友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
读书室 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the heir of redclyffe-第135部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


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 beforehe 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; '0 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 longdecay 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 studyI'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。'



'YesyesI 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 

bettereh; 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 sev
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!