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the heir of redclyffe-第83部分

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concert where he was employed; and grew so ardent in his description of 

it; that Guy could have wished to go; but his companions were in haste 

to say there was far too much to do。  And the next moment Guy told 

himself; that Mr。 Edmonstone's good…natured face and joyous 'eh; Guy?' 

were more to him than any music he could hear nearer than Hollywell。



He went down…stairs with his uncle; who all the way raved about the 

music; satisfied to find ears that could comprehend; and was too full 

of it even to attend or respond to the parting thanks; for his last 

words were something about a magnificent counter…tenor。



Guy walked up slowly; trying to gather his thoughts: but when it came 

back to him that Amy was his again; his brain seemed to reel with 

ecstasy; and it would have taken far more time than he could spare to 


recall his sober senses; so he opened the door; to convince himself at 

least of Mr。 Edmonstone's presence; and was received with another shake 

of the hand。



'So here you are again。  I was afraid he was carrying you off to his 

concert after all!   I believe you have half a mind for it。  Do you 

like to stay in London for the next?  Eh; Guy?' and it was good to hear 

Mr。 Edmonstone's hearty laugh; as he patted his ward on the shoulder; 

saw his blushing; smiling shake of the head; and gave a knowing look; 

which let in a fresh light on Markham; and luckily was unseen by Guy。



'Well;' continued Mr。 Edmonstone; 'the man is more gentlemanlike than I 

expected。  A good sort of fellow at the bottom; I dare say。  He was 

pretty considerably shocked to find he had brought you into such a 

scrape。'



'He is very generous;' said Guy。  'Oh; there is much of a noble 

character in him。'



'Noble! humph!' put in Markham。  'He has gone down…hill fast enough; 

since I used to see him in your father's time; but I am glad he had the 

decency not to be the undoing of you。'



'His feeling is his great point;' said Guy; 'when you can once get at 

it。  I wish' But breaking off short; 'I can't make it out。  What did 

little Marianne tell you?  Or was it Miss Wellwood?'



'It was first the youngest sister;' said Markham。  'I sat there talking 

to her some little time; she said you had been very kind to the family; 

and the child was very grateful to youwas always talking of some 

morning when you and your dog came; and helped her mother。  Her father 

had been out all night; and her mother was crying; she said; and 

declaring he would be sent to prison; till you came and helped them。'



'Yes; that's it;' said Guy。



'Well; I remembered what you had told me of the mystery of the draft; 

and guessed that this might be the clue to it。  I begged to see the 

child; and in she came; the very image of your mother; and a sharp 

little thing that knew what she meant; but had not much idea of the 

shame; poor child; about her father。  She told me the story of his 

coming home in the morning; and her mother being in great distress; and 

saying they were ruined; till you came and talked to her mother; and 

gave her something。  I asked if it was money; and she said it was 

paper。  I showed her a draft; and she knew it was like that。  So then I 

made her tell me where to find her father; whom I used to know in old 

times; and had to write to; now and then。  I hunted him up; and a 

creditable figure he was; to be sure; but I got the truth out of him at 

last; and when he heard you had got into disgrace on his account; he 

raved like a tragedy hero; and swore he would come and tell your 

guardian the whole story。  I put him into a cab for fear he should 

repent; and he had just got to the end of it when you came in。'



'It is of no use to thank you again; Markham!'



'Why; I have been getting your family out of scrapes these forty years 

or thereabouts;' said Markham; ''tis all I am good for; and if they had 

been no worse than this one it would be better for all of us。  But time 

is getting on; and there is enough to do。'



To the accounts they went at once。  There was a good deal to be 

settled; and though Guy had as yet no legal power; according to his 

grandfather's will; he was of course consulted about everything。  He 

was glad that; since he could not be alone to bring himself to the 

realization of his newly…recovered happiness; he should have this 

sobering and engrossing occupation。  There he sat; coolly discussing 

leases and repairs; and only now and then allowing himself a sort of 

glimpse at the treasury of joy awaiting him whenever he had time to 

dwell on it。  The Coombe Prior matters were set in a better train; the 

preliminary arrangements about the curacy were made; and Guy had hopes 

it would be his friend Mr。 Wellwood's title for Orders。



There was no time to write to Hollywell; or rather Mr。 Edmonstone 

forgot to do so till it was too late; and then consoled himself by 

observing that it did not signify if his family were taken by surprise; 

since joy killed no one。



His family were by no means of opinion that it did not signify when the 

next morning's post brought them no letter。  Mrs Edmonstone and Charles 

had hoped much; and Amy did not know how much she hoped until the 

melancholy words; 'no letter;' passed from one to the other。



To make it worse; by some of those mismanagements of Mr。 Edmonstone's 

which used to run counter to his wife's arrangements; a dinner…party 

had been fixed for this identical Wednesday; and the prospect was 

agreeable to no one; especially when the four o'clock train did not 

bring Mr。 Edmonstone; who; therefore; was not to be expected till 

seven; when all the world would be arrived。



Laura helped Amy to dress; put the flowers in her hair; kissed her; and 

told her it was a trying day; and Amy sighed wearily; thanked her; and 

went down with arms twined in hers; whispering; 'If I could help being 

so foolish as to let myself have a little hope!'



Laura thought the case so hopeless; that she was sorry Amy could not 

cease from the foolishness; and did not answer。  Amy sat down at the 

foot of the sofa; whither Charles was now carried down every day; and 

without venturing to look at him; worked at her netting。  A carriage

her colour came and went; but it was only some of the guests; another

the Brownlows。  Amy was speaking to Miss Brownlow when she heard more 

greetings; she looked up; caught by the arm of the sofa; and looked 

again。  Her father was pouring out apologies and welcomes; and her 

mother was shaking hands with Guy。



Was it a dream?  She shut her eyes; then looked again。  He was close to 

her by this time; she felt his fingers close on her white glove for one 

moment; but she only heard his voice in the earnest 'How are you; 

Charlie?'  Her father came to her; gave her first his usual kiss of 

greeting; then; not letting her go; looked at her for a moment; and; as 

if he could not help it; kissed her on both cheeks; and said; 'How d'ye 

do; my little Amy?' in a voice that meant unutterable things。  All the 

room was swimming round; there was nothing for it but to run away; and 

she ran; but from the ante…room she heard the call outside; 'Sir Guy's 

bag to his room;' and she could not rush out among the servants。  At 

that moment; however; she spied Mary Ross and her father; she darted up 

to them; said something incoherent about Mary's bonnet; and took her up 

to her own room。



'Amy; my dear; you look wild。  What has come to you?'



'Papa is come home; and' the rest failed; and Amy was as red as the 

camellia in her hair。



'And?' repeated Mary; 'and the mystery is explained?'



'Oh!  I don't know; they are only just come; and I was so silly; I ran 

away;I did not know what to do。'



'_They_ are come; are they?' thought Mary。  'My little Amy; I see it 

all。'



She made the taking off her bonnet and the settling her lace as 

elaborate an operation as she could; and Amy flitted about as if she 

did not by any means know what she was doing。  A springy; running step 

was heard on the stairs and in the passage; and Mary; though she could 

not see her little friend's face; perceived her neck turn red for a 

moment; after which Amy took her arm; pressed it affectionately; and 

they went down。



Mrs。 Edmonstone was very glad to see Amabel looking tolerably natural。  

'Mamma' was of course burning to hear all; but she was so confident 

that the essentials were safe; that her present care was to see how her 

two young lovers would be able to comport themselves; and to be on her 

guard against attending to them more than to her guests。



Amy; after passing by Charles; and getting a squeeze from his ever…

sympathizing hand; put herself away behind Mary; while Laura talked to 

every one; hoping to show that there was some self…possession in the 

family。  Guy reappeared; but; after one glance to see if Amy was 

present; he did not look at her
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