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the heir of redclyffe-第84部分

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

present; he did not look at her again; but went and leant over the 

lower end of Charles's sofa; just as he used to do; and Charles lay 

gazing at him; and entirely forgetting what he had been trying to say 

just before to Mrs。 Brownlow; professing to have come from London that 

morning; and making the absent mistakes likely to be attributed to the 

lovers themselves。



Mr。 Edmonstone came; and dinner followed。  As Mrs。 Edmonstone paired 

off her company; she considered what to do with her new arrival。



'If you had come two hours ago;' said she; within herself; 'I would 

have let you be at home。  Now you must be a great man; and be content 

with me。  It will be better for Amy。'



Accordingly Guy was between her and Mrs。 Gresham。  She did not try to 

speak to him; and was amused by his fitful attempts at making 

conversation with Mrs。 Gresham; when it struck him that he ought to be 

taking notice of her。  Amy (very fortunately; in her own opinion) was 

out of sight of him; on the same side of the table; next to Mr。 Ross; 

who; like his daughter; guessed enough about the state of things to let 

her alone。



Charles was enjoying all manner of delightful conjectures with 

Charlotte; till the ladies returned to the drawing…room; and then he 

said as much as he dared to Mary Ross; far more than she had gained 

from Laura; who; as they came out of the dining…room; had said;



'Don't ask me any questions; for I know nothing at all about it。'



Amy was talked to by Mrs。 Gresham about club…books; and new flowers; to 

which she was by this time able to attend very well; satisfied that his 

happiness had returned; and content to wait till the good time for 

knowing how。  She could even be composed when the gentlemen came in; 

Guy talking to Mr。 Ross about Coombe Prior; and then going to Charles; 

but presently she saw no more; for a request for music was made; and 

she was obliged to go and play a duet with Laura。  She did not dislike 

this; but there followed a persecution for some singing。  Laura would 

have spared her; but could not; and while she was turning over the book 

to try to find something that was not impossible to begin; and Laura 

whispering encouragingly; 'Thistry thisyour part is almost nothing; 

or can't you do this?' another hand turned over the leaves; as if 

perfectly at home in them; and; without speaking; as if it was natural 

for him to spare Amy; found a song which they had often sung together; 

where she might join as much or as little as she chose; under cover of 

his voice。  She had not a thought or sensation beyond the joy of 

hearing it again; and she stood; motionless; as if in a trance。  When 

it was over; he said to Laura; 'I beg your pardon for making such bad 

work。  I am so much out of practice。'



Mrs。 Brownlow was seen advancing on them; Amy retreated; leaving Guy 

and Laura to fulfil all that was required of them; which they did with 

a very good grace; and Laura's old familiar feeling began to revive; so 

much that she whispered while he was finding the place; 'Don't you 

dislike all this excessively?'



'It does as well as anything else; thank you;' was the answer。  'I can 

do it better than talking。'



At last they were released; and the world was going away。  Mary could 

not help whispering to Mrs。 Edmonstone; 'How glad you must be to get 

rid of us!' and; as Mrs。 Edmonstone answered with a smile; she ventured 

further to say;'How beautifully Amy has behaved!'



Little Amy; as soon as she had heard the last carriage roll off; wished 

every one good night; shook hands with Guy; holding up the lighted 

candle between him and her face as a veil; and ran away to her own 

room。  The others remained in a sort of embarrassed silence; Mr。 

Edmonstone rubbing his hands; Laura lighted the candles; Charlotte 

asked after Bustle; and was answered that he was at Oxford; and 

Charles; laying hold of the side of the sofa; pulled himself by it into 

a sitting posture。 



'Shall I help you?' said Guy。



'Thank you; but I am not ready yet; besides; I am an actual log now; 

and am carried as such; so it is of no use to wait for me。  Mamma shall 

have the first turn; and I won't even leave my door open。'



'Yes; yes; yes; go and have it out with mamma; next best to Amy 

herself; as she is run awayeh; Guy?' said Mr。 Edmonstone。



Guy and Mrs。 Edmonstone had not hitherto trusted themselves to speak to 

each other; but they looked and smiled; then; wishing the rest good 

night; they disappeared。  Then there was a simultaneous outbreak of 

'Well?' 

 

'All right!' said Mr。 Edmonstone。  'Every word was untrue。  He is the 

noblest fellow in the world; as I knew all the time; and I was an old 

fool for listening to a pack of stories against him。'



'Hurrah!' cried Charles; drumming on the back of his sofa。  'Let us 

hear how the truth came out; and what it was。'



'It was that Dixon。  There has he been helping that man for ever; 

sending his child to school; giving him sums upon sums; paying his 

gaming debts with that cheque!'



'Oh; oh!' cried Charles。



'Yes that was it!  The child told Markham of it; and Markham brought 

the father to tell me。  It puts me in a rage to think of the monstrous 

stories Philip has made me believe!'



'I was sure of it!' cried Charles。  'I knew it would come out that he 

had only been so much better than other people that nobody could 

believe it。  Cleared! cleared!  Why; Charlotte; Mr。 Ready…to…halt will 

be for footing it cleverly enough!' as she was wildly curvetting round 

him。



'I was always sure;' said Mr。 Edmonstone。  'I knew it was not in him to 

go wrong。  It was only Philip; who would persuade me black was white。'



'I never believed one word of it;' said Charles; 'still less after I 

saw Philip's animosity。'



'〃Les absens ont toujours tort;〃' interrupted Laura; then; afraid of 

saying too much; she added;'Come; Charlotte; it is very late。'



'And I shall be the first to tell Amy!' cried Charlotte。  'Good night; 

papa!good night; Charlie!'



She rushed up…stairs; afraid of being forestalled。  Laura lingered; 

putting some books away in the ante…room; trying to overcome the weary 

pain at her heart。  She did not know how to be confident。  Her father's 

judgment was worthless in her eyes; and Philip had predicted that Amy 

would be sacrificed after all。  To see them happy made her sigh at the 

distance of her own hopes; and worse than all was self…reproach for 

unkindness in not rejoicing with the rest; in spite of her real 

affection for Guy himself。  When she thought of him; she could not 

believe him guilty; when she thought of Philip's belief; she could not 

suppose him innocent; and she pitied her sister for enjoying a delusive 

happiness。  With effort; however; she went to her room; and; finding 

her a little overpowered by Charlotte's tumultuous joy; saw that peace 

and solitude were best for her till she could have more certain 

intelligence; and; after very tender good…nights; carried off 

Charlotte。



It would be hard to describe Mrs。 Edmonstone's emotion; as she preceded 

Guy to the dressing…room; and sat down; looking up to him as he stood 

in his old place by the fire。  She thought he did not look well; though 

it might be only that the sun…burnt colour had given place to his 

natural fairness; his eyes; though bright as ever; did not dance and 

sparkle; a graver expression sat on his brow; and although he still 

looked very young; a change there certainly was; which made him man 

instead of boya look of having suffered; and conquered suffering。  

She felt even more motherly affection for him now than when he last 

stood there in the full tide of his first outburst of his love for her 

daughter; and her heart was almost too full for speech; but he seemed 

to be waiting for her; and at last she said;'I am very glad to have 

you here again。'



He smiled a little; then said; 'May I tell you all about it?'



'Sit down here。  I want very much to hear it。  I am sure you have gone 

through a good deal。'



 I have; indeed;' said he; simply and gravely; and there was a silence; 

while she was certain that; whatever he might have endured; he did not 

feel it to have been in vain。



' But it is at an end;' said she。 'I have scarcely seen Mr。 Edmonstone; 

but he tells me he is perfectly satisfied。'



'He is so kind as to be satisfied; though you know I still cannot 

explain about the large sum I asked him for。'



'We will trust you;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone; smiling; 'but I am very 

anxious to hear how you came to an understanding。'



Guy went over the story in detail; and very much affected she was to 

hear how entirely unfounded had been the suspicion; and how thankful he 

was for Mr。 Edmonstone's forgiveness。



'You had rather to forgive us!' sa
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