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the heir of redclyffe-第121部分

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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 pettingwhich 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 couragenot 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 ishere isI 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; £10;000 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 Maybut; 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 
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