising her womanly dignity. + +'Take care, Laura; a woman has no right to speak in such a manner of a +man who has given her no reason to believe in his preference of her.' + +'Preference! It is his love!--his love! His whole heart! The one thing +that was precious to me in this world! Preference! You little guess what +we have felt for each other!' + +'Laura!' Mrs. Edmonstone stood still, overpowered. 'What do you mean?' +She could not put the question more plainly. + +'What have I done?' cried Laura. 'I have betrayed him!' she answered +herself in a tone of despair, as she hid her face in her hands; +'betrayed him when he is dying!' + +Her mother was too much shocked to speak in the soft reluctant manner in +which she was wont to reprove. + +'Laura,' said she, 'I must understand this. What has passed between you +and Philip?' + +Laura only replied by a flood of tears, ungovernable from the exhaustion +of sleeplessness and want of food. Mrs. Edmonstone's kindness returned; +she soothed her, begged her to control herself, and at length brought +her into the house, and up to the dressing-room, where she sank on the +sofa, weeping violently. It was the reaction of the long restraint +she had been exercising on herself, and the silence she had +been maintaining. She was not feeling the humiliation, her own +acknowledgement of disobedience, but of the horror of being forced to +reveal the secret he had left in her charge. + +Long did she weep, breaking out more piteously at each attempt of her +mother to lead her to explain. Poor Mrs. Edmonstone was alarmed and +perplexed beyond measure; this half confession had so overthrown all her +ideas that she was ready to apprehend everything most improbable, and +almost expected to hear of a private marriage. Her presence seemed only +to make Laura worse, and at length she said,--'I shall leave you +for half an hour, in hopes that by that time you may have recovered +yourself, and be able to give the explanation which I _require_.' + +She went into her own room, and waited, with her eyes on her watch, a +prey to every strange alarm and anticipation, grievously hurt at this +want of confidence, and wounded, where she least expected it, by both +daughter and nephew. She thought, guessed, recollected, wondered, +tormented herself, and at the last of the thirty minutes, hastily opened +the door into the dressing-room. Laura sat as before, crouched up in the +corner of the wide sofa; and when she raised her face, at her mother's +entrance, it was bewildered rather than embarrassed. + +'Well, Laura?' She waited unanswered; and the wretchedness of the look +so touched her, that, kissing her, she said, 'Surely, my dear, you need +not be afraid to tell me anything?' + +Laura did not respond to the kindness, but asked, looking perplexed, +'What have I said? Have I told it?' + +'What you have given me reason to believe,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, trying +to bring herself to speak it explicitly, 'that you think Philip is +attached to you. You do not deny it. Let me know on what terms you +stand.' + +Without looking up, she murmured, 'If you would not force it from me at +such a time.' + +'Laura, it is for your own good. You are wretched now, my poor child; +why not relieve yourself by telling all? If you have not acted openly, +can you have any comfort till you have confessed? It may be a painful +effort, but relief will come afterwards.' + +'I have nothing to confess,' said Laura. 'There is no such thing as you +think.' + +'No engagement?' + +'No.' + +'Then what am I to understand by your exclamations?' + +'It is no engagement,' repeated Laura. 'He would never have asked that +without papa's consent. We are only bound by our own hearts.' + +'And you have a secret understanding with him?' + +'We have never written to each other; we have never dreamed of any +intercourse that could be called clandestine. He would scorn it. He +waited only for his promotion to declare it to papa.' + +'And how long has it been declared to you?' + +'Ever since the first summer Guy was here.' + +'Three years!' exclaimed her mother. 'You have kept this from me three +years! O Laura!' + +'It was of no use to speak!' said Laura, faintly. + +If she had looked up, she would have seen those words, 'no use,' cut her +mother more deeply than all; but there was only coldness in the tone +of the answer, 'No use to inform your parents, before you pledged your +affections!' + +'Indeed, mamma,' said Laura, 'I was sure that you knew his worth.' + +'Worth! when he was teaching you to live in a course of insincerity? +Your father will be deeply hurt.' + +'Papa! Oh, you must not tell him! Now, I have betrayed him, indeed! Oh, +my weakness!' and another paroxysm of tears came on. + +'Laura, you seem to think you owe nothing to any one but Philip. You +forget you are a daughter! that you have been keeping up a system of +disobedience and concealment, of which I could not have believed a child +of mine could be capable. O Laura, how you have abused our confidence!' + +Laura was touched by the sorrow of her tone; and, throwing her arms +round her neck, sobbed out, 'You will forgive me, only forgive him!' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was softened in a moment. 'Forgive you, my poor child! +You have been very unhappy!' and she kissed her, with many tears. + +'Must you tell papa?' whispered Laura. + +'Judge for yourself, Laura. Could I know such a thing, and hide it from +him?' + +Laura ceased, seeing her determined, and yielded to her pity, allowing +herself to be nursed as she required, so exhausted was she. She was laid +on the sofa, and made comfortable with pillows, in her mother's gentlest +way. When Mrs. Edmonstone was called away, Laura held her dress, saying, +'You are kind to me, but you must forgive him. Say you have forgiven +him, mamma, dearest!' + +'My dear, in the grave all things are forgiven.' + +She could not help saying so; but, feeling as if she had been cruel, she +added, 'I mean, while he is so ill, we cannot enter on such a matter. I +am very sorry for you,' proceeded she, still arranging for Laura's ease; +then kissing her, hoped she would sleep, and left her. + +Sympathy was a matter of necessity to Mrs. Edmonstone; and as her +husband was out, she went at once to Charles, with a countenance so +disturbed, that he feared some worse tidings had come from Italy. + +'No, no, nothing of that sort; it is poor Laura.' + +'Eh?' said Charles, with a significant though anxious look, that caused +her to exclaim,-- + +'Surely you had no suspicion!' + +Charlotte, who was reading in the window, trembled lest she should be +seen, and sent away. + +'I suspected poor Laura had parted with her heart. But what do you mean? +What has happened?' + +'Could you have guessed? but first remember how ill he is; don't be +violent, Charlie. Could you have guessed that they have been engaged, +ever since the summer we first remarked them?' + +She had expected a great storm; but Charles only observed, very coolly, +'Oh! it is come out at last!' + +'You don't mean that you knew it?' + +'No, indeed, you don't think they would choose me for their confidant!' + +'Not exactly,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, with the odd sort of laugh with +which even the most sensitive people, in the height of their troubles, +reply to anything ludicrous; 'but really,' she continued, 'every idea +of mine is so turned upside-down, that I don't know what to think of +anybody.' + +'We always knew Laura to be his slave and automaton. He is so +infallible in her eyes, that no doubt she thought her silence an act of +praiseworthy resolution.' + +'She was a mere child, poor dear,' said her mother; 'only eighteen! Yet +Amy was but a year older last summer. How unlike! She must have known +what she was doing.' + +'Not with her senses surrendered to him, without volition of her own. I +wonder by what magnetism he allowed her to tell?' + +'She has gone through a great deal, poor child, and I am afraid there is +much more for her to suffer, whether he recovers or not.' + +'He will recover' said Charles, with the decided manner in which people +prophesy the restoration of those they dislike, probably from a feeling +that they must not die, till there is more charity in their opinion of +them. + +'Your father will be so grieved.' + +'Well, I suppose we must begin to make the best of it,' said Charles. +'She has been as good as married to him these four years, for any use +she has been to us; it has been only the name of the thing, so he had +better--' + +'My dear Charlie, what are you talking of? You don't imagine they can +marry?' + +'They will some time or other, for assuredly neither will marry any +one else. You will see if Guy does not take up the cause, and return +Philip's meddling--which, by the bye, is now shown to have been more +preposterous still--by setting their affairs in order for them.' + +'Dear Guy, it is a comfort not to have been deceived in him!' + +'Except when you believed Philip,' said Charles. + +'Could anything have been more different?' proceeded Mrs. Edmonstone; +'yet the two girls had the same training.' + +'With an important exception,' said Charles; 'Laura is Philip's pupil, +Amy mine; and I think her little ladyship is the best turned out of +hand.' + +'How shocked Amy will be! If she was but here, it would be much better, +for she always had more of Laura's confidence than I. Oh, Charlie, there +has been the error!' and Mrs. Edmonstone's eyes were full of tears. +'What fearful mistake have I made to miss my daughter's confidence!' + +'You must not ask me, mother,' said Charles, face and voice full of +affectionate emotion. 'I know too well that I have been exacting and +selfish, taking too much advantage of your anxieties for me, and that if +you were not enough with my sisters when they were young girls, it was +my fault as much as my misfortune. But, after all, it has not hurt Amy +in the least; nor do I think it will hurt Charlotte.' + +Charlotte did not venture to give way to her desire to kiss her mother, +and thank Charles, lest she should be exiled as an intruder. + +'And,' proceeded Charles, serious, though somewhat roguish, 'I suspect +that no attention would have made much difference. You were always too +young, and Laura too much addicted to the physical sciences to get on +together.' + +'A weak, silly mother, sighed Mrs. Edmonstone. + +This was too much for Charlotte, who sprang forward, and flung her arms +round her neck, sobbing out,-- + +'Mamma! dear mamma! don't say such horrid things! No one is half so wise +or so good,--I am sure Guy thinks so too!' + +At the same time Bustle, perceiving a commotion, made a leap, planted +his fore-feet on Mrs. Edmonstone's lap, wagging his tail vehemently, and +trying to lick her face. It was not in human nature not to laugh; and +Mrs. Edmonstone did so as heartily as either of the young ones; indeed, +Charlotte was the first to resume her gravity, not being sure of her +ground, and being hurt at her impulse of affection being thus reduced to +the absurd. She began to apologize,-- + +'Dear mamma, I could not help it. I thought you knew I wad in the room.' + +'My dear child,' and her mother kissed her warmly, 'I don't want to hide +anything from you. You are my only home-daughter now.' Then recollecting +her prudence, she proceeded,--'You are old enough to understand the +distress this insincerity of poor Laura's has occasioned,--and now that +Amy is gone, we must look to you to comfort us.' + +Did ever maiden of fourteen feel more honoured, and obliged to be very +good and wise than Charlotte, as she knelt by her mother's side? Happily +tact was coming with advancing years, and she did not attempt to mingle +in the conversation, which was resumed by Charles observing that the +strangest part of the affair was the incompatibility of so novelish and +imprudent a proceeding with the cautious, thoughtful character of +both parties. It was, he said, analogous to a pentagon flirting with a +hexagon; whereas Guy, a knight of the Round Table, in name and nature, +and Amy, with her little superstitions, had been attached in the most +matter-of-fact, hum-drum way, and were in a course of living very +happy ever after, for which nature could never have designed them. Mrs. +Edmonstone smiled, sighed, hoped they were prudent, and wondered whether +camphor and chloride of lime were attainable at Recoara. + +Laura came down no more that day, for she was worn out with agitation, +and it was a relief to be sufficiently unwell to be excused facing her +father and Charles. She had little hope that Charlotte had not heard +all; but she might seem to believe her ignorant, and could, therefore, +endure her waiting on her, with an elaborate kindness and compassion, +and tip-toe silence, far beyond the deserts of her slight indisposition. + +In the evening, Charles and his mother broke the tidings to Mr. +Edmonstone as gently as they could, Charles feeling bound to be the +cool, thinking head in the family. Of course Mr. Edmonstone stormed, +vowed that he could not have believed it, then veered round, and said +he could have predicted it from the first. It was all mamma's fault +for letting him be so intimate with the girls--how was a poor lad to +be expected not to fall in love? Next he broke into great wrath at the +abuse of his confidence, then at the interference with Guy, then at the +intolerable presumption of Philip's thinking of Laura. He would soon +let him know what he thought of it! When reminded of Philip's present +condition, he muttered an Irish imprecation on the fever for interfering +with his anger, and abused the 'romantic folly' that had carried Guy to +nurse him at Recoara. He was not so much displeased with Laura; in fact +he thought all young ladies always ready to be fallen in love with, +and hardly accountable for what their lovers might make them do, and he +pitied her heartily, when he heard of her sitting up all night. Anything +of extravagance in love met with sympathy from him, and there was no +effort in his hearty forgiveness of her. He vowed that she should give +the fellow up, and had she been present, would have tried to make her do +so at a moment's warning; but in process of time he was convinced that +he must not persecute her while Philip was in extremity, and though, +like Charles, he scorned the notion of his death, and, as if it was +an additional crime, pronounced him to be as strong as a horse, he was +quite ready to put off all proceedings till his recovery, being glad to +defer the evil day of making her cry. + +So when Laura ventured out, she met with nothing harsh; indeed, but for +the sorrowful kindness of her family towards her, she could hardly have +guessed that they knew her secret. + +Her heart leapt when Amabel's letter was silently handed to her, and she +saw the news of Philip's amendment, but a sickening feeling succeeded, +that soon all forbearance would be at an end, and he must hear that her +weakness had betrayed his secret. For the present, however, nothing was +said, and she continued in silent dread of what each day might bring +forth, till one afternoon, when the letters had been fetched from +Broadstone, Mrs. Edmonstone, with an exclamation of dismay, read +aloud:-- + + + 'Recoara, September 8th. + +'DEAREST MAMMA,--Don't be very much frightened when I tell you that Guy +has caught the fever. He has been ailing since Sunday, and yesterday +became quite ill; but we hope it will not be so severe an illness as +Philip's was. He sleeps a great deal, and is in no pain, quite sensible +when he is awake. Arnaud is very useful, and so is Anne; and he is so +quiet at night, that he wants no one but Arnaud, and will not let me sit +up with him. Philip is better. + + 'Your most affectionate, + 'A.F.M.' + + +The reading was followed by a dead silence, then Mr. Edmonstone said he +had always known how it would be, and what would poor Amy do? + +Mrs. Edmonstone was too unhappy to answer, for she could see no means of +helping them. Mr. Edmonstone was of no use in a sick-room, and she had +never thought it possible to leave Charles. It did not even occur to her +that she could do so till Charles himself suggested that she must go to +Amy. + +'Can you spare me?' said she, as if it was a new light. + +'Why not? Who can be thought of but Amy? She ought not to be a day +longer without you.' + +'Dr. Mayerne would look in on you,' said she, considering, 'and Laura +can manage for you.' + +'Oh, I shall do very well. Do you think I could bear to keep you from +her?' + +'Some one must go,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'and even if I could think of +letting Laura run the risk, this unhappy affair about Philip puts her +going out of the question.' + +'No one but you can go, said Charles; 'it is of no use to talk of +anything else.' + +It was settled that if the next account was not more favourable, Mr. +and Mrs. Edmonstone should set off for Recoara. Laura heard, in +consternation at the thought of her father's meeting Philip, still weak +and unwell, without her, and perhaps with Guy too ill to be consulted. +And oh! what would Philip think of her? Her weakness had disclosed his +secret, and sunk her beneath him, and he must hear it from others. She +felt as if she could have thrown herself at her mother's feet as she +implored her to forbear, to spare him, to spare her. Her mother pitied +her incoherent distress, but it did not make her feel more in charity +with Philip. She would not promise that the subject should, not be +discussed, but she tried to reassure Laura by saying that nothing should +be done that could retard his recovery. + +With this Laura was obliged to content herself; and early the second +morning, after the letter arrived, she watched the departure of her +father and mother. + +She had expected to find the care of Charles very anxious work, but she +prospered beyond her hopes. He was very kind and considerate, and both +he and Charlotte were so sobered by anxiety, that there was no fear of +their spirits overpowering her. + +Mary Ross used to come almost every afternoon to inquire. One day she +found Charles alone, crutching himself slowly along the terrace, and she +thought nothing showed the forlorn state of the family so much as to see +him out of doors with no one for a prop. + +'Mary! Just as I wanted you!' + +'What account?' said she, taking the place of one of the crutches. + +'Excellent; the fever and drowsiness seem to be going off. It must have +been a light attack, and the elders will hardly come in time for mamma +to have any nursing. So there's Guy pretty well off one's mind.' + +'And Amy?' + +'This was such a long letter, and so cheerful, that she must be all +right. What I wanted to speak to you about was Laura. You know the state +of things. Well, the captain--I wish he was not so sorry, it deprives +one of the satisfaction of abusing him--the captain, it seems, was +brought to his senses by his illness, confessed all to Guy, and now has +written to tell the whole truth to my father.' + +'Has he? That is a great relief!' + +'Not that I have seen his letter; Laura ran away with it, and has not +said a word of it. I know it from one to papa from Amy, trying to make +the best of it, and telling how thoroughly he is cut up. She says he +all but fainted after writing. Fancy that poor little thing with a great +man, six foot one, fainting away on her hands!' + +'I thought he was pretty well again.' + +'He must be to have written at all, and a pretty tolerably bitter pill +it must have been to set about it. What a thing for him to have had to +tell Guy, of all people--I do enjoy that! So, of course, Guy takes up +his cause, and sends a message, that is worth anything, as showing he is +himself better, though in any one else it would be a proof of delirium. +My two brothers-in-law might sit for a picture of the contrast.' + +'Then you think Mr. Edmonstone will consent?' + +'To be sure; we shall have him coming home, saying-- + + + It is a fine thing to be father in-law + To a very magnificent three-tailed bashaw. + + +He will never hold out against Guy and Amy, and Philip will soon set up +a patent revolver, to be turned by the little god of love on the newest +scientific principles.' + +'Where is Laura?' said Mary, smiling. + +'I turned her out to walk with Charlotte, and I want some counsel, as +mamma says I know nothing of lovers.' + +'Because I know so much?' + +'You know feminine nature I want to know what is the best thing to +do for Laura. Poor thing! I can't bear to see her look so wretched, +worrying herself with care of me. I have done the best I could by taking +Charlotte's lessons, and sending her out to mope alone, as she likes +best; but I wish you would tell me how to manage her.' + +'I know nothing better for her than waiting on you.' + +'That's hard,' said Charles, 'that having made the world dance +attendance on me for my pleasure, I must now do it for theirs. But +what do you think about telling her of this letter, or showing it, +remembering that not a word about her troubles has passed between us?' + +'By all means tell her. You must judge about showing it, but I should +think the opening for talking to her on the subject a great gain.' + +'Should you? What, thinking as I do of the man? Should I not be between +the horns of a dilemma if I had to speak the honest truth, yet not hurt +her feelings?' + +'She has been so long shut up from sympathy, that any proof of kindness +must be a comfort.' + +'Well, I should like to do her some good, but it will be a mercy, if she +does not make me fall foul of Philip! I can get up a little Christian +charity, when my father or Charlotte rave at him, but I can't stand +hearing him praised. I take the opportunity of saying so while I can, +for I expect he will come home as her betrothed, and then we shall not +be able to say one word.' + +'No, I dare say he will be so altered and subdued that you will not be +so disposed to rail. This confession is a grand thing. Good-bye I must +get back to church. Poor Laura! how busy she has been about her sketch +there lately.' + +'Yes, she has been eager about finishing it ever since Guy began to be +ill. Good-bye. Wish me well through my part of confidant to-night. It +is much against the grain, though I would give something to cheer up my +poor sister.' + +'I am sure you would,' thought Mary to herself, as she looked back at +him: 'what a quantity of kind, right feeling there in under that odd, +dry manner, that strives to appear to love nothing but a joke.' + +As soon as Charlotte was gone to bed, Charles, in accordance with his +determination, said to Laura,-- + +'Have you any fancy for seeing Amy's letter?' + +'Thank you;' and, without speaking, Laura took it. He forbore to watch +her expression as she read. When she had finished, her face was fixed in +silent unhappiness. + +'He has been suffering a great deal, I am sure,' said Charles, kindly. +It was the first voluntary word of compassion towards Philip that Laura +had heard, and it was as grateful as unexpected. Her face softened, and +tears gushed from her eyes as she said,-- + +'You do not know how much. There he is grieving for me! thinking they +will be angry with me, and hurting himself with that! Oh! if this had +but come before they set off!' + +'Guy and Amy will tell them of his having written.' + +'Dear, dear Guy and Amy! He speaks so earnestly of their kindness. I +don't fear it so much now he and Guy understand each other.' + +Recollecting her love, Charles refrained, only saying, 'You can rely on +their doing everything to make it better.' + +'I can hardly bear to think of what we owe to them,' said Laura. +'How glad I am that Amy was there after he wrote, when he was so much +overcome! Amy has written me such a very kind note; I think you must see +that--it is so like her own dear self.' + +She gave it to him, and he read:-- + + +'MY DEAREST,--I never could tell you before how we have grieved for you +ever since we knew it. I am so sorry I wrote such dreadful accounts; +and Guy says he wants to ask your pardon, if he ever said anything that +pained you about Philip. I understand all your unhappiness now, my poor +dear; but it will be better now it is known. Don't be reserved, with +Charlie, pray; for if he sees you are unhappy, he will be so very kind. +I have just seen Philip again, and found him rested and better. He is +only anxious about you; but I tell him I know you will be glad it is +told. + + 'Your most affectionate sister, + 'A. F. M.' + + +'Laura' said Charles, finishing the letter, 'Amy gives you very good +advice, as far as I am concerned. I do want to be of as much use to you +as I can--I mean as kind.' + +'I know--I know; thank you,' said Laura, struggling with her tears. 'You +have been--you are; but--' + +'Ay,' thought Charles, 'I see, she won't be satisfied, if my kindness +includes her alone. What will my honesty let me say to please her? Oh! I +know.--You must not expect me to say that Philip has, behaved properly, +Laura, nothing but being in love could justify such a delusion; but I do +say that there is greatness of mind in his confessing it, especially at +a time when he could put it off, and is so unequal to agitation.' + +It was the absence of any tone of satire that made this speech come home +to Laura as it was meant. There was no grudging in the praise, and she +answered, in a very low, broken voice,-- + +'You will think so still more when you see this note, which he sent +open, inside mine, to be given to papa when I had told my own story. Oh, +his considerateness for me!' + +She gave it to him. The address, 'C. Edmonstone, Esq.,' was a mere +scrawl, and within the writing was very trembling and weak. Charles +remarked it, and she answered by saying that her own letter began in +his own strong hand, but failed and grew shaky at the end, as if from +fatigue and agitation. The words were few, brief, and simple, very +unlike his usual manner of letter-writing. + + +'MY DEAR UNCLE,--My conduct has been unjustifiable--I feel it. Do not +visit it on Laura--I alone should suffer. I entreat your pardon, and my +aunt's, and leave all to you. I will write more at length. Be kind to +her.--Yours affectionately, + +'PH. M.' + + +'Poor Philip!' said Charles, really very much touched. From that moment, +Laura no longer felt completely isolated, and deprived of sympathy. She +sat by Charles till late that night, and told him the whole history +of her engagement, much relieved by the outpouring of her long-hidden +griefs, and comforted by his kindness, though he could not absolutely +refrain from words and gestures of censure. It was as strange that +Charles should be the first person to whom Laura told this history, as +that Guy should have been Philip's first confidant. + + + + +CHAPTER 35 + + There is a Rock, and nigh at hand, + A shadow in a weary land, + Who in that stricken Rock hath rest, + Finds water gushing from its breast. + --NEALE + + +In the meantime the days passed at Recoara without much change for the +better or worse. After the first week, Guy's fever had diminished; his +pulse was lower, the drowsiness ceased, and it seemed as if there was +nothing to prevent absolute recovery. But though each morning seemed to +bring improvement, it never lasted; the fever, though not high, could +never be entirely reduced, and strength was perceptibly wasting, in +spite of every means of keeping it up. + +There was not much positive suffering, very little even of headache, +and he was cheerful, though speaking little, because he was told not to +excite or exhaust himself. Languor and lassitude were the chief causes +of discomfort; and as his strength failed, there came fits of exhaustion +and oppression that tried him severely. At first, these were easily +removed by stimulants; but remedies seemed to lose their effect, and the +sinking was almost death-like. + +'I think I could bear acute pain better!' he said one day; and more than +once the sigh broke from him almost unconsciously,--'Oh for one breath +of Redclyffe sea-wind!' Indeed, it seemed as if the close air of the +shut-in-valley, at the end of a long hot day was almost enough to +overwhelm him, weak as he had become. Every morning, when Amabel let in +the fresh breeze at the window, she predicted it would be a cool day, +and do him good; every afternoon the wind abated, the sun shone full +in, the room was stifling, the faintness came on, and after a few vain +attempts at relieving it, Guy sighed that there was nothing for it but +quiet, and Amy was obliged to acquiesce. As the sun set, the breeze +sprung up, it became cooler, he fell asleep, awoke revived, was +comfortable all the evening, and Amy left him at eleven or twelve, with +hopes of his having a good night. + +It seemed to her as if ages had passed in this way, when one evening two +letters were brought in. + +'From mamma!' said she; 'and this one,' holding it up, 'is for you. It +must have been hunting us everywhere. How many different directions!' + +'From Markham,' said Guy. 'It must be the letter we were waiting for.' + +The letter to tell them Redclyffe was ready to receive them! Amabel put +it down with a strange sensation, and opened her mother's. With a start +of joy she exclaimed-- + +'They are coming--mamma and papa!' + +'Then all is right!' + +'If we do not receive a much better account,' read Amy, 'we shall set +off early on Wednesday, and hope to be with you not long after you +receive this letter.' + +'Oh I am so glad! I wonder how Charlie gets on without her.' + +'It is a great comfort,' said Guy. + +'Now you will see what a nurse mamma is!' + +'Now you will be properly cared for.' + +'How nice it will be! She will take care of you all night, and never +be tired, and devise everything I am too stupid for, and make you so +comfortable!' + +'Nay, no one could do that better than you, Amy. But it is joy +indeed--to see mamma again--to know you are safe with her. Everything +comes to make it easy!' The last words were spoken very low; and she did +not disturb him by saying anything till he asked about the rest of the +letter, and desired her to read Markham's to him. + +This cost her some pain, for it had been written in ignorance of +even Philip's illness, and detailed triumphantly the preparations at +Redclyffe, hinting that they must send timely notice of their return, +or they would disappoint the tenantry, who intended grand doings, and +concluding with a short lecture on the inexpediency of lingering in +foreign parts. + +'Poor Markham,' said Guy. + +She understood; but these things did not come on her like a shock now, +for he had been saying them more or less ever since the beginning of his +illness; and fully occupied as she was, she never opened her mind to the +future. After a long silence, Guy said-- + +'I am very sorry for him. I have been making Arnaud write to him for +me.' + +'Oh, have you?' + +'It was better for you not to do it, Arnaud has written for me at night. +You will send it, Amy, and another to my poor uncle.' + +'Very well,' said she, as he looked at her. + +'I have told Markham,' said he presently, 'to send you my desk. There +are all sorts of things in it, just as I threw them in when I cleared +out my rooms at Oxford. I had rather nobody but you saw some of them. +There is nothing of any importance, so you may look at them when you +please, or not at all.' + +She gazed at him without answering. If there had been any struggle +to retain him, it would have been repressed by his calmness; but the +thought had not come on her suddenly, it was more like an inevitable +fate seen at first at a distance, and gradually advancing upon her. She +had never fastened on the hope of his recovery, and it had dwindled in +an almost imperceptible manner. She kept watch over him, and followed +his thoughts, without stretching her mind to suppose herself living +without him; and was supported by the forgetfulness of self, which gave +her no time to realize her feelings. + +'I should like to have seen Redclyffe bay again,' said Guy, after a +space. 'Now that mamma is coming, that is the one thing. I suppose I had +set my heart on it, for it comes back to me how I reckoned on standing +on that rock with you, feeling the wind, hearing the surge, looking +at the meeting of earth and sky, and the train of sunlight.' He spoke +slowly, pausing between each recollection,--'You will see it some day,' +he added. 'But I must give it up; it is earth after all, and looking +back.' + +Through the evening, he seemed to be dwelling on thoughts of his own, +and only spoke to tell her of some message to friends at Redclyffe, or +Hollywell, to mention little Marianne Dixon, or some other charge that +he wished to leave. She thought he had mentioned almost every one with +whom he had had any interchange of kindness at either of his homes, even +to old nurse at Hollywell, remembering them all with quiet pleasure. At +half-past eleven, he sent her to bed, and she went submissively, cheered +by thinking him likely to sleep. + +As soon as she could conscientiously call the night over, she returned +to him, and was received with one of the sweet, sunny, happy looks +that had always been his peculiar charm, and, of late, had acquired an +expression almost startling from their very beauty and radiance. It was +hardly to be termed a smile, for there was very little, if any, movement +of the lips, it was more like the reflection of some glory upon the +whole countenance. + +'You have had a good night?' she said. + +'I have had my wish, I have seen Redclyffe;' then, seeing her look +startled, 'Of course, it was a sort of wandering; but I never quite lost +the consciousness of being here, and it was very delightful. I saw the +waves, each touched with light,--the foam--the sea-birds, floating in +shade and light,--the trees--the Shag--the sky--oh! such a glory as I +never knew--themselves--but so intensely glorious!' + +'I am glad' said Amabel, with a strange participation of the delight it +had given him. + +'I don't understand such goodness!' he continued. 'As if it were not +enough to look to heaven beyond, to have this longing gratified, which I +thought I ought to conquer. Oh, Amy! is not that being Fatherly!' + +'Yes, indeed.' + +'Now after that, and with mamma's coming (for you will have her if I +don't see her), I have but one wish unfulfilled.' + +'Ah! a clergyman.' + +'Yes, but if that is withheld, I must believe it is rightly ordered. We +must think of that Sunday at Stylehurst and Christmas-day, and that last +time at Munich.' + +'Oh, I am so glad we stayed at Munich for that!' + +'Those were times, indeed! and many more. Yes; I have been a great deal +too much favoured already, and now to be allowed to die just as I should +have chosen--' + +He broke off to take what Amabel was preparing for him, and she felt +his pulse. There was fever still, which probably supplied the place +of strength, for he said he was very comfortable, and his eyes were as +bright as ever; but the beats were weak and fluttering, and a thrill +crossed her that it might be near; but she must attend to him, and could +not think. + +When it was time for her to go down to breakfast with Philip, Guy said, +'Do you think Philip could come to me to-day? I want much to speak to +him.' + +'I am sure he could.' + +'Then pray ask him to come, if it will not tire him very much.' + +Philip had, the last two mornings, risen in time to breakfast with +Amabel, in the room adjoining his own; he was still very weak, and +attempted no more than crossing the room, and sitting in the balcony to +enjoy the evening air. He had felt the heat of the weather severely, and +had been a good deal thrown back by his fatigue and agitation the day he +wrote the letter, while also anxiety for Guy was retarding his progress, +though he only heard the best side of his condition. Besides all this, +his repentance both for his conduct with regard to Laura and the hard +measure he had dealt to Guy was pressing on him increasingly; and the +warm feelings, hardened and soured by early disappointment, regained +their force, and grew into a love and admiration that made it still more +horrible to perceive that he had acted ungenerously towards his cousin. + +When he heard of Guy's desire to see him, he was pleased, said he was +quite able to walk up-stairs, had been thinking of offering to help her +by sitting with him, and was very glad to hear he was well enough to +wish for a visit. She saw she must prepare him for what the conversation +was likely to be. + +'He is very anxious to see you,' she said. 'He is wishing to set all in +order. And if he does speak about--about dying, will you be so kind as +not to contradict him?' + +'There is no danger?' cried Philip, startling, with a sort of agony. 'He +is no worse? You said the fever was lower.' + +'He is rather better, I think; but he wishes so much to have everything +arranged, that I am sure it will be better for him to have it off +his mind. So, will you bear it, please, Philip?' ended she, with an +imploring look, that reminded him of her childhood. + +'How do you bear it?' he asked. + +'I don't know--I can't vex him.' + +Philip said no more, and only asked when he should come. + +'In an hour's time, perhaps, or whenever he was ready,' she said, 'for +he could rest in the sitting-room before coming in to Guy.' + +He found mounting the stairs harder than he had expected, and, with +aching knees and gasping breath, at length reached the sitting-room, +where Amabel was ready to pity him, and made him rest on the sofa till +he had fully recovered. She then conducted him in; and his first glance +gave him infinite relief, for he saw far less change than was still +apparent in himself. Guy's face was at all times too thin to be capable +of losing much of its form, and as he was liable to be very much tanned, +the brown, fixed on his face by the sunshine of his journey had not gone +off, and a slight flush on his cheeks gave him his ordinary colouring; +his beautiful hazel eyes were more brilliant than ever; and though the +hand he held out was hot and wasted, Philip could not think him nearly +as ill as he had been himself, and was ready to let him talk as he +pleased. He was reassured, too, by his bright smile, and the strength +of his voice, as he spoke a few playful words of welcome and +congratulation. Amy set a chair, and with a look to remind Philip to be +cautious, glided into her own room, leaving the door open, so as to see +and hear all that passed, for they were not fit to be left absolutely +alone together. + +Philip sat down; and after a little pause Guy began: + +'There were a few things I wanted to say, in case you should be my +successor at Redclyffe.' + +A horror came over Philip; but he saw Amy writing at her little table, +and felt obliged to refrain. + +'I don't think of directing you,' said Guy, 'You will make a far better +landlord than I; but one or two things I should like.' + +'Anything you wish!' + +'Old Markham. He has old-world notions and prejudices, but his soul is +in the family and estate. His heart will be half broken, for me, and if +he loses his occupation, he will be miserable. Will you bear with him, +and be patient while he lives, even if he is cross and absurd in his +objections, and jealous of all that is not me?' + +'Yes--yes--if--' + +'Thank you. Then there is Coombe Prior. I took Wellwood's pay on myself. +Will you? And I should like him to have the living. Then there is the +school to be built; and I thought of enclosing that bit of waste, to +make gardens for the people; but that you'll do much better. Well; +don't you remember when you were at Redclyffe last year' (Philip winced) +'telling Markham that bit of green by Sally's gate ought to be taken +into the park? I hope you won't do that, for it is the only place the +people have to turn out their cows and donkeys. And you won't cut them +off from the steps from the Cove, for it saves the old people from being +late for church? Thank you. As to the rest, it is pleasant to think it +will be in such hands if--' + +That 'if' gave Philip some comfort, though it did not mean what he +fancied. He thought of Guy's recovery; Guy referred to the possibility +of Amabel's guardianship. + +'Amy has a list of the old people who have had so much a week, or their +cottages rent-free,' said Guy. 'If it comes to you, you will not let +them feel the difference? And don't turn off the old keeper Brown; he is +of no use, but it would kill him. And Ben Robinson, who was so brave +in the shipwreck, a little notice now and then would keep him straight. +Will you tell him I hope he will never forget that morning-service after +the wreck? He may be glad to think of it when he is as I am now. You +tell him, for he will mind more what comes from a man.' + +All this had been spoken with pauses for recollection, and for Philip's +signs of assent. Amabel came to give him some cordial; and as soon as +she had retreated he went on:-- + +'My poor uncle; I have written--that is, caused Arnaud to write to him. +I hope this may sober him; but one great favour I have to ask of you. I +can't leave him money, it would only be a temptation; but will you keep +an eye on him, and let Amy rely on you to tell her when to help him I +can't ask any one else, and she cannot do it for herself; but you would +do it well. A little kindness might save him; and you don't know how +generous a character it is, run to waste. Will you undertake this?' + +'To be sure I will!' + +'Thank you very much. You will judge rightly; but he has delicate +feelings. Yes, really; and take care you don't run against them.' + +Another silence followed; after which Guy said, smiling with his natural +playfulness, 'One thing more. You are the lawyer of the family, and I +want a legal opinion. I have been making Arnaud write my will. I +have wished Miss Wellwood of St. Mildred's to have some money for a +sisterhood she wants to establish. Now, should I leave it to herself or +name trustees?' + +Philip heard as if a flash of light was blinding him, and he +interrupted, with an exclamation:-- + +'Tell me one thing! Was that the thousand pounds?' + +'Yes. I was not at liberty to--' + +He stopped, for he was unheard. At the first word Philip had sunk on +his knees, hiding his face on the bed-clothes, in an agony of +self-abasement, before the goodness he had been relentlessly +persecuting. + +'It was that?' he said, in a sort of stifled sob. 'Oh, can you forgive +me?' + +He could not look up; but he felt Guy's hand touch his head, and heard +him say, 'That was done long ago. Even as you pardoned my fierce rage +against you, which I trust is forgiven above. It has been repented!' + +As he spoke there was a knock at the door, and, with the instinctive +dread of being found in his present posture, Philip sprang to his feet. +Amabel went to the door, and was told that the physician was down-stairs +with two gentlemen; and a card was given her, on which she read the name +of an English clergyman. + +'There, again!' said Guy. 'Everything comes to me. Now it is all quite +right.' + +Amabel was to go and speak to them, and Guy would see Mr. Morris, the +clergyman, as soon as the physician had made his visit. 'You must not go +down,' he then said to Philip. 'You will wait in the sitting-room, won't +you? We shall want you again, you know,' and his calm brightness was a +contrast to Philip's troubled look. 'All is clear between us now,' he +added, as Philip turned away. + +Long ago, letters had been written to Venice, begging that if an English +clergyman should travel that way he might be told how earnestly his +presence was requested; this was the first who had answered the summons. +He was a very young man, much out of health, and travelling under the +care of a brother, who was in great dread of his doing anything +to injure himself. Amabel soon perceived that, though kind and +right-minded, he could not help them, except as far as his office was +concerned. He was very shy, only just in priest's orders; he told her he +had never had this office to perform before, and seemed almost to expect +her to direct him; while his brother was so afraid of his over-exerting +himself, that she could not hope he would take charge of Philip. + +However, after the physician had seen Guy, she brought Mr. Morris to +him, and came forward, or remained in her room, according as she was +wanted. She thought her husband's face was at each moment acquiring more +unearthly beauty, and feeling with him, she was raised above thought or +sensation of personal sorrow. + +When the first part of the service was over, and she exchanged a few +words, out of Guy's hearing, with Mr. Morris, he said to her, as from +the very fullness of his heart, 'One longs to humble oneself to him. How +it puts one to shame to hear such repentance with such a confession!' + +The time came when Philip was wanted. Amabel had called in Anne and the +clergyman's brother, and went to fetch her cousin. He was where she had +left him in the sitting-room, his face hidden in his arms, crossed on +the table, the whole man crushed, bowed down, overwhelmed with remorse. + +'We are ready. Come, Philip.' + +'I cannot; I am not worthy,' he answered, not looking up. + +'Nay, you are surely in no uncharitableness with him now,' said she, +gently. + +A shudder expressed his no. + +'And if you are sorry--that is repentance--more fit now than ever--Won't +you come? Would you grieve him now?' + +'You take it on yourself, then,' said Philip, almost sharply, raising +his haggard face. + +She did not shrink, and answered, 'A broken and contrite heart, O God, +Thou wilt not despise.' + +It was a drop of balm, a softening drop. He rose, and trembling from +head to foot, from the excess of his agitation, followed her into Guy's +room. + +The rite was over, and stillness succeeded the low tones, while all +knelt in their places. Amabel arose first, for Guy, though serene, +looked greatly exhausted, and as she sprinkled him with vinegar, the +others stood up. Guy looked for Philip, and held out his hand. Whether +it was his gentle force, or of Philip's own accord Amabel could not +tell; but as he lay with that look of perfect peace and love, Philip +bent down over him and kissed his forehead. + +'Thank you!' he faintly whispered. 'Good night. God bless you and my +sister.' + +Philip went, and he added to Amy, 'Poor fellow! It will be worse for him +than for you. You must take care of him.' + +She hardly heard the last words, for his head sunk on one side in a +deathlike faintness, the room was cleared of all but herself, and Anne +fetched the physician at once. + +At length it passed off, and Guy slept. The doctor felt his pulse, and +she asked his opinion of it. Very low and unequal, she was told: his +strength was failing, and there seemed to be no power of rallying it, +but they must do their best to support him with cordials, according +to the state of his pulse. The physician could not remain all night +himself, but would come as soon as he could on the following day. + +Amabel hardly knew when it was that he went away; the two Mr. Morrises +went to the other hotel; and she made her evening visit to Philip. It +was all like a dream, which she could afterwards scarcely remember, till +night had come on, and for the first time she found herself allowed to +keep watch over her husband. + +He had slept quietly for some time, when she roused him to give him some +wine, as she was desired to do constantly. He smiled, and said, 'Is no +one here but you?' + +'No one.' + +'My own sweet wife, my Verena, as you have always been. We have been +very happy together.' + +'Indeed we have,' said she, a look of suffering crossing her face, as +she thought of their unclouded happiness. 'It will not be so long before +we meet again.' + +'A few months, perhaps'--said Amabel, in a stifled voice, 'like your +mother--' + +'No, don't wish that, Amy. You would not wish it to have no mother.' + +'You will pray--' She could say no more, but struggled for calmness. + +'Yes,' he answered, 'I trust you to it and to mamma for comfort. And +Charlie--I shall not rob him any longer. I only borrowed you for a +little while,' he added, smiling. 'In a little while we shall meet. +Years and months seem alike now. I am sorry to cause you so much grief, +my Amy, but it is all as it should be, and we have been very happy.' + +Amy listened, her eyes intently fixed on him, unable to repress her +agitation, except by silence. After some little time, he spoke again. +'My love to Charlie--and Laura--and Charlotte, my brother and sisters. +How kindly they have made me one of them! I need not ask Charlotte to +take care of Bustle, and your father will ride Deloraine. My love to +him, and earnest thanks, for you above all, Amy. And dear mamma! I must +look now to meeting her in a brighter world; but tell her how I have +felt all her kindness since I first came in my strangeness and grief. +How kind she was! how she helped me and led me, and made me know what +a mother was. Amy, it will not hurt you to hear it was your likeness to +her that first taught me to love you. I have been so very happy, I don't +understand it.' + +He was again silent, as in contemplation, and Amabel's overcoming +emotion had been calmed and chastened down again, now that it was no +longer herself that was spoken of. Both were still, and he seemed to +sleep a little. When next he spoke, it was to ask if she could repeat +their old favourite lines in "Sintram". They came to her lips, and she +repeated them in a low, steady voice. + + + When death, is coming near, + And thy heart shrinks in fear, + And thy limbs fail, + Then raise thy hands and pray + To Him who smooths the way + Through the dark vale. + + Seest thou the eastern dawn! + Hear'st thou, in the red morn, + The angel's song? + Oh! lift thy drooping head, + Thou, who in gloom and dread + Hast lain so long. + + Death comes to set thee free, + Oh! meet him cheerily, + As thy true friend + And all thy fears shall cease, + And In eternal peace + Thy penance end. + + +'In eternal peace,' repeated Guy; 'I did not think it would have been so +soon. I can't think where the battle has been. I never thought my life +could be so bright. It was a foolish longing, when first I was ill, for +the cool waves of Redclyffe bay and that shipwreck excitement, if I was +to die. This is far better. Read me a psalm, Amy, "Out of the deep."' + +There was something in his perfect happiness that would not let her +grieve, though a dull heavy sense of consternation was growing on her. +So it went on through the night--not a long, nor a dreary one--but more +like a dream. He dozed and woke, said a few tranquil words, and listened +to some prayer, psalm, or verse, then slept again, apparently without +suffering, except when he tried to take the cordials, and this he did +with such increasing difficulty, that she hardly knew how to bear to +cause him so much pain, though it was the last lingering hope. He strove +to swallow them, each time with the mechanical 'Thank you,' so affecting +when thus spoken; but at last he came to, 'It is of no use; I cannot.' + +Then she knew all hope was gone, and sat still, watching him. The +darkness lessened, and twilight came. He slept, but his breath grew +short, and unequal; and as she wiped the moisture on his brow, she knew +it was the death-damp. + +Morning light came on--the church bell rang out matins--the white hills +were tipped with rosy light. His pulse was almost gone--his hand was +cold. At last he opened his eyes. 'Amy! he said, as if bewildered, or in +pain. + +'Here, dearest!' + +'I don't see.' + +At that moment the sun was rising, and the light streamed in at the open +window, and over the bed; but it was "another dawn than ours" that he +beheld as his most beautiful of all smiles beamed over his face, and he +said, 'Glory in the Highest!--peace--goodwill'--A struggle for breath +gave an instant's look of pain, then he whispered so that she could but +just hear--'The last prayer.' She read the Commendatory Prayer. She knew +not the exact moment, but even as she said 'Amen' she perceived it was +over. The soul was with Him with whom dwell the spirits of just men made +perfect; and there lay the earthly part with a smile on the face. She +closed the dark fringed eyelids--saw him look more beautiful than in +sleep--then, laying her face down on the bed, she knelt on. She took no +heed of time, no heed of aught that was earthly. How long she knelt she +never knew, but she was roused by Anne's voice in a frightened sob--'My +lady, my lady--come away! Oh, Miss Amabel, you should not be here.' + +She lifted her head, and Anne afterwards told Mary Ross, 'she should +never forget how my lady looked. It was not grief: it was as if she had +been a little way with her husband, and was just called back.' + +She rose--looked at his face again--saw Arnaud was at hand--let Anne +lead her into the next room, and shut the door. + + + + +CHAPTER 36 + + The matron who alone has stood + When not a prop seemed left below, + The first lorn hour of widowhood, + Yet, cheered and cheering all the while, + With sad but unaffected, smile. + --CHRISTIAN YEAR + + +The four months' wife was a widow before she was twenty-one, and +there she sat in her loneliness, her maid weeping, seeking in vain for +something to say that might comfort her, and struck with fear at seeing +her thus composed. It might be said that she had not yet realized her +situation, but the truth was, perhaps, that she was in the midst of the +true realities. She felt that her Guy was perfectly happy--happy beyond +thought or comparison--and she was so accustomed to rejoice with him, +that her mind had not yet opened to understand that his joy left her +mourning and desolate. + +Thus she remained motionless for some minutes, till she was startled by +a sound of weeping--those fearful overpowering sobs, so terrible in a +strong man forced to give way. + +'Philip!' thought she; and withal Guy's words returned--'It will be +worse for him than for you. Take care of him.' + +'I must go to him,' said she at once. + +She took up a purple prayer-book that she had unconsciously brought +in her hand from Guy's bed, and walked down-stairs, without pausing to +think what she should say or do, or remembering how she would naturally +have shrunk from the sight of violent grief. + +Philip had retired to his own room the night before, overwhelmed by +the first full view of the extent of the injuries he had inflicted, the +first perception that pride and malevolence had been the true source of +his prejudice and misconceptions, and for the first time conscious of +the long-fostered conceit that had been his bane from boyhood. All had +flashed on him with the discovery of the true purpose of the demand +which he thought had justified his persecution. He saw the glory +of Guy's character and the part he had acted,--the scales of +self-admiration fell from his eyes, and he knew both himself and his +cousin. + +His sole comfort was in hope for the future, and in devising how his +brotherly affection should for the rest of his life testify his altered +mind, and atone for past ill-will. This alone kept him from being +completely crushed,--for he by no means imagined how near the end was, +and the physician, willing to spare himself pain, left him in hopes, +though knowing how it would be. He slept but little, and was very +languid in the morning; but he rose as soon as Arnaud came to him, in +order not to occupy Arnaud's time, as well as to be ready in case Guy +should send for him again, auguring well from hearing that there was +nothing stirring above, hoping this was a sign that Guy was asleep. So +hoped the two servants for a long time, but at length, growing alarmed, +after many consultations, they resolved to knock at the door, and learn +what was the state of things. + +Philip likewise was full of anxiety, and coming to his room door to +listen for intelligence, it was the "e morto" of the passing Italians +that first revealed to him the truth. Guy dead, Amy widowed, himself +the cause--he who had said he would never be answerable for the death of +this young man. + +Truly had Guy's threat, that he would make him repent, been fulfilled. +He tottered back to his couch, and sank down, in a burst of anguish +that swept away all the self-control that had once been his pride. There +Amabel found him stretched, face downwards, quivering and convulsed by +frightful sobs. + +'Don't--don't, Philip,' said she, in her gentle voice. 'Don't cry so +terribly!' + +Without looking up, he made a gesture with his hand, as if to drive her +away. 'Don't come here to reproach me!' he muttered. + +'No, no; don't speak so. I want you to hear me; I have something for +you from him. If you would only listen, I want to tell you how happy and +comfortable it was.' She took a chair and sat down by him, relieved on +perceiving that the sobs grew a little less violent. + +'It was very peaceful, very happy,' repeated she. 'We ought to be very +glad.' + +He turned round, and glanced at her for a moment; but he could not bear +to see her quiet face. 'You don't know what you say,' he gasped. 'No; +take care of yourself, don't trouble yourself for such as me!' + +'I must; he desired me,' said Amabel. 'You will be happier, indeed, +Philip, if you would only think what glory it is, and that he is all +safe, and has won the victory, and will have no more of those hard, +hard struggles, and bitter repentance. It has been such a night, that it +seems wrong to be sorry.' + +'Did you say he spoke of me again?' + +'Yes; here is his Prayer-book. Your father gave it to him, and he meant +to have told you about it himself, only he could not talk yesterday +evening, and could not part with it till--' + +Amy broke off by opening the worn purple cover, and showing the name, in +the Archdeacon's writing. 'He's very fond of it,' she said; 'it is the +one he always uses.' (Alas! she had not learnt to speak of him in the +past tense.) + +Philip held out his hand, but the agony of grief returned the next +moment. 'My father, my father! He would have done him justice. If he had +lived, this would never have been!' + +'That is over, you do him justice now,' said Amy. 'You did, indeed you +did, make him quite happy. He said so, again and again. I never saw him +so happy as when you began to get better. I don't think any one ever had +so much happiness and it never ceased, it was all quiet, and peace, and +joy, till it brightened quite into perfect day--and the angel's song! +Don't you remember yesterday, how clear and sweet his voice came out in +that? and it was the last thing almost he said. I believe'--she lowered +her voice--'I believe he finished it among them.' + +The earnest placid voice, speaking thus, in calmness and simplicity, +could not fail in soothing him; but he was so shaken and exhausted, +that she had great difficulty in restoring him. After a time, he lay +perfectly still on the sofa, and she was sitting by, relieved by the +tranquillity, when there was a knock at the door, and Arnaud came in, +and stood hesitating, as if he hardly knew how to begin. The present +fear of agitating her charge helped her now, when obliged to turn her +thoughts to the subjects on which she knew Arnaud was come. She went to +the door, and spoke low, hoping her cousin might not hear or understand. + +'How soon must it be?' + +'My lady, to-morrow,' said Arnaud, looking down. 'They say that so it +must be; and the priest consents to have it in the churchyard here. The +brother of the clergyman is here, and would know if your ladyship would +wish--' + +'I will speak to him,' said Amabel, reluctant to send such messages +through servants. + +'Let me,' said Philip, who understood what was going on, and was of +course impelled to spare her as much as possible. + +'Thank you' said she, 'if you are able!' + +'Oh, yes; I'll go at once!' + +'Stop,' said she, as he was setting forth; 'you don't know what you are +going to say.' + +He put his hand to his head in confusion. + +'He wished to be buried here,' said Amabel, 'and--' + +But this renewal of the assurance of the death was too much; and +covering his face with his hands, he sank back in another paroxysm of +violent sobs. Amabel could not leave him. + +'Ask Mr. Morris to be so good as to wait, and I will come directly,' +said she, then returned to her task of comfort till she again saw Philip +lying, with suspended faculties, in the repose of complete exhaustion. + +She then went to Mr. Morris, with a look and tone of composure +that almost startled him, thanking him for his assistance in the +arrangements. The funeral was to be at sunrise the next day, before the +villagers began to keep the feast of St. Michael, and the rest was to +be settled by Arnaud and Mr. Morris. He then said, somewhat reluctantly, +that his brother had desired to know whether Lady Morville wished to see +him to-day, and begged to be sent for; but Amy plainly perceived that +he thought it very undesirable for his brother to have any duties to +perform to-day. She questioned herself whether she might not ask him to +read to her, and whether it might be better for Philip; but she thought +she ought not to ask what might injure him merely for her own comfort; +and, besides, Philip was entirely incapable of self-command, and it +would not be acting fairly to expose him to the chance of discovering to +a stranger, feelings that he would ordinarily guard so scrupulously. + +She therefore gratefully refused the offer, and Mr. Morris very nearly +thanked her for doing so. He took his leave, and she knew she must +return to her post; but first she indulged herself with one brief visit +to the room where all her cares and duties had lately centred. A look--a +thought--a prayer. The beauteous expression there fixed was a help, as +it had ever been in life and she went back again cheered and sustained. + +Throughout that day she attended on her cousin, whose bodily +indisposition required as much care as his mind needed soothing. She +talked to him, read to him, tried to set him the example of taking food, +took thought for him as if he was the chief sufferer, as if it was the +natural thing for her to do, working in the strength her husband had +left her, and for him who had been his chief object of care. She had no +time to herself, except the few moments that she allowed herself now and +then to spend in gazing at the dear face that was still her comfort +and joy; until, at last, late in the evening, she succeeded in reading +Philip to sleep. Then, as she sat in the dim candle-light, with +everything in silence, a sense of desolation came upon her, and she knew +that she was alone. + +At that moment a carriage thundered at the door, and she remembered for +the first time that she was expecting her father and mother. She softly +left the room and closed the door; and finding Anne in the nest room, +sent her down. + +'Meet mamma, Anne,' said she; 'tell her I am quite well. Bring them +here.' + +They entered; and there stood Amabel, her face a little flushed, just +like, only calmer, the daughter they had parted with on her bridal day, +four months ago. She held up her hand as a sign of silence, and said,-- +'Hush! don't wake Philip.' + +Mr. Edmonstone was almost angry, and actually began an impatient +exclamation, but broke it off with a sob, caught her in his arms, kissed +her, and then buried his face in his handkerchief. Mrs. Edmonstone, +still aghast at the tidings they had met at Vicenza, and alarmed at +her unnatural composure, embraced her; held her for some moments, then +looked anxiously to see her weep. But there was not a tear, and her +voice was itself, though low and weak, as, while her father began pacing +up and down, she repeated,-- + +'Pray don't, papa; Philip has been so ill all day.' + +'Philip--pshaw!' said Mr. Edmonstone, hastily. 'How are you, yourself, +my poor darling?' + +'Quite well, thank you,' said Amy. 'There is a room ready for you.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was extremely alarmed, sure that this was a grief too +deep for outward tokens, and had no peace till she had made Amabel +consent to come up with her, and go at once to bed. To this she agreed, +after she had rung for Arnaud, and stood with him in the corridor, to +desire him to go at once to Captain Morville, as softly as he could, and +when he waked, to say Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone were come, but she thought +he had better not see them to-night; to tell him from her that she +wished him good night, and hoped he would, sleep quietly. 'And, Arnaud, +take care you do not let him know the hour tomorrow. Perhaps, as he is +so tired, he may sleep till afterwards.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was very impatient of this colloquy, and glad when +Amabel ended it, and led the way up-stairs. She entered her little room, +then quietly opened another door, and Mrs. Edmonstone found herself +standing by the bed, where that which was mortal lay, with its face +bright with the impress of immortality. + +The shock was great, for he was indeed as a son to her; but her fears +for Amabel would not leave room for any other thought. + +'Is not he beautiful?' said Amy, with a smile like his own. + +'My dear, my dear, you ought not to be here,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, +trying to lead her away. + +'If you would let me say my prayers here!' said she, submissively. + +'I think not. I don't know how to refuse, if it would be a comfort,' +said Mrs. Edmonstone, much distressed, 'but I can't think it right. +The danger is greater after. And surely, my poor dear child, you have a +reason for not risking yourself!' + +'Go, mamma, I ought not to have brought you here; I forgot about +infection,' said Amabel, with the tranquillity which her mother had +hoped to shake by her allusion. 'I am coming.' + +She took up Guy's watch and a book from the table by the bed-side, and +came back to her sleeping-room. She wound up the watch, and then allowed +her mother to undress her, answering all her inquiries about her health +in a gentle, indifferent, matter-of-fact way. She said little of Guy, +but that little was without agitation, and in due time she lay down in +bed. Still, whenever Mrs. Edmonstone looked at her, there was no sleep +in her eyes, and at last she persuaded her to leave her, on the plea +that being watched made her more wakeful, as she did not like to see +mamma sitting up. + +Almost as soon as it was light, Mrs. Edmonstone returned, and was +positively frightened, for there stood Amabel, dressed in her white +muslin, her white bonnet, and her deep lace wedding-veil. All her glossy +hair was hidden away, and her face was placid as ever, though there was +a red spot on each cheek. She saw her mother's alarm, and reassured her +by speaking calmly. + +'You know I have nothing else but colours; I should like to wear this, +if you will let me.' + +'But, dearest, you must not--cannot go.' + +'It is very near. We often walked there together. I would not if I +thought it would hurt me, but I wish it very much indeed. At home by +Michaelmas!' + +Mrs. Edmonstone yielded, though her mind misgave her, comforted by +hoping for the much-desired tears. But Amabel, who used to cry so easily +for a trifle, had now not a tear. Her grief was as yet too deep, or +perhaps more truly sorrow and mourning had not begun while the influence +of her husband's spirit was about her still. + +It was time to set forth, and the small party of mourners met in the +long corridor. Mr. Edmonstone would have given his daughter his arm, but +she said-- + +'I beg your pardon, dear papa, I don't think I can;' and she walked +alone and firmly. + +It was a strange sight that English funeral, so far from England. The +bearers were Italian peasants. There was a sheet thrown over the coffin +instead of a pall, and this, with the white dress of the young widow, +gave the effect of the emblematic whiteness of a child's funeral; and +the impression was heightened by the floating curling white clouds of +vapour rising in strange shrouded shadowy forms, like spirit mourners, +from the narrow ravines round the grave-yard, and the snowy mountains +shining in the morning light against the sky. + +Gliding almost like one of those white wreaths of mist, Amabel walked +alone, tearless and calm, her head bent down, and her long veil falling +round her in full light folds, as when it had caught the purple light +on her wedding-day. Her parents were close behind, weeping more for the +living than the dead, though Guy had a fast hold of their hearts; and +his own mother could scarce have loved him better than Mrs. Edmonstone +did. Lastly, were Anne and Arnaud, sincere mourners, especially Arnaud, +who had loved and cherished his young master from childhood. + +They went to the strangers' corner of the grave-yard, for, of course +the church did not open to a member of another communion of the visible +church; but around them were the hills in which he had read many a +meaning, and which had echoed a response to his last chant with the +promise of the blessing of peace. + +The blessing of peace came in the precious English burial-service, as +they laid him to rest in the earth, beneath the spreading chestnut-tree, +rendered a home by those words of his Mother Church--the mother who had +guided each of his steps in his orphaned life. It was a distant grave, +far from his home and kindred, but in a hallowed spot, and a most fair +one; and there might his mortal frame meetly rest till the day when he +should rise, while from their ancestral tombs should likewise awaken the +forefathers whose sins were indeed visited on him in his early death; +but, thanks to Him who giveth the victory, in death without the sting. + +Amabel, in obedience to a sign from her mother, sat on a root of the +tree while the Lesson was read, and afterwards she moved forward and +stood at the edge of the grave, her hands tightly clasped, and her +head somewhat raised, as if her spirit was following her husband to his +repose above, rather than to his earthly resting-place. + +The service was ended, and she was taking a last long gaze, while her +mother, in the utmost anxiety, was striving to make up her mind to draw +her away, when suddenly a tall gaunt figure was among them--his +face ghastly pale, and full of despair and bewilderment--his step +uncertain--his dress disordered. + +Amabel turned, went up to him, laid her hand on his arm, and said, +softly, and quietly looking up in his face, 'It is over now, Philip; you +had better come home.' + +Not attempting to withstand her, he obeyed as if it was his only +instinct. It was like some vision of a guiding, succouring spirit, as +she moved on, slowly gliding in her white draperies. Mrs. Edmonstone +watched her in unspeakable awe and amazement, almost overpowering her +anxieties. It seemed as impossible that the one should be Amy as that +the other should be Philip, her gentle little clinging daughter, or her +proud, imperturbable, self-reliant nephew. + +But it was Amy's own face, when they entered the corridor and she turned +back her veil, showing her flushed and heated cheeks, at the same time +opening Philip's door and saying, 'Now you must rest, for you ought not +to have come out. Lie down, and let mamma read to you.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone was reluctant, but Amy looked up earnestly and said, +'Yes, dear mamma, I should like to be alone a little while.' + +She then conducted her father to the sitting-room up-stairs. + +'I will give you the papers,' she said; and leaving him, returned +immediately. + +'This is his will,' she said. 'You will tell me if there is anything +I must do at once. Here is a letter to Mr. Markham, and another to Mr. +Dixon, if you will be so kind as to write and enclose them. Thank you, +dear papa.' + +She drew a blotting-book towards him, saw that there was ink and pen, +and left him too much appalled at her ways to say anything. + +His task was less hard than the one she had set her mother. Strong +excitement had carried Philip to the grave-yard as soon as he learnt +what was passing. He could hardly return even with Arnaud's support, and +he had only just reached the sofa before he fell into a fainting-fit. + +It was long before he gave any sign of returning life, and when +he opened his eyes and saw Mrs. Edmonstone, he closed them almost +immediately, as if unable to meet her look. It was easier to treat him +in his swoon than afterwards. She knew nothing of his repentance and +confession; she only knew he had abused her confidence, led Laura to +act insincerely, and been the cause of Guy's death. She did not know +how bitterly he accused himself, and though she could not but see he was +miserable, she could by no means fathom his wretchedness, nor guess that +her very presence made him conscious how far he was fallen. He was so +ill that she could not manifest her displeasure, nor show anything +but solicitude for his relief; but her kindness was entirely to his +condition, not to himself; and perceiving this, while he thought his +confession had been received, greatly aggravated his distress, though he +owned within himself that he well deserved it. + +She found that he was in no state for being read to; he was completely +exhausted, and suffering from violent headache. So when she could +conscientiously say that to be left quiet was the best thing for him, +she went to her daughter. + +Amabel was lying on her bed, her Bible open by her; not exactly reading, +but as if she was now and then finding a verse and dwelling on it. +Gentle and serene she looked; but would she never weep? would those +quiet blue eyes be always sleepless and tearless? + +She asked anxiously for Philip, and throughout the day he seemed to +be her care. She did not try to get up and go to him, but she was +continually begging her mother to see about him. It was a harassing day +for poor Mrs. Edmonstone. She would have been glad to have sat by Amabel +all the time, writing to Charles, or hearing her talk. Amy had much +to say, for she wished to make her mother share the perfect peace and +thankfulness that had been breathed upon her during those last hours +with her husband, and she liked to tell the circumstances of his illness +and his precious sayings, to one who would treasure them almost like +herself. She spoke with her face turned away, so as not to see her +mother's tears, but her mild voice unwavering, as if secure in the +happiness of these recollections. This was the only comfort of Mrs. +Edmonstone's day, but when she heard her husband's boots creaking in the +corridor, it was a sure sign that he was in some perplexity, and that +she must go and help him to write a letter, or make some arrangement. +Philip, too, needed attention; but excellent nurse as Mrs. Edmonstone +was, she only made him worse. The more he felt she was his kind aunt +still, the more he saw how he had wounded her, and that her pardon +was an effort. The fond, spontaneous, unreserved affection--almost +petting--which he had well-nigh dared to contemn, was gone; her manner +was only that of a considerate nurse. Much as he longed for a word +of Laura, he did not dare to lead to it,--indeed, he was so far from +speaking to her of any subject which touched him, that he did not +presume even to inquire for Amabel, he only heard of her through Arnaud. + +At night sheer exhaustion worked its own cure; he slept soundly, and +awoke in the morning revived. He heard from Arnaud that Lady Morville +was pretty well, but had not slept; and presently Mrs. Edmonstone came +in and took pains to make him comfortable, but with an involuntary +dryness of manner. She told him his uncle would come to see him as soon +as he was up, if he felt equal to talking over some business. Philip's +brain reeled with dismay and consternation, for it flashed on him that +he was heir of Redclyffe. He must profit by the death he had caused; he +had slain, and he must take possession of the lands which, with loathing +and horror, he remembered that he had almost coveted. Nothing more +was wanting. There was little consolation in remembering that the +inheritance would clear away all difficulties in the way of his +marriage. He had sinned; wealth did not alter his fault, and his spirit +could not brook that if spurned in poverty, he should be received for +his riches. He honoured his aunt for being cold and reserved, and could +not bear the idea of seeing his uncle ready to meet him half-way. + +After the first shock he became anxious to have the meeting over, know +the worst, and hear on what ground he stood with Laura. As soon as he +was dressed, he sent a message to announce that he was ready, and lay +on the sofa awaiting his uncle's arrival, as patiently as he could. Mr. +Edmonstone, meantime, was screwing up his courage--not that he meant to +say a word of Laura,--Philip was too unwell to be told his opinion of +him, but now he had ceased to rely on his nephew, he began to dread +him and his overbearing ways; and besides he had a perfect horror of +witnessing agitation. + +At last he came, and Philip rose to meet him with a feeling of shame and +inferiority most new to him. + +'Don't, don't, I beg,' said Mr. Edmonstone, with what was meant for +dignity. 'Lie still; you had much better. My stars! how ill you look!' +he exclaimed, startled by Philip's altered face and figure. 'You have +had a sharpish touch; but you are better, eh?' + +'Yes, thank you.' + +'Well; I thought I had better come and speak to you, if you felt up to +it. Here is--here is--I hope it is all right and legal; but that you +can tell better than I; and you are concerned in it anyhow. Here is poor +Guy's will, which we thought you had better look over, if you liked, and +felt equal, eh?' + +'Thank you,' said Philip, holding out his hand; but Mr. Edmonstone +withheld it, trying his patience by an endless quantity of discursive +half-sentences, apparently without connection with each other, about +disappointment, and hopes, and being sorry, and prospects, and its +'being an unpleasant thing,' and 'best not raise his expectations:' +during all which time Philip, expecting to hear of Laura, and his heart +beating so fast as to renew the sensation of faintness, waited in vain, +and strove to gather the meaning, and find out whether he was forgiven, +almost doubting whether the confusion was in his own mind or in +his uncle's words. However, at last the meaning bolted out in one +comprehensive sentence, when Mr. Edmonstone thought he had sufficiently +prepared him for his disappointment,--'Poor Amy is to be confined in the +spring.' + +There Mr. Edmonstone stopped short, very much afraid of the effect; +but Philip raised himself, his face brightened, as if he was greatly +relieved, and from his heart he exclaimed, 'Thank Heaven!' + +'That's right! that is very well said!' answered Mr. Edmonstone, very +much pleased. 'It would be a pity it should go out of the old line after +all; and it's a very generous thing in you to say so.' + +'Oh no!' said Philip, shrinking into himself at even such praise as +this. + +'Well, well,' said his uncle, 'you will see he has thought of you, be it +how it may. There! I only hope it is right; though it does seem rather +queer, appointing poor little Amy executor rather than me. If I had but +been here in time! But 'twas Heaven's will; and so--It does not signify, +after all, if it is not quite formal. We understand each other.' + +The will was on a sheet of letter-paper, in Arnaud's stiff French +handwriting; it was witnessed by the two Mr. Morrises, and signed on +the 27th of September, in very frail and feeble characters. Amabel and +Markham were the executors, and Amabel was to be sole guardian, in case +of the birth of a child. If it was a son, £1O,OOO was left to Philip +himself; if not, he was to have all the plate, furniture, &c., of +Redclyffe, with the exception of whatever Lady Morville might choose for +herself. + +Philip scarcely regarded the legacy (though it smoothed away his chief +difficulties) as more than another of those ill-requited benefits +which were weighing him to the earth. He read on to a sentence which +reproached him so acutely, that he would willingly have hidden from it, +as he had done from Guy's countenance. It was the bequest of £5000 to +Elizabeth Wellwood. Sebastian Dixon's debts were to be paid off; £1000 +was left to Marianne Dixon, and the rest of the personal property was to +be Amabel's. + +He gave back the paper, with only the words 'Thank you.' He did not feel +as if it was for him to speak; and Mr. Edmonstone hesitated, made an +attempt at congratulating him, broke down, and asked if it was properly +drawn up. He glanced at the beginning and end, said it was quite +correct, and laid his head down, as if the examination had been a great +deal of trouble. + +'And what do you think of Amy's being under age?' fidgeted on Mr. +Edmonstone. 'How is she to act, poor dear! Shall I act for her?' + +'She will soon be of age,' said Philip, wearily. + +'In January, poor darling. Who would have thought how it would have been +with her? I little thought, last May--but, holloa! what have I been +at?' cried he, jumping up in a great fright, as Philip, so weak as to be +overcome by the least agitation, changed countenance, covered his face +with his hands, and turned away with a suppressed sob. 'I didn't mean +it, I am sure! Here! mamma!' + +'No, no,' said Philip, recovering, and sitting up; 'don't call her, I +beg. There is nothing the matter.' + +Mr. Edmonstone obeyed, but he was too much afraid of causing a renewal +of agitation to continue the conversation; and after walking about the +room a little while, and shaking it more than Philip could well bear, he +went away to write his letters. + +In the meantime, Amabel had been spending her morning in the same quiet +way as the former day. She wrote part of a letter to Laura, and walked +to the graveyard, rather against her mother's wish; but she was so good +and obedient, it was impossible to thwart her, though Mrs. Edmonstone +was surprised at her proposal to join her father and Philip at tea. 'Do +you like it, my dear?' + +'He told me to take care of him,' said Amabel. + +'I cannot feel that he deserves you should worry yourself about him,' +said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'If you knew all--' + +'I do know all, mamma,--if you mean about Laura. Surely you must +forgive. Think how he repents. What, have you not had his letter? Then +how did you know?' + +'I learned it from Laura herself. Her trouble at his illness revealed +it. Do you say he has written?' + +'Yes, mamma; he told Guy all about it, and was very sorry, and wrote +as soon as he was able. Guy sent you a long message. He was so anxious +about it.' + +Amabel showed more eagerness to understand the state of the case, than +she had about anything else. She urged that Philip should be spoken to, +as soon as possible, saying the suspense must be grievous, and dwelling +on his repentance. Mrs. Edmonstone promised to speak to papa, and +this satisfied her; but she held her resolution of meeting Philip +that evening, looking on him as a charge left her by her husband, and +conscious that, as she alone understood how deep was his sorrow, she +could make the time spent with her parents less embarrassing. + +Her presence always soothed him, and regard for her kept her father +quiet; so that the evening passed off very well. Mrs. Edmonstone waited +on both; and, in Amy's presence, was better able to resume her usual +manner towards her nephew, and he sat wondering at the placidity of +Amy's pale face. Her hair was smoothed back, and she wore a cap,--the +loss of her long shady curls helping to mark the change from the bright +days of her girlhood; but the mournfulness of her countenance did +not mar the purity and serenity that had always been its great +characteristic; and in the faint sweet smile with which she received +a kind word or attention, there was a likeness to that peculiar and +beautiful expression of her husband's, so as, in spite of the great +difference of feature and colouring, to give her a resemblance to him. + +All this day had been spent by Mr. Edmonstone in a fret to get away from +Recoara, and his wife was hardly less desirous to leave it than himself, +for she could have no peace or comfort about Amabel, till she had her +safely at home. Still she dreaded proposing the departure, and even more +the departure itself; and, in spite of Mr. Edmonstone's impatience, she +let her alone till she had her mourning; but when, after two days of +hard work, Anne had nearly managed to complete it, she made up her mind +to tell her daughter that they ought to set out. + +Amabel replied by mentioning Philip. She deemed him a sort of trust, and +had been reposing in the thought of making him a reason for lingering in +the scene where the brightness of her life had departed from her. Mrs. +Edmonstone would not allow that she ought to remain for his sake, and +told her it was her duty to resolve to leave the place. She said, 'Yes, +but for him;' and it ended in Mrs. Edmonstone going, without telling +her, to inform him that she thought Amy ought to be at home as soon +as possible; but that it was difficult to prevail on her, because +she thought him as yet not well enough to be left. He was, of course, +shocked at being thus considered, and as soon as he next saw Amabel, +told her, with great earnestness, that he could not bear to see her +remaining there on his account; that he was almost well, and meant to +leave Recoara very soon; the journey was very easy, the sea voyage +would be the best thing for him, and he should be glad to get to the +regimental doctor at Corfu. + +Amabel sighed, and knew she ought to be convinced. The very pain it gave +her to lose sight of that green, grave, the chestnut-tree, and the white +mountain; to leave the rooms and passages which still, to her ears, +were haunted by Guy's hushed step and voice, and to part with the window +where she used each wakeful night to retrace his profile as he had stood +pausing before telling her of his exceeding happiness; that very pain +made her think that opposition would be selfish. She must go some time +or other, and it was foolish to defer the struggle; she must not detain +her parents in an infected place, nor keep her mother from Charles. She +therefore consented, and let them do what they pleased,--only insisting +on Arnaud's being left with Philip. + +Philip did not think this necessary, but yielded, when she urged it as +a relief to her own mind; and Arnaud, though unwilling, and used to his +own way, could make no objection when she asked it as a personal favour. +Arnaud was, at his own earnest wish, to continue in her service; and, as +soon as Philip was able to embark, was to follow her to Hollywell. + +All this time nothing passed about Laura. Amabel asked several times +whether papa had spoken, but was always answered, 'Not yet;' and at last +Mrs. Edmonstone, after vainly trying to persuade him, was obliged to +give it up. The truth was, he could not begin; he was afraid of his +nephew, and so unused to assume superiority over him that he did +not know what to do, and found all kinds of reasons for avoiding the +embarrassing scene. Since Philip still must be dealt with cautiously, +better not enter on the subject at all. When reminded that the suspense +was worse than anything, he said, no one could tell how things would, +turn out, and grew angry with his wife for wishing him to make up a +shameful affair like that, when poor Guy had not been dead a week, and +he had been the death of him; but it was just like mamma, she always +spoilt him. He had a great mind to vow never to consent to his +daughter's marrying such an overbearing, pragmatical fellow; she ought +to be ashamed of even thinking of him, when he was no better than her +brother's murderer. + +After this tirade, Mrs. Edmonstone might well feel obliged to tell +Amabel, that papa must not be pressed any further; and, of course, if he +would not speak, she could not (nor did she wish it). + +'Then, mamma,' said Amabel, with the air of decision that had lately +grown on her, 'I must tell him. I beg your pardon,' she added, +imploringly; 'but indeed I must. It is hard on him not to hear that you +had not his letter, and that Laura has told. I know Guy would wish me, +so don't be displeased, dear mamma.' + +'I can't be displeased with anything you do.' + +'And you give me leave?' + +'To be sure I do,--leave to do anything but hurt yourself.' + +'And would it be wrong for me to offer to write to him? No one else +will, and it will be sad for him not to hear. It cannot be wrong, +can it?' said she, as the fingers of her right hand squeezed her +wedding-ring, a habit she had taken up of late. + +'Certainly not, my poor darling. Do just as you think fit. I am sorry +for him, for I am sure he is in great trouble, and I should like him to +be comforted--if he can. But, Amy, you must not ask me to do it. He has +disappointed me too much.' + +Mrs. Edmonstone left the room in tears. + +Amabel went up to the window, looked long at the chestnut-tree, then +up into the sky, sat down, and leant her forehead on her hand in +meditation, until she rose up, cheered and sustained, as if she had been +holding council with her husband. + +She did not over-estimate Philip's sufferings from suspense and anxiety. +He had not heard a word of Laura; how she had borne his illness, nor how +much displeasure his confession had brought upon her; nor could he learn +what hope there was that his repentance was accepted. He did not venture +to ask; for after engaging to leave all to them, could he intrude his +own concerns on them at such a time? It was but a twelvemonth since +he had saddened and shadowed Guy's short life and love with the +very suffering from uncertainty that he found so hard to bear. As he +remembered this, he had a sort of fierce satisfaction in enduring this +retributive justice; though there were moods when he felt the torture so +acutely, that it seemed to him as if his brain would turn if he saw them +depart, and was left behind to this distracting doubt. + +The day had come, on which they were to take their first stage, as far +as Vicenza, and his last hopes were fading. He tried to lose the sense +of misery by bestirring himself in the preparations; but he was too +weak, and Mrs. Edmonstone, insisting on his attempting no more, sent him +back: to his own sitting-room. + +Presently there was a knock, and in came Amabel, dressed, for the first +time, in her weeds, the blackness and width of her sweeping crape making +her young face look smaller and paler, while she held in her hand some +leaves of chestnut, that showed where she had been. She smiled a little +as she came in, saying, 'I am come to you for a little quiet, out of the +bustle of packing up. I want you to do something for me.' + +'Anything for you.' + +'It is what you will like to do,' said she, with _that_ smile, 'for it +is more for _him_ than for me. Could you, without teasing yourself, put +that into Latin for me, by and by? I think it should be in Latin, as it +is in a foreign country.' + +She gave him a paper in her own writing. + + +GUY MORVILLE, OF REDCLYFFE, ENGLAND. DIED THE EVE OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL +ANGELS, 18--AGED 21 1/2. I BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. + +'Will you be so kind as to give it to Arnaud when it is done?' she +continued; 'he will send it to the man who is making the cross. I think +the kind people here will respect it.' + +'Yes,' said Philip,' it is soon done, and thank you for letting me do +it. But, Amy, I would not alter your choice; yet there is one that seems +to me more applicable "Greater love hath no man--"' + +'I know what you mean,' said Amy; 'but that has so high a meaning that +he could not bear it to be applied to him.' + +'Or rather, what right have I to quote it?' said Philip, bitterly. 'His +friend! No, Amy; you should rather choose, "If thine enemy thirst, give +him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." +I am sure they are burning on mine,' and he pressed his hand on his +forehead. + +'Don't say such things. We both know that, at the worst of times, he +looked on you as a sincere friend.' + +Philip groaned, and she thought it best to go on to something else. +'I like this best,' she said. 'It will be nice to think of far away. I +should like, too, for these Italians to see the stranger has the same +creed as themselves.' + +After a moment's pause, during which he looked at the paper, he said, +'Amy, I have one thing to ask of you. Will you write my name in the +Prayer-book?' + +'That I will,' said she, and Philip drew it from under the sofa cushion, +and began putting together his pocket gold pen. While he was doing this, +she said, 'Will you write to me sometimes? I shall be so anxious to know +how you get on.' + +'Yes, thank you,' said he; with a sigh, as if he would fain have said +more. + +She paused; then said, abruptly, 'Do you know they never had your +letter?' + +'Ha! Good heavens!' cried he, starting up in consternation; 'then they +don't know it!' + +'They do. Sit down, Philip, and hear. I wanted to tell you about it. +They know it. Poor Laura was so unhappy when you were ill, that mamma +made it out from her.' + +He obeyed the hand that invited him back to his seat, and turned his +face earnestly towards her. He must let her be his comforter, though a +moment before his mind would have revolted at troubling the newly-made +widow with his love affairs. Amabel told him, as fully and clearly as +she could, how the truth had come out, how gently Laura had been dealt +with, how Charles had been trying to soften his father, and papa had not +said one angry word to her. + +'They forgive her. Oh, Amy, thanks indeed! You have taken away one of +the heaviest burdens. I am glad, indeed, that she spoke first. For my +own part, I see through all their kindness and consideration how they +regard me.' + +'They know how sorry you are, and that you wrote to tell all,' said +Amabel. 'They forgive, indeed they do; but they cannot bear to speak +about it just yet.' + +'If you forgive, Amy,' said he, in a husky voice, 'I may hope for pardon +from any.' + +'Hush! don't say that. You have been so kind, all this time, and we have +felt together so much, that no one could help forgetting anything that +went before. Then you will write to me; and will you tell me how to +direct to you?' + +'You will write to me?' cried Philip, brightening for a moment with glad +surprise. 'Oh, Amy, you will quite overpower me with your goodness!--The +coals of fire,' he finished, sinking his voice, and again pressing his +hand to his brow. + +'You must not speak so, Philip,' then looking at him, 'Is your head +aching?' + +'Not so much aching as--' he paused, and exclaimed, as if carried away +in spite of himself, 'almost bursting with the thoughts of--of you, +Amy,--of him whom I knew too late,--wilfully misunderstood, envied, +persecuted; who,--oh! Amy, Amy, if you could guess at the anguish of but +one of my thoughts, you would know what the first murderer meant when he +said, "My punishment is greater than I can bear."' + +'I can't say don't think,' said Amy, in her sweet, calm tone; 'for I +have seen how happy repentance made him, but I know it must be dreadful. +I suppose the worse it is at the time, the better it must be afterwards. +And I am sure this Prayer-book'--she had her hand on it all the time, +as if it was a pleasure to her to touch it again--'must be a comfort +to you. Did you not see that he made me give it to you to use that day, +when, if ever, there was pardon and peace--' + +'I remember,' said Philip, in a low, grave, heartfelt tone; and as she +took the pen, and was writing his name below the old inscription, he +added, 'And the date, Amy, and--yes,' as he saw her write 'From +G. M.'--'but put from A. F. M. too. Thank you! One thing more;' he +hesitated, and spoke very low, 'You _must_ write in it what you said +when you came to fetch me that day,--"A broken"'-- + +As she finished writing, Mrs. Edmonstone came in. 'My Amy, all is ready. +We must go. Good-bye, Philip,' said she, in the tone of one so eager for +departure as to fancy farewells would hasten it. However, she was not +more eager than Mr. Edmonstone, who rushed in to hurry them on, shaking +hands cordially with Philip, and telling him to make haste and recover +his good looks. Amabel held out her hand. She would fain have said +something cheering, but the power failed her. A deep colour came into +her cheeks; she drew her thick black veil over her face, and turned +away. + +Philip came down-stairs with them, saw her enter the carriage followed +by her mother, Mr. Edmonstone outside. He remembered the gay smile with +which he last saw her seated in that carriage, and the active figure +that had sprung after her; he thought of the kind bright eyes that had +pleaded with him for the last time, and recollected the suspicions and +the pride with which he had plumed himself on his rejection, and thrown +away the last chance. + +Should he ever see Amabel again? He groaned and went back to the +deserted rooms. + + + + +CHAPTER 37 + + And see + If aught of sprightly, fresh, or free, + With the calm sweetness may compare + Of the pale form half slumbering there. + Therefore this one dear couch about + We linger hour by hour: + The love that each to each we bear, + All treasures of enduring care, + Into her lap we pour. + --LYRA INNOCENTUM + + +The brother and sisters, left at home together, had been a very sad and +silent party, unable to attempt comforting each other. Charlotte's +grief was wild and ungovernable; breaking out into fits of sobbing, and +attending to nothing till she was abashed first by a reproof from Mr. +Ross, and next by the description of Amabel's conduct; when she grew +ashamed and set herself to atone, by double care, for her neglect of +Charles's comforts. + +Charles, however, wanted her little. He had rather be let alone. After +one exclamation of, 'My poor Amy!' he said not a word of lamentation, +but lay hour after hour without speaking, dwelling on the happy days he +had spent with Guy,--companion, friend, brother,--the first beam that +had brightened his existence, and taught him to make it no longer +cheerless; musing on the brilliant promise that had been cut off; +remembering his hopes for his most beloved sister, and feeling his +sorrow with imagining hers. It was his first grief, and a very deep one. +He seemed to have no comfort but in Mr. Ross, who contrived to come to +him every day, and would tell him how fully he shared his affection and +admiration for Guy, how he had marvelled at his whole character, as it +had shown itself more especially at the time of his marriage, when his +chastened temper had been the more remarkable in so young a man, with +the world opening on him so brightly. As to the promise lost, that, +indeed, Mr. Ross owned, and pleased Charles by saying how he had hoped +to watch its fulfilment; but he spoke of its having been, in truth, no +blight, only that those fair blossoms were removed where nothing could +check their full development or mar their beauty. 'The hope in earthly +furrows sown, would ripen in the sky;' Charles groaned, saying it was +hard not to see it, and they might speak as they would, but that would +not comfort him in thinking of his sister. What was his sorrow to hers? +But Mr. Ross had strong trust in Amabel's depth and calm resignation. +He said her spirit of yielding would support her, that as in drowning or +falling, struggling is fatal, when quietness saves, so it would be with +her: and that even in this greatest of all trials she would rise instead +of being crushed, with all that was good and beautiful in her purified +and refined. Charles heard, strove to believe and be consoled, and +brought out his letters, trying, with voice breaking down, to show +Mr. Ross how truly he had judged of Amy, then listened with a kind of +pleasure to the reports of the homely but touching laments of all the +village. + +Laura did not, like her brother and sister, seek for consolation from +Mr. Ross or Mary. She went on her own way, saying little, fulfilling her +household cares, writing all the letters that nobody else would write, +providing for Charles's ease, and looking thoroughly cast down and +wretched, but saying nothing; conscious that her brother and sister did +not believe her affection for Guy equal to theirs; and Charles was too +much dejected, and too much displeased with Philip, to try to console +her. + +It was a relief to hear, at length, that the travellers had landed, and +would be at home in the evening, not till late, wrote Mrs. Edmonstone, +because she thought it best for Amabel to go at once to her room, her +own old room, for she particularly wished not to be moved from it. + +The evening had long closed in; poor Bustle had been shut up in +Charlotte's room, and the three sat together round the fire, unable to +guess how they should meet her, and thinking how they had lately been +looking forward to greeting their bride, as they used proudly to call +her. Charles dwelt on that talk on the green, and his 'when shall +we three meet again?' and spoke not a word; Laura tried to read; and +Charlotte heard false alarms of wheels; but all were so still, that when +the wheels really came, they were heard all down the turnpike road, and +along the lane, before they sounded on the gravel drive. + +Laura and Charlotte ran into the hall, Charles reached his crutches, but +his hands shook so much that he could not adjust them, and was obliged +to sit down, rising the next minute as the black figures entered +together. Amy's sweet face was pressed to his, but neither spoke. That +agitated 'My dear, dear Charlie!' was his mother's, as she threw her +arms around him, with redoubled kisses and streaming tears; and there +was a trembling tone in his father's 'Well, Charlie boy, how have you +got on without us?' + +They sat down, Charles with his sister beside him, and holding a hand +steadier than his own, but hot and feverish to the touch. He leant +forward to look at her face, and, as if in answer, she turned it on +him. It was the old face, paler and thinner, and the eyelids had a +hard reddened look, from want of sleep: but Charles, like his mother +at first, was almost awed by the melancholy serenity of the expression. +'Have you been quite well?' she asked, in a voice which sounded +strangely familiar, in its fond, low tones. + +'Yes, quite.' + +There was a pause, followed by an interchange of question and answer +between the others, on the journey, and on various little home +circumstances. Presently Mrs. Edmonstone said Amy had better come +up-stairs. + +'I have not seen Bustle,' said Amy, looking at Charlotte. + +'He is in my room,' faltered Charlotte. + +'I should like to see him.' + +Charlotte hastened away, glad to wipe her tears when outside the door. +Poor Bustle had been watching for his master ever since his departure, +and hearing the sounds of arrival, was wild to escape from his prison. +He rushed out the moment the door was open, and was scratching to be let +into the drawing-room before Charlotte could come up with him. He dashed +in, laid his head on Amabel's knee, and wagged his tail for welcome; +gave the same greeting to Mr. and Mrs. Edmonstone, but only for a +moment, for he ran restlessly seeking round the room, came to the door, +and by his wistful looks made Charlotte let him out. She followed +him, and dropping on her knees as soon as she was outside, pressed her +forehead to his glossy black head, whispered that it was of no use, he +would never come back. The dog burst from her, and the next moment was +smelling and wagging his tail at a portmanteau, which he knew as well as +she did, and she could hardly refrain from a great outburst of sobbing +as she thought what joy its arrival had hitherto been. + +Suddenly Bustle bounded away, and as Charlotte stood trying to compose +herself enough to return to the drawing-room, she heard the poor fellow +whining to be let in at Guy's bed-room door. At the same time the +drawing-room door opened, and anxious that Amy should neither see nor +hear him, she ran after him, admitted him, and shut herself in with him +in the dark, where, with her hands in his long silky curls, and sitting +on the ground, she sobbed over him as long as he would submit to her +caresses. + +Amabel meantime returned to her room, and looked round on its well-known +aspect with a sad smile, as she thought of the prayer with which she +had quitted it on her bridal day, and did not feel as if it had been +unanswered; for surely the hand of a Father had been with her to support +her through her great affliction. + +Though she said she was very well, her mother made her go to bed at +once, and Laura attended on her with a sort of frightened, respectful +tenderness, hardly able to bear her looks of gratitude. The first time +the two sisters were alone, Amabel said, 'Philip is much better.' + +Laura, who was settling some things on the table, started back and +coloured, then, unable to resist the desire of hearing of him, looked +earnestly at her sister. + +'He is gone to Corfu,' continued Amabel. 'He only kept Arnaud three +days after we were gone, and Arnaud overtook us at Geneva, saying his +strength had improved wonderfully. Will you give me my basket? I should +like to read you a piece of a note he sent me.' + +Laura brought it, and Amabel, holding her hand, looked up at her face, +which she vainly tried to keep in order. 'Dearest, I have been very +sorry for you, and so has Guy.' + +'Amy!' and Laura found herself giving way to her tears, in spite of all +her previous exhortations to Charlotte, about self-control; 'my own, own +sister!' To have Amy at home was an unspeakable comfort. + +'Papa and mamma were both as kind as possible to Philip,' continued +Amabel; 'but they could not bear to enter on _that_. So I told him you +had told all, and he was very glad.' + +'He was not displeased at my betraying him?' exclaimed Laura. 'Oh, no! +he was glad; he said it was a great relief, for he was very anxious +about you, Laura. He has been so kind to me,' said Amabel, so earnestly, +that Laura received another comfort, that of knowing that her sister's +indignation against him had all passed by. 'Now I will read you what he +says. You see his writing is quite itself again.' + +But Laura observed that Amabel only held towards her the 'Lady Morville' +on the outside, keeping the note to herself, and reading, 'I have +continued to gain strength since you went; so that there is no further +need of detaining Arnaud. I have twice been out of doors, and am +convinced that I am equal to the journey; indeed, it is hardly possible +for me to endure remaining here any longer.' She read no more, but +folded it up, saying, 'I had rather no one saw the rest. He makes +himself so unhappy about that unfortunate going to Sondrio, that he says +what is only painful to hear. I am glad he is able to join his regiment, +for a change will be the best thing for him.' + +She laid her head on the pillow as if she had done with the subject, and +Laura did not venture to pursue it, but went down to hear her mother's +account of her. + +Mrs. Edmonstone was feeling it a great comfort to have her son to talk +to again, and availed herself of it to tell him of Philip, while Laura +was absent, and then to return to speak of Amy on Laura's re-entrance. +She said, all through the journey, Amy had been as passive and tranquil +as possible, chiefly leaning back in the carriage in silence, excepting +that when they finally left the view of the snowy mountains, she gazed +after them as long as the least faint cloud-like summit was visible. +Still she could not sleep, except that now and then she dozed a little +in the carriage, but at night she heard every hour strike in turn, and +lay awake through all, nor had she shed one tear since her mother had +joined her. Mrs. Edmonstone's anxiety was very great, for she said she +knew Amy must pay for that unnatural calmness, and the longer it was +before it broke down, the worse it would be for her. However, she was at +home, that was one thing to be thankful for, and happen what might, it +could not be as distressing as if it had been abroad. + +Another night of 'calm unrest,' and Amabel rose in the morning, at her +usual hour, to put on the garments of her widowhood, where she had last +stood as a bride. Charles was actually startled by her entering the +dressing-room, just as she used to do, before breakfast, to read with +him, and her voice was as steady as ever. She breakfasted with the +family, and came up afterwards with Laura, to unpack her dressing-case, +and take out the little treasures that she and her husband had enjoyed +buying in the continental towns, as presents for the home party. + +All this, for which she had previously prepared herself, she underwent +as quietly as possible; but something unexpected came on her. Charlotte, +trying to pet and comfort her in every possible way, brought in all +the best flowers still lingering in the garden, and among them a last +blossom of the Noisette rose, the same of which Guy had been twisting a +spray, while he first told her of his love. + +It was too much. It recalled his perfect health and vigour, his light +activity, and enjoyment of life, and something came on her of the +sensation we feel for an insect, one moment full of joyous vitality, the +next, crushed and still. She had hitherto thought of his feverish thirst +and fainting weariness being at rest, and felt the relief, or else +followed his spirit to its repose, and rejoiced; but now the whole +scene brought back what he once was; his youthful, agile frame, his eyes +dancing in light, his bounding step, his gay whistle, the strong hand +that had upheld her on the precipice, the sure foot that had carried +aid to the drowning sailors, the arm that was to have been her stay for +life, all came on her in contrast with--death! The thought swept over +her, carrying away every other, and she burst into tears. + +The tears would have their course; she could not restrain them when once +they began, and her struggles to check them only brought an increase of +them. Her sobs grew so violent that Laura, much alarmed, made a sign +to Charlotte to fetch her mother; and Mrs. Edmonstone, coming in haste, +found it was indeed the beginning of a frightful hysterical attack. +The bodily frame had been overwrought to obey the mental firmness and +composure, and now nature asserted her rights; the hysterics returned +again and again, and when it seemed as if exhaustion had at length +produced quiet, the opening of a door, or a sound in the distance, would +renew all again. + +It was not till night had closed in that Mrs. Edmonstone was at all +satisfied about her, and had at length the comfort of seeing her +fall into a sound deep sleep; such an unbroken dreamless sleep as had +scarcely visited her since she first went to Recoara. Even this sleep +did not restore her; she became very unwell, and both Dr. Mayerne and +her mother insisted on her avoiding the least exertion or agitation. She +was quite submissive, only begging earnestly to be allowed to see +Mr. Ross, saying she knew it would do her good rather than harm, and +promising to let him leave her the instant she found it too much for +her; and though Mrs. Edmonstone was reluctant and afraid, they agreed +that as she was so reasonable and docile, she ought to be allowed to +judge for herself. + +She begged that he might come after church on All Saints' day. He came, +and after his first greeting of peace, Mrs. Edmonstone signed to him to +read at once, instead of speaking to her. The beautiful lesson for the +day overcame Mrs. Edmonstone so much that she was obliged to go out of +Amabel's sight, but as the words were read, Amy's face recovered once +more the serenity that had been swept away by the sight of the flowers. +Peace had returned, and when the calm every-day words of the service +were over, she held out her hand to Mr. Ross, and said, 'Thank you, that +was very nice. Now talk to me.' + +It was a difficult request, but Mr. Ross understood her, and talked to +her as she sought, in a gentle, deep, high strain of hope and faith, +very calm and soothing, and with a fatherly kindness that was very +pleasant from him who had baptized her, taught her, and whom she had +last seen blessing her and her husband. It ended by her looking up to +him when it was time for him to go, and saying, 'Thank you. You will +come again when you have time, I hope. My love to dear Mary, I should +like to see her soon, but I knew you would do me more good than anybody, +and know better how it feels.' + +Mr. Ross knew she meant that he must better understand her loss, because +he was a widower, and was greatly touched, though he only answered by a +blessing, a farewell, and a promise to come very soon to see her again. + +Amabel was right, the peace which he had recalled, and the power of +resignation that had returned, had a better effect on her than all her +mother's precautions; she began to improve, and in a few days more was +able to leave her bed, and lie on the sofa in the dressing-room, though +she was still so weak and languid that this was as much as she could +attempt. Any exertion was to be carefully guarded against, and her tears +now flowed so easily, that she was obliged to keep a check on them lest +they might again overpower her. Mr. Ross came again and again, and she +was able to tell him much of the grounds for her great happiness in Guy, +hear how entirely he had understood him, and be assured that she had +done right, and not taken an undue responsibility on herself by the +argument she had used to summon Philip, that last evening. She had begun +to make herself uneasy about this; for she said she believed she was +thinking of nothing but Guy, and had acted on impulse; and she was +very glad Mr. Ross did not think it wrong, while Mr. Ross meanwhile +was thinking how fears and repentance mingle with the purest sweetest, +holiest deeds. + +She was able now to take pleasure in seeing Mary Ross; she wrote to +Philip at Corfu, and sent for Markham to begin to settle the executor's +business. Poor Markham! the Edmonstones thought he looked ten years +older when he arrived, and after his inquiry for Lady Morville, his +grunt almost amounted to a sob. The first thing he did was to give Mrs. +Edmonstone a note, and a little box sent from Mrs. Ashford. The note was +to say that Mrs. Ashford had intended for her wedding present, a little +cross made out of part of the wood of the wreck, which she now thought +it beat to send to Mrs. Edmonstone, that she might judge whether Lady +Morville would like to see it. + +Mrs. Edmonstone's judgment was to carry it at once to Amabel, and +she was right, for the pleasure she took in it was indescribable. She +fondled it, set it up by her on her little table, made Charlotte put +it in different places that she might see what point of view suited it +best, had it given back to her, held it in her hands caressingly, +and said she must write at once to Mrs. Ashford to thank her for +understanding her so well. There was scarcely one of the mourners to be +pitied more than Markham, for the love he had set on Sir Guy had +been intense, compounded of feudal affection, devoted admiration, and +paternal care--and that he, the very flower of the whole race, should +thus have been cut down in the full blossom of his youth and hopes, was +almost more than the old man could bear or understand. It was a great +sorrow, too, that he should be buried so far away from his forefathers; +and the hearing it was by his own desire, did not satisfy him, he sighed +over it still, and seemed to derive a shade of comfort only when he was +told there was to be a tablet in Redclyffe church to the memory of Guy, +sixth baronet. + +In the evening Markham became very confidential with Charles; telling +him about the grievous mourning and lamentation at Redclyffe, when the +bells rung a knell instead of greeting the young master and his bride, +and how there was scarcely one in the parish that did not feel as if +they had lost a son or a brother. He also told more and more of Sir +Guy's excellence, and talked of fears of his own, especially last +Christmas; that the boy was too unlike other people, too good to live; +and lastly, he indulged in a little abuse of Captain Morville, which +did Charles's heart good, at the same time as it amused him to think how +Markham would recollect it, when he came to hear of Laura's engagement. + +In the course of the next day, Markham had his conference with Lady +Morville in the dressing-room, and brought her two or three precious +parcels, which he would not, for the world, have given into any other +hands. He could hardly bear to look at her in her widow's cap, and +behaved to her with a manner varying between his deference and respect +to the Lady of Redclyffe, and his fatherly fondness for the wife of +'his boy.' As to her legal powers, he would have thought them foolishly +bestowed, if they had been conferred by any one save his own Sir Guy, +and he began by not much liking to act with her; but he found her so +clear-headed, that he was much surprised to find a woman could have so +much good sense, and began to look forward with some satisfaction to +being her prime minister. They understood each other very well; Amabel's +good sense and way of attending to the one matter in hand, kept her from +puzzling and alarming herself by thinking she had more to do than she +could ever understand or accomplish; she knew it was Guy's work, and a +charge he had given her,--a great proof of his confidence,--and she +did all that was required of her very well, so that matters were put in +train to be completed when she should be of age, in the course of the +next January. + +When Markham left her she was glad to be alone, and to open her parcels. +There was nothing here to make her hysterical, for she was going to +contemplate the living soul, and felt almost, as if it was again being +alone with her husband. There were his most prized and used books, +covered with marks and written notes; there was Laura's drawing of +Sintram, which had lived with him in his rooms at Oxford; there was a +roll of music, and there was his desk. The first thing when she opened +it was a rough piece of spar, wrapped in paper, on which was written, +'M. A. D., Sept. 18.' She remembered what he had told her of little +Marianne's gift. The next thing made her heart thrill, for it was a slip +of pencilling in her own writing, 'Little things, on little wings, bear +little souls to heaven.' + +Her own letters tied up together, those few that she had written in the +short time they were separated just before their marriage! Could that +be only six months ago? A great bundle of Charles's and of Mrs. +Edmonstone's; those she might like to read another time, but not now. +Many other papers letters signed S. B. Dixon, which she threw aside, +notes of lectures, and memoranda, only precious for the handwriting; but +when she came to the lower division; she found it full of verses, almost +all the poetry he had ever written. + +There were the classical translations that used to make him inaccurate, +a scrap of a very boyish epic about King Arthur, beginning with a storm +at Tintagel, sundry half ballads, the verses he was suspected of, and +never would show, that first summer at Hollywell, and a very touching +vision of his fair young mother. Except a translation or two, some words +written to suit their favourite airs (a thing that used to seem to come +as easily to him as singing to a bird), and a few lively mock heroic +accounts of walks or parties, which had all been public property, there +was no more that she could believe to have been composed till last year, +for he was more disposed to versify in sorrow than in joy. There were +a good many written during his loneliness, for his reflections had a +tendency to flow into verse, and pouring them out thus had been a great +solace. The lines were often imperfect and irregular, but not one that +was not deep, pure, and genuine, and here and there scattered with +passages of exquisite beauty and harmony, and full of power and grace. +No one could have looked at them without owning in them the marks of a +thorough poet, but this was not what the wife was seeking, and when +she perceived it, though it made her face beam with a sort of satisfied +pride, it was a secondary thing. She was studying not his intellect, but +his soul; she did not care whether he would have been a poet, what she +looked for was the record of the sufferings and struggles of the sad six +months when his character was established, strengthened, and settled. + +She found it. There was much to which she alone had the clue, too deep, +and too obscurely hinted, to be understood at a glance. She met with +such evidence of suffering as made her shudder and weep, tokens of +the dark thoughts that had gathered round him, of the manful spirit of +penitence and patience that had been his stay, and of the gleams that +lighted his darkest hours, and showed he had never been quite forsaken. +Now and then came a reference which brought home what he had told her; +how the thought of his Verena had cheered him when he dared not hope she +would be restored. Best of all were the lines written when the radiance +of Christmas was, once for all, dispersing the gloom, and the vision +opening on him, which he was now realizing. In reading them, she felt +the same marvellous sympathy of subdued wondering joy in the victory of +which she had partaken as she knelt beside his death-bed. These were +the last. He had been too happy for poetry, except one or two scraps +in Switzerland, and these had been hers from the time she had detected +them. + +No wonder Amabel almost lived on those papers! It would not be too much +to say she was very happy in her own way when alone with them; the desk +on a chair by her sofa. They were too sacred for any one else; she did +not for many weeks show one even to her mother; but to her they were +like a renewal of his presence, soothing the craving after him that had +been growing on her ever since the first few days when his sustaining +power had not passed away. As she sorted them, and made out their dates, +finding fresh stores of meaning at each fresh perusal she learnt through +them, as well as through her own trial, so patiently borne, to enter +into his character even more fully than when he was in her sight. +Mrs. Edmonstone, who had at first been inclined to dread her constant +dwelling on them, soon perceived that they were her great aids through +this sad winter. + +She had much pleasure in receiving the portrait, which was sent her by +Mr. Shene. It was a day or two before she could resolve to look at it, +or feel that she could do so calmly. It was an unfinished sketch, taken +more with a view to the future picture than to the likeness; but Guy's +was a face to be better represented by being somewhat idealized, than +by copying merely the material form of the features. An ordinary artist +might have made him like a Morville, but Mr. Shene had shown all +that art could convey of his individual self, with almost one of his +unearthly looks. The beautiful eyes, with somewhat of their peculiar +lightsomeness, the flexible look of the lip, the upward pose of the +head, the set of that lock of hair that used to wave in the wind, the +animated position, 'just ready for a start,' as Charles used to call it, +were recalled as far as was in the power of chalk and crayon, but so as +to remind Amabel of him more as one belonging to heaven than to earth. +The picture used to be on her mantel-shelf all night, the shipwreck +cross before it, and Sintram and Redclyffe on each side; and she +brought it into the dressing-room with her in the morning, setting it up +opposite to the sofa, before settling herself. + +Her days were much alike. She felt far from well, or capable of +exertion, and was glad it was thought right to keep her entirely +upstairs; she only wished to spare her mother anxiety, by being +submissive to her care, in case these cares should be the last for her. +She did not dwell on the future, nor ask herself whether she looked for +life or death. Guy had bidden her not desire the last, and she believed +she did not form a wish; but there was repose to her in the belief that +she ought not to conceal from herself that there was more than ordinary +risk, and that it was right to complete all her affairs in this world, +and she was silent when her mother tried to interest her in prospects +that might cheer her; as if afraid to fasten on them, and finding more +peace in entire submission, than in feeding herself on hope that must be +coupled with fear. + +Christmas-day was not allowed to pass without being a festival for +her, in her quiet room, where she lay, full of musings on his lonely +Christmas night last year, his verses folded among her precious books, +and the real joy of the season more within her grasp than in the turmoil +of last year. She was not afraid now to let herself fancy his voice in +the Angel's Song, and the rainbow was shining on her cloud. + + + + +CHAPTER 38 + + The coldness from my heart is gone, + But still the weight is there, + And thoughts which I abhor will come + To tempt me to despair. + --SOUTHEY + + +Amabel's one anxiety was for Philip. For a long time nothing was heard +of him at Hollywell, and she began to fear that he might have been less +fit to take care of himself than he had persuaded her to believe. When +at length tidings reached them, it was through the De Courcys. 'Poor +Morville,' wrote Maurice, 'had been carried ashore at Corfu, in the +stupor of a second attack of fever. He had been in extreme danger for +some time, and though now on the mend, was still unable to give any +account of himself.' + +In effect, it was a relapse of the former disease, chiefly affecting +the brain, and his impatience to leave Recoara, and free himself from +Arnaud, had been a symptom of its approach, though it fortunately did +not absolutely overpower him till after he had embarked for Corfu, and +was in the way to be tended with the greatest solicitude. Long after the +fever was subdued, and his strength returning, his mind was astray, and +even when torturing delusions ceased, and he resumed the perception of +surrounding objects, memory and reflection wavered in dizzy confusion, +more distressing than either his bodily weakness, or the perpetual pain +in his head, which no remedy could relieve. + +The first date to which he could afterwards recur, though for more than +a week he had apparently been fully himself, was a time when he was +sitting in an easy-chair by the window, obliged to avert his heavy eyes +from the dazzling waters of the Corcyran bay, where Ulysses' transformed +ship gleamed in the sunshine, and the rich purple hills of Albania +sloped upwards in the distance. James Thorndale was, as usual, with him, +and was explaining that there had been a consultation between the doctor +and the colonel, and they had decided that as there was not much chance +of restoring his health in that climate in the spring. + +'Spring!' he interrupted, with surprise and eagerness, 'Is it spring?' + +'Hardly--except that there is no winter here. This is the 8th of +January.' + +He let his head fall on his hand again, and listened with indifference +when told he was to be sent to England at once, under the care of his +servant, Bolton, and Mr. Thorndale himself, who was resolved to see him +safe in his sister's hands. He made no objection; he had become used +to be passive, and one place was much the same to him as another; so he +merely assented, without a question about the arrangements. Presently, +however, he looked up, and inquired for his letters. Though he had done +so before, the request had always been evaded, until now he spoke in a +manner which decided his friend on giving him all except one with broad +black edges, and Broadstone post-mark; the effect of which, it was +thought, might be very injurious to his shattered nerves and spirits. + +However, he turned over the other letters without interest, just +glancing languidly through them, looked disappointed, and exclaimed-- + +'None from Hollywell! Has nothing been heard from them? Thorndale, +I insist on knowing whether De Courcy has heard anything of Lady +Morville.' + +'He has heard of her arrival in England.' + +'My sister mentions that--more than two months ago--I can hardly believe +she has not written, if she was able. She promised, yet how can +I expect--' then interrupting himself, he added, authoritatively, +'Thorndale, is there no letter for me? I see there is. Let me have it.' + +His friend could not but comply, and had no reason to regret having done +so; for after reading it twice, though he sighed deeply, and the tears +were in his eyes, he was more calm and less oppressed than he had been +at any time since his arrival in Corfu. He was unable to write, but +Colonel Deane had undertaken to write to Mrs. Henley to announce his +coming; and as the cause of his silence must be known at Hollywell, he +resolved to let Amabel's letter wait for a reply till his arrival in +England. + +It was on a chilly day in February that Mrs. Henley drove to the station +to meet her brother, looking forward with a sister's satisfaction to +nursing his recovery, and feeling (for she had a heart, after all) as if +it was a renewal of the days, which she regarded with a tenderness mixed +with contempt, when all was confidence between the brother and sister, +the days of nonsense and romance. She hoped that now poor Philip, who +had acted hastily on his romance, and ruined his own prospects for her +sake in his boyish days, had a chance of having it all made up to him, +and reigning at Redclyffe according to her darling wish. + +As she anxiously watched the arrival of the train, she recognized +Mr. Thorndale, whom she had known in his school-days as Philip's +protege--but could that be her brother? It was his height, indeed; but +his slow weary step as he crossed the platform, and left the care of his +baggage to others, was so unlike his prompt, independent air, that +she could hardly believe it to be himself, till, with his friend, he +actually advanced to the carriage, and then she saw far deeper traces +of illness than she was prepared for. A confusion of words took place; +greetings on one hand, and partings on the other, for James Thorndale +was going on by the train, and made only a few minutes' halt in which to +assure Mrs. Henley that though the landing and the journey had knocked +up his patient to-day, he was much better since leaving Corfu, and to +beg Philip to write as soon as possible. The bell rang, he rushed back, +and was whirled away. + +'Then you are better,' said Mrs. Henley, anxiously surveying her +brother. 'You are sadly altered! You must let us take good care of you.' + +'Thank you! I knew you would be ready to receive me, though I fear I am +not very good company.' + +'Say no more, my dearest brother. You know both Dr. Henley and myself +have made it our first object that our house should be your home.' + +'Thank you.' + +'This salubrious air must benefit you,' she added. 'How thin you are! +Are you very much fatigued?' + +'Rather,' said Philip, who was leaning back wearily; but the next moment +he exclaimed, 'What do you hear from Hollywell?' + +'There is no news yet.' + +'Do you know how she is? When did you hear of her?' + +'About a week ago; when she wrote to inquire for you.' + +'She did? What did she say of herself?' + +'Nothing particular, poor little thing; I believe she is always on the +sofa. My aunt would like nothing so well as making a great fuss about +her.' + +'Have you any objection to show me her letter?' said Philip, unable to +bear hearing Amabel thus spoken of, yet desirous to learn all he could +respecting her. + +'I have not preserved it,' was the answer. 'My correspondence is so +extensive that there would be no limit to the accumulation if I did not +destroy the trivial letters.' + +There was a sudden flush on Philip's pale face that caused his sister to +pause in her measured, self-satisfied speech, and ask if he was in pain. + +'No,' he replied, shortly, and Margaret pondered on his strange manner, +little guessing what profanation her mention of Amabel's letter had +seemed to him, or how it jarred on him to hear this exaggerated likeness +of his own self-complacent speeches. + +She was much shocked and grieved to see him so much more unwell than she +had expected. He was unfit for anything but to go to bed on his arrival. +Dr. Henley said the system had received a severe shock, and it would be +long before the effects would be shaken off; but that there was no fear +but his health would be completely restored if he would give himself +entire rest. + +There was no danger that Margaret would not lavish care enough on her +brother. She waited on him in his room all the next day, bringing him +everything he could want, and trying to make him come down-stairs, for +she thought sitting alone there very bad for his spirits; but he said +he had a letter to write, and very curious she was to know why he was +so long doing it, and why he did not tell her to whom it was addressed. +However, she saw when it was put into the post-bag, that it was for Lady +Morville. + +At last, too late to see any of the visitors who had called to inquire, +when the evening had long closed in, she had the satisfaction of seeing +Philip enter the drawing-room, and settling him in the most comfortable +of her easy-chairs on one side of the fire to wait till the Doctor +returned for dinner. The whole apartment was most luxurious, spacious, +and richly furnished; the fire, in its brilliant steel setting, glancing +on all around, and illuminating her own stately presence, and rich glace +silk, as she sat opposite her brother cutting open the leaves of one of +the books of the club over which she presided. She felt that this was +something like attaining one of the objects for which she used to say +and think she married,--namely, to be able to receive her brother in a +comfortable home. If only he would but look more like himself. + +'Do you like a cushion for your head, Philip? Is it better?' + +'Better since morning, thank you.' + +'Did those headaches come on before your second illness?' + +'I can't distinctly remember.' + +'Ah! I cannot think how the Edmonstones could leave you. I shall always +blame them for that relapse.' + +'It had nothing to do with it. Their remaining was impossible.' + +'On Amabel's account? No, poor thing, I don't blame her, for she must +have been quite helpless; but it was exactly like my aunt, to have but +one idea at a time. Charles used to be the idol, and now it is Amy, I +suppose.' + +'If anything could have made it more intolerable for me, it would have +been detaining them there for my sake, at such a time.' + +'Ah! I felt a great deal for you. You must have been very sorry for that +poor little Amy. She was very kind in writing while you were ill. How +did she contrive, poor child? I suppose you took all the head work for +her?' + +'I? I was nothing but a burden.' + +'Were you still so very ill?' said Margaret, tenderly. 'I am sure you +must have been neglected.' + +'Would that I had!' muttered Philip, so low that she did not catch the +words. Then aloud,--'No care could have been greater than was taken for +me. It was as if no one had been ill but myself, and the whole thought +of every one had been for me.' + +'Then Amabel managed well, poor thing! We do sometimes see those weak +soft characters--' + +'Sister!' he interrupted.' + +'Have not you told me so yourself?' + +'I was a fool, or worse,' said he, in a tone of suffering. 'No words can +describe what she proved herself.' + +'Self-possessed? energetic?' asked Mrs. Henley, with whom those were the +first of qualities; and as her brother paused from repugnance to speak +of Amabel to one so little capable of comprehending her, she proceeded: +'No doubt she did the best she could, but she must have been quite +inexperienced. It was a very young thing in the poor youth to make her +executrix. I wonder the will was valid; but I suppose you took care of +that.' + +'I did nothing.' + +'Did you see it?' + +'My uncle showed it to me.' + +'Then you can tell me what I want to hear, for no one has told me +anything. I suppose my uncle is to be guardian?' + +'No; Lady Morville.' + +'You don't mean it? Most lover-like indeed. That poor girl to manage +that great property? Everything left to her!' said Mrs. Henley, +continuing her catechism in spite of the unwillingness of his replies. +'Were there any legacies? I know of Miss Wellwood's.' + +'That to Dixon's daughter, and my own,' he answered. + +'Yours? How was it that I never heard of it? What is it?' + +'Ten thousand,' said Philip, sadly. + +'I am delighted to hear it!' cried Margaret. 'Very proper of Sir +Guy--very proper indeed, poor youth. It is well thought of to soften the +disappointment.' + +Philip started forward. 'Disappointment!' exclaimed he, with horror. + +'You need not look as if I wished to commit murder,' said his sister, +smiling. 'Have you forgotten that it depends on whether it is a son or +daughter?' + +His dismay was not lessened. 'Do you mean to say that this is to come on +me if the child is a daughter?' + +'Ah! you were so young when the entail was made, that you knew nothing +of it. Female heirs were expressly excluded. There was some aunt whom +old Sir Guy passed over, and settled the property on my father and you, +failing his own male heirs.' + +'No one would take advantage of such a chance,' said Philip. + +'Do not make any rash resolutions, my dear brother, whatever you do,' +said Margaret. 'You have still the same fresh romantic generous spirit +of self-sacrifice that is generally so soon worn out, but you must not +let it allow you--' + +'Enough of this,' said Philip, hastily, for every word was a dagger. + +'Ah! you are right not to dwell on the uncertainty. I am almost sorry +I told you,' said Margaret. 'Tell me about Miss Wellwood's legacy,' she +continued, desirous of changing the subject. 'I want to know the truth +of it, for every one is talking of it.''How comes the world to know of +it?' + +'There have been reports ever since his death, and now it has been paid, +whatever it is, on Lady Morville's coming of age. Do you know what +it is? The last story I was told was, that it was £2O,OOO, to found a +convent to pray for his grand--' + +'Five thousand for her hospital,' interrupted Philip. 'Sister!' he +added; speaking with effort, 'it was for that hospital that he made the +request for which we persecuted him.' + +'Ah! I thought so, I could have told you so!' cried Margaret, triumphant +in her sagacity, but astonished, as her brother started up and stood +looking at her, as if he could hardly resolve to give credit to her +words. + +'You--thought--so,' he repeated slowly. + +'I guessed it from the first. He was always with that set, and I thought +it a very bad thing for him; but as it was only a guess, it was not +worth while to mention it: besides, the cheque seemed full evidence. It +was the general course, not the individual action.' + +'If you thought so, why not mention it to me? Oh! sister, what would you +not have spared me!' + +'I might have done so if it had appeared that it might lead to his +exculpation, but you were so fully convinced that his whole course +confirmed the suspicions, that a mere vague idea was not worth dwelling +on. Your general opinion, of him satisfied me.' + +'I cannot blame you,' was all his reply, as he sat down again, with his +face averted from the light. + +And Mrs. Henley was doubtful whether he meant that she had been +judicious! She spoke again, unconscious of the agony each word +inflicted. + +'Poor youth! we were mistaken in those facts, and of course, all is +forgiven and forgotten now; but he certainly had a tremendous temper. +I shall never forget that exhibition. Perhaps poor Amabel is saved much +unhappiness.' + +'Once for all,' said Philip, sternly, 'let me never hear you speak of +him thus. We were both blind to a greatness of soul and purity of heart +that we shall never meet again. Yours was only prejudice; mine I must +call by a darker name. Remember, that he and his wife are only to be +spoken of with reverence.' + +He composed himself to silence; and Margaret, after looking at him for +some moments in wonder, began in a sort of exculpatory tone: + +'Of course we owe him a great deal of gratitude. It was very kind and +proper to come to you when you were ill, and his death must have been +a terrible shock. He was a fine young man; amiable, very attractive in +manner.' + +'No more!' muttered Philip. + +'That, you always said of him,' continued she, not hearing, 'but you +have no need to reproach yourself. You always acted the part of a true +friend, did full justice to his many good qualities, and only sought his +real good.' + +'Every word you speak is the bitterest satire on me,' said Philip, +goaded into rousing himself for a moment. 'Say no more, unless you would +drive me distracted!' + +Margaret was obliged to be silent, and marvel, while her brother sat +motionless, leaning back in his chair, till Dr. Henley came in; and +after a few words to him, went on talking to his wife, till dinner was +announced. Philip went with them into the dining-room, but had +scarcely sat down before he said he could not stay, and returned to the +drawing-room sofa. He said he only wanted quiet and darkness, and sent +his sister and her husband back to their dinner. + +'What has he been doing?' said the Doctor; 'here is his pulse up to a +hundred again. How can he have raised it?' + +'He only came down an hour ago, and has been sitting still ever since.' + +'Talking?' + +'Yes; and there, perhaps, I was rather imprudent. I did not know +he could so little bear to hear poor Sir Guy's name mentioned; and, +besides, he did not know, till I told him, that he had so much chance of +Redclyffe. He did not know the entail excluded daughters.' + +'Did he not! That accounts for it. I should like to see the man who +could hear coolly that he was so near such a property. This suspense is +unlucky just now; very much against him. You must turn his thoughts from +it as much as possible.' + +All the next day, Mrs. Henley wondered why her brother's spirits were so +much depressed, resisting every attempt to amuse or cheer them; but, on +the third, she thought some light was thrown on the matter. She was +at breakfast with the Doctor when the post came in, and there was a +black-edged letter for Captain Morville, evidently from Amabel. She took +it up at once to his room. He stretched out his hand for it eagerly, +but laid it down, and would not open it while she was in the room. The +instant she was gone, however, he broke the seal and read:-- + + + 'Hollywell, February 20th. + +'MY DEAR PHILIP,--Thank you much for writing to me. It was a great +comfort to see your writing again, and to hear of your being safe in our +own country. We had been very anxious about you, though we did not hear +of your illness till the worst was over. I am very glad you are at +St. Mildred's, for I am sure Margaret must be very careful of you, and +Stylehurst air must be good for you. Every one here is well; Charles +growing almost active, and looking better than I ever saw him. I wish +I could tell you how nice and quiet a winter it has been; it has been +a great blessing to me in every way, so many things have come to me to +enjoy. Mr. Ross has come to me every Sunday, and often in the week, and +has been so very kind. I think talking to him will be a great pleasure +to you when you are here again. You will like to hear that Mr. Shene has +sent me the picture, and the pleasure it gives me increases every day. +Indeed, I am so well off in every way, that you must not grieve yourself +about me, though I thank you very much for what you say. Laura reads to +me all the evening from dinner to tea. I am much better than I was in +the winter, and am enjoying the soft spring air from the open window, +making it seem as if it was much later in the year. 'Good-bye, my dear +cousin; may God bless and comfort you. Remember, that after all, it was +God's will, not your doing; and therefore, as he said himself, all is as +it should be, and so it will surely be. + + 'Your affectionate cousin, + 'AMABEL F. MORVILLE.' + + +Childishly simple as this letter might be called, with its set of facts +without comment, and the very commonplace words of consolation, it spoke +volumes to Philip of the spirit in which it was written--resignation, +pardon, soothing, and a desire that her farewell, perhaps her last, +should carry with it a token of her perfect forgiveness. Everything from +Amabel did him good; and he was so perceptibly better, that his sister +exclaimed, when she was next alone with Dr. Henley, 'I understand it +all, poor fellow; I thought long ago, he had some secret attachment; and +now I see it was to Amabel Edmonstone.' + +'To Lady Morville?' + +'Yes. You know how constantly he was at Hollywell, my aunt so fond of +him? I don't suppose Amy knew of it; and, of course, she could not be +blamed for accepting such an offer as Sir Guy's; besides, she never had +much opinion of her own.' + +'How? No bad speculation for him. She must have a handsome jointure; but +what are your grounds?' + +'Everything. Don't you remember he would not go to the marriage? He +mentions her almost like a saint; can't hear her name from any one +else--keeps her letter to open alone, is more revived by it than +anything else. Ah! depend upon it, it was to avoid her, poor fellow, +that he refused to go to Venice with them.' + +'Their going to nurse him is not as if Sir Guy suspected it.' + +'I don't suppose he did, nor Amy either. No one ever had so much power +over himself.' + +Philip would not have thanked his sister for her surmise, but it was so +far in his favour that it made her avoid the subject, and he was thus +spared from hearing much of Amabel or of Redclyffe. It was bad enough +without this. Sometimes in nursery tales, a naughty child, under the +care of a fairy, is chained to an exaggeration of himself and his own +faults, and rendered a slave to this hateful self. The infliction +he underwent in his sister's house was somewhat analogous, for Mrs. +Henley's whole character, and especially her complacent speeches, were a +strong resemblance of his own in the days he most regretted. He had ever +since her marriage regarded her as a man looks at a fallen idol, but +never had her alteration been so clear to him, as he had not spent much +time with her, making her short visits, and passing the chief of each +day at Stylehurst. Now, he was almost entirely at her mercy, and her +unvarying kindness to him caused her deterioration to pain him all the +more; while each self-assertion, or harsh judgment, sounded on his ear +like a repetition of his worst and most hateful presumption. She little +guessed what she made him endure, for he had resumed his wonted stoicism +of demeanour, though the hardened crust that had once grown over his +feelings had been roughly torn away, leaving an extreme soreness and +tenderness to which an acute pang was given whenever he was reminded, +not only of his injuries to Guy, but of the pride and secret envy that +had been their root. + +At the same time he disappointed her by his continued reserve and +depression. The confidence she had forfeited was never to be restored, +and she was the last person to know how incapable she was of receiving +it, or how low she had sunk in her self-exaltation. + +He was soon able to resume the hours of the family, but was still far +from well; suffering from languor, pain in the head, want of sleep and +appetite; and an evening feverishness. He was unequal to deep reading, +and was in no frame for light books; he could not walk far, and his +sister's literary coteries, which he had always despised, were at +present beyond his powers of endurance. She hoped that society would +divert his thoughts and raise his spirits, and arranged her parties with +a view to him; but he never could stay long in the room, and Dr. Henley, +who, though proud of his wife and her talents, had little pleasure in +her learned circle, used to aid and abet his escape. + +Thus Philip got through the hours as best he might, idly turning the +pages of new club-books, wandering on the hills till he tired himself, +sitting down to rest in the damp air, coming home chilled and fatigued, +and lying on the sofa with his eyes shut, to avoid conversation, all the +evening. Neither strength, energy, nor intellect would, serve him for +more; and this, with the load and the stings of a profound repentance, +formed his history through the next fortnight. + +He used often to stand gazing at the slowly-rising walls of Miss +Wellwood's buildings, and the only time he exerted himself in his old +way to put down any folly in conversation, was when he silenced some of +the nonsense talked about her, and evinced his own entire approval of +her proceedings. + + + + +CHAPTER 39 + + Beneath a tapering ash-tree's shade + Three graves are by each other laid. + Around the very place doth brood + A strange and holy quietude. + --BAPTISTERY + + +Late on the afternoon of the 6th of March, Mary Ross entered by the +half-opened front door at Hollywell, just as Charles appeared slowly +descending the stairs. + +'Well! how is she?' asked Mary eagerly. + +'Poor little dear!' he answered, with a sigh; 'she looks very nice and +comfortable.' + +'What, you have seen her?' + +'I am at this moment leaving her room.' + +'She is going on well, I hope?' + +'Perfectly well. There is one comfort at least,' said Charles, drawing +himself down the last step. + +'Dear Amy! And the babe--did you see it?' + +'Yes; the little creature was lying by her, and she put her hand on it, +and gave one of those smiles that are so terribly like his; but I could +not have spoken about it for the world. Such fools we be!' concluded +Charles, with an attempt at a smile. + +'It is healthy?' + +'All a babe ought to be, they say, all that could be expected of it, +except the not being of the right sort, and if Amy does not mind that, +I don't know who should,' and Charles deposited himself on the sofa, +heaving a deep sigh, intended to pass for the conclusion of the +exertion. + +'Then you think she is not disappointed?' + +'Certainly not. The first thing she said when she was told it was a +girl, was, "I am so glad!" and she does seem very happy with it, poor +little thing! In fact, mamma thinks she had so little expected that +it would go well with herself, or with it, that now it is all like a +surprise.' + +There was a silence, first broken by Charles saying, 'You must be +content with me--I can't send for anyone. Bustle has taken papa and +Charlotte for a walk, and Laura is on guard over Amy, for we have made +mamma go and lie down. It was high time, after sitting up two nights, +and meaning to sit up a third.' + +'Has she really--can she bear it?' + +'Yes; I am afraid I have trained her in sitting up, and Amy and all of +us know that anxiety hurts her more than fatigue. She would only lie +awake worrying herself, instead of sitting peaceably by the fire, +holding the baby, or watching Amy, and having a quiet cry when she is +asleep. For, after all, it is very sad!' Charles was trying to brave +his feelings, but did not succeed very well. 'Yesterday morning I was +properly frightened. I came into the dressing-room, and found mamma +crying so, that I fully believed it was all wrong, but she was just +coming to tell us, and was only overcome by thinking of not having him +to call first, and how happy he would have been.' + +'And the dear Amy herself!' + +'I can't tell. She is a wonderful person for keeping herself composed +when she ought. I see she has his picture in full view, but she says not +a word, except that mamma saw her to-day, when she thought no one was +looking, fondling the little thing, and whispering to it--"Guy's baby!" +and "Guy's little messenger!"' Charles gave up the struggle, and +fairly cried, but in a moment rallying his usual tone, he went on, half +laughing,--'To be sure, what a morsel of a creature it is! It is awful +to see anything so small calling itself a specimen of humanity!' + +'It is your first acquaintance with infant humanity, I suppose? Pray, +did you ever see a baby?' + +'Not to look at. In fact, Mary, I consider it a proof of your being a +rational woman that you have not asked me whether it is pretty.' + +'I thought you no judge of the article.' + +'No, it was not to inspect it that Amy sent for me; though after all it +was for a business I would almost as soon undertake, a thing I would not +do for any other living creature.' + +'Then I know what it is. To write some kind message to Captain Morville. +Just like the dear Amy!' + +'Just like her, and like no one else, except--Of course my father wrote +him an official communication yesterday, very short; but the fact must +have made it sweet enough, savage as we all were towards him, as there +was no one else to be savage to, unless it might be poor Miss Morville, +who is the chief loser by being of the feminine gender,' said Charles, +again braving what he was pleased to call sentimentality. 'Well, by and +by, my lady wants to know if any one has written to "poor Philip," as +she will call him, and, by no means contented by hearing papa had, +she sends to ask me to come to her when I came in from wheeling in the +garden; and receives me with a request that I would write and tell him +how well she is, and how glad, and so on. There's a piece of work for +me!' + +'Luckily you are not quite so savage as you pretend, either to him, or +your poor little niece.' + +'Whew! I should not care whether she was niece or nephew but for him; +at least not much, as long as she comforted Amy; but to see him at +Redclyffe, and be obliged to make much of him at the same time, is more +than I can very well bear; though I may as well swallow it as best I +can, for she will have me do it, as well as on Laura's account. +Amy believes, you know, that he will think the inheritance a great +misfortune; but that is only a proof that she is more amiable than any +one else.' + +'I should think he would not rejoice.' + +'Not exactly; but I have no fear that he will not console himself by +thinking of the good he will do with it. I have no doubt that he was +thoroughly cut up, and I could even go the length of believing that +distress of mind helped to bring on the relapse, but it is some time +ago. And as to his breaking his heart after the first ten minutes at +finding himself what he has all his life desired to be, in a situation +where the full influence of his talents may be felt,' said Charles, with +a shade of imitation of his measured tones, 'why that, no one but silly +little Amy would ever dream of.' + +'Well, I dare say you will grow merciful as you write.' + +'No, that is not the way to let my indignation ooze out at my fingers' +ends. I shall begin by writing to condole with Markham. Poor man! what +a state he must be in; all the more pitiable because he evidently had +entirely forgotten that there could ever be a creature of the less +worthy gender born to the house of Morville; so it will take him quite +by surprise. What will he do, and how will he ever forgive Mrs. Ashford, +who, I see in the paper, has a son whom nobody wants, as if for the +express purpose of insulting Markham's feelings! Well-a-day! I should +have liked to have had the sound of Sir Guy Morville still in my ears, +and yet I don't know that I could have endured its being applied to a +little senseless baby! And, after all, we are the gainers; for it would +have been a forlorn thing to have seen Amy go off to reign queen-mother +at Redclyffe,--and most notably well would she have reigned, with that +clear little head. I vow 'tis a talent thrown away! However, I can't +grumble. She is much happier without greatness thrust on her, and for +my own part, I have my home-sister all to myself, with no rival but that +small woman--and how she will pet her!' + +'And how you will! What a spoiling uncle you will be! But now, having +heard you reason yourself into philosophy, I'll leave you to write. We +were so anxious, that I could not help coming. I am so glad that little +one thrives! I should like to leave my love for Amy, if you'll remember +it.' + +'The rarity of such a message from you may enable me. I was lying +here alone, and received the collected love of five Harpers to convey +up-stairs, all which I forgot; though in its transit by Arnaud and his +French, it had become "that they made their friendships to my lady and +Mrs. Edmonstone."' + +Charles had not talked so like himself for months; and Mary felt that +Amabel's child, if she had disappointed some expectations, had come like +a spring blossom, to cheer Hollywell, after its long winter of sorrow +and anxiety. She seemed to have already been received as a messenger to +comfort them for the loss, greatest of all to her, poor child, though +she would never know how great. Next Mary wondered what kind of letter +Charles would indite, and guessed it would be all the kinder for the +outpouring he had made to her, the only person with whom he ventured to +indulge in a comfortable abuse of Philip, since his good sense taught +him that, ending as affairs must, it was the only wise way to make the +best of it, with father, mother, and Charlotte, all quite sufficiently +disposed to regard Philip with aversion without his help. + +Philip was at breakfast with the Henleys, on the following morning, a +Sunday,--or rather, sitting at the breakfast-table, when the letters +were brought in. Mrs. Henley, pretending to be occupied with her own, +had an eager, watchful eye on her brother, as one was placed before him. +She knew Mr. Edmonstone's writing, but was restrained from exclaiming +by her involuntary deference for her brother. He flushed deep red one +moment, then turned deadly pale, his hand, when first he raised it, +trembled, but then became firm, as if controlled by the force of his +resolution. He broke the black seal, drew out the letter, paused another +instant, unfolded it, glanced at it, pushed his chair from the table, +and hastened to me door. + +'Tell me, tell me, Philip, what is it?' she exclaimed, rising to follow +him. + +He turned round, threw the letter on the table, and with a sign that +forbade her to come with him, left the room. + +'Poor fellow! how he feels it! That poor young creature!' said she, +catching up the letter for explanation. + +'Ha! No! Listen to this, Dr. Henley. Why, he must have read it wrong!' + + + 'Hollywell, March 5th. + +'DEAR PHILIP,--I have to announce to you that Lady Morville was safely +confined this morning with a daughter. I shall be ready to send all the +papers and accounts of the Redclyffe estate to any place you may appoint +as soon as she is sufficiently recovered to transact business. Both she +and the infant are as well as can be expected. + + + --Yours sincerely, + 'C. EDMONSTONE.' + + +'A daughter!' cried Dr. Henley. 'Well, my dear, I congratulate you! It +is as fine a property as any in the kingdom. We shall see him pick up +strength now.' + +'I must go and find him. He surely has mistaken!' said Margaret, +hastening in search of him; but he was not to be found, and she saw him +no more till she found him in the seat at church. + +She hardly waited to be in the churchyard, after the service, before she +said, 'Surely you mistook the letter!' + +'No, I did not.' + +'You saw that she is doing well, and it is a girl.' + +'I--' + +'And will you not let me congratulate you?' + +She was interrupted by some acquaintance; but when she looked round he +was nowhere to be seen, and she was obliged to be content with telling +every one the news. One or two of her many tame gentlemen came home +with her to luncheon, and she had the satisfaction of dilating on the +grandeur of Redclyffe. Her brother was not in the drawing-room, but +answered when she knocked at his door. + +'Luncheon is ready. Will you come down?' + +'Is any one there?' + +'Mr. Brown and Walter Maitland. Shall I send you anything, or do you +like to come down?' + +'I'll come, thank you,' said he, thus secured from a tete-a-tete. + +'Had you better come? Is not your head too bad?' + +'It will not be better for staying here; I'll come.' + +She went down, telling her visitors that, since his illness, her brother +always suffered so much from excitement that he was too unwell to have +derived much pleasure from the tidings: and when he appeared his air +corresponded with her account, for his looks were of the gravest and +sternest. He received the congratulations of the gentlemen without +the shadow of a smile, and made them think him the haughtiest and most +dignified landed proprietor in England. + +Mrs. Henley advised strongly against his going to church, but without +effect, and losing him in the crowd coming out, saw him no more till +just before dinner-time. He had steeled himself to endure all that she +and the Doctor could inflict on him that evening, and he had a hope of +persuading Amabel that it would be only doing justice to her child to +let him restore her father's inheritance, which had come to him through +circumstances that could not have been foreseen. He was determined to do +nothing like an act of possession of Redclyffe till he had implored her +to accept the offer; and it was a great relief thus to keep it in doubt +a little longer, and not absolutely feel himself profiting by Guy's +death and sitting in his seat. Not a word, however, must be said to let +his sister guess at his resolution, and he must let her torture him in +the meantime. He was vexed at having been startled into betraying his +suffering, and was humiliated at the thought of the change from that +iron imperturbability, compounded of strength, pride, and coldness in +which he had once gloried. + +Dr. Henley met him with a shake of the hand, and hearty exclamation:-- + +'I congratulate you, Sir Philip Morville.' + +'No; that is spared me,' was his answer. + +'Hem! The baronetcy?' + +'Yes,' said Margaret, 'I thought you knew that only goes to the direct +heir of old Sir Hugh. But you must drop the "captain" at least. You will +sell out at once?' + +He patiently endured the conversation on the extent and beauty of +Redclyffe, wearing all the time a stern, resolute aspect, that his +sister knew to betoken great unhappiness. She earnestly wished to +understand him, but at last, seeing how much her conversation increased +his headache, she desisted, and left him to all the repose his thoughts +could give him. He was very much concerned at the tone of the note from +his uncle, as if it was intended to show that all connection with the +family was to be broken off. He supposed it had been concerted with some +one; with Charles, most likely,--Charles, who had judged him too truly, +and with his attachment to Guy, and aversion to himself, was doubtless +strengthening his father's displeasure, all the more for this hateful +wealth. And Laura? What did she feel? + +Monday morning brought another letter. At first, he was struck with +the dread of evil tidings of Amabel or her babe, especially when he +recognized Charles's straggling handwriting; and, resolved not to be +again betrayed, he carried it up to read in his own room before his +sister had noticed it. He could hardly resolve to open it, for surely +Charles would not write to him without necessity; and what, save sorrow, +could cause that necessity? He saw that his wretchedness might be even +more complete! At length he read it, and could hardly believe his own +eyes as he saw cheering words, in a friendly style of interest and +kindliness such as he would never have expected from Charles, more +especially now. + + + 'Hollywell, March 6th. + +'MY DEAR PHILIP,--I believe my father wrote to you in haste yesterday, +but I am sure you will be anxious for further accounts, and when there +is good news there is satisfaction in conveying it. I know you will be +glad to hear our affairs are very prosperous; and Amy, whom I have just +been visiting, is said by the authorities to be going on as well as +possible. She begs me to tell you of her welfare, and to assure you that +she is particularly pleased to have a daughter; or, perhaps, it will be +more satisfactory to have her own words. "You must tell him how well +I am, Charlie, and how very glad. And tell him that he must not vex +himself about her being a girl, for that is my great pleasure; and I +do believe, the very thing I should have chosen if I had set to work to +wish." You know Amy never said a word but in all sincerity, so you must +trust her, and I add my testimony that she is in placid spirits, and may +well be glad to escape the cares of Redclyffe. My father says he desired +Markham to write to you on the business matters. I hope the sea-breezes +may do you good. All the party here are well; but I see little of them +now, all the interest of the house is upstairs. + +--Your affectionate, + +'C. M, EDMONSTONE. + +P. S. The baby is very small, but so plump and healthy, that no one +attempts to be uneasy about her.' + + +Never did letter come in better time to raise a desponding heart. Of +Amabel's forgiveness he was already certain; but that she should have +made Charles his friend was a wonder beyond all others. It gave him more +hope for the future than he had yet been able to entertain, and showed +him that the former note was no studied renunciation of him, but only an +ebullition of Mr. Edmonstone's disappointment. + +It gave him spirit enough to undertake what he had long been meditating, +but without energy to set about it--an expedition to Stylehurst. +Hitherto it had been his first walk on coming to St. Mildred's, but now +the distance across the moor was far beyond his powers; and even that +length of ride was a great enterprise. It was much further by the +carriage road, and his sister never liked going there. He had never +failed to visit his old home till last year, and he felt almost glad +that he had not carried his thoughts, at that time, to his father's +grave. It was strange that, with so many more important burdens on +his mind, it had been this apparent trivial omission, this slight to +Stylehurst, that, in both his illnesses, had been the most frequently +recurring idea that had tormented him in his delirium. So deeply, +securely fixed is the love of the home of childhood in men of his mould, +in whom it is perhaps the most deeply rooted of all affections. + +Without telling his sister his intention, he hired a horse, and pursued +the familiar moorland tracks. He passed South Moor Farm; it gave him too +great a pang to look at it; he rode on across the hills where he used to +walk with his sisters, and looked down into narrow valleys where he +had often wandered with his fishing-rod, lost in musings on plans for +attaining distinction, and seeing himself the greatest man of his day. +Little had he then guessed the misery which would place him in the way +to the coveted elevation, or how he would loathe it when it lay within +his grasp. + +There were the trees round the vicarage, the church spire, the cottages, +whose old rough aspect, he knew so well, the whole scene, once 'redolent +of joy and youth:' but how unable to breathe on him a second spring! He +put up his horse at the village inn, and went to make his first call on +Susan, the old clerk's wife, and one of the persons in all the world who +loved him best. He knocked, opened the door, and saw her, startled from +her tea-drinking, looking at him as a stranger. + +'Bless us! It beant never Master Philip!' she exclaimed, her head +shaking very fast, as she recognized his voice. 'Why, sir, what a turn +you give me! How bad you be looking, to be sure!' + +He sat down and talked with her, with feelings of comfort. Tidings of +Sir Guy's death had reached the old woman, and she was much grieved for +the nice, cheerful-spoken young gentleman, whom she well remembered; for +she, like almost every one who had ever had any intercourse with him, +had an impression left of him, as of something winning, engaging, +brightening, like a sunbeam. It was a refreshment to meet with one who +would lament him for his own sake, and had no congratulations for Philip +himself; and the 'Sure, sure, it must have been very bad for you,' with +which old Susan heard of the circumstances, carried more of the comfort +of genuine sympathy than all his sister's attempts at condolence. + +She told him how often Sir Guy had been at Stylehurst, how he had talked +to her about the archdeacon; and especially she remembered his helping +her husband one day when he found him trimming the ash over the +archdeacon's grave. He used to come very often to church there, more in +the latter part of his stay; there was one Sunday--it was the one before +Michaelmas--he was there all day, walking in the churchyard, and sitting +in the porch between services. + +'The Sunday before Michaelmas!' thought Philip, the very time when he +had been most earnest in driving his uncle to persecute, and delighting +himself in having triumphed over Guy at last, and obtained tangible +demonstration of his own foresight, and his cousin's vindictive spirit. +What had he been throwing away? Where had, in truth, been the hostile +spirit? + +He took the key of the church, and walked thither alone, standing for +several minutes by the three graves, with a sensation as if his father +was demanding of him an account of the boy he had watched, and brought +to his ancestral home, and cared for through his orphaned childhood. But +for the prayer-book, the pledge that there had been peace at the last, +how could he have borne it? + +Here was the paved path he had trodden in early childhood, holding his +mother's hand, where, at each recurring vacation during his school days, +he had walked between his admiring sisters, in the consciousness that he +was the pride of his family and of all the parish. Of his family? Did he +not remember his return home for the last time before that when he was +summoned thither by his father's death? He had come with a whole freight +of prizes, and letters full of praises; and as he stood, in expectation +of the expression of delighted satisfaction, his father laid his hand +on his trophy, the pile of books, saying, gravely,--' All this would I +give, Philip, for one evidence of humility of mind.' + +It had been his father's one reproof. He had thought it unjust and +unreasonable, and turned away impatiently to be caressed and admired by +Margaret. His real feelings had been told to her, because she flattered +them and shared them, he had been reserved and guarded with the +father who would have perceived and repressed that ambition and the +self-sufficiency which he himself had never known to exist, nor regarded +as aught but sober truth. It had been his bane, that he had been always +too sensible to betray outwardly his self-conceit, in any form that +could lead to its being noticed. + +He opened the church door, closed it behind him, and locked himself in. + +He came up to the communion rail, where he had knelt for the first time +twelve years ago, confident in himself, and unconscious of the fears +with which his father's voice was trembling in the intensity of his +prayer for one in whom there was no tangible evil, and whom others +thought a pattern of all that could be desired by the fondest hopes. + +He knelt down, with bowed head, and hands clasped. Assuredly, if his +father could have beheld him then, it would have been with rejoicing. He +would not have sorrowed that robust frame was wasted, and great strength +brought low; that the noble features were worn, the healthful cheek +pale, and the powerful intellect clouded and weakened; he would hardly +have mourned for the cruel grief and suffering, such would have been +his joy that the humble, penitent, obedient heart had been won at last. +Above all, he would have rejoiced that the words that most soothed that +wounded spirit were,--'A broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not +despise.' + +There was solace in that solemn silence; the throbs of head and heart +were stilled in the calm around. It was as if the influences of the +prayers breathed for him by his father, and the forgiveness and loving +spirit there won by Guy, had been waiting for him there till he came to +take them up, for thenceforth the bitterest of his despair was over, and +he could receive each token of Amabel's forgiveness, not as heaped coals +of fire, but as an earnest of forgiveness sealed in heaven. + +The worst was over, and though he still had much to suffer, he was +becoming open to receive comfort; the blank dark remorse in which he had +been living began to lighten, and the tone of his mind to return. + +He spoke more cheerfully to Susan when he restored the key; but she had +been so shocked at his appearance, that when, the next day, a report +reached her that Mr. Philip was now a grand gentleman, and very rich, +she answered,-- + +'Well, if it be so, I am glad of it, but he said never a word of it to +me, and it is my belief he would give all the money as ever was coined, +to have the poor young gentleman back again. Depend upon it, he hates +the very sound of it.' + +At the cost of several sheets of paper, Philip at length completed a +letter to Mr. Edmonstone, which, when he had sent it, made his suspense +more painful. + + + 'St. Mildred's, March 12th. + +'MY DEAR MR. Edmonstone,--It is with a full sense of the unfitness of +intruding such a subject upon you in the present state of the family, +that I again address you on the same topic as that on which I wrote to +you from Italy, at the first moment at which I have felt it possible +to ask your attention. I was then too ill to be able to express my +contrition for all that has passed; in fact, I doubt whether it was even +then so deep as at present, since every succeeding week has but added +to my sense of the impropriety of my conduct, and my earnest desire for +pardon. I can hardly venture at such a time to ask anything further, but +I must add that my sentiments towards your daughter are unaltered, and +can never cease but with my life, and though I know I have rendered +myself unworthy of her, and my health, both mental and bodily, is far +from being re-established, I cannot help laying my feelings before +you, and entreating that you will put an end to the suspense which has +endured for so many months, by telling me to hope that I have not for +ever forfeited your consent to my attachment. At least, I trust to your +kindness for telling me on what terms I am for the present to stand with +your family. I am glad to hear such favourable reports of Lady Morville, +and with all my heart I thank Charles for his letter. + + 'Yours ever affectionately, + 'P. H. MORVILLE.' + + +He ardently watched for a reply. He could not endure the idea of +receiving it where Margaret's eyes could scan the emotion he could +now only conceal by a visible rigidity of demeanour, and he daily +went himself to the post-office, but in vain. He received nothing but +business letters, and among them one from Markham, with as much defiance +and dislike in its style as could be shown, in a perfectly formal, +proper letter. Till he had referred to Lady Morville, he would not +make any demonstration towards Redclyffe, and evaded all his sister's +questions as to what he was doing about it, and when he should take +measures for leaving the army, or obtaining a renewal of the baronetcy. + +Anxiety made him look daily more wretchedly haggard; the Doctor was at +fault, Mrs. Henley looked sagacious, while his manner became so dry +and repellent that visitors went away moralizing on the absurdity of +"nouveaux riches" taking so much state on them. + +He wondered how soon he might venture to write to Amabel, on whom alone +he could depend; but he felt it a sort of profanity to disturb her. + +He had nearly given up his visits to the post in despair, when one +morning he beheld what never failed to bring some soothing influence, +namely, the fair pointed characters he had not dared to hope for. He +walked quickly into the promenade, sat down, and read:-- + + + 'Hollywell, March 22nd. + +'MY DEAR PHILIP,--Papa does not answer your letter, because he says +speaking is better than writing, and we hope you are well enough to +come to us before Sunday week. I hope to take our dear little girl to +be christened on that day, and I want you to be so kind as to be +her godfather. I ask it of you, not only in my own name, but in her +father's, for I am sure it is what he would choose. Her Aunt Laura and +Mary Ross are to be her godmothers, I hope you will not think me very +foolish and fanciful for naming her Mary Verena, in remembrance of our +old readings of Sintram. She is a very healthy, quiet creature, and I am +getting on very well. I am writing from the dressing-room, and I expect +to be down-stairs in a few days. If you do not dislike it very much, +could you be so kind as to call upon Miss Wellwood, and pay little +Marianne Dixon's quarter for me? It is £1O, and it will save trouble +if you would do it; besides that, I should like to hear of her and the +little girl. I am sorry to hear you are not better,--perhaps coming here +may do you good.--Four o'clock. I have been keeping my letter in hopes +of persuading papa to put in a note, but he says he had rather send a +message that he is quite ready to forgive and forget, and it will be +best to talk it over when you come." + +'Your affectionate cousin, + +'A. F. MORVILLE.' + + +It was well he was not under his sister's eye, for he could not read +this letter calmly, and he was obliged to take several turns along +the walk before he could recover his composure enough to appear in the +breakfast-room, where he found his sister alone, dealing her letters +into separate packets of important and unimportant. + +'Good morning, Philip. Dr. Henley is obliged to go to Bramshaw this +morning, and has had an early breakfast. Have you been out?' + +'Yes, it is very fine--I mean it will be--the haze is clearing.' + +Margaret saw that he was unusually agitated, and not by grief; applied +herself to tea-making, and hoped his walk had given him an appetite; but +there seemed little chance of this so long were his pauses between each +morsel, and so often did he lean back in his chair. + +'I am going to leave you on--on Friday,' he said at length, abruptly. + +'Oh, are you going to Redclyffe?' + +'No; to Hollywell. Lady Morville wishes me to be her little girl's +sponsor; I shall go to London on Friday, and on, the next day.' + +'I am glad they have asked you. Does she write herself? Is she pretty +well? + +'Yes; she is to go down-stairs in a day or two.' + +'I am rejoiced that she is recovering so well. Do you know whether she +is in tolerable spirits?' + +'She writes cheerfully.' + +'How many years is it since I saw her? She was quite a child, but very +sweet-tempered and attentive to poor Charles,' said Mrs. Henley, feeling +most amiably disposed towards her future sister-in-law. + +'Just so. Her gentleness and sweet temper were always beautiful; and +she has shown herself under her trials what it would be presumptuous to +praise.' + +Margaret had no doubt now, and thought he was ready for more open +sympathy. + +'You must let me congratulate you now on this unexpected dawn of hope, +after your long trial, my dear brother. It is a sort of unconscious +encouragement you could hardly hope for.' + +'I did not know you knew anything of it,' said Philip. + +'Ah! my dear brother, you betrayed yourself. You need not be +disconcerted; only a sister could see the real cause of your want of +spirits. Your manner at each mention of her, your anxiety, coupled with +your resolute avoidance of her--' + +'Of whom? Do you know what you are talking of, sister!' said Philip, +sternly. + +'Of Amabel, of course.' + +Philip rose, perfectly awful in his height and indignation. + +'Sister!' he said--paused, and began again. 'I have been attached to +Laura Edmonstone for years past, and Lady Morville knows it.' + +'To Laura!' cried Mrs. Henley, in amaze. 'Are you engaged?' and, as he +was hardly prepared to answer, she continued, 'If you have not gone too +far to recede, only consider before you take any rash step. You come +into this property without ready money, you will find endless claims, +and if you marry at once, and without fortune, you will never be clear +from difficulties.' + +'I have considered,' he replied, with cold loftiness that would have +silenced any one, not of the same determined mould. + +'You are positively committed, then!' she said, much vexed. 'Oh, Philip! +I did not think you would have married for mere beauty.' + +'I can hear no more discussion on this point,' answered Philip, in the +serious, calm tone that showed so much power over himself and every one +else. + +It put Margaret to silence, though she was excessively disappointed to +find him thus involved just at his outset, when he might have married +so much more advantageously. She was sorry, too, that she had shown her +opinion so plainly, since it was to be, and hurt his feelings just as +he seemed to be thawing. She would fain have learned more; but he was +completely shut up within himself, and never opened again to her. She +had never before so grated on every delicate feeling in his mind; and +he only remained at her house because in his present state of health, +he hardly knew where to bestow himself till it was time for him to go to +Hollywell. + +He went to call on Miss Wellwood, to whom his name was no slight +recommendation, and she met him eagerly, asking after Lady Morville, +who, she said, had twice written to her most kindly about little +Marianne. + +It was a very pleasant visit, and a great relief. He looked at the +plans, heard the fresh arrangements, admired, was interested, and took +pleasure in having something to tell Amabel. He asked for Marianne, and +heard that she was one of the best of children--amiable, well-disposed, +only almost too sensitive. Miss Wellwood said it was remarkable how +deep an impression Sir Guy had made upon her, and how affectionately she +remembered his kindness; and her distress at hearing of his death had +been far beyond what such a child could have been supposed to feel, both +in violence and in duration. + +Philip asked to see her, knowing it would please Amabel, and in she +came--a long, thin, nine-year-old child, just grown into the encumbering +shyness, that is by no means one of the graces of "la vieillesse de +l'enfance". + +He wished to be kind and encouraging; but melancholy, added to his +natural stateliness, made him very formidable; and poor Marianne was +capable of nothing beyond 'yes' or 'no.' + +He told her he was going to see Lady Morville and her little girl, +whereat she eagerly raised her eyes, then shrank in affright at anything +so tall, and so unlike Sir Guy. He said the baby was to be christened +next Sunday, and Miss Wellwood helped him out by asking the name. + +'Mary,' he said, for he was by no means inclined to explain the Verena, +though he knew not half what it conveyed to Amabel. + +Lastly, he asked if Marianne had any message; when she hung down her +head, and whispered to Miss Wellwood, what proved to be 'My love to dear +little cousin Mary.' + +He promised to deliver it, and departed, wishing he could more easily +unbend. + + + + +CHAPTER 40 + + Blest, though every tear that falls + Doth in its silence of past sorrow tell, + And makes a meeting seem most like a dear farewell. + --WORDSWORTH + + +On Saturday afternoon, about half-past five, Philip Morville found +himself driving up to the well-known front door of Hollywell. At the +door he heard that every one was out excepting Lady Morville, who never +came down till the evening, save for a drive in the carriage. + +He entered the drawing-room, and gazed on the scene where he had spent +so many happy hours, only darkened by that one evil spot, that had +grown till it not only poisoned his own mind, but cast a gloom over that +bright home. + +All was as usual. Charles's sofa, little table, books, and inkstand, the +work-boxes on the table, the newspaper in Mr. Edmonstone's old folds. +Only the piano was closed, and an accumulation of books on the hinge +told how long it had been so; and the plants in the bay window were +brown and dry, not as when they were Amabel's cherished nurslings. He +remembered Amabel's laughing face and abundant curls, when she carried +in the camellia, and thought how little he guessed then that he should +be the destroyer of the happiness of her young life. How should he meet +her--a widow in her father's house--or look at her fatherless child? +He wondered how he had borne to come thither at all, and shrank at the +thought that this very evening, in a few hours, he must see her. + +The outer door opened, there was a soft step, and Amabel stood before +him, pale, quiet, and with a smile of welcome. Her bands of hair looked +glossy under her widow's cap, and the deep black of her dress was +relieved by the white robes of the babe that lay on her arm. She held +out her hand, and he pressed it in silence. + +'I thought you would like just to see baby,' said she, in a voice +something like apology. + +He held out his arms to take it, for which Amy was by no means prepared. +She was not quite happy even in trusting it in her sister's arms, and +she supposed he had never before touched an infant. But that was all +nonsense, and she would not vex him with showing any reluctance; so she +laid the little one on his arm, and saw his great hand holding it most +carefully, but the next moment he turned abruptly from her. Poor silly +little Amy, her heart beat not a little till he turned back, restored +the babe, and while he walked hastily to the window, she saw that two +large tear-drops had fallen on the white folds of its mantle. She did +not speak; she guessed how much he must feel in thus holding Guy's +child, and, besides, her own tears would now flow so easily that she +must be on her guard. She sat down, settled the little one on her knee, +and gave him time to recover himself. + +Presently he came and stood by her saying, in a most decided tone, +'Amabel, you must let me do this child justice.' + +She looked up, wondering what he could mean. + +'I will not delay in taking steps for restoring her inheritance,' said +he, hoping by determination to overpower Amabel, and make her believe it +a settled and a right thing. + +'O Philip, you are not thinking of that!' + +'It is to be done.' + +'You would not be so unkind to this poor little girl,' said Amy, with a +persuasive smile, partaking of her old playfulness, adding, very much +in earnest, 'Pray put it out of your head directly, for it would be very +wrong.' + +The nurse knocked at the door to fetch the baby, as Amabel had desired. +When this interruption was over, Philip came and sat down opposite to +her, and began with his most decided manner:-- + +'You must listen to me, Amy, and not allow any scruples to prevent you +from permitting your child to be restored to her just rights. You must +see that the estate has come to me by circumstances such that no honest +man can be justified in retaining it. The entail was made to exclude +females, only because of the old Lady Granard. It is your duty to +consent.' + +'The property has always gone in the male line,' replied Amabel. + +'There never was such a state of things. Old Sir Guy could never have +thought of entailing it away from his own descendant on a distant +cousin. It would be wrong of me to profit by these unforeseen +contingencies, and you ought not, in justice to your child, to object.' + +He spoke so forcibly and decidedly that he thought he must have +prevailed. But not one whit convinced, Amabel answered, in her own +gentle voice, but beginning with a business-like argument:--'Such a +possibility was contemplated. It was all provided for in the marriage +settlements. Indeed, I am afraid that, as it is, she will be a great +deal too rich. Besides, Philip, I am sure this is exactly what Guy would +have chosen,' and the tears rose in her eyes. 'The first thing that came +into my head when she was born, was, that it was just what he wished, +that I should have her for myself, and that you should take care of +Redclyffe. I am certain now that he hoped it would be so. I know--indeed +I do--that he took great pleasure in thinking of its being in your +hands, and of your going on with all he began. You can't have forgotten +how much he left in your charge? If you were to give it up, it would be +against his desire; and with that knowledge, how could I suffer it? +Then think what a misfortune to her, poor little thing, to be a great +heiress, and how very bad for Redclyffe to have no better a manager +than me! Oh, Philip, can you not see it is best as it is, and just as he +wished?' + +He almost groaned--'If you could guess what a burden it is.' + +'Ah! but you must carry it, not throw it down on such hands as mine and +that tiny baby's,' said she, smiling. + +'It would have been the same if it had been a boy.' + +'Yes; then I must have done the best I could, and there would have been +an end to look to, but I am so glad to be spared. And you are so fit for +it, and will make it turn to so much use to every one.' + +'I don't feel as if I should ever be of use to any one,' said Philip, in +a tone of complete dejection. + +'Your head is aching,' said she, kindly. + +'It always does, more or less,' replied he, resting it on his hand. + +'I am so sorry. Has it been so ever since you were ill? But you are +better? You look better than when I saw you last.' + +'I am better on the whole, but I doubt whether I shall ever be as strong +as I used to be. That ought to make me hesitate, even if--' then came a +pause, while he put his hand over his face, and seemed struggling with +irrepressible emotion; and after all he was obliged to take two walks to +the window before he could recover composure, and could ask in a voice +which he tried to make calm and steady, though his face was deeply +flushed--'Amy, how is Laura?' + +'She is very well,' answered Amabel. 'Only you must not be taken by +surprise if you see her looking thinner.' + +'And she has trusted--she has endured through all?' said he, with +inquiring earnestness. + +'O yes!' + +'And they--your father and mother--can forgive?' + +'They do--they have. But, Philip, it was one of the things I came down +to say to you. I don't think you must expect papa to begin about it +himself. You know he does not like awkwardness, though he will be very +glad when once it is done, and ready to meet you half way.' He did not +answer, and after a silence Amabel added, 'Laura is out of doors. She +and Charlotte take very long walks.' + +'And is she really strong and well, or is it that excited overdoing of +employment that I first set her upon?' he asked, anxiously. + +'She is perfectly well, and to be busy has been a great help to her,' +said Amabel. 'It was a great comfort that we did not know how ill you +had been at Corfu, till the worst was over. Eveleen only mentioned it +when you were better. I was very anxious, for I had some fears from the +note that you sent by Arnaud. I am very glad to see you safe here, for I +have felt all along that we forsook you; but I could not help it.' + +'I am very glad you did not stay. The worst of all would have been that +you should have run any risk.' + +'There is the carriage,' said Amy. 'Mamma and Charlie have been to +Broadstone. They thought they might meet you by the late train.' + +Philip's colour rose. He stood up--sat down; then rising once more, +leant on the mantel-piece, scarcely knowing how to face either of +them--his aunt, with her well-merited displeasure, and Charles, who +when he parted with him had accused him so justly--Charles, who had seen +through him and had been treated with scorn. + +A few moments, and Charles came in, leaning on his mother. They both +shook hands, exclaimed at finding Amabel downstairs, and Mrs. Edmonstone +asked after Philip's health in her would-be cordial manner. The two +ladies then went up-stairs together, and thus ended that conference, +in which both parties had shown rare magnanimity, of which they were +perfectly unconscious; and perhaps the most remarkable part of all +was that Philip quietly gave up the great renunciation and so-called +sacrifice, with which he had been feeding his hopes, at the simple +bidding of the gentle-spoken Amabel--not even telling her that he +resigned it. He kept the possessions which he abhorred, and gave up the +renunciation he had longed to make, and in this lay the true sacrifice, +the greater because the world would think him the gainer. + +When the mother and daughter were gone, the cousins were silent, Philip +resting his elbow on the mantel-shelf and his head on his hand, and +Charles sitting at the end of the sofa, warming first one hand, then the +other, while he looked up to the altered face, and perceived in it grief +and humiliation almost as plainly as illness. His keen eyes read that +the sorrow was indeed more deeply rooted than he had hitherto believed, +and that Amabel's pity had not been wasted; and he was also struck by +the change from the great personal strength that used to make nothing of +lifting his whole weight. + +'I am sorry to see you so pulled down,' said he. 'We must try if we can +doctor you better than they did at St. Mildred's. Are you getting on, do +you think?' + +He had hardly ever spoken to Philip, so entirely without either +bitterness or sarcasm, and his manner hardly seemed like that of the +same person. + +'Thank you, I am growing stronger; but as long as I cannot get rid of +this headache, I am good for nothing.' + +'You have had a long spell of illness indeed,' said Charles. 'You can't +expect to shake off two fevers in no time. Now all the anxiety is over, +you will brighten like this house.' + +'But tell me, what is thought of Amabel? Is she as well as she ought to +be?' + +'Yes, quite, they say--has recovered her strength very fast, and is +in just the right spirits. She was churched yesterday, and was not +the worse for it. It was a trial, for she had not been to East-hill +since--since last May.' + +'It is a blessing, indeed,' said Philip, earnestly. + +'She has been so very happy with the baby,' said Charles. 'You hear what +its name is to be?' + +'Yes, she told me in her letter.' + +'To avoid having to tell you here, I suppose. Mary is for common wear, +Verena is for ourselves. She asked if it would be too foolish to give +such a name, and mamma said the only question was, whether she would +like indifferent people to ask the reason of it.' + +Philip lapsed into thought, and presently said, abruptly, 'When last we +parted you told me I was malignant. You were right.' + +'Shake hands!' was all Charles's reply, and no more was said till +Charles rose, saying it was time to dress. Philip was about to help him, +but he answered, 'No, thank you, I am above trusting to anything but my +own crutches now; I am proud to show you what feats I can perform.' + +Charles certainly did get on with less difficulty than heretofore, but +it was more because he wanted to spare Philip fatigue than because he +disdained assistance, that he chose to go alone. Moreover, he did what +he had never done for any one before--he actually hopped the whole +length of the passage, beyond his own door to do the honours of Philip's +room, and took a degree of pains for his comfort that seemed too +marvellous to be true in one who had hitherto only lived to be attended +on. + +By the time he had settled Philip, the rest of the party had come home, +and he found himself wanted in the dressing-room, to help his mother +to encourage his father to enter on the conversation with Philip in the +evening, for poor Mr. Edmonstone was in such a worry and perplexity, +that the whole space till the dinner-bell rang was insufficient to +console him in. Laura, meanwhile, was with Amabel, who was trying to +cheer her fluttering spirits and nerves, which, after having been so +long harassed, gave way entirely at the moment of meeting Philip again. +How would he regard her after her weakness in betraying him for want +of self-command? Might he not be wishing to be free of one who had so +disappointed him, and only persisting in the engagement from a sense of +honour! The confidence in his affection, which had hitherto sustained +her, was failing; and not all Amabel could say would reassure her. No +one could judge of him but herself, his words were so cautious, and he +had so much command over himself, that nobody could guess. Of course he +felt bound to her; but if she saw one trace of his being only influenced +by honour and pity, she would release him, and he should never see the +struggle. + +She had worked herself up into almost a certainty that so it would be, +and Amabel was afraid she would not be fit to go down to dinner; but the +sound of the bell, and the necessity of moving, seemed to restore the +habit of external composure in a moment. She settled her countenance, +and left the room. + +Charlotte, meantime, had been dressing alone, and raging against Philip, +declaring she could never bear to speak to him, and that if she was Amy +she would never have chosen him for a godfather. And to think of his +marrying just like a good hero in a book, and living very happy ever +after! To be sure she was sorry for poor Laura; but it was all very +wrong, and now they would be rewarded! How could Charlie be so provoking +as to talk about his sorrow! She hoped he was sorry; and as to his +illness, it served him right. + +All this Charlotte communicated to Bustle; but Bustle had heard some +mysterious noise, and insisted on going to investigate the cause; and +Charlotte, finding her own domain dark and cold, and private conferences +going on in Amabel's apartment and the dressing-room, was fain to follow +him down-stairs, as soon as her toilet was complete, only hoping Philip +would keep out of the way. + +But, behold, there he was; and even Bustle was propitiated, for she +found him, his nose on Philip's knee, looking up in his face, and +wagging his tail, while Philip stroked and patted him, and could hardly +bear the appealing expression of the eyes, that, always wistful, now +seemed to every one to be looking for his master. + +To see this attention to Bustle won Charlotte over in a moment. 'How are +you, Philip? Good dog, dear old Bustle!' came in a breath, and they were +both making much of the dog, when she amicably asked if he had seen the +baby, and became eager in telling about the christening. + +The dinner-bell brought every one down but Amabel. The trembling hands +of Philip and Laura met for a moment, and they were in the dining-room. + +Diligently and dutifully did Charles and Mrs. Edmonstone keep up the +conversation; the latter about her shopping, the former about the +acquaintances who had come to speak to him as he sat in the carriage. As +soon as possible, Mrs. Edmonstone left the dining-room, then Laura flew +up again to the dressing-room, sank down on a footstool by Amabel's +side, and exclaiming, 'O Amy, he is looking so ill!' burst into a flood +of tears. + +The change had been a shock for which Laura had not been prepared. +Amy, who had seen him look so much worse, had not thought of it, and +it overcame Laura more than all her anxieties, lest his love should be +forfeited. She sobbed inconsolably over the alteration, and it was long +before Amabel could get her to hear that his face was much less thin +now, and that he was altogether much stronger; it was fatigue and +anxiety to-night, and to-morrow he would be better. Laura proceeded +to brood over her belief that his altered demeanour, his settled +melancholy, his not seeking her eye, his cold shake of the hand, all +arose from the diminution of his love, and his dislike to be encumbered +with a weak, foolish wife, with whom he had entangled himself when he +deemed her worthy of him. She dwelt on all this in silence, as she +sat at her sister's feet, and Amy left her to think, only now and then +giving some caress to her hair or cheek, and at each touch the desolate +waste of life that poor Laura was unfolding before herself was rendered +less dreary by the thought, 'I have my sister still, and she knows +sorrow too.' Then she half envied Amy, who had lost her dearest by +death, and held his heart fast to the last; not, like herself, doomed to +see the love decay for which she had endured so long--decay at the very +moment when the suspense was over. + +Laura might justly have envied Amabel, though for another reason; it was +because in her cup there was no poison of her own infusing. + +There she stayed till Charlotte came to summon her to tea, saying the +gentlemen, except Charles, were still in the dining-room. + +They had remained sitting over the fire for a considerable space, +waiting for each other to begin, Mr. Edmonstone irresolute, Philip +striving to master his feelings, and to prevent increasing pain and +confusion from making him forget what he intended, to say. At last, Mr. +Edmonstone started up, pulled out his keys, took a candle, and said, +'Come to the study--I'll give you the Redclyffe papers.' + +'Thank you,' said Philip, also rising, but only because he could not sit +while his uncle stood. 'Not to-night, if you please. I could not attend +to them.' + +'What, your head? Eh?' + +'Partly. Besides, there is another subject on which I hope you will set +me at rest before I can enter on any other.' + +'Yes--yes--I know,' said Mr. Edmonstone, moving uneasily. + +'I am perfectly conscious how deeply I have offended.' + +Mr. Edmonstone could not endure the apology. + +'Well, well,' he broke in nervously, 'I know all that, and it can't be +helped. Say no more about it. Young people will be foolish, and I have +been young and in love myself.' + +That Captain Morville should live to be thankful for being forgiven in +consideration of Mr. Edmonstone's having been young! + +'May I then consider myself as pardoned, and as having obtained your +sanction?' + +'Yes, yes, yes; and I hope it will cheer poor Laura up again a little. +Four years has it gone on? Constancy, indeed! and it is time it should +be rewarded. We little thought what you were up to, so grave and demure +as you both were. So you won't have the papers to-night? I can't say +you do look fit for business. Perhaps Laura may suit you better--eh, +Philip?' + +Love-making was such a charming sight to Mr. Edmonstone, that having +once begun to look on Philip and Laura as a pair of lovers, he could not +help being delighted, and forgetting, as well as forgiving, all that had +been wrong. + +They did not, however, exactly answer his ideas; Laura did not once look +up, and Philip, instead of going boldly to take the place next her, sat +down, holding his hand to his forehead, as if too much overpowered by +indisposition to think of anything else. Such was in great measure the +case; he was very much fatigued with the journey, and these different +agitating scenes had increased the pain in his head to a violent degree; +besides which, feeling that his aunt still regarded him as she did +at Recoara, he could not bear to make any demonstration towards Laura +before her, lest she might think it a sort of triumphant disregard of +her just displeasure. + +Poor Laura saw in it both severe suffering and dislike to her; and the +more she understood from her father's manner what had passed in the +other room, the more she honoured him for the sacrifice he was making of +himself. + +Mrs. Edmonstone waited on the headache with painful attention, but they +all felt that the only thing to be done for the two poor things was +to let them come to an explanation; so Charlotte was sent to bed, her +mother went up to Amy, Charles carried off his father to the study, and +they found themselves alone. + +Laura held down her face, and struggled to make her palpitating heart +and dry tongue suffer her to begin the words to which she had wound +herself up. Philip raised his hands from his eyes as the door shut, then +rose up, and fixed them on Laura. She, too, looked up, as if to begin; +their eyes met, and they understood all. He stepped towards her, and +held out his hands. The next moment both hers were clasped in his--he +had bent down and kissed her brow. + +No words of explanation passed between them. Laura knew he was her own, +and needed no assurance that her misgivings had been vain. There was a +start of extreme joy, such as she had known twice before, but it could +be only for a moment while he looked so wretchedly unwell. It did but +give her the right to attend to him. The first thing she said was to beg +him to lie down on the sofa; her only care was to make him comfortable +with cushions, and he was too entirely worn out to say anything he had +intended, capable only of giving himself up to the repose of knowing her +entirely his own, and of having her to take care of him. There he lay +on the sofa, with his eyes shut, and Laura's hand in his, while she sat +beside him, neither of them speaking; and, excepting that she withdrew +her hand, neither moved when the others returned. + +Mrs. Edmonstone compassionated him, and showed a great deal of +solicitude about him, trying hard to regard him as she used to do, yet +unable to bring back the feeling, and therefore, do what she would, +failing to wear its semblance. + +Laura, sad, anxious, and restless, had no relief till she went to wish +her sister good night. Amabel, who was already in bed, stretched out her +hand with a sweet look, beaming with affection and congratulation. + +'You don't want to be convinced now that all is right!' said she. + +'His head is so dreadfully bad!' said Laura. + +'Ah! it will get better now his mind is at rest.' + +'If it will but do so!' + +'And you know you must be happy to-morrow, because of baby.' + +'My dear,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, coming in, 'I am sorry to prevent your +talk, but Amy must not be kept awake. She must keep her strength for +to-morrow.' + +'Good night, then, dear, dear Laura. I am so glad your trouble is over, +and you have him again!' whispered Amabel, with her parting kiss; and +Laura went away, better able to hope, to pray, and to rest, than she +could have thought possible when she left the drawing-room. + +'Poor dear Laura,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, sighing; 'I hope he will soon +be better.' + +'Has it been very uncomfortable?' + +'I can't say much for it, my dear. He was suffering terribly with his +head, so that I should have been quite alarmed if he had not said it was +apt to get worse in the evening; and she, poor thing, was only watching +him. However, it is a comfort to have matters settled; and papa and +Charlie are well pleased with him. But I must not keep you awake after +driving Laura away. You are not over-tired to-night I hope, my dear?' + +'Oh, no; only sleepy. Good night, dearest mamma.' + +'Good night, my own Amy;' then, as Amy put back the coverings to show +the little face nestled to sleep on her bosom, 'good night, you little +darling! don't disturb your mamma. How comfortable you look! Good night, +my dearest!' + +Mrs. Edmonstone looked for a moment, while trying to check the tears +that came at the thought of the night, one brief year ago, when she left +Amy sleeping in the light of the Easter moon. Yet the sense of peace and +serenity that had then given especial loveliness to the maiden's +chamber on that night, was there still with the young widow. It was dim +lamplight now that beamed on the portrait of her husband, casting on it +the shade of the little wooden cross in front, while she was shaded by +the white curtains drawn from her bed round the infant's little cot, +so as to shut them both into the quiet twilight, where she lay with +an expression of countenance that, though it was not sorrow, made Mrs. +Edmonstone more ready to weep than if it had been; so with her last good +night she left her. + +And Amabel always liked to be shut in by herself, dearly as she loved +them all, and mamma especially; there was always something pleasant in +being able to return to her own world, to rest in the thoughts of her +husband, and in the possession of the little unconscious creature that +had come to inhabit that inner world of hers, the creature that was only +his and hers. + +She had from the first always felt herself less lonely when quite +alone, before with his papers, and now with his child; and could Mrs. +Edmonstone have seen her face, she would have wept and wondered more, as +Amy fondled and hushed her babe, whispering to it fond words which she +could never have uttered in the presence of any one who could understand +them, and which had much of her extreme youthfulness in them. Not one +was so often repeated or so endearing as 'Guy's baby! Guy's own dear +little girl!' It did not mean half so much when she called it her baby; +and she loved to tell the little one that her father had been the best +and the dearest, but he was gone away, and would she be contented to be +loving and good with only her mother to take care of her, and tell her, +as well as she could, what a father hers was, when she was old enough to +know about him? + +To-night, Amy told her much in that soft, solemn, murmuring tone, about +what was to befall her to-morrow, and the great blessings to be given +to her, and how the poor little fatherless one would be embraced in the +arms of His mercy, and received by her great Father in heaven:--'Ay, and +brought nearer to your own papa, and know him in some inner way, and he +will know his little child then, for you will be as good and pure and +bright as he, and you will belong to the great communion of saints +to-morrow, you precious little one, and be so much nearer to him as you +will be so much better than I. Oh! baby, if we can but both endure to +the end!' + +With such half-uttered words, Amabel Morville slept the night before her +babe's christening. + + + + +CHAPTER 41 + + A stranger's roof to hold thy head, + A stranger's foot thy grave to tread; + Desert and rock, and Alp and sea, + Spreading between thy home and thee. + --SEWELL + + +Mary Ross was eager for the first report from Hollywell the next +morning, and had some difficulty in keeping her attention fixed on her +class at school. Laura and Charlotte came in together in due time, and +satisfied her so far as to tell her that Amy was very well. + +'Is Captain Morville come?' thought Mary. 'No, I cannot guess by Laura's +impressive face. Never mind, Charles will tell me all between services.' + +The first thing she saw on coming out of school was the pony carriage, +with Charles and Captain Morville himself. Charlotte, who was all +excitement, had time to say, while her sister was out of hearing,-- + +'It is all made up now, Mary, and I really am very sorry for Philip.' + +It was fortunate that Mary understood the amiable meaning this speech +was intended to convey, and she began to enter into its grounds in the +short conference after church, when she saw the alteration in the whole +expression of countenance. + +'Yes,' said Charles, who as usual remained at the vicarage during the +two services, and who perceived what passed in her mind, 'if it is any +satisfaction to you to have a good opinion of your fellow-sponsor, I +assure you that I am converted to Amy's opinion. I do believe the black +dog is off his back for good and all.' + +'I never saw any one more changed,' said Mary. + +'Regularly tamed,' said Charles. He is something more like his old self +to-day than last night, and yet not much. He was perfectly overpowered +then--so knocked up that there was no judging of him. To-day he has all +his sedateness and scrupulous attention, but all like a shadow of former +time--not a morsel of sententiousness, and seeming positively grateful +to be treated in the old fashion.' + +'He looks very thin and pale. Do you think him recovered?' + +'A good way from it,' said Charles. 'He is pretty well to-day, +comparatively, though that obstinate headache hangs about him. If this +change last longer than that and his white looks, I shall not even +grudge him the sponsorship Amy owed me.' + +'Very magnanimous!' said Mary. 'Poor Laura! I am glad her suspense is +over. I wondered to see her at school.' + +'They are very sad and sober lovers, and it is the best way of not +making themselves unbearable, considering--Well, that was a different +matter. How little we should have believed it, if any one had told us +last year what would be the state of affairs to-day. By the bye, Amy's +godson is christened to-day.' + +'Who?' + +'Didn't you hear that the Ashfords managed to get Amy asked if she would +dislike their calling their boy by that name we shall never hear again, +and she was very much pleased, and made offer in her own pretty way to +be godmother. I wonder how Markham endures it! I believe he is nearly +crazy. He wrote me word he should certainly have given up all concern +with Redclyffe, but for the especial desire of--.What a state of mind +he will be in, when he remembers how he has been abusing the captain to +me!' + +The afternoon was fresh and clear, and there was a spring brightness in +the sunshine that Amabel took as a greeting to her little maiden, as +she was carried along the churchyard path. Many an eye was bent on the +mother and child, especially on the slight form, unseen since she had +last walked down the aisle, her arm linked in her bridegroom's. + +'Little Amy Edmonstone,' as they had scarcely learnt to cease from +calling her, before she was among them again, the widowed Lady Morville; +and with those kind looks of compassion for her, were joined many +affectionate mourning thoughts of the young husband and father, lying +far away in his foreign grave, and endeared by kindly remembrances to +almost all present. There was much of pity for his unconscious infant, +and tears were shed at the thought of what the wife must be suffering; +but if the face could have been seen beneath the thick crape folds +of her veil, it would have shown no tears--only a sweet, calm look of +peace, and almost gladness. + +The babe was on her knees when the time for the christening came; she +was awake, and now and then making a little sound and as she was quieter +with her than any one else, Amabel thought she might herself carry her +to the font. + +It was deep, grave happiness to stand there, with her child in her arms, +and with an undefined sense that she was not alone as if in some manner +her husband was present with her; praying with her prayers, and joining +in offering up their treasure; when the babe was received into Mr. +Ross's arms, and Amy, putting back her veil, gazed up with a wistful but +serene look. + +'To her life's end?' Therewith came a vision of the sunrise at Recoara, +and the more glorious dawn that had shone in Guy's dying smile, and +Amabel knew what would be her best prayer for his little Mary Verena, as +she took her back, the drops glistening on her brow, her eyes open, and +arms outspread. It was at that moment that Amabel was first thrilled +with a look in her child that was like its father. She had earnestly and +often sought a resemblance without being able honestly to own that she +perceived any; but now, though she knew not in what it consisted, there +was something in that baby face that recalled him more vividly than +picture or memory. + +'Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace.' + +Those words seemed to come from her own heart. She had brought Guy's +daughter to be baptized, and completed his work of pardon, and she had a +yearning to be departing in peace, whither her sunshine was gone. But he +had told her not to wish that his child should be motherless; she had +to train her to be fit to meet him. The sunshine was past, but she +had plenty to do in the shade, and it was for his sake. She would, +therefore, be content to remain to fulfil her duties among the dear ones +to whom he had trusted her for comfort, and with the sense of renewed +communion with him that she had found in returning again to church. + +So felt Amabel, as she entered into the calm that followed the one year +in which she had passed through the great events of life, and known the +chief joy and deepest grief that she could ever experience. + +It was far otherwise with her sister. Laura's term of trouble seemed to +be ending, and the spring of life beginning to dawn on her. + +Doubt and fear were past, she and Philip were secure of each other, +he was pardoned, and they could be together without apprehension, or +playing tricks with their consciences; but she had as yet scarcely been +able to spend any time with him; and as Charles said, their ways were +far more grave and less lover-like than would have seemed natural after +their long separation. + +In truth, romantic and uncalculating as their attachment was, they +never had been lover-like. They had never had any fears or doubts; her +surrender of her soul had been total, and every thought, feeling, and +judgment had taken its colour from him as entirely as if she had been a +wife of many years' standing. She never opened her mind to perceive that +he had led her to act wrongly, and all her unhappiness had been from +anxiety for him, not repentance on her own account; for so complete was +her idolatry, that she entirely overlooked her failure in duty to her +parents. + +It took her by surprise when, as they set out together that evening to +walk home from East-hill, he said, as soon as they were apart from the +village-- + +'Laura, you have more to forgive than all.' + +'Don't, speak so, Philip, pray don't. Do you think I would not have +borne far more unhappiness willingly for your sake? Is it not all +forgotten as if it had not been?' + +'It is not unhappiness I meant,' he replied, 'though I cannot bear +to think of what you have undergone. Unhappiness enough have I caused +indeed. But I meant, that you have to forgive the advantage I took of +your reliance on me to lead you into error, when you were too young to +know what it amounted to.' + +'It was not an engagement,' faltered Laura. + +'Laura, don't, for mercy's sake, recall my own hateful sophistries,' +exclaimed Philip, as if unable to control the pain it gave him; 'I have +had enough of that from my sister;' then softening instantly: 'it was +self-deceit; a deception first of myself, then of you. You had not +experience enough to know whither I was leading you, till I had involved +you; and when the sight of death showed me the fallacy of the salve to +my conscience, I had nothing for it but to confess, and leave you to +bear the consequences. O Laura! when I think of my conduct towards you, +it seems even worse than that towards--towards your brother-in-law!' + +His low, stern tone of bitter suffering and self-reproach was something +new and frightful to Laura. She clung to his arm and tried to say--'O, +don't speak in that way! You know you meant the best. You could not help +being mistaken.' + +'If I did know any such thing, Laura! but the misery of perceiving that +my imagined anxiety for his good,--his good, indeed! was but a cloak for +my personal enmity--you can little guess it.' + +Laura tried to say that appearances were against Guy, but he would not +hear. + +'If they were, I triumphed in them. I see now that a shade of honest +desire to see him exculpated would have enabled me to find the clue. If +I had gone to St. Mildred's at once--interrogated him as a friend--seen +Wellwood--but dwelling on the _ifs_ of the last two years can bring +nothing but distraction,' he added, pausing suddenly. + +'And remember,' said Laura, 'that dear Guy himself was always grateful +to you. He always upheld that you acted for his good. Oh! the way he +took it was the one comfort I had last year.' + +'The acutest sting, and yet the only balm,' murmured Philip; 'see, +Laura,' and he opened the first leaf of Guy's prayer-book, which he had +been using at the christening. + +A whispered 'Dear Guy!' was the best answer she could make, and the +tears were in her eyes. 'He was so very kind to me, when he saw me that +unhappy wedding-day.' + +'Did Amy tell you his last words to me?' + +'No,' said Laura. + +'God bless you and my sister!' he repeated, so low that she could hardly +hear. + +'Amy left that for you to tell,' said Laura, as her tears streamed fast. +How can we speak of her, Philip?' + +'Only as an angel of pardon and peace!' he answered. + +'I don't know how to tell you of all her kindness,' said Laura; 'half +the bitterness of it seemed to be over when once she was in the house +again, and, all the winter, going into her room was like going into some +peaceful place where one must find comfort.' + +'"Spirits of peace, where are ye" I could have said, when I saw her +drive away at Recoara, and carry all good angels with her except those +that could not but hover round that grave.' + +'How very sad it must have been! Did--' + +'Don't speak of it; don't ask me of it' said Philip, hastily. 'There +is nothing in my mind but a tumult of horror and darkness that it is +madness to remember. Tell me of yourself--tell me that you have not been +hurt by all that I have brought on you.' + +'Oh, no!' said Laura 'besides, that is all at an end.' + +'All an end! Laura, I fear in joining your fate to mine, you will find +care and grief by no means at an end. You must be content to marry a +saddened, remorseful man, broken down in health and spirits, his +whole life embittered by that fatal remembrance, forced to endure an +inheritance that seems to have come like the prosperity of the wicked. +Yet you are ready to take all this? Then, Laura, that precious, most +precious love, that has endured through all, will be the one drop of +comfort through the rest of my life. + +She could but hear such words with thrills of rejoicing affection; and +on they walked, Laura trembling and struck with sorrow at the depth of +repentance he now and then disclosed, though not in the least able to +fathom it, thinking it all his nobleness of mind, justifying him to +herself, idolizing him too much to own he had ever been wrong; yet the +innate power of tact and sympathy teaching her no longer to combat +his self-reproaches, and repeat his former excuses, but rather to say +something soothing and caressing, or put in some note of thankfulness +and admiration of Amy and Guy. This was the best thing she could do +for him, as she was not capable, like Amy, of acknowledging that his +repentance was well-founded. She was a nurse, not a physician, to +the wounded spirit; but a very good and gentle nurse she was, and the +thorough enjoyment of her affection and sympathy, the opening into +confidence, and the freedom from doubt and suspense, were comforts that +were doing him good every hour. + +The christening party consisted only of the Rosses, and Dr. Mayerne, +who had joined them at East-hill church, and walked home with Mr. +Edmonstone. They could not have been without him, so grateful were they +for his kindness all through their anxious winter, and Mr. Edmonstone +was well pleased to tell him on the way home that they might look to +having a wedding in the family; it had been a very long attachment, +constancy as good as a story, and he could all along have told what was +the matter, when mamma was calling in the doctor to account for Laura's +looking pale. + +The doctor was not surprised at the news, for perhaps he, too, had had +some private theory about those pale looks; but, knowing pretty well +the sentiments Charles had entertained the winter before last, he was +curious to find out how he regarded this engagement. Charles spoke of +it in the most ready cordial way. 'Well, doctor, so you have heard our +news! I flatter myself we have as tall and handsome a pair of lovers to +exhibit here, as any in the United Kingdom, when we have fattened him a +little into condition.' + +'Never was there a better match,' said Dr. Mayerne. 'Made for each +other all along. One could not see them without feeling it was the first +chapter of a novel.' + +When Mrs. Edmonstone came in, the doctor was a little taken aback. He +thought her mind must be with poor Sir Guy, and was afraid the lovers +had been in such haste as to pain Lady Morville; for there was a +staidness and want of "epanchement du coeur" of answering that was very +unlike her usual warm manner. At dinner, Mr. Edmonstone was in high +spirits, delighted at Amy's recovery, happy to have a young man about +the house again, charmed to see two lovers together, pleased that Laura +should be mistress of Redclyffe, since it could not belong to Amy's +child; altogether, as joyous as ever. His wife, being at ease about Amy, +did her best to smile, and even laugh, though sad at heart all the time, +as she missed the father from the christening feast, and thought how +happy she had been in that far different reunion last year. It might be +the same with Charles; but the outward effect was exhibited in lively +nonsense; Charlotte's spirits were rising fast, and only Philip and +Laura themselves were grave and silent, she, the more so, because she +was disappointed to find that the one walk back from East-hill, much as +he had enjoyed it, had greatly tired Philip. However, the others talked +enough without them; and Mr. Edmonstone was very happy, drinking the +health of Miss Morville, and himself carrying a bit of the christening +cake to the mamma in the drawing-room. + +There sat Amabel by the fire, knowing that from henceforth she must +exert herself to take part in the cheerfulness of the house, and willing +to join the external rejoicing in her child's christening, or at least +not to damp it by remaining up-stairs. Yet any one but Mr. Edmonstone +would have seen more sadness than pleasure in the sweet smile with +which she met and thanked him; but they were cheerful tones in which she +replied, and in her presence everything was hushed and gentle, subdued, +yet not mournful. The spirit of that evening was only recognized after +it was past, and then it ever grew fairer and sweeter in recollection, +so as never to be forgotten by any of those who shared it. + + + + +CHAPTER 42 + + She was not changed when sorrow came, + That awed the sternest men; + It rather seemed she kept her flame + To comfort us till then. + + But sorrow passed, and others smiled + With happiness once more; + And she drew back the spirit mild + She still had been before. + --S. R. + + +Philip's marriage could not take place at once. No one said, but every +one felt, that it must not be talked of till the end of Amabel's first +year of widowhood; and in the meantime Philip remained at Hollywell, +gaining strength every day, making more progress in one week than he had +done in six at St. Mildred's, finding that, as his strength returned, +his mind and memory regained their tone, and he was as capable as ever +of applying to business, and, above all, much settled and comforted by +some long conversations with Mr. Ross. + +Still he could not endure the thought of being at Redclyffe. The +business connected with it was always performed with pain and dislike, +and he shrank with suffering at every casual mention of his going +thither. Mrs. Edmonstone began to wonder whether he could mean to linger +at Hollywell all the summer, and Amabel had some fears that it would end +in his neglecting Redclyffe, till a letter arrived from Lord Thorndale, +saying that his brother, the member for Moorworth, had long been +thinking of giving up his seat, and latterly had only waited in +hopes that the succession at Redclyffe might come to Philip Morville. +Moorworth was entirely under the Thorndale and Morville interest, and +Lord Thorndale wrote to propose that Philip should come forward at once, +inviting him to Thorndale instead of going to his own empty house. + +To be in parliament had been one of the favourite visions of Philip's +youth, and for that very reason he hesitated, taking it as one of the +strange fulfilments of his desires that had become punishments. He could +not but feel that as this unhappy load of wealth had descended on him, +he was bound to make it as beneficial as he could to others, and not +seeking for rest or luxury, to stand in the gap where every good man and +true was needed. But still he dreaded his old love of distinction. He +disliked a London life for Laura, and he thought that, precarious as +his health had become, it might expose her to much anxiety, since he +was determined that if he undertook it at all, he would never be an idle +member. + +It ended in his referring the decision to Laura, who, disliking London, +fearful for his health, eager for his glory, and reluctant to keep back +such a champion from the battle, was much perplexed, only desirous to +say what he wished, yet not able to make out what that might be. She +carried her doubts to Charles and Amabel, who both pronounced that the +thought of going to Redclyffe seemed far worse for him than any degree +of employment--that occupation of the mind was the best thing for his +spirits; and ended by recommending that Dr. Mayerne should be consulted. + +He was of the same opinion. He said a man could hardly have two fevers +following, and one of them upon the brain, without having reason to +remember them. That his constitution had been seriously weakened, and +there was an excitability of brain and nerves which made care requisite; +but depression of spirits was the chief thing to guard against, and a +London life, provided he did not overwork himself, was better for him +than solitude at Redclyffe. + +Accordingly Philip went to Thorndale, and was returned for Moorworth +without opposition. Markham sent his nephew to transact business with +him at Thorndale, for he could not bear to meet him himself, and while +there was any prospect of his coming to Redclyffe, walked about in +paroxysms of grunting and ill-humour. The report that Mr. Morville was +engaged to the other Miss Edmonstone did but render him more furious, +for he regarded it as a sort of outrage to Lady Morville's feelings +that a courtship should be carried on in the house with her. She was at +present the object of all his devoted affection for the family, and he +would not believe, but that she had been as much disappointed at the +birth of her daughter, as he was himself. He would not say one word +against Mr. Morville, but looked and growled enough to make Mr. Ashford +afraid that the new squire would find him very troublesome. + +The Ashfords were in a state of mind themselves to think that Mr. +Morville ought to be everything excellent to make up for succeeding Sir +Guy; but having a very high opinion of him to begin with, they were very +sorry to find all Redclyffe set against him. In common with the parish, +they were very anxious for the first report of his arrival and at length +he came. James Thorndale, as before, drove him thither, coming to the +Ashfords while he was busy with Markham. He would not go up to the Park, +he only went through some necessary business with Markham, and then +walked down to the Cove, afterwards sitting for about ten minutes in +Mrs. Ashford's drawing-room. + +The result of the visit was that old James Robinson reported that the +new squire took on as much about poor Sir Guy as any one could do, and +turned as pale as if he had been going into a swoon, when he spoke his +name and gave Ben his message. And as to poor Ben, the old man said, he +regularly did cry like a child, and small blame to him, to hear that +Sir Guy had took thought of him at such a time and so far away; and he +verily believed Ben could never take again to his bad ways, after such a +message as that. + +Markham was gruff with the Robinsons for some time after and was even +heard to mutter something about worshipping the rising sun, an act of +idolatry of which he could not be accused, since it was in the most +grudging manner that he allowed, that Mr. Morville's sole anxiety seemed +to be to continue all Sir Guy had undertaken; while Mrs. Ashford, on the +other hand was much affected by the account her cousin James had been +giving her of the grief that he had suffered at Sir Guy's death, his +long illness, his loss of spirits, the reluctance he had shown to come +here at all, and his present unconquerable dread of going to the Park. + +He was soon after in London, where, as far as could be judged in such +early days, he seemed likely to distinguish himself according to the +fondest hopes that Margaret or Laura could ever have entertained. Laura +was only afraid he was overworking himself, especially as, having at +present little command of ready money, he lived in a small lodging, kept +no horse, and did not enter into society; but she was reassured when +he came to Hollywell for a day or two at Whitsuntide, not having indeed +regained flesh or colour, but appearing quite well, in better spirits, +and very eager about political affairs. + +All would have been right that summer, but that, as Philip observed, the +first evening of his arrival, Amabel was not looking as well as she had +done at the time of the christening. She had, just after it, tried +her strength and spirits too much, and had ever since been not exactly +unwell, but sad and weary, more dejected than ever before, unable to +bear the sight of flowers or the sound of music, and evidently suffering +much under the recurrence of the season, which had been that of +her great happiness--the summer sunshine, the long evenings, the +nightingale's songs. She was fatigued by the most trifling exertion, and +seemed able to take interest in nothing but her baby, and a young widow +in the village, who was in a decline; and though she was willing to do +all that was asked of her, it was in a weary, melancholy manner, as if +she had no peace but in being allowed to sit alone, drooping over her +child. + +From society she especially shrunk, avoiding every chance of meeting +visitors, and distressed and harassed when her father brought home some +of his casual dinner guests, and was vexed not to see her come into the +drawing-room in the evening. If she did make the effort of coming, to +please him, she was so sure to be the worse for it, that her mother +would keep her up-stairs the next time, and try to prevent her from +knowing that her father was put out, and declared it was nonsense to +expect poor Amy to get up her spirits, while she never saw a living +soul, and only sat moping in the dressing-room. + +A large dinner-party did not interfere with her, for even he could not +expect her to appear at it, and one of these he gave during Philip's +visit, for the pleasure of exhibiting such company as the M.P. for +Moorworth. After dinner, Charlotte told Mary Ross to go and see Amy. +Not finding her in the dressing-room, she knocked at her own door. 'Come +in,' answered the low soft voice; and in the window, overhung by the +long shoots of the roses, Amabel's close cap and small head were seen +against the deep-blue evening sky, as she sat in the summer twilight, +her little one asleep in her cot. + +'Thank you for coming,' said she. 'I thought you would not mind sitting +here with baby and me. I have sent Anne out walking.' + +'How pretty she looks!' said Mary, stooping over the infant. 'Sleep is +giving her quite a colour; and how fast she grows!' + +'Poor little woman!' said Amy, sighing. + +'Tired, Amy?' said Mary, sitting down, and taking up the little +lambswool shoe, that Amy had been knitting. + +'N--no, thank you,' said Amy, with another sigh. + +'I am afraid you are. You have been walking to Alice Lamsden's again.' + +'I don't think that tires me. Indeed, I believe the truth is,' and her +voice sounded especially sad in the subdued tone in which she spoke, +that she might not disturb the child, 'I am not so much tired with what +I do, which is little enough, as of the long, long life that is before +me.' + +Mary's heart was full, but she did not show her thought otherwise than +by a look towards the babe. + +'Yes, poor little darling,' said Amabel, 'I know there is double +quantity to be done for her, but I am so sorry for her, when I think she +must grow up without knowing him.' + +'She has you, though,' Mary could not help saying, as she felt that +Amabel was superior to all save her husband. + +Perhaps Amy did not hear; she went up to the cot, and went on:--'If he +had but once seen her, if she had but had one kiss, one touch that I +could tell her of by and by, it would not seem as if she was so very +fatherless. Oh no, baby, I must wait, that you may know something about, +him; for no one else can tell you so well what he was, though I can't +tell much!' She presently returned to her seat. 'No, I don't believe I +really wish I was like poor Alice,' said she; 'I hope not; I am sure I +don't for her sake. But, Mary, I never knew till I was well again how +much I had reckoned on dying when she was born. I did not think I was +wishing it, but it seemed likely, and I was obliged to arrange things +in case of it. Then somehow, as he came back last spring, after that sad +winter, it seemed as if this spring, though he would not come back to +me, I might be going to him.' + +'But then she comforted you.' + +'Yes, that she did, my precious one; I was so glad of her, it was a sort +of having him again, and so it is still sometimes, and will be more so, +I dare say. I am very thankful for her, indeed I am; and I hope I am not +repining, for it does not signify after all, in the end, if I am weary +and lonely sometimes. I wish I was sure it was not wrong. I know I don't +wish to alter things.' + +'No, I am sure you don't.' + +'Ah!' said Amabel, smiling, 'it is only the old, silly little Amy that +does feel such a heart-aching and longing for one glance of his eye, or +touch of his hand, or sound of his foot in the passage. Oh, Mary, the +worst of all is to wake up, after dreaming I have heard his voice. There +is nothing for it but to take our baby and hold her very tight.' + +'Dearest Amy! But you are not blaming yourself for these feelings. It +might be wrong to indulge them and foster them; but while you struggle +with them, they can't in themselves be wrong.' + +'I hope not,' said Amabel pausing to think. 'Yes, I have "the joy" at +the bottom still; I know it is all quite right, and it came straight +from heaven, as he said. I can get happy very often when I am by myself, +or at church, with him; it is only when I miss his bright outside +and can't think myself into the inner part, that it is so forlorn and +dreary. I can do pretty well alone. Only I wish I could help being so +troublesome and disagreeable to everybody' said Amy, concluding in a +matter-of-fact tone. + +'My dear!' said Mary, almost laughing. + +'It is so stupid of me to be always poorly, and making mamma anxious +when there's nothing the matter with me. And I know I am a check on +them down-stairs--papa, and Charlotte, and all--they are very kind, +considerate, and yet'--she paused--'and it is a naughty feeling; but +when I feel all those dear kind eyes watching me always, and wanting me +to be happy, it is rather oppressive, especially when I can't; but if I +try not to disappoint them, I do make such a bad hand of it, and am sure +to break down afterwards, and that grieves mamma all the more.' + +'It will be better when this time of year is over,' said Mary. + +'Perhaps, yes. He always seemed to belong to summer days, and to come +with them. Well, I suppose trials always come in a different shape from +what one expects; for I used to think I could bear all the doom with +him, but, I did not know it would be without him, and yet that is the +best. Oh, baby!' + +'I should not have come to disturb her.' + +'No--never mind; she never settles fairly to sleep till we are shut in +by ourselves. Hush! hush, darling--No? Will nothing do but being taken +up? Well, then, there! Come, and show your godmamma what a black fringe +those little wakeful eyes are getting.' + +And when Mary went down it was with the conviction that those black +eyelashes, too marked to be very pretty in so young a babe, were more of +a comfort to Amabel than anything she could say. + +The evening wore on, and at length Laura came into her sister's room. +She looked fagged and harassed, the old face she used to wear in the +time of disguise and secrecy, Amabel asked if it had been a tiresome +party. + +'Yes--no--I don't know. Just like others,' said Laura. + +'You are tired, at any rate,' said Amabel. 'You took too long a ride +with Philip. I saw you come in very late.' + +'I am not in the least tired, thank you.' + +'Then he is,' said Amabel. 'I hope he has not one of his headaches +again.' + +'No,' said Laura, still in a dissatisfied, uncomfortable tone. + +'No? Dear Laura, I am sure there is something wrong;' and with a little +more of her winning, pleading kindness, she drew from Laura that Philip +had told her she idolized him. He had told her so very gently and +kindly, but he had said she idolized him in a manner that was neither +good for herself nor him; and he went on to blame himself for it, which +was what she could not bear. It had been rankling in her mind ever since +that he had found fault with her for loving him so well, and it had +made her very unhappy. She _could_ not love him less, and how should she +please him? She had much rather he had blamed her than himself. + +'I think I see what he means' said Amy, thoughtfully. 'He has grown +afraid of himself, and afraid of being admired now.' + +'But how am I to help that, Amy?' said Laura, with tears in her eyes: +'he cannot help being the first, the very first of all with me--' + +'No, no,' said Amy, quickly, 'not the very first, or what would you do +if you were to be--like me? Don't turn away, dear Laura; I don't think +I over could bear this at all, if dear Guy had not kept it always before +my eyes from the very first that we were to look to something else +besides each other.' + +'Of course I meant the first earthly thing,' said Laura; but it was not +heartfelt--she knew she ought, therefore she thought she did. + +'And so,' proceeded Amy, 'I think if that other is first, it would make +you have some other standard of right besides himself, then you would be +a stay and help to him. I think that is what he means.' + +'Amy! let me ask you,' said Laura, a little entreatingly, yet as if she +must needs put the question--'surely, you never thought Guy had faults?' + +Her colour deepened. 'Yes, Laura,' she answered, firmly. 'I could not +have understood his repentance if I had not thought so. And, dear +Laura, if you will forgive me for saying it, it would be much better for +yourself and Philip if you would see the truth.' + +'I thought you forgave him,' murmured Laura. + +'Oh, Laura! but does not that word "forgive" imply something? I could +not have done anything to comfort him that day, if I had not believed +he had something to be comforted for. It can't be pleasant to him to see +you think his repentance vain.' + +'It is noble and great.' + +'But if it was not real, it would be thrown away. Besides, dear Laura, +do let me say this for once. If you would but understand that you let +him lead you into what was not right, and be really sorry for that, and +show mamma that you are, I do think it would all begin much more happily +when you are married.' + +'I could never have told, till I was obliged to betray myself,' said +Laura. 'You know, Amy, it was no engagement. We never wrote to each +other, we had but one walk; it was no business of his to speak till he +could hope for papa's consent to our marriage. It would have been all +confusion if he had told, and that would have been only that we had +always loved each other with all our hearts, which every one knew +before.' + +'Yet, Laura, it was what preyed on him when he thought he was dying.' + +'Because it was the only thing like a fault he could think of,' said +Laura, excited by this shade of blame to defend him vehemently--'because +his scruples are high and noble and generous.' + +She spoke so eagerly, that the baby's voice again broke on the +conversation, and she was obliged to go away; but though her idolatry +was complete, it did not seem to give full satisfaction or repose. As to +Philip, though his love for her was unchanged, it now and then was +felt, though not owned by him, that she was not fully a helpmeet, only +a 'Self'; not such a 'Self' as he had left at St. Mildred's, but still +reflecting on him his former character, instead of aiding him to a new +one. + + + + +CHAPTER 43 + + But nature to its inmost part + Faith had refined; and to her heart + A peaceful cradle given, + Calm as the dew drops free to rest + Within a breeze-fanned rose's breast + Till it exhales to heaven. + --WORDSWORTH + + +It had long been a promise that Mr. Edmonstone should take Charlotte to +visit her grandmamma, in Ireland. They would have gone last autumn, +but for Guy's illness, and now Aunt Charlotte wrote to hasten the +performance of the project. Lady Mabel was very anxious to see them, +she said; and having grown much more infirm of late, seemed to think +it would be the last meeting with her son. She talked so much of Mrs. +Edmonstone and Laura, that it was plain that she wished extremely for a +visit from them, though she did not like to ask it, in the present state +of the family. + +A special invitation was sent to Bustle; indeed, Charles said Charlotte +could not have gone without his permission, for he reigned like a tyrant +over her, evidently believing her created for no purpose but to wait on +him, and take him to walk. + +Laura was a great favourite at the cottage of Kilcoran, and felt she +ought to offer to go. Philip fully agreed, and held out home hopes of +following as soon as the session, was over, and he had been to Redclyffe +about some business that had been deferred too long. + +And now it appeared that Mr. Edmonstone had a great desire to take +his wife, and she herself said, that under any other circumstances she +should have been very desirous of going. She had not been to Ireland +for fifteen years, and was sorry to have seen so little of her +mother-in-law; and now that it had been proved that Charles could exist +without her, she would not have hesitated to leave him, but for Amabel's +state of health and spirits, which made going from home out of the +question. + +Charles and Amabel did not think so. It was not to be endured, that when +grandmamma wished for her, she should stay at home for them without real +necessity; besides, the fatigue, anxiety, and sorrow she had undergone +of late, had told on her, and had made her alter perceptibly, from being +remarkably fresh and youthful, to be somewhat aged; and the change to a +new scene, where she could not be distressing herself at every failure +in cheerfulness of poor Amy's, was just the thing to do her good. + +Amabel was not afraid of the sole charge of Charles or of the baby, for +she had been taught but too well to manage for herself, she understood +Charles very well, and had too much quiet good sense to be fanciful +about her very healthy baby. Though she was inexperienced, with old +nurse hard by, and Dr. Mayerne at Broadstone, there was no fear of +her not having good counsel enough. She was glad to be of some use, by +enabling her mother to leave Charles, and her only fear was of being +dull company for him; but as he was so kind as to bear it, she would +do her best, and perhaps their neighbours would come and enliven him +sometimes. + +Charles threw his influence into the same scale. His affectionate +observation had shown him that it oppressed Amabel's spirits to be the +object of such constant solicitude, and he was convinced it would be +better for her, both to have some necessary occupation and to be free +from that perpetual mournful watching of her mother's that caused her +to make the efforts to be cheerful which did her more harm than anything +else. + +To let her alone to look and speak as she pleased without the fear of +paining and disappointing those she loved, keep the house quiet, and +give her the employment of household cares and attending on himself, +was, he thought, the best thing for her; and he was full of eagerness +and pleasure at the very notion of being of service to her, if only by +being good for nothing but to be waited on. He thought privately that +the spring of his mother's mind had been so much injured by the grief +she had herself suffered for 'her son Guy,' her cruel disappointment in +Laura, and the way in which she threw herself into all Amy's affliction, +that there was a general depression in her way of observing and +attending Amy, which did further harm; and that to change the current of +her thoughts, and bring her home refreshed and inspirited, would be the +beginning of improvement in all. Or, as he expressed it to Dr. Mayerne, +'We shall set off on a new tack.' + +His counsel and Mr. Edmonstone's wishes at length decided mamma, on +condition that Mary Ross and Dr. Mayerne would promise to write on +alternate weeks a full report, moral and physical, as Charles called +it. So in due time the goods were packed, Mrs. Edmonstone cried heartily +over the baby, advised Amabel endlessly about her, and finally looked +back through her tears, as she drove away, to see Charles nodding and +waving his hand at the bay-window, and Amabel standing with her parting +smile and good-bye on the steps. + +The reports, moral and physical, proved that Charles had judged wisely. +Amabel was less languid as she had more cause for exertion, and +seemed relieved by the absence of noise and hurry, spending more time +down-stairs, and appearing less weary in the evening. She still avoided +the garden, but she began to like short drives with her brother in the +pony-carriage, when he drove on in silence, and let her lean back and +gaze up into the sky, or into the far distance, undisturbed. Now +and then he would be rejoiced by a bright, genuine smile, perfectly +refreshing, at some of the pretty ways of the babe, a small but plump +and lively creature, beginning to grasp with her hands, laugh and gaze +about with eyes that gave promise of the peculiar colour and brilliancy +of her father's. Amabel was afraid she might be tempted into giving +Charles too much of the little lady's society; but he was very fond of +her, regarding her with an odd mixture of curiosity and amusement, much +entertained with watching what he called her unaccountable manners, +and greatly flattered when he could succeed in attracting her notice. +Indeed, the first time she looked full at him with a smile on the verge +of a laugh, it completely overcame him, by the indescribably forcible +manner in which it suddenly recalled the face which had always shone on +him like a sunbeam. Above all, it was worth anything to see the looks +she awoke in her mother, for which he must have loved her, even had she +not been Guy's child. + +In the evening, especially on Sunday, Amabel would sometimes talk to him +as she had never yet been able to do, about her last summer's journey, +and her stay at Recoara, and his way of listening and answering had in +it something that gave her great pleasure; while, on his side, he deemed +each fresh word of Guy's a sort of treasure for which to be grateful +to her. The brother and sister were a great help and happiness to each +other; Amabel found herself restored to Charles, as Guy had liked to +think of her, and Charles felt as if the old childish fancies were +fulfilled, in which he and Amy were always to keep house together. He +was not in the least dull; and though his good-natured visitors in the +morning were welcome, and received with plenty of his gay lively talk, +he did not by any means stand in need of the compassion they felt for +him, and could have done very well without them; while the evenings +alone with Amy had in them something so pleasant that they were almost +better than those when Mr. Ross and Mary came to tea. He wrote word to +his mother that she might be quite at ease about them, and he thought +Amy would get through the anniversaries of September better while the +house was quiet, so that she need not think of trying to hurry home. + +He was glad to have done so, for the letters, which scarcely missed a +day in being written by his mother and Charlotte, seemed to show that +their stay was likely to be long. Lady Mabel was more broken than they +had expected, and claimed a long visit, as she was sure it would be +their last, while the Kilcoran party had taken possession of Laura and +Charlotte, as if they never meant to let them go. Charlotte wrote her +brother very full and very droll accounts of the Iricisms around her +which she enjoyed thoroughly, and Charles, declaring he never expected +to see little Charlotte come out in the character of the facetious +correspondent, used to send Mary Ross into fits of laughing by what he +read to her. Mr. Fielder, the tutor, wrote Charlotte, was very nearly +equal to Eveleen's description of him, but very particularly agreeable, +in fact, the only man who had any conversation, whom she had seen since +she had been at Kilcoran. + +'Imagine,' said Charles, 'the impertinent little puss setting up for +intellectual conversation, forsooth!' + +'That's what comes of living with good company,' said Mary. + +The brother and sister used sometimes to drive to Broadstone to fetch +their letters by the second post. + +'Charlotte, of course,' said Charles, as he opened one. 'My Lady +Morville, what's yours?' + +'Only Mr. Markham,' said Amabel, 'about the winding up of our business +together, I suppose. What does Charlotte say?' + +'Charlotte is in a fit of impudence, for which she deserves +chastisement,' said Charles, unable to help laughing, as he read,-- + +'Our last event was a call from the fidus Achates, who, it seems, can no +longer wander up and down the Mediterranean without his pius Aeneas, +and so has left the army, and got a diplomatic appointment somewhere in +Germany. Lord Kilcoran has asked him to come and stay here, and Mabel +and I are quite sure he comes for a purpose. Of course he has chosen +this time, in order that he may be able to have his companion before his +eyes, as a model for courtship, and I wish I had you to help me look +on whenever Philip comes, as that laugh I must enjoy alone with Bustle. +However, when Philip will come we cannot think, for we have heard +nothing of him this age, not even Laura, and she is beginning to look +very anxious about him. Do tell us if you know anything about him. +The last letter was when parliament was prorogued, and he was going to +Redclyffe, at least three weeks ago.' + +'I wonder if Mr. Markham mentions him,' said Amabel, hastily unfolding +her letter, which was, as she expected, about the executors' business, +but glancing on to the end, she exclaimed,-- + +'Ah! here it is. Listen, Charlie. "Mr. Morville has been here for +the last few weeks, and is, I fear, very unwell. He has been entirely +confined to the house, almost ever since his arrival, by violent +headache, which has completely disabled him from attending to business; +but he will not call in any advice. I make a point of going to see him +every day, though I believe my presence is anything but acceptable, as +in his present state of health and spirits, I cannot think it right that +he should be left to servants." Poor fellow! Redclyffe has been too much +for him.' + +'Over-worked, I suppose,' said Charles. 'I thought he was coming it +pretty strong these last few weeks.' + +'Not even writing to Laura! How very bad he must be! I will write at +once to ask Mr. Markham for more particulars.' + +She did so, and on the third day they drove again to fetch the answer. +It was a much worse account. Mr. Morville was, said Markham, suffering +dreadfully from headache, and lay on the sofa all day, almost unable to +speak or move, but resolved against having medical advice, though his +own treatment of himself did not at all succeed in relieving him. There +was extreme depression of spirits, and an unwillingness to see any one. +He had positively refused to admit either Lord Thorndale or Mr. Ashford, +and would hardly bear to see Markham himself, who, indeed, only forced +his presence on him from thinking it unfit to leave him entirely to the +servants, and would be much relieved if some of Mr. Morville's friends +were present to free him from the responsibility. + +'Hem!' said Charles. 'I can't say it sounds comfortable.' + +'It is just as I feared!' said Amy. 'Great excitability of brain and +nerve, Dr. Mayerne said. All the danger of a brain fever again! Poor +Laura! What is to be done?' + +Charles was silent. + +'It is for want of some one to talk to him,' said Amabel. 'I know how +he broods over his sad recollections, and Redclyffe must make it so much +worse. If mamma and Laura were but at home to go to him, it might save +him, and it would be fearful for him to have another illness, reduced as +he is. How I wish he was here!' + +'He cannot come, I suppose,' said Charles, 'or he would be in Ireland.' + +'Yes. How well Guy knew when he said it would be worse for him than for +me! How I wish I could do something now to make up for running away from +him in Italy. If I was but at Redclyffe!' + +'Do you really wish it?' said Charles, surprised. + +'Yes, if I could do him any good.' + +'Would you go there?' + +'If I had but papa or mamma to go with me.' + +'Do you think I should do as well?' + +'Charlie!' + +'If you think there would be any use in it, and choose to take the +trouble of lugging me about the country, I don't see why you should +not.' + +'Oh! Charlie, how very, kind! How thankful poor Laura will be to you! I +do believe it will save him!' cried Amabel, eagerly. + +'But, Amy,'--he paused--'shall you like to see Redclyffe?' + +'Oh! that is no matter,' said she, quickly. 'I had rather see after +Philip than anything. I told you how he was made my charge, you know. +And Laura! Only will it not be too tiring for you?' + +'I can't see how it should hurt me. But I forget, what is to be done +about your daughter?' + +'I don't know what harm it could do her,' said Amy, considering. 'Mrs. +Gresham brought a baby of only three months old from Scotland the other +day, and she is six. It surely cannot hurt her, but we will ask Dr. +Mayerne.' + +'Mamma will never forgive us if we don't take the doctor into our +councils.' + +'Arnaud can manage for us. We would sleep in London, and go on by an +early train, and we can take our--I mean my--carriage, for the journey +after the railroad. It would not be too much for you. How soon could we +go?' + +'The sooner the better,' said Charles. 'If we are to do him any good, it +must be speedily, or it will be a case of shutting the stable-door. Why +not to-morrow?' + +The project was thoroughly discussed that evening, but still with the +feeling as if it could not be real, and when they parted at night they +said,--'We will see how the scheme looks in the morning.' + +Charles was still wondering whether it was a dream, when the first thing +he heard in the court below his window was-- + +'Here, William, here's a note from my lady for you to take to Dr. +Mayerne.' + +'They be none of them ill?' answered William's voice. + +'O no; my lady has been up this hour, and Mr. Charles has rung his bell. +Stop, William, my lady said you were to call at Harris's and bring home +a "Bradshaw".' + +Reality, indeed, thought Charles, marvelling at his sister, and his +elastic spirits throwing him into the project with a sort of enjoyment, +partaking of the pleasure of being of use, the spirit of enterprise, and +the 'fun' of starting independently on an expedition unknown to all the +family. + +He met Amabel with a smile that showed both were determined. He +undertook to announce the plan to his mother, and she said she would +write to tell Mr. Markham that as far as could be reckoned on two such +frail people, they would be at Redclyffe the next evening, and he must +use his own discretion about giving Mr. Morville the note which she +enclosed. + +Dr. Mayerne came in time for breakfast, and the letter from Markham was +at once given to him. + +'A baddish state of things, eh, doctor!' said Charles. 'Well, what do +you think this lady proposes? To set off forthwith, both of us, to take +charge of him. What do you think of that, Dr. Mayerne?' + +'I should say it was the only chance for him,' said the doctor, looking +only at the latter. 'Spirits and health reacting on each other, I see +it plain enough. Over-worked in parliament, doing nothing in moderation, +going down to that gloomy old place, dreaming away by himself, going +just the right way to work himself into another attack on the brain, and +then he is done for. I don't know that you could do a wiser thing than +go to him, for he is no more fit to tell what is good for him than a +child.' So spoke the doctor, thinking only of the patient till looking +up at the pair he was dismissing to such a charge, the helpless, +crippled Charles, unable to cross the room without crutches, and Amabel, +her delicate face and fragile figure in her widow's mourning, looking +like a thing to be pitied and nursed with the tenderest care, with that +young child, too, he broke off and said--'But you don't mean you are in +earnest?' + +'Never more so in our lives,' said Charles; on which Dr. Mayerne looked +so wonderingly and inquiringly at Amabel, that she answered,-- + +'Yes that we are, if you think it safe for Charles and baby.' + +'Is there no one else to go? What's become of his sister?' + +'That would never do,' said Charles, 'that is not the question;' and he +detailed their plan. + +'Well, I don't see why it should not succeed,' said the doctor, 'or how +you can any of you damage yourselves.' + +'And baby?' said Amy. + +'What should happen to her, do you think?' said the doctor with +his kind, reassuring roughness. 'Unless you leave her behind in the +carriage, I don't see what harm she could come to, and even then, if +you direct her properly, she will come safe to hand.' Amabel smiled, and +saying she would fetch her to be inspected, ran up-stairs with the light +nimble step of former days. + +'There goes one of the smallest editions of the wonders of the world!' +said Charles, covering a sigh with a smile. 'You don't think it will do +her any harm?' + +'Not if she wishes it. I have long thought a change, a break, would +be the best thing for her--poor child!--I should have sent her to the +sea-side if you had been more movable, and if I had not seen every fuss +about her made it worse.' + +'That's what I call being a reasonable and valuable doctor,' said +Charles. 'If you had routed the poor little thing out to the sea, she +would have only pined the more. But suppose the captain turns out too +bad for her management, for old Markham seems in a proper taking?' + +'Hem! No, I don't expect it is come to that.' + +'Be that as it may, I have a head, if nothing else, and some one is +wanted. I'll write to you according as we find Philip.' + +The doctor was wanted for another private interview, in which to assure +Amabel that there was no danger for Charles, and then, after promising +to come to Redclyffe if there was occasion, and engaging to write and +tell Mrs. Edmonstone they had his consent, he departed to meet them by +and by at the station, and put Charles into the carriage. + +A very busy morning followed; Amabel arranged household affairs as +befitted the vice-queen; took care that Charles's comforts were provided +for; wrote many a note; herself took down Guy's picture, and laid it in +her box, before Anne commenced her packing; and lastly, walked down to +the village to take leave of Alice Lamsden. + + +Just as the last hues of sunset were fading, on the following evening, +Lady Morville and Charles Edmonstone were passing from the moor into +the wooded valley of Redclyffe. Since leaving Moorworth not a word had +passed. Charles sat earnestly watching his sister; though there was too +much crape in the way for him to see her face, and she was perfectly +still, so that all he could judge by was the close, rigid clasping +together of the hands, resting on the sleeping infant's white mantle. +Each spot recalled to him some description of Guy's, the church-tower, +the school with the two large new windows, the park wall, the rising +ground within. What was she feeling? He did not dare to address her, +till, at the lodge-gate, he exclaimed--'There's Markham;' and, at the +same time, was conscious of a feeling between hope and fear, that this +might after all be a fool's errand, and a wonder how they and the master +of the house would meet if it turned out that they had taken fright +without cause. + +At his exclamation, Amy leant forward, and beckoned. Markham came up to +the window, and after the greeting on each side, walked along with +his hand on the door, as the carriage slowly mounted the steep hill, +answering her questions: 'How is he?' + +'No better. He has been putting on leeches, and made himself so giddy, +that yesterday he could hardly stand.' + +'And they have not relieved him?' + +'Not in the least. I am glad you are come, for it has been an absurd way +of going on.' + +'Is he up?' + +'Yes; on the sofa in the library.' + +'Did you give him my note? Does he expect us?' + +'No, I went to see about telling him this morning, but found him so low +and silent, I thought it was better not. He has not opened a letter this +week, and he might have refused to see you, as he did Lord Thorndale. +Besides, I didn't know how he would take my writing about him, though +if you had not written, I believe I should have let Mrs. Henley know by +this time.' + +'There is an escape for him,' murmured Charles to his sister. + +'We have done the best in our power to receive you' proceeded Markham; +'I hope you will find it comfortable, Lady Morville, but--' + +'Thank you, I am not afraid,' said Amy, smiling a little. Markham's eye +was on the little white bundle in her lap, but he did not speak of +it, and went on with explanations about Mrs. Drew and Bolton and the +sitting-room, and tea being ready. + +Charles saw the great red pile of building rise dark, gloomy, and +haunted-looking before them. The house that should have been Amabel's! +Guy's own beloved home! How could she bear it? But she was eagerly +asking Markham how Philip should be informed of their arrival, and +Markham was looking perplexed, and saying, that to drive under the +gateway, into the paved court, would make a thundering sound, that he +dreaded for Mr. Morville. Could Mr. Charles Edmonstone cross the court +on foot? Charles was ready to do so; the carriage stopped, Amabel gave +the baby to Anne, saw Arnaud help Charles out; and turning to Markham, +said, 'I had better go to him at once. Arnaud will show my brother the +way.' + +'The sitting-room, Arnaud' said Markham, and walked on fast with her, +while Charles thought how strange to see her thus pass the threshold of +her husband's house, come thither to relieve and comfort his enemy. + +She entered the dark-oak hall. On one side the light shone cheerfully +from the sitting-room, the other doors were all shut. Markham hesitated, +and stood reluctant. + +'Yes, you had better tell him I am here,' said she, in the voice, so +gentle, that no one perceived its resolution. + +Markham knocked at one of the high heavy doors, and softly opened it. +Amabel stood behind it, and looked into the room, more than half dark, +without a fire, and very large, gloomy, and cheerless, in the gray +autumn twilight, that just enabled her to see the white pillows on the +sofa, and Philip's figure stretched out on it. Markham advanced and +stood doubtful for an instant, then in extremity, began--'Hem! Lady +Morville is come, and--' + +Without further delay she came forward, saying--'How are you, Philip?' + +He neither moved nor seemed surprised, he only said, 'So you are come to +heap more coals on my head.' + +A thrill of terror came over her, but she did not show it, as she said, +'I am sorry to find you so poorly.' + +It seemed as if before he had taken her presence for a dream; for, +entirely roused, he exclaimed, in a tone of great surprise, 'Is it you, +Amy?' Then sitting up, 'Why? When did you come here?' + +'Just now. We were afraid you were ill, we heard a bad account of you, +so we have taken you by storm: Charles, your goddaughter, and I, are +come to pay you a visit.' + +'Charles! Charles here?' cried Philip, starting up. 'Where is he?' + +'Coming in,' said Amy; and Philip, intent only on hospitality, hastened +into the hall, and met him at the door, gave him his arm and conducted +him where the inviting light guided them to the sitting-room. The full +brightness of lamp and fire showed the ashy paleness of his face; his +hair, rumpled with lying on the sofa, had, on the temples, acquired a +noticeable tint of gray, his whole countenance bore traces of terrible +suffering; and Amabel thought that even at Recoara she had never seen +him look more wretchedly ill. + +'How did you come?' he asked. 'It was very kind. I hope you will be +comfortable.' + +'We have taken good care of ourselves,' said Amy. 'I wrote to Mr. +Markham, for I thought you were not well enough to be worried with +preparations. We ought to beg your pardon for breaking on you so +unceremoniously.' + +'If any one should be at home here--' said Philip, earnestly;--then +interrupting himself, he shaded his eyes from the light, 'I don't know +how to make you welcome enough. When did you set off?' + +'Yesterday afternoon,' said Charles; 'we slept in London, and came on +to-day.' + +'Have you dined?' said Philip, looking perplexed to know where the +dinner could come from. + +'Yes; at K----, thank you.' + +'What will you have? I'll ring for Mrs. Drew.' + +'No, thank you; don't tease yourself. Mrs. Drew will take care of us. +Never mind; but how bad your head is!' said Amabel, as he sat down on +the sofa, leaning his elbow on his knee, and pressing his hand very hard +on his forehead. 'You must lie down and keep quiet, and never mind us. +We only want a little tea. I am just going to take off my bonnet, and +see what they have done with baby, and then I'll come down. Pray lie +still till then. Mind he does, Charlie.' + +They thought she was gone; but the next moment there she was with the +two pillows from the library sofa, putting them under Philip's head, +and making him comfortable; while he, overpowered by a fresh access of +headache, had neither will nor power to object. She rang, asked for Mrs. +Drew, and went. + +Philip lay, with closed eyes, as if in severe pain: and Charles, afraid +to disturb him, sat feeling as if it was a dream. That he, with Amy and +her child, should be in Guy's home, so differently from their old plans, +so very differently from the way she should have arrived. He looked +round the room, and everywhere knew what Guy's taste had prepared for +his bride--piano, books, prints, similarities to Hollywell, all with +a fresh new bridal effect, inexpressibly melancholy. They brought a +thought of the bright eye, sweet voice, light step, and merry whistle; +and as he said to himself 'gone for ever,' he could have hated Philip, +but for the sight of his haggard features, gray hairs, and the deep +lines which, at seven-and-twenty, sorrow had traced on his brow. At +length Philip turned and looked up. + +'Charles,' he said, 'I trust you have not let her run any risk.' + +'No: we got Dr. Mayerne's permission.' + +'It is like all the rest,' said Philip, closing his eyes again. +Presently he asked: 'How did you know I was not well?' + +'Markham said something in a business letter that alarmed Amy. She wrote +to inquire, and on his second letter we thought we had better come and +see after you ourselves.' + +No more was said till Amabel returned. She had made some stay up-stairs, +talking to Mrs. Drew, who was bewildered between surprise, joy, and +grief; looking to see that all was comfortable in Charles's room, making +arrangements for the child, and at last relieving herself by a short +space of calm, to feel where she was, realize that this was Redclyffe, +and whisper to her little girl that it was her father's own home. She +knew it was the room he had destined for her; she tried, dark as it +was, to see the view of which he had told her, and looked up, over the +mantel-piece, at Muller's engraving of St. John. Perhaps that was the +hardest time of all her trial, and she felt as if, without his child +in her arms, she could never have held up under the sense of desolation +that came over her, left behind, while he was in his true home. Left, +she told herself, to finish the task he had begun, and to become fit to +follow him. Was she not in the midst of fulfilling his last charge, that +Philip should be taken, care of? It was no time for giving way, and here +was his own little messenger of comfort looking up with her sleepy eyes +to tell her so. Down she must go, and put off 'thinking herself into +happiness' till the peaceful time of rest; and presently she softly +re-entered the sitting-room, bringing to both its inmates in her very +presence such solace as she little guessed, in her straightforward +desire to nurse Philip, and take care Charles was not made +uncomfortable. + +That stately house had probably never, since its foundation, seen +anything so home-like as Amabel making tea and waiting on her two +companions; both she and Charles pleasing each other by enjoying the +meal, and Philip giving his cup to be filled again and again, and +wondering why one person's tea should taste so unlike another's. + +He was not equal to conversation, and Charles and Amabel were both +tired, so that tea was scarcely over before they parted for the night; +and Amy, frightened at the bright and slipperiness of the dark-oak +stairs, could not be at peace till she had seen Arnaud help Charles +safely up them, and made him promise not to come down without assistance +in the morning. + +She was in the sitting-room soon after nine next morning, and found +breakfast on one table, and Charles writing a letter on the other. + +'Well,' said he, as she kissed him, 'all right with you and little +miss?' + +'Quite, thank you. And are you rested?' + +'Slept like a top; and what did you do? Did you sleep like a sensible +woman?' + +'Pretty well, and baby was very good. Have you heard anything of +Philip?' + +'Bolton thinks him rather better, and says he is getting up.' + +'How long have you been up?' + +'A long time. I told Arnaud to catch Markham when he came up, as +he always does in a morning to see after Philip, and I have had a +conference with him and Bolton, so that I can lay the case before Dr. +Mayerne scientifically.' + +'What do you think of it?' + +'I think we came at the right time. He has been getting more and more +into work in London, taking no exercise, and so was pretty well knocked +up when he came here; and this place finished it. He tried to attend to +business about the property, but it always ended in his head growing +so bad, he had to leave all to Markham, who, by the way, has been +thoroughly propitiated by his anxiety for him. Then he gave up entirely; +has not been out of doors, written a note, nor seen a creature the last +fortnight, but there he has lain by himself in the library, given up to +all manner of dismal thoughts without a break.' + +'How dreadful!' said Annabel, with tears in her eyes. 'Then he would not +see Mr. Ashford? Surely, he could have done something for him.' + +'I'll tell you what,' said Charles, lowering his voice,' from what +Bolton says, I think he had a dread of worse than brain fever.' + +She shuddered, and was paler, but did not speak. + +'I believe,' continued Charles, 'that it is one half nervous and the +oppression of this place, and the other half, the over-straining of a +head that was already in a ticklish condition. I don't think there was +any real danger of more than such a fever as he had at Corfu, which +would probably have been the death of him; but I think he dreaded still +worse, and that his horror of seeing any one, or writing to Laura, arose +from not knowing how far he could control his words.' + +'O! I am glad we came,' repeated Amabel, pressing her hands together. + +'He has been doctoring himself,' proceeded Charles; 'and probably has +kept off the fever by strong measures, but, of course, the more he +reduced his strength, the greater advantage he gave to what was simply +low spirits. He must have had a terrible time of it, and where it would +have ended I cannot guess, but it seems to me that most likely, now that +he is once roused, he will come right again.' + +Just as Charles had finished speaking, he came down, looking extremely +ill, weak, and suffering; but calmed, and resting on that entire +dependence on Amabel which had sprung up at Recoara. + +She would not let him go back to his gloomy library, but made him lie +on the sofa in the sitting-room, and sat there herself, as she thought +a little quiet conversation between her and Charles would be the best +thing for him. She wrote to Laura, and he sent a message, for he could +not yet attempt to write; and Charles wrote reports to his mother and +Dr. Mayerne; a little talk now and then going on about family matters. + +Amabel asked Philip if he knew that Mr. Thorndale was at Kilcoran. + +'Yes,' he said, 'he believed there was a letter from him, but his eyes +had ached too much of late to read.' + +Mrs. Ashford sent in to ask whether Lady Morville would like to see her. +Amabel's face flushed, and she proposed going to her in the library; but +Philip, disliking Amy's absence more than the sight of a visitor, begged +she might come to the sitting-room. + +The Ashfords had been surprised beyond measure at the tidings that +Lady Morville had actually come to Redclyffe, and had been very slow +to believe it; but when convinced by Markham's own testimony, Mrs. +Ashford's first idea had been to go and see if she could be any help to +the poor young thing in that great desolate house, whither Mrs. Ashford +had not been since, just a year ago, Markham had conducted her to admire +his preparations. There was much anxiety, too, about Mr. Morville, of +whose condition, Markham had been making a great mystery, and on her +return, Mr. Ashford was very eager for her report. + +Mr. Morville, she said, did look and seem very far from well, but Lady +Morville had told her they hoped it was chiefly from over fatigue, and +that rest would soon restore him. Lady Morville herself was a fragile +delicate creature, very sweet looking, but so gentle and shrinking, +apparently, that it gave the impression of her having no character at +all, not what Mrs. Ashford would have expected Sir Guy to choose. She +had spoken very little, and the chief of the conversation had been +sustained by her brother. + +'I was very much taken with that young Mr. Edmonstone,' said Mrs. +Ashford; 'he is about three-and-twenty, sadly crippled, but with such a +pleasing, animated face, and so extremely agreeable and sensible, I +do not wonder at Sir Guy's enthusiastic way of talking of him. I +could almost fancy it was admiration of the brother transferred to the +sister.' + +'Then after all you are disappointed in her, and don't lament, like +Markham, that she is not mistress here?' + +'No: I won't say I am disappointed; she is a very sweet creature. O yes, +very! but far too soft and helpless for such a charge as this property, +unless she had her father or brother to help her. But I must tell you +that she took me to see her baby, a nice little lively thing, poor +little dear! and when we were alone, she spoke rather more, begged me +to send her godson to see her, thanked me for coming, but crying stopped +her from saying more. I could grow very fond of her. No, I don't wonder +at him, for there is a great charm in anything so soft and dependent. + +Decidedly, Mary Ross had been right when she said, that except Sir Guy, +there was no one so difficult to know as Amy. + +In the afternoon, Charles insisted on Amabel's going out for fresh +air and exercise, and she liked the idea of a solitary wandering; but +Philip, to her surprise, offered to come with her, and she was too glad +to see him exert himself, to regret the musings she had hoped for; so +out they went, after opening the window to give Charles what he called +an airing, and he said, that in addition he should 'hirple about a +little to explore the ground-floor of the house.' + +'We must contrive some way for him to drive out,' said Philip, as he +crossed the court with Amabel; 'and you too. There is no walk here, but +up hill or down.' + +Up-hill they went, along the path leading up the green slope, from which +the salt wind blew refreshingly. In a few minutes, Amabel found herself +on a spot which thrilled her all over. + +There lay before her Guy's own Redclyffe bay; the waves lifting their +crests and breaking, the surge resounding, the sea-birds skimming round, +the Shag Rock dark and rugged, the scene which seemed above all the +centre of his home affections, which he had so longed to show her, +that it had cost him an effort on his death-bed to resign the hope; +the leaping waves that he said he would not change for the white-headed +mountains. And now he was lying among those southern mountains, and she +stood in the spot where he had loved to think of seeing her; and with +Philip by her side. His sea, his own dear sea, the vision of which had +cheered, his last day, like the face of a dear old friend; his sea, +rippling and glancing on, unknowing that the eyes that had loved it so +well would gaze on it no more; the wind that he had longed for to +cool his fevered brow, the rock which had been like a playmate in his +boyhood, and where he had perilled his life, and rescued so many. It +was one of the seasons when a whole gush of fresh perceptions of his +feelings, like a new meeting with himself, would come on her, her best +of joys; and there she stood, gazing fixedly, her black veil fluttering +in the wind, and her hands pressed close together, till Philip, little +knowing what the sight was to her, shivered, saying it was very cold +and windy, and without hesitation she turned away, feeling that now +Redclyffe was precious indeed. + +She brought her mind back to listen, while Philip was considering of +means of taking Charles out of doors; he supposed there might be some +vehicle about the place; but he thought there was no horse. Very unlike +was this to the exact Philip. The great range of stables was before +them, where the Morvilles had been wont to lodge their horses as +sumptuously as themselves, and Amabel proposed to go and see what they +could find; but nothing was there but emptiness, till they came to +a pony in one stall, a goat in another, and one wheelbarrow in the +coach-house. + +On leaving it, under the long-sheltered sunny wall, they came in +sight of a meeting between the baby taking the air in Anne's arms, +and Markham, who had been hovering about all day, anxious to know +how matters were going on. His back was towards them, so that he was +unconscious of their approach, and they saw how he spoke to Anne, looked +fixedly at the child, made her laugh, and finally took her in his arms, +as he had so often carried her father, studying earnestly her little +face. As soon as he saw them coming, he hastily gave her back to Anne, +as if ashamed to be thus caught, but he was obliged to grunt and put +his hand up to his shaggy eyelashes, before he could answer Amabel's +greeting. + +He could hardly believe his eyes, that here was Mr. Morville, who +yesterday was scarcely able to raise his head from the pillow, and could +attend to nothing. He could not think what Lady Morville had done to +him, when he heard him inquiring and making arrangements about sending +for a pony carriage, appearing thoroughly roused, and the dread of being +seen or spoken to entirely passed away, Markham was greatly rejoiced, +for Mr. Morville's illness, helplessness, and dependence upon himself, +had softened and won him to regard him kindly as nothing else would have +done; and his heart was entirely gained when, after they had wished him +good-bye, he saw Philip and Amabel walk on, overtake Anne, Amy take the +baby and hold her up to Philip, who looked at her with the same earnest +interest. From thenceforward Markham knew that Redclyffe was nothing but +a burden to Mr. Morville, and he could bear to see it in his possession +since like himself, he seemed to regard Sir Guy's daughter like a +disinherited princess. + +This short walk fatigued Philip thoroughly. He slept till dinner-time, +and when he awoke said it was the first refreshing dreamless sleep +he had had for weeks. His head was much better, and at dinner he had +something like an appetite. + +It was altogether a day of refreshment, and so were the ensuing ones. +Each day Philip became stronger, and resumed more of his usual habits. +From writing a few lines in Amabel's daily letter to Laura, he proceeded +to filling the envelope, and from being put to sleep by Charles's +reading, to reading aloud the whole evening himself. The pony carriage +was set up, and he drove Charles out every day, Amabel being then +released from attending him, and free to enjoy herself in her own way in +rambles about the house and park, and discoveries of the old haunts she +knew so well by description. + +She early found her way to Guy's own room, where she would walk up and +down with her child in her arms, talking to her, and holding up to her, +to be admired, the treasures of his boyhood, that Mrs. Drew delighted to +keep in order. One day, when alone in the sitting-room, she thought of +trying the piano he had chosen for her. It was locked, but the key was +on her own split-ring, where he had put it for her the day he returned +from London. She opened it, and it so happened, that the first note she +struck reminded her of one of the peculiarly sweet and deep tones of +Guy's voice. It was like awaking its echo again, and as it died away, +she hid her face and wept. But from that time the first thing she did +when her brother and cousin were out, was always to bring down her +little girl, and play to her, watching how she enjoyed the music. + +Little Mary prospered in the sea air, gained colour, took to springing +and laughing; and her intelligent lively way of looking about brought +out continually more likeness to her father. Amabel herself was no +longer drooping and pining, her step grew light and elastic, a shade of +pink returned to her cheek, and the length of walk she could take was +wonderful, considering her weakness in the summer. Every day she stood +on the cliff and looked at 'Guy's sea,' before setting out to visit the +cottages, and hear the fond rough recollections of Sir Guy, or to wander +far away into the woods or on the moor, and find the way to the places +he had loved. One day, when Philip and Charles came in from a drive, +they overtook her in the court, her cloak over her arm, her crape limp +with spray, her cheeks brightened to a rosy glow by the wind, and a +real smile as she looked up to them. When Charles was on his sofa, she +stooped over him and whispered, 'James and Ben Robinson have taken me +out to the Shag!' + +She saw Mr. Wellwood, and heard a good account of Coombe Prior. She made +great friends with the Ashfords, especially little Lucy and the baby. +She delighted in visits to the cottages, and Charles every day wondered +where was the drooping dejection that she could not shake off at home. +She would have said that in Guy's own home, 'the joy' had come to her, +no longer in fitful gleams and held by an effort for a moment, but +steadily brightening. She missed him indeed, but the power of finding +rest in looking forward to meeting him, the pleasure of dwelling on the +days he had been with her, and the satisfaction of doing his work for +the present, had made a happiness for her, and still in him, quiet, +grave, and subdued, but happiness likely to bloom more and more brightly +throughout her life. The anniversary of his death was indeed a day of +tears, but the tears were blessed ones, and she was more full of the +feeling that had sustained her on that morning, than she had been +through all the year before. + +Charles and Philip, meanwhile, proceeded excellently together, each very +anxious for the comfort of the other. Philip was a good deal overwhelmed +at first by the quantity of business on his hands, and setting about it +while his head was still weak, would have seriously hurt himself again, +if Charles had not come to his help, worked with a thorough good will, +great clearness and acuteness, and surprised Philip by his cleverness +and perseverance. He was elated at being of so much use; and begged to +be considered for the future as Philip's private secretary, to which +the only objection was, that his handwriting was as bad as Philip's was +good; but it was an arrangement so much to the benefit of both parties, +that it was gladly made. Philip was very grateful for such valuable +assistance; and Charles amused himself with triumphing in his +importance, when he should sit in state on his sofa at Hollywell, +surrounded with blue-books, getting up the statistics for some +magnificent speech of the honourable member for Moorworth. + +In the meantime, Charles and Amabel saw no immediate prospect of +their party returning from Ireland, and thought it best to remain at +Redclyffe, since Philip had so much to do there; and besides, events +were occurring at Kilcoran which would have prevented his visit, even +without his illness. + +One of the first drives that Charles and Philip took, after the latter +was equal to any exertion, was to Thorndale. There Charles was much +amused by the manner in which Philip was received, and he himself, for +his sake; and as he said to Amabel on his return, there was no question +now, that the blame of spoiling Philip did not solely rest at Hollywell. + +Finding only Lady Thorndale at home, and hearing that Lord Thorndale was +in the grounds, Philip went out to look for him, leaving Charles on the +sofa, under her ladyship's care. Charles, with a little exaggeration, +professed that he had never been so flattered in his whole life, as +he was by the compliments that reflected on him as the future +brother-in-law of Philip; and that he had really begun to think even +Laura not half sensible enough of her own happiness. Lady Thorndale +afterwards proceeded to inquiries about the De Courcy family, especially +Lady Eveleen; and Charles, enlightened by Charlotte, took delight in +giving a brilliant description of his cousin's charms, for which he +was rewarded by very plain intimations of the purpose for which her son +James was gone to Kilcoran. + +On talking the visit over, as they drove home, Charles asked Philip if +he had guessed at his friend's intentions. 'Yes,' he answered. + +'Then you never took the credit of it. Why did you not tell us?' + +'I knew it from himself, in confidence.' + +'Oh!' said Charles, amusing himself with the notion of the young man's +dutifully asking the permission of his companion, unshaken in allegiance +though the staff might be broken, and the book drowned deeper than did +ever plummet sound. Philip spoke no more, and Charles would ask no +more, for Philip's own affairs of the kind were not such as to encourage +talking of other people's. No explanation was needed why he should now +promote an attachment which he had strongly disapproved while James +Thorndale was still in the army. + +A day or two after, however, came a letter from Charlotte, bringing +further news, at which Charles was so amazed, that he could not help +communicating it at once to his companions. + +'So! Eveleen won't have him!' + +'What?' exclaimed both. + +'You don't mean that she has refused Thorndale?' said Philip. + +'Even so!' said Charles. 'Charlotte says he is gone. "Poor Mr. Thorndale +left us this morning, after a day of private conferences, in which +he seems to have had no satisfaction, for his resolute dignity and +determination to be agreeable all the evening were"--ahem--"were great. +Mabel cannot get at any of the real reasons from Eveleen, though I think +I could help her, but I can't tell you."' + +'Charlotte means mischief.' said Charles, as he concluded. + +'I am very sorry!' said Philip. 'I did think Lady Eveleen would have +been able to estimate Thorndale. It will be a great disappointment--the +inclination has been of long standing. Poor Thorndale!' + +'It would have been a very good thing for Eva,' said Amabel. 'Mr. +Thorndale is such a sensible man.' + +'And I thought his steady sense just what was wanting to bring out all +her good qualities that are running to waste in that irregular home,' +said Philip. 'What can have possessed her?' + +'Ay! something must have possessed her,' said Charles. 'Eva was always +ready to be fallen in love with on the shortest notice, and if there +was not something prior in her imagination, Thorndale would not have had +much difficulty. By the bye, depend upon it, 'tis the tutor.' + +Philip looked a little startled, but instantly reassuring himself, +said,-- + +'George Fielder! Impossible! You have never seen him!' + +'Ah! don't you remember her description!' said Amy, in a low voice, +rather sadly. + +The very reason, Amy,' said Charles; 'it showed that he had attracted +her fancy.' + +Philip smiled a little incredulously. + +'Ay!' said Charles, 'you may smile, but you handsome men can little +appreciate the attractiveness of an interesting ugliness. It is the way +to be looked at in the end. Mark my words, it is the tutor.' + +'I hope not!' said Philip, as if shaken in his confidence. 'Any way it +is a bad affair. I am very much concerned for Thorndale.' + +So sincerely concerned, that his head began to ache in the midst of some +writing. He was obliged to leave it to Charles to finish, and go out to +walk with Amy. + +Amabel came in before him, and began to talk to Charles about his great +vexation at his friend's disappointment. + +'I am almost sorry you threw out that hint about Mr. Fielder,' said she. +'Don't you remember how he was recommended?' + +'Ah! I had forgotten it was Philip's doing; a bit of his spirit of +opposition,' said Charles. 'Were not the boys to have gone to Coombe +Prior?' + +'Yes' said Amabel, 'that is the thing that seems to have made him +so unhappy about it. I am sure I hope it is not true,' she added, +considering, 'for, Charlie, you must know that Guy had an impression +against him.' + +'Had he?' said Charles, anxiously. + +'It was only an impression, nothing he could accuse him of, or mention +to Lord Kilcoran. He would have told no one but me, but he had seen +something of him at Oxford, and thought him full of conversation, +very clever, only not the sort of talk he liked.' 'I don't like that. +Charlotte concurs in testifying to his agreeableness; and in the dearth +of intellect, I should not wonder at Eva's taking up with him. He would +be a straw to the drowning. It looks dangerous.' + +They were very anxious for further intelligence, but received none, +except that Philip had a letter from his friend, on which his only +comment was a deep sigh, and 'Poor Thorndale! She little knows what +she has thrown away!' Letters from Kilcoran became rare; Laura scarcely +wrote at all to Philip, and though Mrs. Edmonstone wrote as usual, she +did not notice the subject; while Charlotte's gravity and constraint, +when she did achieve a letter to Charles, were in such contrast to her +usual free and would-be satirical style, that such eyes as her brother's +could hardly fail to see that something was on her mind. + +So it went on week after week, Charles and Amabel wondering when they +should ever have any notice to go home, and what their family could be +doing in Ireland. October had given place to November, and more than a +week of November had passed, and here they still were, without anything +like real tidings. + +At last came a letter from Mrs. Edmonstone, which Amabel could not +read without one little cry of surprise and dismay, and then had some +difficulty in announcing its contents to Philip. + + + 'Kilcoran, Nov. 8th. + +'My Dearest Amy,--You will be extremely surprised at what I have to tell +you, and no less grieved. It has been a most unpleasant, disgraceful +business from beginning to end, and the only comfort in it to us is the +great discretion and firmness that Charlotte has shown. I had better, +however, begin at the beginning, and tell you the history as far as I +understand it myself. You know that Mr. James Thorndale has been here, +and perhaps you know it was for the purpose of making an offer to +Eveleen. Every one was much surprised at her refusing him, and still +more when, after much prevarication, it came out that the true motive +was her attachment to Mr. Fielder, the tutor. It appeared that they had +been secretly engaged for some weeks, ever since they had perceived +Mr. Thorndale's intentions, and not, as it was in poor Laura's case, +an unavowed attachment, but an absolute engagement. And fancy Eva +justifying it by Laura's example! There was of course great anger and +confusion. Lord Kilcoran was furious, poor Lady Kilcoran had nervous +attacks, the gentleman was dismissed from the house, and supposed to be +gone to England, Eva shed abundance of tears, but after a great deal of +vehemence she appeared subdued and submissive. We were all very sorry +for her, as there is much that is very agreeable and likely to attract +her in Mr. Fielder, and she always had too much mind to be wasted in +such a life as she leads here. It seemed as if Laura was a comfort +to her, and Lady Kilcoran was very anxious we should stay as long +as possible. This was all about three weeks or a month ago; Eva was +recovering her spirits, and I was just beginning a letter to tell you we +hoped to be at home in another week, when Charlotte came into my room in +great distress to tell me that Eveleen and Mr. Fielder were on the verge +of a run-away marriage. Charlotte had been coming back alone from a +visit to grandmamma, and going down a path out of the direct way to +recall Bustle, who had run on, she said, as if he scented mischief, +came, to her great astonishment, on Eveleen walking arm-in-arm with Mr. +Fielder! Charlie will fancy how Charlotte looked at them! They shuffled, +and tried to explain it away, but Charlotte was too acute for them, or +rather, she held steadily to "be that as it may, Lord Kilcoran ought +to know it." They tried to frighten her with the horrors of betraying +secrets, but she said none had been confided to her, and mamma would +judge. They tried to persuade her it was the way of all lovers, and +appealed to Laura s example, but there little Charlotte was less to be +shaken than on any point. "I did not think them worthy to hear their +names," she said to me, "but I told them, that I had seen that the +truest and deepest of love had a horror of all that was like wrong, +and as to Philip and Laura, they little knew what they had suffered; +besides, theirs was not half so bad." I verily believe these were the +very words she used to them. At last Eva threw herself on her mercy, +and begged so vehemently that she would only wait another day, that she +suspected, and, with sharpness very like Charlie's, forced from Eva that +they were to marry the next morning. Then she said it would be a great +deal better that they should abuse her and call her a spy than do what +they would repent of all their lives; she begged Eva's pardon, and cried +so much that Eva was in hopes she would relent, and then came straight +to me, very unhappy, and not in the least triumphant in her discovery. +You can guess what a dreadful afternoon we had, I don't think any one +was more miserable than poor Charlotte, who stayed shut up in my room +all day, dreading the sight of any one, and expecting to be universally +called a traitor. The end was, that after much storming, Lord Kilcoran, +finding Eveleen determined, and anxious to save her the discredit of an +elopement, has agreed to receive Mr. Fielder, and they are to be married +from this house on the 6th of December, though what they are to live +upon no one can guess. The Kilcorans are very anxious to put the best +face on the matter possible, and have persuaded us, for the sake of +the family, to stay for the wedding; indeed, poor Lady Kilcoran is so +completely overcome, that I hardly like to leave her till this is over. +How unpleasant the state of things in the house is no one can imagine, +and very, very glad shall I be to get back to Hollywell and my Amy and +Charlie. Dearest Amy, + +'Your most affectionate. + +'L. EDMONSTONE.' + + +The news was at length told, and Philip was indeed thunder-struck at +this fresh consequence of his interference. It threatened at first to +overthrow his scarcely recovered spirits, and but for the presence of +his guests, it seemed as if it might have brought on a renewal of the +state from which they had restored him. + +'Yes,' said Charles to Amy, when they talked it over alone, 'It seems +as if good people could do wrong with less impunity than others. It is +rather like the saying about fools and angels. Light-minded people see +the sin, but not the repentance, so they imitate the one without being +capable of the other. Here are Philip and Laura finishing off like the +end of a novel, fortune and all, and setting a very bad example to the +world in general.' + +'As the world cannot see below the surface,' said Amy, 'how distressed +Laura, must be! You see, mamma does not say one word about her.' + +Philip had not much peace till he had written to Mr. Thorndale, who +was going at once to Germany, not liking to return home to meet the +condolences. Mrs. Edmonstone had nearly the whole correspondence of the +family on her hands; for neither of her daughters liked to write, and +she gave the description of the various uncomfortable scenes that took +place. Lord de Courcy's stern and enduring displeasure, and his father's +fast subsiding violence; Lady Kilcoran's distress, and the younger +girls' excitement and amusement; but she said she thought the very +proper and serious way in which Charlotte viewed it, would keep it from +doing them much harm, provided, as was much to be feared, Lord Kilcoran +did not end by keeping the pair always at home, living upon him till Mr. +Fielder could get a situation. In fact, it was difficult to know what +other means there were of providing for them. + +At last the wedding took place, and Mrs. Edmonstone wrote a letter, +divided between indignation at the foolish display that had attended it, +and satisfaction at being able at length to fix the day for the meeting +at Hollywell. No one could guess how she longed to be at home again, and +to be once more with Charlie. + +Nor were Charles and Amabel less ready to go home, though they could +both truly say that they had much enjoyed their stay at Redclyffe. +Philip was to come with them, and it was privately agreed that he should +return to Redclyffe no more till he could bring Laura with him. Amabel +had talked of her sister to Mrs. Ashford, and done much to smooth the +way; and even on the last day or two, held a few consultations with +Philip, as to the arrangements that Laura would like. One thing, +however, she must ask for her own pleasure. 'Philip,' said she, 'you +must let me have this piano.' + +His answer was by look and gesture. + +'And I want very much to ask a question, Philip. Will you tell me which +is Sir Hugh's picture?' + +'You have been sitting opposite to it every day at dinner.' + +'That!' exclaimed Amy. 'From what I heard, I fully expected to have +known Sir Hugh's in a moment, and I often looked at that one, but I +never could see more likeness than there is in almost all the pictures +about the house.' + +She went at once to study it again, and wondered more. + +'I have seen him sometimes look like it; but it is not at all the strong +likeness I expected.' + +Philip stood silently gazing, and certainly the countenance he recalled, +pleading with him to desist from his wilfulness, and bending over him +in his sickness, was far unlike in expression to the fiery youth before +him. In a few moments more, Amabel had run up-stairs, and brought down +Mr. Shene's portrait. There was proved to be more resemblance than +either of them had at first sight credited. The form of the forehead, +nose, and short upper lip were identical, so were the sharply-defined +black eyebrows, the colour of the eyes; and the way of standing in both +had a curious similarity; but the expression was so entirely different, +that strict comparison alone proved, that Guy's animated, contemplative, +and most winning countenance, was in its original lineaments entirely +the same with that of his ancestor. Although Sir Hugh's was then far +from unprepossessing, and bore as yet no trace of his unholy passions, +it bought to Amabel's mind the shudder with which Guy had mentioned +his likeness to that picture, and seemed to show her the nature he had +tamed. + +Philip, meanwhile, after one glance at Mr. Shene's portrait, which he +had not before seen, had turned away, and stood leaning against the +window-frame. When Amy had finished her silent comparison, and was +going to take her treasure back, he looked up, and said, 'Do you dislike +leaving that with me for a few minutes?' + +'Keep it as long as you like,' said she, going at once, and she saw him +no more till nearly an hour after; when, as she was coming out of her +own room, he met her, and gave it into her hands, saying nothing except +a smothered 'Thank you;' but his eyelids were so swollen and heavy, that +Charles feared his head was bad again, while Amy was glad to perceive +that he had had the comfort of tears. + +Every one was sorry to wish Lady Morville and her brother good-bye, only +consoling themselves with hoping that their sister might be like them; +and as to little Mary, the attention paid to her was so devoted and +universal, that her mamma thought it very well she should receive the +first ardour of it while she was too young to have her head turned. + +They again slept a night in London, and in the morning Philip took +Charles for a drive through the places he had heard of, and was much +edified by actually beholding. They were safely at home the same +evening, and on the following, the Hollywell party was once more +complete, gathered round Charles's sofa in a confusion of welcomes and +greetings. + +Mrs. Edmonstone could hardly believe her eyes, so much had Charles's +countenance lost its invalid look, and his movements were so much more +active; Amabel, too, though still white and thin, had a life in her eye +and an air of health most unlike her languor and depression. + +Every one looked well and happy but Laura, and she had a worn, faded, +harassed aspect, which was not cheered even by Philip's presence; +indeed, she seemed almost to shrink from speaking to him. She was the +only silent one of the party that evening, as they gathered round the +dinner or tea-table, or sat divided into threes or pairs, talking over +the subjects that would not do to be discussed in public. Charlotte +generally niched into Amy's old corner by Charles, hearing about +Redclyffe, or telling about Ireland. Mrs. Edmonstone and Amy on the +opposite sides of the ottoman, their heads meeting over the central +cushion, talking in low, fond, inaudible tones; Mr. Edmonstone going in +and out of the room, and joining himself to one or other group, telling +and hearing news, and sometimes breaking up the pairs; and then Mrs. +Edmonstone came to congratulate Charles on Amy's improved looks, or +Charlotte pressed up close to Amy to tell her about grandmamma. For +Charlotte could not talk about Eveleen, she had been so uncomfortable at +the part she had had to act, that all the commendation she received was +only like pain and shame, and her mother was by no means dissatisfied +that it should be so, since a degree of forwardness had been her chief +cause of anxiety in Charlotte; and it now appeared that without losing +her high spirit and uncompromising sense of right, her sixteenth year +was bringing with it feminine reserve. + +Laura lingered late in Amabel's room, and when her mother had wished +them good night, and left them together, she exclaimed, 'Oh, Amy! I am +so glad to be come back to you. I have been so very miserable!' + +'But you see he is quite well,' said Amy. 'We think him looking better +than in the summer.' + +'O yes! Oh, Amy, what have you not done? If you could guess the relief +of hearing you were with him, after that suspense!' But as if losing +that subject in one she was still more eager about, 'What did he think +of me?' + +'My dear,' said Amabel, 'I don't think I am the right person to tell you +that.' + +'You saw how it struck him when he heard of my share in it.' + +'Yours? Mamma never mentioned you.' + +'Always kind!' said Laura. 'Oh, Amy! what will you think of me when I +tell I knew poor Eva's secret all the time? What could I do, when Eva +pleaded my own case? It was very different, but she would not see it, +and I felt as if I was guilty of all. Oh, how I envied Charlotte.' + +'Dear Laura, no wonder you were unhappy!' + +'Nothing hitherto has been equal to it! said Laura. 'There was the +misery of his silence, and the anxiety that you, dearest, freed me from, +then no sooner was that over than this was confided to me. Think what I +felt when Eva put me in mind of a time when I argued in favour of +some such concealment in a novel! No, you can never guess what I went +through, knowing that he would think me weak, blameable, unworthy!' + +'Nay, he blames himself too much to blame you.' + +'No, that he must not do! It was my fault from the beginning. If I had +but gone at once to mamma!' + +'Oh, I am so glad!' exclaimed Amy, suddenly. + +'Glad?'' + +'I mean,' said Amy, looking down, 'now you have said that, I am sure you +will be happier.' + +'Happier, now I feel and see how I have lowered myself even in his +sight?' said Laura, drooping her head and hiding her face in her hands, +as she went on in so low a tone that Amy could hardly hear her. 'I know +it all now. He loves me still, as he must whatever he has once taken, +into that deep, deep heart of his: he will always; but he cannot have +that honouring, trusting, confiding love that--you enjoyed and deserved, +Amy--that he would have had if I had cared first for what became me. If +I had only at first told mamma, he would not even have been blamed; he +would have been spared half this suffering and self-reproach; he would +have loved me more; Eva might not have been led astray, at least she +could not have laid it to my charge,--and I could lift up my head,' she +finished, as she hung it almost to her knees. + +Her sister raised the head, laid it on her own bosom, and kissed, the +cheeks and brow again and again. 'Dearest, dearest Laura, I am so sorry +for you; but I am sure you must feel freer and happier now you know it +all, and see the truth.' + +'I don't know!' said Laura, sadly. + +'And at least you will be better able to comfort him.' + +'No, no, I shall only add to his self-reproach. He will see more plainly +what a wretched weak creature he fancied had firmness and discretion. +Oh, what a broken reed I have been to him!' + +'There is strength and comfort for us all to lean upon,' said Amy. 'But +you ought to go to bed. Shall I read to you, Laura? you are so tired, I +should like to come and read you to sleep.' + +Laura was not given to concealments; that fatal one had been her only +insincerity, and she never thought of doing otherwise than telling the +whole of her conduct in Ireland to Philip. She sat alone with him the +next morning, explained all, and entreated his pardon, humiliating +herself so much, that he could not bear to hear her. + +'It was the fault of our whole lifetime, Laura,' said he, recovering +himself, when a few agitated words had passed on either side. 'I taught +you to take my dictum for law, and abused your trusty and perverted all +the best and most precious qualities. It is I who stand first to bear +the blame, and would that I could bear all the suffering! But as it is, +Laura, we must look to enduring the consequence all our lives, and give +each other what support we may.' + +Laura could hardly brook his self-accusation, but she could no longer +argue the point; and there was far more peace and truth before them than +when she believed him infallible, and therefore justified herself for +all she had done in blind obedience to him. + + + + +CHAPTER 44 + + Thus souls by nature pitched too high, + By sufferings plunged too low, + Meet in the church's middle sky, + Halfway 'twixt joy and woe; + + To practise there the soothing lay, + That sorrow best relieves, + Thankful for all God takes away, + Humbled by all He gives. + --CHRISTIAN YEAR + + +One Afternoon, late in April, Charles opened the dressing-room door, and +paused a moment, smiling. There sat Amabel on the floor before the fire, +her hand stretched out, playfully holding back the little one, who, with +scanty, flossy, silken curls, hazel eyes and jet-black lashes, plump, +mottled arms, and tiny tottering feet, stood crowing and shouting in +exulting laughter, having just made a triumphant clutch at her mamma's +hair, and pulled down all the light, shining locks, while under their +shade the reddening, smiling face recalled the Amy of days long gone by. + +'That's right! cried Charles, delighted, 'pull it all down. Out with +mamma's own curls again!' + +'No, I can never wear my curls again,' said Amy, so mournfully, that +he was sorry he had referred to them; and perceiving this, she smiled +sweetly, and pulling a tress to its full length, showed how much too +short it was for anything but being put plainly under the cap, to which +she restored it. + +'Is Mrs. Henley come?' she asked. + +'As large as life, and that is saying a good deal. She would make two of +Philip. As tall and twice as broad. I thought Juno herself was advancing +on me from the station.' + +'How did you get on with her?' + +'Famously; I told her all about everything, and how the affair is to be +really quiet, which she had never believed. She could hardly believe my +word, when I told her there was to be absolutely no one but ourselves +and Mary Ross. She supposed it was for your sake, and I did not tell her +it was for their own. It really was providential that the Kilcoran folk +disgusted my father with grand weddings, for Philip never could endure +one.' + +'Oh, Miss Mischief, there goes my hair again! You know Philip is +exceedingly worried about Mr. Fielder. Lord Kilcoran has been writing to +ask him to find him a situation.' + +'That is an article they will be seeking all the rest of their lives,' +said Charles. 'A man is done for when he begins to look for a situation! +Yes, those Fielders will be a drag on Philip and Laura for ever; for +they don't quite like to cast them off, feeling as he does that he led +to her getting into the scrape, by recommending him; and poor Laura +thinking she set the example.' + +'I wish Eva was away from home,' said Amy, 'for Aunt Charlotte's +accounts of her vex Laura so much.' + +'Ay! trying to eat her cake and have it, expecting to be Mr. Fielder's +wife, and reign as the earl's daughter all the same. Poor thing! the day +they get the situation will be a sad one for her. She does not know what +poortith cauld will be like.' + +'Poor Eva!' said Amy. 'I dare say she will shine and be all the better +for trouble. There is much that is so very nice in her.' + +'Ay, if she has not spoilt it all by this time,--as that creature is +doing with your hair! You little monkey, what have you to say to me?' + +'Only to wish you good night. Come, baby, we must go to Anne. Good +night, Uncle Charles.' + +Just as Amabel had borne off her little girl, Mrs. Edmonstone and +Charlotte came in, after conducting Mrs. Henley to her room. Charlotte +made a face of wonder and dismay, and Mrs. Edmonstone asked where Amy +was. + +'She carried the baby to the nursery just before you came. I wish you +had seen her. The little thing had pulled down her hair and made her +look so pretty and like herself.' + +'How well her spirits keep up! She has been running up and down stairs +all day, helping about everything. Well! we little thought how things +would turn out.' + +'And that after all Amy would be the home-bird,' said Charles. 'I don't +feel as if it was wrong to rejoice in having her in this sweet, shady +brightness, as she is now.' + +'Do you know whether she means to go to church to-morrow? I don't like +to ask.' + +'Nor I.' + +'I know she does,' said Charlotte. 'She told me so.' + +'I hope it will not be too much for her! Dear Amy.' + +'She would say it was wrong to have our heads fuller of her than of our +bride,' said Charles. + +'Poor Laura!' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'I am glad it is all right at last. +They have both gone through a great deal.' + +'And not in vain,' added Charles. 'Philip is--' + +'Oh, I say not a word against him!' cried Mrs. Edmonstone. 'He is most +excellent; he will be very distinguished,--he will make her very happy. +Yes.' + +'In fact,' said Charles, 'he is made to be one of the first in this +world, and to be first by being above it; and the only reason we are +almost discontented is, that we compare him with one who was too good +for this world.' + +'It is not only that.' + +'Ah! you did not see him at Redclyffe, or you would do more than simply +forgiving him as a Christian.' + +'I am very sorry for him.' + +'That is not quite enough,' said Charles, smiling, with a mischievous +air, though fully in earnest. 'Is it, Charlotte? She must take him home +to her mamma's own heart.' + +'No, no, that is asking too much, Charlie,' said Mrs. Edmonstone. 'Only +one ever was--' then breaking off--'and I can never think of Philip as I +used to do.' + +'I like him much better now,' said Charlotte. + +'For my part,' said Charles, 'I never liked him--nay, that's too mild, I +could not abide him, I rebelled against him, heart, soul, and taste. If +it had not been for Guy, his fashion of goodness would have made me into +an extract of gall and wormwood, at the very time you admired him, and +yet a great deal of it was genuine. But it is only now that I have liked +him. Nay, I look up to him, I think him positively noble and grand, and +when I see proofs of his being entirely repentant, I perceive he is a +thorough great man. If I had not seen one greater, I should follow his +young man's example and take him for my hero model.' + +'As if you wanted a hero model,' whispered Charlotte, in a tone between +caressing and impertinence. + +'I've had one!' returned Charles, also aside. + +'Yes,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, going on with her own thoughts, 'unless +there had been a great fund of real goodness, he would never have felt +it so deeply. Indeed, even when I best liked Philip, I never thought him +capable of such repentance as he has shown.' + +'If mamma wants to like him very much,' said Charlotte, 'I think she has +only to look at our other company.' + +'Ay!' said Charles, 'we want no more explanation of the tone of the +"Thank you," with which he answered the offer to invite his sister.' + +'One comfort is, she can't stay long. She has got a committee meeting +for the Ladies' Literary and Scientific Association, and must go home +for it the day after to-morrow,' said Charlotte. + +'If you are very good, perhaps she will give you a ticket, Charlotte,' +said her brother, 'and another for Bustle.' + +Mrs. Henley was, meanwhile, highly satisfied with the impression she +thought she was making on her aunt's family, especially on Charles and +Charlotte. The latter she patronized, to her extreme though suppressed +indignation, as a clever, promising girl; the former, she discovered to +be a very superior young man, a most valuable assistant to her brother +in his business, and her self-complacency prevented her from finding out +how he was playing her off, whenever neither Philip nor Laura were at +hand to be hurt by it. + +She thought Laura a fine-looking person, like her own family, and fit to +be an excellent lady of the house; and in spite of the want of fortune, +she perceived that her brother's choice had been far better than if he +had married that poor pale little Amabel, go silent and quiet that she +never could make a figure anywhere, and had nothing like the substantive +character that her brother must have in a wife. + +Could Mrs. Henley have looked behind the scenes she would have +marvelled. + +'One kiss for mamma; and one for papa,' was Amy's half-uttered morning +greeting, as she lifted from her cot her little one, with cheeks flushed +by sleep. Morning and evening Amy spoke those words, and was happy in +the double kiss that Mary had learnt to connect with them; happy too +in holding her up to the picture, and saying 'papa,' so that his child +might never recollect a time when he had not been a familiar and beloved +idea. + +A little play with the merry child, then came Anne to take her away; and +with a suppressed sigh, Amabel dressed for the first time without her +weeds, which she had promised to leave off on Laura's wedding-day. + +'No, I will not sigh!' then she thought, 'it does not put me further +from him. He would be more glad than any one this day, and so I must +show some sign of gladness.' + +So she put on such a dress as would be hers for life--black silk, and +face cap over her still plain hair, then with real pleasure she put on +Charles's bracelet, and the silver brooch, which she had last worn the +evening when the echoes of Recoara had answered Guy's last chant. Soon +she was visiting Laura, cheering her, soothing her agitation, helping +her to dress in her bridal array, much plainer than Amy's own had been, +for it had been the especial wish of both herself and Philip that their +wedding should be as quiet and unlike Guy's as possible. Then Amabel +was running down-stairs to see that all was right, thinking the +breakfast-table looked dull and forlorn, and calling Charlotte to +help her to make it appear a little more festal, with the aid of some +flowers. Charlotte wondered to see that she had forgotten how she +shunned flowers last summer, for there she was flitting from one old +familiar plant to another in search of the choicest, arranging little +bouquets with her own peculiar grace and taste, and putting them by each +person's place, in readiness to receive them. + +It was as if no one else could smile that morning, except Mr. +Edmonstone, who was so pleased to see her looking cheerful, in her +altered dress, that he kissed her repeatedly, and confidentially told +Mrs. Henley that his little Amy was a regular darling, the sweetest girl +in the world, poor dear, except Laura. + +Mrs. Henley, in the richest of all silks, looked magnificent and +superior. Mrs. Edmonstone had tears in her eyes, and attended to every +one softly and kindly, without a word; Charlotte was grave, helpful, +and thoughtful; Charles watching every one, and intent on making things +smooth; Laura looked fixed in the forced composure which she had long +ago learnt, and Philip,--it was late before he appeared at all, and +when he came down, there was nothing so plainly written on his face as +headache. + +It was so severe that the most merciful thing was to send him to lie +on the sofa in the dressing-room. Amabel said she would fetch him +some camphor, and disappeared, while Laura sat still with her forced +composure. Her father fidgeted, only restrained by her presence from +expressing his fears that Philip was too unwell for the marriage to take +place to-day, and Charles talked cheerfully of the great improvement in +his general health, saying this was but a chance thing, and that on the +whole he might be considered as quite restored. + +Mrs. Henley listened and answered, but could not comprehend the state of +things. Breakfast was over, when she heard Amabel speaking to Laura in +the ante-room. + +'It will go off soon. Here is a cup of hot coffee for you to take him. +I'll call you when it is time to go.' + +Amabel and Charlotte were very busy looking after Laura's packing up, +and putting all that was wanted into the carriage, in which the pair +were to set off at once from church, without returning to Hollywell. + +At the last moment she went to warn Philip it was time to go, if he +meant to walk to church alone, the best thing for his head. + +'It is better,' said Laura, somewhat comforted. + +'Much better for your bathing it, thank you,' said Philip, rising; then, +turning to Amy,--'Do I wish you good-bye now?' + +'No, I shall see you at church, unless you don't like to have my +blackness there.' + +'Would we not have our guardian angel, Laura?' said Philip. + +'You know _he_ would have been there,' said Amy. 'No one would have been +more glad, so thank you for letting me come.' + +'Thank you for coming,' said Laura, earnestly. 'It is a comfort.' + +They left her, and she stood a few minutes to enjoy the solitude, and +to look from the window at her little girl, whom she had sent out with +Anne. She was just about to open the window to call to her, and make her +look up with one of her merry shouts of 'Mamma!' when Philip came out at +the garden-door, and was crossing the lawn. Mary was very fond of him, +flattered by the attention of the tallest person in the house, and she +stretched her arms, and gave a cry of summons. Amabel watched him turn +instantly, take her from her nurse, and hold her in a close embrace, +whilst her little round arms met round his neck. She was unwilling to +be restored to Anne, and when he left she looked up in his face, and +unprompted, held up to him the primroses and violets in her hand. + +Those flowers were in his coat when Amabel saw him again at church, +and she knew that this spontaneous proof of affection from Guy's little +unconscious child was more precious to him than all the kindnesses she +could bestow. + +Little space was there for musing, for it was high time to set off for +church. Mary Ross met the party at the wicket of the churchyard, took +Charles on her arm, and by look and sign inquired for Amy. + +'Bright outwardly,' he answered, 'and I think so inwardly. Nothing does +her so much good as to represent him. Did you wonder to see her?' + +'No' said Mary. 'I thought she would come. It is the crowning point of +his forgiveness.' + +'Such forgiveness that she has forgotten there is anything to forgive,' +said Charles. + +Philip Morville and Laura Edmonstone stood before Mr. Ross. It was not +such a wedding as the last. There was more personal beauty, but no such +air of freshness, youth, and peace. He was, indeed, a very fine-looking +man, his countenance more noble than it had ever been, though pale and +not only betraying the present suffering of the throbbing, burning brow, +but with the appearance of a care-worn, harassed man, looking more as if +his age was five-and-thirty than eight-and-twenty. And she, in her plain +white muslin and quiet bonnet, was hardly bridal-looking in dress, and +so it was with her face, still beautiful and brilliant in complexion, +but with the weight of care permanent on it, and all the shades of +feeling concealed by a fixed command of countenance, unable, however, to +hide the oppression of dejection and anxiety. + +Yet to the eyes that only beheld the surface, there was nothing but +prosperity and happiness in a marriage between a pair who had loved so +long and devotedly, and after going through so much for each other's +sake, were united at length, with wealth, honour, and distinction before +them. His health was re-established, and the last spring had proved +that his talents would place him in such a position as had been the +very object of his highest hopes. Was not everything here for which the +fondest and most aspiring wishes could seek? Yet for the very reason +that there was sadness at almost every heart, not one tear was shed. +Mrs. Edmonstone's thoughts were less engrossed with the bride than with +the young slender figure in black, standing in her own drooping way, +her head bent down, and the fingers of her right hand clasping tight her +wedding-ring, through her white glove. + +The service was over. Laura hung round her mother's neck in an ardent +embrace. + +'Your pardon! O, mamma, I see it all now!' + +Poor thing! she had too much failed in a daughter's part to go forth +from her home with the clear, loving, hopeful heart her sister had +carried from it! Mrs. Edmonstone's kiss was a full answer, however, a +kiss unlike what it had been with all her efforts for many and many a +month. + +'Amy, pray that it may not be visited!' were the last words breathed to +her sister, as they were pressed in each other's arms. + +Philip scarcely spoke, only met their kindnesses with grateful gestures +and looks, and brief replies, and the parting was hastened that he might +as soon as possible be at rest. His only voluntary speech was as he bade +farewell to Amabel,-- + +'My sister now!' + +'And _his_ brother,' she answered. 'Good-bye!' + +As soon as Amabel was alone in the carriage with Charles, she leant +back, and gave way to a flood of tears. + +'Amy, has it been too much?' + +'No,' she said, recovering herself; 'but I am so glad! It was _his_ +chief desire. Now everything he wished is fulfilled.' + +'And you are free of your great charge. He has been a considerable care +to you, but now he is safe on Laura's hands, and well and satisfactory; +so you have no care but your daughter, and we settle into our home +life.' + +Amabel smiled. + +'Amy, I do wish I was sure you are happy.' + +'Yes, dear Charlie, indeed I am. You are all so very kind to me, and it +is a blessing, indeed, that my own dear home can open to take in me and +baby. You know _he_ liked giving me back to you.' + +'And it is happiness, not only thinking it ought to be! Don't let me +tease you, Amy, don't answer if you had rather not.' + +'Thank you, Charlie, it _is_ happiness. It must be when I remember how +very happy he used to be, and there can be nothing to spoil it. When +I see how all the duties of his station worry and perplex Philip, I am +glad he was spared from it, and had all his freshness and brightness +his whole life. It beams out on me more now, and it was such perfect +happiness while I had him here, and it is such a pleasure and honour to +be called by his name; besides, there is baby. Oh! Charlie, I must be +happy--I am; do believe it! Indeed, you know I have you and mamma and +all too. And, Charlie, I think he made you all precious to me over again +by the way he loved you all, and sent me back, to you especially. Yes, +Charlie, you must not fancy I grieve. I am very happy, for he is, and +all I have is made bright and precious by him.' + +'Yes,' said he, looking at her, as the colour had come into her face, +and she looked perfectly lovely with eager, sincere happiness; one of +her husband's sweetest looks reflected on her face; altogether, such a +picture of youth, joy, and love, as had not been displayed by the +bride that morning. 'Amy, I don't believe anything could make you long +unhappy!' + +'Nothing but my own fault. Nothing else can part me from him,' she +whispered almost to herself. + +'Yes; no one else had such a power of making happy,' said Charles, +thoughtfully. 'Amy, I really don't know whether even you owe as much +to your husband as I do. You were good for something before, but when +I look back on what I was when first he came, I know that his leading, +unconscious as it was, brought out the stifled good in me. What a wretch +I should have been; what a misery to myself and to you all by this time, +and now, I verily believe, that since he let in the sunlight from heaven +on me, I am better off than if I had as many legs as other people.' + +'Better off?' + +'Yes. Nobody else lives in such an atmosphere of petting, and has so +little to plague them. Nobody else has such a "mamma," to say nothing of +silly little Amy, or Charlotte, or Miss Morville. And as to being of +no use, which I used to pine about--why, when the member for Moorworth +governs the country, I mean to govern him.' + +'I am sure you are of wonderful use to every one,' said Amabel; 'neither +Philip nor papa could get on without you to do their writing for them. +Besides, I want you to help me when baby grows older.' + +'Is that the laudable result of that great book on education I saw you +reading the other day?' said Charles. 'Why don't you borrow a few hints +from Mrs. Henley?' + +Amy's clear, playful laugh was just what it used to be. + +'It is all settled, then, that you go on with us! Not that I ever +thought you were going to do anything so absurd as to set up for +yourself, you silly little woman: but it seems to be considered right +to come to a formal settlement about such a grand personage as my Lady +Morville.' + +'Yes; it was better to come to an understanding,' said Amabel. 'It was +better that papa should make up his mind to see that I can't turn into a +young lady again. You see Charlotte will go out with him and be the Miss +Edmonstone for company, and he is so proud of her liveliness and--how +pretty she is growing--so that will keep him from being vexed. So +now you see I can go on my own way, attend to baby, and take Laura's +business about the school, and keep out of the way of company, so that +it is very nice and comfortable. It is the very thing that Guy wished!' + +Amabel's life is here pretty well shown. That of Philip and Laura may +be guessed at. He was a distinguished man, one of the most honoured and +respected in the country, admired for his talents and excellence, and +regarded universally as highly prosperous and fortunate, the pride of +all who had any connection with him. Yet it was a harassed, anxious +life, with little of repose or relief; and Laura spent her time between +watching him and tending his health, and in the cares and representation +befitting her station, with little space for domestic pleasure and +home comfort, knowing her children more intimately through her sister's +observation than through her own. + +Perfect and devoted as ever was their love, and they were thought most +admirable and happy people. There was some wonder at his being a grave, +melancholy man, when he had all before him so richly to enjoy, contrary +to every probability when he began life. Still there was one who never +could understand why others should think him stern and severe, and why +even his own children should look up to him with love that partook +of distant awe and respect, one to whom he never was otherwise than +indulgent, nay, almost reverential, in the gentleness of his kindness, +and that was Mary Verena Morville. + + + THE END. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Heir of Redclyffe, by Charlotte M. 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