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the heir of redclyffe-第131部分

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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 itan 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 Sundayit was the one 

before Michaelmashe was there
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