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the heir of redclyffe-第52部分

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coolly to see my daughter so treated。'



'I would only give him the opportunity of saying what he can for 

himself。  He may have some explanation。'



'I'll admit of no explanation!  Passing himself off for steadiness 

itself; daring to think of my daughter; and all the time going on in 

this fashion!  I hate underhand ways!  I'll have no explanation。  He 

may give up all thoughts of her。  I'll write and tell him so before I'm 

a day older; nay; before I stir from this room。  My little Amy; 

indeed!'



Philip put no obstacles in the way of this proposal; for he knew that 

his uncle's displeasure; though hot at first; was apt to evaporate in 

exclamations; and he thought it likely that his good nature; his 

partiality for his ward; his dislike to causing pain to his daughter; 

and; above all; his wife's blind confidence in Guy; would; when once at 

home; so overpower his present indignation as to prevent the salutary 

strictness which was the only hope of reclaiming Guy。  Beside; a letter 

written under Philip's inspection was likely to be more guarded; as 

well as more forcible; than an unassisted composition of his own; as 

was; indeed; pretty well proved by the commencement of his first 

attempt。



'My dear Guy;I am more surprised than I could have expected at your 

application。'



Philip read this aloud; so as to mark its absurdity; and he began 

again。



'I am greatly astonished; as well as concerned; at your application; 

which confirms the unpleasant reports'



'Why say anything of reports?' said Philip。  'Reports are nothing。  A 

man is not forced to defend himself from reports。'



'Yes;humha;the accounts I have received。  No。  You say there is 

not to be a word of Mrs。 Henley。'



'Not a word that can lead her to be suspected。'



'Confirmsconfirms' sighed Mr。 Edmonstone。



'Don't write as if you went on hearsay evidence。  Speak of proofs

irrefragable proofsand then you convict him at once; without power of 

eluding you。'



So Mr。 Edmonstone proceeded to write; that the application confirmed 

the irrefragable proofs; then laughed at himself; and helplessly begged 

Philip to give him a start。 It now stood thus:



'Your letter of this morning has caused me more concern than surprise; 

as it unhappily only adds confirmation to the intelligence already in 

my possession; that either from want of resolution to withstand the 

seductions of designing persons; or by the impetuosity and instability 

of your own character; you have been led into the ruinous and degrading 

practice of gambling; and that from hence proceed the difficulties that 

occasion your application to me for money。  I am deeply grieved at thus 

finding that neither the principles which have hitherto seemed to guide 

you; nor the pledges which you used to hold sacred; nor; I may add; the 

feelings you have so recently expressed towards a member of my family; 

have been sufficient to preserve you from yielding to a temptation 

which could never be presented to the mind of any one whose time was 

properly occupied in the business of his education。'



'Is that all I am to say about her;' exclaimed Mr。 Edmonstone; 'after 

the atrocious way the fellow has treated her in?'



'Since it is; happily; no engagement; I cannot see how you can; with 

propriety; assume that it is one; by speaking of breaking it off。  

Besides; give him no ground for complaint; or he will take refuge in 

believing himself ill…used。  Ask him if he can disprove it; and when he 

cannot; it will be time enough to act further。  But waitwait; sir;' 

as the pen was moving over the paper; impatient to dash forward。  'You 

have not told him yet of what you accuse him。'



Philip meditated a few moments; then produced another sentence。



'I have no means of judging how long you have been following this 

unhappy course; I had rather believe it is of recent adoption; but I do 

not know how to reconcile this idea with the magnitude of your demand; 

unless your downward progress has been more rapid than usual in such 

beginnings。  It would; I fear; be quite vain for me to urge upon you 

all the arguments and reasons that ought to have been present to your 

mind; and prevented you from taking the first fatal step。  I can only 

entreat you to pause; and consider the ruin and degradation to which 

this hateful vice almost invariably conducts its victims; and 

consistently with my duty as your guardian; everything in my power 

shall be done to extricate you from the embarrassments in which you 

have involved yourself。  But; in the first place; I make it a point 

that you treat me with perfect confidence; and make a full; unequivocal 

statement of your proceedings; above all; that you explain the 

circumstances; occasioning your request for this large sum。  Remember; 

I say; complete candour on your part will afford the only means of 

rescuing you from difficulties; or of in any degree restoring you to my 

good opinion。'



So far the letter had proceeded slowly; for Philip was careful and 

deliberate in composition; and while he was weighing his words; Mr。 

Edmonstone rushed on with something unfit to stand; so as to have to 

begin over again。  At last; the town clock struck five; Philip started; 

declaring that if he was not at the station in five minutes; he should 

lose the train; engaged to come to Hollywell on the day an answer might 

be expected; and hastened away; satisfied by having seen two sheets 

nearly filled; and having said there was nothing more but to sign; 

seal; and send it。



Mr。 Edmonstone had; however; a page of note…paper more; and it was with 

a sensation of relief that he wrote;



'I wish; from the bottom of my heart; that you could clear yourself。  

If a dozen men had sworn it till they were black in the face; I would 

not have believed it of you that you could serve us in such a manner; 

after the way you have been treated at home; and to dare to think of my 

daughter with such things on your mind。  I could never have believed 

it; but for the proofs Philip has brought; and I am sure he is as sorry 

as myself。  Only tell the whole truth; and I will do my best to get you 

out of the scrape。  Though all else must be at an end between us; I am 

your guardian still; and I will not be harsh with you。'



He posted his letter; climbed up his tall horse; and rode home; rather 

heavy…hearted; but his wrath burning out as he left Broadstone behind 

him。  He saw his little Amy gay and lively; and could not bear to 

sadden her; so he persuaded himself that there was no need to mention 

the suspicions till he had heard what Guy had to say for himself。  

Accordingly; he told no one but his wife; and she; who thought Guy as 

unlikely to gamble as Amy herself; had not the least doubt that he 

would be able to clear himself; and agreed that it was much better to 

keep silence for the present。









CHAPTER 15







'Tis not unknown to you; Antonio;

How much I have disabled mine estate;

By something showing a more swelling port

Than my faint means would grant continuance。  Merchant of Venice





St。 Mildred's was a fashionable summer resort; which the virtues of a 

mineral spring; and the reputation of Dr。 Henley; had contributed to 

raise to a high degree of prosperity。  It stood at the foot of a 

magnificent range of beautifully formed hills; where the crescents and 

villas; white and smart; showed their own insignificance beneath the 

purple peaks that rose high above them。



About ten miles distant; across the hills; was Stylehurst; the parish 

of the late Archdeacon Morville; and the native place of Philip and his 

sister Margaret。  It was an extensive parish; including a wide tract of 

the hilly country; and in a farm…house in the midst of the moorland; 

midway between St。 Mildred's and the village of Stylehurst; had Mr。 

Wellwood fixed himself with his three pupils。



Guy's first visit was of course to Mrs。 Henley; and she was; on her 

side; prepared by her brother to patronize him as Philip would have 

done in her place。  Her patronage was valuable in her own circle; her 

connections were good; the Archdeacon's name was greatly respected; she 

had a handsome and well…regulated establishment; and this; together 

with talents which; having no family; she had cultivated more than most 

women have time to do; made her a person of considerable distinction at 

St。 Mildred's。  She was; in fact; the leading lady of the placethe 

manager of the book…club; in the chair at all the charitable 

committees; and the principal person in society; giving literary 

parties; with a degree of exclusiveness that made admission to them a 

privilege。



She was a very fine woman; handsomer at two…and…thirty than in her 

early bloom; her height little less than that of her tall brother; and 

her manner and air had something very distinguished。  The first ti
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