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80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!




Amy rose; and came forward; but the colour had flushed into her cheeks 

again; and the recollection occurred to Mary; that her fame as a 

performer; in that way; arose from the very amusing manner in which she 

and Sir Guy had conducted the game last year。  At the same moment her 

mother met her; and whispered;



'Had you rather not; my dear?'



'I can do it; mamma; thank younever mind。'



'I should like to send you up to Charliehe has been so long alone。'



'Oh! thank you; dear mamma;' with a look of relief。



'Here is Charlotte wild to be a musician;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。  

'Perhaps you will see how she can manage; for I think Charles must want 

a visit from his little nurse。'



Amy moved quietly away; and entered Charles's room; full of warm 

gratitude for the kindness which was always seeking how to spare her。



Charles was asleep; and throwing a shawl round her; she sat down in the 

dim light of the lamp; relieved by the stillness; only broken by now 

and then a louder note of the music down…stairs。  It was very 

comfortable; after all that buzz of talk; and the jokes that seemed so 

nonsensical and tiresome。  There were but two people who could manage 

to make a party entertaining; and that was the reason it was so 

different last year。  Then Amy wondered if she was the only person who 

felt sick at heart and dreary; but she only wondered for a momentshe 

murmured half aloud to herself; 'I said I never would think of him 

except at my prayers!  Here I am doing it again; and on Christmas 

night。  I won't hide my eyes and moan over my broken reed; for 

Christmas is come; and the circles of song are widening round!  Glory! 

good will; peace on earth!  How he sang it last year; the last thing; 

when the people were gone; before we went up to bed。  But I am breaking 

my resolution again。  I must do something。'



She took up a book of sacred poetry; and began to learn a piece which 

she already nearly knew; but the light was bad; and it was dreamy work; 

and probably she was half asleep; for her thoughts wandered off to 

Sintram and the castle on the Mondenfelsen; which seemed to her like 

what she had pictured the Redclyffe crags; and the castle itself was 

connected in her imagination with the deep; echoing porch; while Guy's 

own voice seemed to be chanting





        Who lives forlorn;

        On God's own word doth rest;

        His path is bright

        With heavenly light;

        His lot among the blest。





'Are you there; Amy?' said Charles; waking。  'What are you staying here 

for?  Don't they want you?'



'Mamma was so kind as to send me up。'



'I am glad you are come; for I have something to tell you。  Mr。 Ross 

has been up to see me; you know; and he has a letter from Guy。'



Amy's heart beat fast; and; with eyes fixed on the ground; she listened 

as Charles continued to give an account of Guy's letter about Coombe 

Prior。  'Mr。 Ross is quite satisfied about him; Amy;' he concluded。  'I 

wish you could have heard the decided way in which he said; 〃He will 

_live_ it down。〃'



Amy's answer was to stoop down and kiss her brother's forehead。



Another week brought Guy's renewal of the correspondence。 



'Amy; here is something for you to read;' said Charles; holding up the 

letter as she came into the room。



She knew the writing。  'Wait one moment; Charlie; dear;' and she ran 

out of the room; found her mother fortunately alone; and said; averting 

her face;'Mamma; dear; do you think I ought to let Charlie show me 

that letter?'



Mrs。 Edmonstone took hold of her hand; and drew her round so as to look 

into the face through its veiling curls。  The hand shook; and the face 

was in a glow of eagerness。  'Yes; dearest!' said she; for she could 

not help it; and then; as Amy ran back again; she asked herself whether 

it was foolish; and bad for her sweet little daughter; then declared to 

herself that it mustit shouldit would come right。



There was not a word of Amy in the letter; but it; or something else; 

made her more bright and cheerful than she had been for some time past。  

It seemed as if the lengthening days of January were bringing renewed 

comfort with them; when Charles; who ever since October had been 

confined to bed; was able to wear the Chinese dressing…gown; be lifted 

to a couch; and wheeled into the dressing…room; still prostrate; but 

much enjoying the change of scene; which he called coming into the 

world。



These were the events at quiet Hollywell; while Redclyffe was still 

engrossed with the shipwreck; which seemed to have come on purpose to 

enliven and occupy this solitary winter。  It perplexed the Ashfords 

about their baronet more than ever。  Mr。 Ashford said that no one whose 

conscience was not clear could have confronted danger as he had done; 

and yet the certainty that he was under a cloud; and the sadness; so 

inconsistent with his age and temperament still puzzled them。  Mrs。 

Ashford thought she had made a discovery。  The second day after the 

wreck; the whole crew; except the little cabin…boy; were going to set 

off to the nearest sea…port; and the evening preceding their departure; 

they were to meet their rescuers; the fishermen; at a supper in the 

great servants' hall at the park。  Edward and Robert were in great 

glory; bringing in huge branches of evergreens to embellish the clean; 

cold place; and Mr。 and Mrs。 Ashford and Grace were to come to see the 

entertainment; after having some coffee in the library。



Guy prepared it for his company by tumbling his books headlong from the 

sofa to a more remote ottoman; sticking a bit of holly on the mantel…

shelf; putting out his beloved old friend; Strutt's 'Sports and 

Pastimes;' to amuse Grace; and making up an immense fire; and then; 

looking round; thought the room was uncommonly comfortable; but the 

first thing that struck Mrs; Ashford; when; with face beaming welcome; 

he ushered her in from the great hall; was how forlorn rooms looked 

that had not a woman to inhabit them。



The supper went off with great eclat。  Arnaud at the head of the table 

carved with foreign courtesies; contrasted with the downright bluff way 

of the sailors。  As soon as Sir Guy brought Mrs。 Ashford to look in on 

them; old James Robinson proposed his health; with hopes he would soon 

come and live among them for good; and Jonas Ledbury added another 

wish; that 'Lady Morville' might soon be there too。  At these words; an 

expression of pain came upon Guy's face; his lips were rigidly pressed 

together; he turned hastily away; and paced up and down before he could 

command his countenance。  All were so busy cheering; that no one heeded 

his change of demeanour save Mrs。 Ashford; and though; when he returned 

to the place where he had been standing; his complexion was deepened; 

his lip quivered; and his voice trembled in returning thanks; Mr。 

Ashford only saw the emotion naturally excited by his people's 

attachment。



The lady understood it better; and when she talked it over with her 

husband in the evening; they were convinced the cause of his trouble 

must be some unfortunate attachment; which he might think it his duty 

to overcome; and having settled this; they became very fond of him; and 

anxious to make Redclyffe agreeable to him。



Captain and crew departed; the little boy was better; and his hosts; 

Charity and Jem Ledbury; only wished to keep him for ever; the 

sensation at Redclyffe was subsiding; when one morning Markham came; in 

a state of extreme satisfaction and importance; to exhibit the county 

paper; with a full account of the gallant conduct of the youthful 

baronet。  Two or three days after; on coming home from a ride to Coombe 

Prior; Guy found Lord Thorndale's card; and heard from Arnaud that 'my 

lord had made particular inquiries how long he would be in the country; 

and had been to the cliff to see where the wreck was。'



Markham likewise attached great importance to this visit; and went off 

into a long story about his influence; and the representation of 

Moorworth; or even of the county。  As soon as Guy knew what he was 

talking about; he exclaimed; 'Oh; I hope all that is not coming on me 

yet!  Till I can manage Todd and Coombe Prior; I am sure I am not fit 

to manage the country!'



A few mornings after; he found on the table an envelope; which he 

studied; as if playing with his eagerness。  It had an East…hill post…

mark; and a general air of Hollywell writing; but it was not in the 

hand of either of the gentlemen; nor was the tail of the y such as Mrs。 

Edmonstone was wont to make。  It had even a resemblance to Amabel's own 

writing that startled him。  He opened it at last; and within found the 

hand he could not doubtCharles's; namelymuch more crooked than 

usual; and the words shortened and blotted:





'DEAR G。;I ought not to do this; but I must; 
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!