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the heir of redclyffe-第123部分

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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 ofof 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; andyes;' 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 o
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