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the heir of redclyffe-第129部分

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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 

elsekeeps 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 babedid 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 meI 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 reallycan 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 be
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