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the heir of redclyffe-第75部分

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question about Coombe Prior; entering readily into the subject; and 

advising him to write to the Bishop; altogether with a tone of friendly 

interest which; especially as coming from one so near Hollywell; was a 

great pleasure; a real Christmas treat。  There was the wonted wish of 

the seasona happy Christmaswhich he took gratefully; and lastly 

there was a mention that Charles Edmonstone was better; the suffering 

over; though he was not yet allowed to move。



It was a new light that Charles's silence had been occasioned by 

illness; and his immediate resolution was to write at once to Mr。 Ross; 

to beg for further particulars。  In the meantime; the perception that 

there had been no estrangement was such a ray as can hardly be imagined 

without knowing the despondency it had enlivened。  The truth was; 

perhaps; that the tone of mind was recovering; and after having fixed 

himself in his resolution to endure; he was able to receive comfort and 

refreshment from without as well as from within。



He set to work to write at once to the Bishop; as Mr。 Ross advised。  He 

said he could not bear to lose time; and therefore wrote at once。  He 

should be of age on the 28th of March; and he hoped then to be able to 

arrange for a stipend for a curate; if the Bishop approved; and would 

kindly enter into communication on the appointment with Mr。 Halroyd; 

the incumbent。  After considering his letter a little while; and 

wishing he was sufficiently intimate with Mr。 Ashford to ask him if it 

would do; he wrote another to Mr。 Ross; to inquire after Charles; then 

he worked for an hour at mathematics; till a message came from the 

gamekeeper to ask whether he would go out shooting; whereat Bustle; 

evidently understanding; jumped about; and wagged his tail so 

imploringly; that Guy could not resist; so he threw his books upon the 

top of the great pile on the sofa; and; glad that at least he could 

gratify dog and man; he sent word that he should be ready in five 

minutes。



He could not help enjoying the ecstasy of all the dogs; and; indeed he 

was surprised to find himself fully alive to the delight of forcing his 

way through a furze…brake; hearing the ice in the peaty bogs crackle 

beneath his feet; getting a good shot; bringing down his bird; finding 

snipe; and diving into the depths of the long; winding valleys and 

dingles; with the icicle…hung banks of their streamlets。  He came home 

through the village at about half…past three o'clock; sending the 

keeper to leave some of his game at the parsonage; while he went 

himself to see how the work was getting on at the school。  Mr。 and Mrs。 

Ashford and the boys were come on the same errand; in spite of the 

cloud of dust rising from the newly…demolished lath…and…plaster 

partition。  The boys looked with longing eyes at the gun in his hand; 

and the half…frozen compound of black and red mud on his gaiters; but 

they were shy; and their enmity added to their shyness; so that even 

when he shook hands with them; and spoke good…naturedly; they did not 

get beyond a monosyllable。



Mr。 and Mrs。 Ashford; feeling some compunction for having left him to 

his solitude so long; asked him to dinner for one of the ensuing days; 

with some idea of getting some one to meet him; and named six o'clock。



'Won't that put you out?  Don't you always dine early?' said he。  'If 

you would let me; I should like to join you at your tea…time。'



'If you will endure a host of children;' said Mr。 Ashford; 'I should 

like it of all things;' said Guy。  'I want to make acquaintance very 

much;' and he put his hand on Robert's shoulder。  'Besides; I want to 

talk to you about the singing; and how we are to get rid of that fiddle 

without breaking James Robinson's heart。'



The appointment was made; and Guy went home to his hasty dinner; his 

Greek; and a little refreshing return afterwards to the books which had 

been the delight of younger days。  There was no renewal of the burthen 

of despair that had so long haunted his evenings。  Employments 

thickened on his hands as the days passed on。  There was further 

correspondence about Coombe Prior and the curate; and consultations 

with Markham about farmer Todd; who was as obstinate and troublesome as 

possible。  Guy made Markham come to Coombe Prior with him; examine and 

calculate about the cottages; and fairly take up the subject; though 

without much apparent chance of coming to any satisfactory result。  A 

letter came from Mr。 Ross; telling him even more than he had ventured 

to hope; for it brought a message from Charles himself。  Charles had 

been delighted to hear of him; and had begged that he might be told how 

very sorry he had been not to write; and how incapable he had been; and 

still was; but that he hoped Guy would write to him; and believe him in 

the same mind。  Mr。 Ross added an account of Charles's illness; saying 

the suffering had been more severe than usual; and had totally disabled 

him for many weeks; that they had since called in a London surgeon; who 

had given him hope that he might be better now than ever before; but 

had prescribed absolute rest for at least six weeks longer; so that 

Charles was now flat on his back all day; beginning to be able to be 

amused; and very cheerful and patient。



The pleasure of entering into communication with Hollywell again; and 

knowing that Charles at least would be glad to hear from him; was so 

exquisite; that he was almost surprised; considering that in essentials 

he was where he was before; and even Charles could not be Amy。









CHAPTER 23







They hadna sailed a league; a league;

A league; but barely three;

When the lift grew dark; and the wind grew loud;

And gurly grew the sea。SIR PATRICK SPENS。(Old Ballad。)





Guy's evening with the Ashfords threw down many of the barriers in the 

way of intimacy。  He soon made friends with the children; beginning 

with the two years old baby; and ending with gaining even the shy and 

sturdy Robin; who could not hold out any longer; when it appeared that 

Sir Guy could tell him the best place for finding sea…urchins; the 

present objects of his affections。



'But we should have to go through the park;' said Edward; 

disconsolately; when Guy had described the locality。



'Well; why not?'



'We must not go into the park!' cried the children; in chorus。



'Not go into the park!' exclaimed Guy; looking at Mrs。 Ashford; in 

amazement; then; as it flashed on him that it was his part to give 

leave; he added;'I did not know I was such a dog in the manger。  I 

thought all the parish walked naturally in the park。  I don't know what 

else it is good for。  If Markham will lock it up; I must tell him to 

give you a key。'



The boys were to come the next dayto be shown the way to the bay of 

urchins; and thenceforth they became his constant followers to such a 

degree; that their parents feared they were very troublesome; but he 

assured them to the contrary; and no mother in the world could have 

found it in her heart to keep them away from so much happiness。 There 

was continually a rushing home with a joyous outcry;'Mamma!  Sir Guy 

gave me a ride on his horse!'  'Mamma!  Sir Guy helped us to the top of 

that great rock!'  'Oh; papa!  Sir Guy says we may come out shooting 

with him to…morrow; if you will let us!'  'Mamma! papa! look!  Do you 

see?  I shot this rabbit my own self with Sir Guy's gun!'  'Papa! papa!  

Sir Guy showed us his boat; and he says he will take us out to the Shag 

Rock; if you will give us leave!'



This was beyond what papa; still further beyond what mamma; could like; 

since the sea was often very rough in parts near the Shag; there were a 

good many sunken rocks; and boys; water; and rocks; did not appear by 

any means a safe conjunction; so Mrs。 Ashford put the matter off for 

the present by the unseasonableness of the weather; and Mr。 Ashford 

asked one or two of the fishermen how far they thought landing on the 

Shag a prudent attempt。



They did not profess to have often tried; they always avoided those 

rocks; but it could hardly be very dangerous; they said; for when Sir 

Guy was a boy; he used to be about there for ever; at first with an old 

boatman; and afterwards alone in his little boat。  They had often 

wondered he was trusted there; but if any one knew the rocks; he did。



Still; Mrs。 Ashford could not make up her mind to like the idea; and 

the boys came to Sir Guy in a state of great discomposure。



'Never mind' he said; 'perhaps we shall manage it in the summer。  We 

will get your father to go out with us himself; and; in the meantime; 

who likes to come with me after the rabbits in Cliffstone Copse?  

Farmer Holt will thank Robin for killing a dozen or so; for he makes 

grievous complaints of them。'



Guy conducted the boys out of sight of the sea; and; to console them; 

gave th
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