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the heir of redclyffe-第31部分

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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 ground with Maurice。  It was so long since Charles had 

thought it possible to attempt any amusement away from home; and former 

experiments had been so unsuccessful; that it had never even occurred 

to him to think of it; but he caught at the idea with great delight and 

eagerness。  Mrs。 Edmonstone seemed not to know what to say; she had 

much rather that it had not been proposed; yet it was very kind of Guy; 

and Charles was so anxious about it that she knew not how to oppose 

him。



She could not bear to have Charles in a crowd; helpless as he was; and 

she had an unpleasing remembrance of the last occasion when they had 

taken him to a flower…show; where they had lost; first Mr; Edmonstone; 

next the carriage; and lastly; Amy and Charlotteall had been 

frightened; and Charles laid up for three days from the fatigue。



Answers; however; met each objection。  Charles was much stronger; Guy's 

arm would be ready for him; Guy would find the carriage。  Philip would 

be there to help; besides Maurice; and whenever Charles was tired; Guy 

would take him home at once; without spoiling any one's pleasure。



'Except your own;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。



'Thank you; but this would be so delightful。'



'Ah!' said Charles; 'it would be as great a triumph as the dog's that 

caught the hare with the clog round his neckthe dog's; I mean。'



'If you will but trust me with him;' said Guy; turning on her all the 

pleading eloquence of his eyes; 'you know he can get in and out of the 

pony…carriage quite easily。'



'As well as walk across the room;' said Charles。



'I would drive him in it; and tell William to ride in and be at hand to 

hold the pony or take it out; and the tent is so near; that you could 

get to the breakfast; unless the review had been enough for you。  I 

paced the distance to make sure; and it is no further than from the 

garden…door to the cherry…tree。'



'That is nothing;' said Charles。



'And William shall be in waiting to bring the pony the instant you are 

ready; and we can go home independently of every one else。'



'I thought;' interposed Mrs。 Edmonstone; 'that you were to go to the 

mess…dinnerwhat is to become of that?'



'O;' said Charles; 'that will be simply a bore; and he may rejoice to 

be excused from going the whole hog。'



'To be sure; I had rather dine in peace at home。'



Mrs。 Edmonstone was not happy; but she had great confidence in Guy; and 

her only real scruple was; that she did not think it fair to occupy him 

entirely with attendance on her son。  She referred it to papa; which; 

as every one knew; was the same as yielding the point; and consoled 

herself by the certainty that to prevent it would be a great 

disappointment to both the youths。  Laura was convinced that to achieve 

the adventure of Charles at the review; was at present at least a 

matter of far more prominence with Guy than anything relating to 

herself。



All but Laura and her mother were wild about the weather; especially on 

Wednesday; when there was an attempt at a thunder storm。  Nothing was 

studied but the sky; and the conversation consisted of 

prognostications; reports of rises and falls of the glass; of the way 

weather…cocks were turning; or about to turn; of swallows flying high 

or low; red sunsets; and halos round the moon; until at last Guy; 

bursting into a merry laugh; begged Mrs。 Edmonstone's pardon for being 

such a nuisance; and made a vow; and kept it; that be the weather what 

it might; he would say not another word about it that evening; it 

deserved to be neglected; for he had not been able to settle to 

anything all day。



He might have said for many days before; for since the last ball; and 

still more since Lady Eveleen had been at Hollywell; it had been one 

round of merriment and amusement。  Scrambling walks; tea…drinkings out 

of doors; dances among themselves; or with the addition of the Harpers; 

were the order of the day。  Amy; Eveleen; and Guy; could hardly come 

into the room without dancing; and the piano was said to acknowledge 

nothing but waltzes; polkas; and now and then an Irish jig; for the 

special benefit of Mr。 Edmonstone's ears。  The morning was almost as 

much spent in mirth as the afternoon; for the dawdlings after 

breakfast; and before luncheon; had a great tendency to spread out and 

meet; there was new music and singing to be practised; or preparations 

made for evening's diversion; or councils to be held; which Laura's 

absence could not break up; though it often made Amy feel how much less 

idle and frivolous Laura was than herself。  Eveleen said the same; but 

she was visiting; and it was a time to be idle; and Mr。 Lascelles 

seemed to be of the same opinion with regard to his pupil; for; when 

Guy was vexed at not having done as much work as usual; he only laughed 

at him for expecting to be able to go to balls; and spend a summer of 

gaiety; while he studied as much as at Oxford。



Thursday morning was all that heart could wish; the air cooled by the 

thunder; and the clouds looking as if raining was foreign to their 

nature。  Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone; their daughters; and Lady Eveleen; 

were packed inside and outside the great carriage; while Guy; carefully 

settling Charles in the low phaeton; putting in all that any one 

recommended; from an air…cushion to an umbrella; flourished his whip; 

and drove off with an air of exultation and delight。



Everything went off to admiration。  No one was more amused than 

Charles。  The scene was so perfectly new and delightful to one 

accustomed to such a monotonous life; that the very sight of people was 

a novelty。  Nowhere was there so much laughing and talking as in that 

little carriage; and whenever Mrs。 Edmonstone's anxious eye fell upon 

it; she always saw Charles sitting upright; with a face so full of 

eager interest as to banish all thought of fatigue。  Happy; indeed; he 

was。  He enjoyed the surprise of his acquaintance at meeting him; he 

enjoyed Dr。 Mayerne's laugh and congratulation; he enjoyed seeing how 

foolish Philip thought him; nodding to his mother and sisters; laughing 

at the dreadful faces Guy could not help making at any particularly 

discordant note of the offensive bugle; and his capabilities rising 

with his spirits; he did all that the others did; walked further than 

he had done for years; was lifted up steps without knowing how; sat out 

the whole breakfast; talked to all the world; and well earned the being 

thoroughly tired; as he certainly was when Guy put him into the 

carriage and drove him home; and still more so when Guy all but carried 

him up stairs; and laid him on the sofa in the dressing…room。



However; his mother announced that it would have been so unnatural if 

he had not been fatigued; that she should have been more anxious; and 

leaving him to repose; they all; except Mr。 Edmonstone; who had stayed 

to dine at the mess; sat down to dinner。



Amy came down dressed just as the carriage had been announced; and 

found Laura and Eveleen standing by the table; arranging their 

bouquets; while Guy; in the dark; behind the piano; was playingnot; 

as usual; in such cases; the Harmonious Blacksmith; but a chant。



'Is mamma ready?' asked Laura。



'Nearly;' said Amy; 'but I wish she was not obliged to go!  I am sure 

she cannot bear to leave Charlie。'



'I hope she is not going on my account;' said Eveleen。



'No; said Laura; 'we must go; it would so frighten papa if we did not 

come。  Besides; there is nothing to be uneasy about with Charles。'



'O no;' said Amy; 'she says so; only she is always anxious; and she is 

afraid he is too restless to go to sleep。'



'We must get home as fast as we can; if you don't mind; Eva;' said 

Laura; remembering how her last dance with Guy had delayed them。



'Can I do any good to Charlie?' said Guy; ceasing his music。  I don't 

mean to go。'



'Not go!' cried the girls in consternation。



'He is joking!' said Eveleen。 'But; I declare!' added she; advancing 

towards him; 'he is not dressed!  Come; nonsense; this is carrying it 

too far; you'll make us all too late; and then I'll set Maurice at 

you。'



'I am afraid it is no joke;' said Guy; smiling。



'You must go。  It will never do for you to stay away;' said Laura; 

decidedly。



'Are you tired?  Aren't you well?' asked Amy。



'Quite well; thank you; but I am sure I had better not。'



Laura thought she had better not seem anxious to take him; so she left 

the task of persuasion; to the others; and Amy went on。



'Neither Mamma nor Charlie could bear to think you stayed because of 

him。'



'I don't; I assure you; Amy。  I meant it before。  I have been gradually 

finding out that it must come to this。
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