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the heir of redclyffe-第26部分

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imitate her dancing…master's graces; causing her father to perform such 

caricatures of them; as to overpower all with laughing。



Mr。 Edmonstone was half Irish。  His mother; Lady Mabel Edmonstone; had 

never thoroughly taken root in England; and on his marriage; had gone 

with her daughter to live near her old home in Ireland。  The present 

Earl of Kilcoran was her nephew; and a very close intercourse had 

always been kept up between the families; Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone being 

adopted by their younger cousins as uncle and aunt; and always so 

called。



The house at Allonby was in such confusion; that the family there 

expected to dine nowhere on the day of the ball; and the Hollywell 

party thought it prudent to secure their dinner at home; with Philip 

and Mary Ross; who were to go with them。



By special desire; Philip wore his uniform; and while the sisters were 

dressing Charlotte gave him a thorough examination; which led to a talk 

between him and Mary on accoutrements and weapons in general; but while 

deep in some points of chivalrous armour; Mary's waist was pinched by 

two mischievous hands; and a little fluttering white figure danced 

around her。



'0 Amy! what do you want with me?'



'Come and be trimmed up;' said Amy。



'I thought you told me I was to have no trouble。  I am dressed;' said 

Mary; looking complacently at her full folds of white muslin。



'No more you shall; but you promised to do as you were told。'  And Amy 

fluttered away with her。



'Do you remember;' said Philip; 'the comparison of Rose Flammock 

dragging off her father; to a little carved cherub trying to uplift a 

solid monumental hero?'



'0; I must tell Mary!' cried Charlotte; but Philip stopped her; with 

orders not to be a silly child。



'It is a pity Amy should not have her share;' said Charles。



'The comparison to a Dutch cherub?' asked Guy。



'She is more after the pattern of the little things on little wings; in 

your blotting…book;' said Charles; 'certain lines in the predicament of 

the cherubs of paintersheads 〃et proeterea nihil〃。'



'0 Guy; do you write verses? cried Charlotte。



'Some nonsense;' muttered Guy; out of countenance; 'I thought I had 

made away with that rubbish; where is it?'



'In the blotting…book in my room;' said Charles。  'I must explain that 

the book is my property; and was put into your room when mamma was 

beautifying it for you; as new and strange company。  On its return to 

me; at your departure; I discovered a great accession of blots and 

sailing vessels; beside the aforesaid little things。'



'I shall resume my own property;' said Guy; departing in haste。



Charlotte ran after him; to beg for a sight of it; and Philip asked 

Charles what it was like。



'A romantic incident;' said Charles; 'just fit for a novel。  A Petrarch 

leaving his poems about in blotting…books。'



Charles used the word Petrarch to stand for a poet; not thinking what 

lady's name he suggested; and he was surprised at the severity of 

Philip's tone as he inquired; 'Do you mean anything; or do you not?'



Perceiving with delight that he had perplexed and teased; he rejoiced 

in keeping up the mystery:



'Eh? is it a tender subject with you; too?'



Philip rose; and standing over him; said; in a low but impressive tone:



'I cannot tell whether you are trifling or not; but you are no boy now; 

and can surely see that this is no subject to be played with。  If you 

are concealing anything you have discovered; you have a great deal to 

answer for。  I can hardly imagine anything more unfortunate than that 

he should become attached to either of your sisters。'



'Et pourquoi?' asked Charles; coolly。



'I see;' said Philip; retreating to his chair; and speaking with great 

composure; 'I did you injustice by speaking seriously。'  Then; as his 

uncle came into the room; he asked some indifferent question; without 

betraying a shade of annoyance。



Charles meanwhile congratulated himself on his valour in keeping his 

counsel; in spite of so tall a man in scarlet; but he was much nettled 

at the last speech; for if a real attachment to his sister had been in 

question; he would never have trifled about it。  Keenly alive to his 

cousin's injustice; he rejoiced in having provoked and mystified the 

impassable; though he little knew the storm he had raised beneath that 

serene exterior of perfect self…command。



The carriages were announced; and Mr。 Edmonstone began to call the 

ladies; adding tenfold to the confusion in the dressing…room。  There 

was Laura being completed by the lady's maid; Amabel embellishing Mary; 

Mrs。 Edmonstone with her arm loaded with shawls; Charlotte flourishing 

about。  Poor Maryit was much against her willbut she had no heart 

to refuse the wreath of geraniums that Amy's own hands had woven for 

her; and there she sat; passive as a doll; though in despair at their 

all waiting for her。  For Laura's toilette was finished; and every one 

began dressing her at once; while Charlotte; to make it better; 

screamed over the balusters that all were ready but Mary。  Sir Guy was 

heard playing the 'Harmonious Blacksmith;' and Captain Morville's step 

was heard; fast and firm。  At last; when a long chain was put round her 

neck; she cried out; 'I have submitted to everything so far; I can bear 

no more!' jumped up; caught hold of her shawl; and was putting it on; 

when there was a general outcry that they must exhibit themselves to 

Charles。



They all ran down; and Amy; flying up to her brother; made a splendid 

sweeping curtsey; and twirled round in a pirouette。



'Got up; regardless of expense!' cried Charles; 'display yourselves。'



The young ladies ranged themselves in imitation of the book of 

fashions。  The sisters were in white; with wreaths of starry jessamine。  

It was particularly becoming to Laura's bella…donna lily complexion; 

rich brown curls; and classical features; and her brother exclaimed:



'Laura is exactly like Apollo playing the lyre; outside mamma's old 

manuscript book of music。'



'Has not Amy made beautiful wreaths?' said Laura。  'She stripped the 

tree; and Guy had to fetch the ladder; to gather the sprays on the top 

of the wall。'



'Do you see your bit of myrtle; Guy;' said Amy; pointing to it; on 

Laura's head; 'that you tried to persuade me would pass for jessamine?'



'Ah! it should have been all myrtle;' said Guy。



Philip leant meantime against the door。  Laura only once glanced 

towards him; thinking all this too trifling for him; and never 

imagining the intense interest with which he gave a meaning to each 

word and look。



'Well done; Mary!' cried Charles; 'they have furbished you up 

handsomely。'



Mary made a face; and said she should wonder who was the fashionable 

young lady she should meet in the pier…glasses at Allonby。  Then Mr。 

Edmonstone hurried them away; and they arrived in due time。



The saloon at Allonby was a beautiful room; one end opening into a 

conservatory; full of coloured lamps; fresh green leaves; and hot…house 

plants。  There they found as yet only the home party; the good…natured; 

merry Lord Kilcoran; his quiet English wife; who had bad health; and 

looked hardly equal to the confusion of the evening; Maurice; and two 

younger boys; Eveleen; and her two little sisters; Mabel and Helen。



'This makes it hard on Charlotte;' thought Amy; while the two girls 

dragged her off to show her the lamps in the conservatory; and the rest 

attacked Mrs。 Edmonstone for not having brought Charlotte; reproaching 

her with hardness of heart of which they had never believed her 

capableLady Eveleen; in especial; talking with that exaggeration of 

her ordinary manner which her dread of Captain Morville made her 

assume。  Little he recked of her; he was absorbed in observing how far 

Laura's conduct coincided with Charles's hints。  On the first 

opportunity; he asked her to dance; and was satisfied with her pleased 

acquiescence; but the next moment Guy came up; and in an eager manner 

made the same request。



'I am engaged;' said she; with a bright; proud glance at Philip; and 

Guy pursued Amabel into the conservatory; where he met with better 

success。  Mr。 Edmonstone gallantly asked Mary if he was too old a 

partner; and was soon dancing with the step and spring that had once 

made him the best dancer in the county。



Mrs。 Edmonstone watched her flock; proud and pleased; thinking how well 

they looked and that; in especial; she had never been sensible how much 

Laura's and Philip's good looks excelled the rest of the world。  They 

were much alike in the remarkable symmetry both of figure and feature; 

the colour of the deep blue eye; and fairness of complexion。



'It is curious;' thought Mrs。 Edmonstone; 'that; so very handsome as 

Philip is; it is never the first thing remarked about him; just a
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