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30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!


you that have taught it to me。'



If ever face plainly told another that he was her first and best; 

Laura's did so now。  Away went misgivings; and he looked at her in 

happiness too great for speech; at least; he could not speak till he 

had mastered his emotion; but his countenance was sufficient reply。  

Even then; in the midst of this flood of ecstasy; came the thought; 

'What have I done?'



He had gone further than he had ever intended。  It was a positive 

avowal of love; and what would ensue?  Cessation of intercourse with 

her; endless vexations; the displeasure of her family; loss of 

influence; contempt; and from Mr。 Edmonstone; for the pretensions of a 

penniless soldier。  His joy was too great to be damped; but it was 

rendered cautious。  'Laura; my own!' (what delight the words gave her;) 

'you have made me very happy。  We know each other now; and trust each 

other for ever。'



'0 yes; yes; nothing can alter what has grown up with us。'



'It is for ever!' repeated Philip。  'But; Laura; let us be content with 

our own knowledge of what we are to each other。  Do not let us call in 

others to see our happiness。'



Laura looked surprised; for she always considered any communication 

about his private feelings too sacred to be repeated; and wondered he 

should think the injunction necessary。  'I never can bear to talk about 

the best kinds of happiness;' said she; 'but oh!' and she sprang up; 

'here they come。'



Poor Mrs。 Edmonstone; as she walked back from her mushroom…field; she 

little guessed that words had been spoken which would give the 

colouring to her daughter's whole lifeshe little guessed that her 

much…loved and esteemed nephew had betrayed her confidence!  As she and 

the girls came up; Philip advanced to meet them; that Laura might have 

a few moments to recover; while with an effort he kept himself from 

appearing absent in the conversation that ensued。  It was brief; for 

having answered some questions with regard to the doings on the 

important day; he said; that since he had met them he would not come on 

to Hollywell; and bade them farewell; giving Laura a pressure of the 

hand which renewed the glow on her face。



He walked back; trying to look through the dazzling haze of joy so as 

to see his situation clearly。  It was impossible for him not to 

perceive that there had been an absolute declaration of affection; and 

that he had established a private understanding with his cousin。  It 

was not; however; an engagement; nor did he at present desire to make 

it so。  It was impossible for him as yet to marry; and he was content 

to wait without a promise; since that could not add to his entire 

reliance on Laura。  He could not bear to be rejected by her parents: he 

knew his poverty would be the sole ground of objection; and he was not 

asking her to share it。  He believed sincerely that a long; lingering 

attachment to himself would be more for her good than a marriage with 

one who would have been a high prize for worldly aims; and was 

satisfied that by winning her heart he had taken the only sure means of 

securing her from becoming attached to Guy; while secrecy was the only 

way of preserving his intercourse with her on the same footing; and 

exerting his influence over the family。



It was calmly reflected; for Philip's love was tranquil; though deep 

and steady; and the rather sought to preserve Laura as she was than to 

make her anything more; and this very calmness contributed to his self…

deception on this first occasion that he had ever actually swerved from 

the path of right。



With an uncomfortable sensation; he met Guy riding home from his tutor; 

entirely unsuspicious。  He stopped and talked of the preparations at 

Broadstone; where he had been over the ground with Maurice de Courcy; 

and had heard the band。



'What did you think of it? said Philip; absently。



'They _should_ keep better time!  Really; Philip; there is one fellow 

with a bugle that ought to be flogged every day of his life!' said Guy; 

making a droll; excruciated face。



How a few words can change the whole current of ideas。  The band was 

connected with Philip; therefore he could not bear to hear it found 

fault with; and adduced some one's opinion that the man in question was 

one of the best of their musicians。



Guy could not help shrugging his shoulders; as he laughed; and said;

'Then I shall be obliged to take to my heels if I meet the rest。  Good…

bye。'



'How conceited they have made that boy about his fine ear;' thought 

Philip。  'I wonder he is not ashamed to parade his music; considering 

whence it is derived。'









CHAPTER 9







 Ah! county Guy; the hour is nigh;

 The sun has left the lea;

 The orange flower perfumes the bower;

 The breeze is on the sea。

 The lark; his lay; who thrilled all day;

 Sits hushed; his partner nigh;

 Breeze; bird; and flower; confess the hour;

 But where is county Guy?SCOTT





How was it meantime with Laura?  The others were laughing and talking 

round her; but all seemed lost in the transcendent beam that had shone 

out on her。  To be told by Philip that she was all to him that he had 

always been to her!  This one idea pervaded hertoo glorious; too 

happy for utterance; almost for distinct thought。  The softening of his 

voice; and the look with which he had regarded her; recurred again and 

again; startling her with a sudden surprise of joy almost as at the 

first moment。  Of the future Laura thought not。  Never had a promise of 

love been made with less knowledge of what it amounted to: it seemed 

merely an expression of sentiments that she had never been without; for 

had she not always looked up to Philip more than any other living 

creature; and gloried in being his favourite cousin?  Ever since the 

time when he explained to her the plates in the Encyclopaedia; and made 

her read 'Joyce's Scientific Dialogues;' when Amy took fright at the 

first page。  That this might lead further did not occur to her; she was 

eighteen; she had no experience; not even in novels; she did not know 

what she had done; and above all; she had so leant to surrender her 

opinions to Philip; and to believe him always right; that she would 

never have dreamt of questioning wherever he might choose to lead her。  

Even the caution of secrecy did not alarm her; though she wondered that 

he thought it required; safe as his confidence always was with her。  

Mrs。 Edmonstone had been so much occupied by Charles's illness; as to 

have been unable to attend to her daughters in their girlish days; and 

in the governess's time the habit had been disused of flying at once to 

her with every joy or grief。  Laura's thoughts were not easy of access; 

and Philip had long been all in all to her。  She was too ignorant of 

life to perceive that it was her duty to make this conversation known; 

or; more truly; she did not awaken her mind to consider that anything 

could be wrong that Philip desired。



On coming home; she ran up to her own room; and sitting by the open 

window; gave herself up to that delicious dream of new…found joy。



There she still sat when Amy came in; opening the door softly; and 

treading lightly and airily as she entered; bringing two or three roses 

of different tints。



'Laura! not begun to dress?'



'Is it time?'



'Shall I answer you according to what Philip calls my note of time; and 

tell you the pimpernels are closed; and the tigridias dropping their 

leaves?  It would be a proper answer for you; you look as if you were 

in Fairy Land。'



'Is papa come home?'



'Long ago! and Guy too。  Why; where could you have been; not to have 

heard Guy and Eveleen singing the Irish melodies?'



'In a trance;' said Laura; starting up; and laughing; with a slight 

degree of constraint; which caused Amy; who was helping her to dress; 

to exclaim; 'Has anything happened; Laura?'



'What should have happened?'



'I can't guess; unless the fairies in the great ring on Ashendown came 

to visit you when we were gone。   But seriously; dear Laura; are you 

sure you are not tired?  Is nothing the matter?'



'Nothing at all; thank you。  I was only thinking over the talk I had 

with Philip。'



'Oh!'



Amy never thought of entering into Philip's talks with Laura; and was 

perfectly satisfied。



By this time Laura was herself again; come back to common life; and 

resolved to watch over her intercourse with Guy; since; though she was 

convinced that all was safe at present; she had Philip's word for it 

that there might be danger in continuing the pleasant freedom of their 

behaviour。



Nothing could be more reassuring than Guy's demeanour。  His head seemed 

entirely full of the Thursday; and of a plan of his own for enabling 

Charles to go to the review。  It had darted into his head while he was 

going over the
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!