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the heir of redclyffe-第85部分

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was for Mr。 Edmonstone's forgiveness。



'You had rather to forgive us!' said she。



'You forget how ill I behaved;' said Guy; colouring。  'If you knew the 

madness of those first moments of provocation; you would think that the 

penance of a lifetime; instead of only one winter; would scarce have 

been sufficient。'



'You would not say; as Charles does; that the suspicion justified your 

anger?'



'No; indeed!'  He paused; and spoke again。  'Thank Heaven; it did not 

last long; but the insight it gave me into the unsubdued evil about me 

was a fearful thing。'



'But you conquered it。  They were the unguarded exclamations of the 

first shock。  Your whole conduct since; especially the interview with 

Philip; has shown that your anger has not been abiding; and that you 

have learnt to subdue it。'



'It could not abide; for there was no just cause of offence。  Of course 

such a dreadful outburst warned me to be on my guard; and you know the 

very sight of Philip is a warning that there is danger in that way!  I 

mean;' said Guy; becoming conscious that he had been very severe; 'I 

mean that I know of old that I am apt to be worried by his manner; and 

that ought to make me doubly cautious。'



Mrs。 Edmonstone was struck by the soberer manner in which he spoke of 

his faults。  He was as ready to take full blame; but without the 

vehemence which he used to expend in raving at himself instead of at 

the offender。  It seemed as if he had brought himself to the tone he 

used to desire so earnestly。



'I am very glad to be able to explain all to Philip;' he said。



'I will write as soon as possible。  Oh; Mrs。 Edmonstone! if you knew 

what it is to be brought back to such unhoped…for happiness; to sit 

here once more; with you;'his voice trembled; and the tears were in 

her eyes;'to have seen _her_; to have all overlooked; and return to 

all I hoped last year。  I want to look at you all; to believe that it 

is true;' he finished; smiling。



'You both behaved very well this evening;' said she; laughing; because 

she could do so better than anything else at that moment。



'You both!' murmured Guy to himself。



'Ah! little Amy has been very good this winter。'



He answered her with a beautiful expression of his eyes; was silent a 

little while; and suddenly exclaimed; in a candid; expostulating tone; 

'But now; seriously; don't you think it a very bad thing for her?'



'My dear Guy;' said she; scarcely repressing a disposition to laugh; 'I 

told you last summer what I thought of it; and you must settle the rest 

with Amy to…morrow。  I hear the drawing…room bell; which is a sign I 

must send you to bed。  Good night!'



'Good night!' repeated Guy; as he held her hand。  'It is so long since 

I have had any one to wish me good night!  Good night; mamma!'



She pressed his hand; then as he ran down to lend a helping hand in 

carrying Charles; she; the tears in her eyes; crossed the passage to 

see how it was with her little Amy; and to set her at rest for the 

night。  Amy's candle was out; and she was in bed; lying full in the 

light of the Easter moon; which poured in glorious whiteness through 

her window。  She started up as the door opened。  'Oh; mamma! how kind 

of you to come!'



'I can only stay a moment; my dear; your papa is coming up; but I must 

just tell you that I have been having such a nice talk with dear Guy。  

He has behaved beautifully; and papa is quite satisfied。  Now; darling; 

I hope you will not lie awake all night; or you won't be fit to talk to 

him to…morrow。'



Amy sat up in bed; and put her arms round her mother's neck。  'Then he 

is happy again;' she whispered。  'I should like to hear all。'



'He shall tell you himself to…morrow; my dear。   Now; good night! you 

have been a very good child。  Now; go to sleep; my dear one。'



Amy lay down obediently。  'Thank you for coming to tell me; dear 

mamma;' she said。  'I am very glad; good night。'



She shut her eyes; and there was something in the sweet; obedient; 

placid look of her face; as the white moonlight shone upon it; that 

made her mother pause and gaze again with the feeling; only tenderer; 

left by a beautiful poem。  Amy looked up to see why she delayed; she 

gave her another kiss; and left her in the moonlight。



Little Amy's instinct was to believe the best and do as she was bidden; 

and there was a quietness and confidence in the tone of her mind which 

gave a sort of serenity of its own even to suspense。  A thankful; happy 

sensation that all was well; mamma said so; and Guy was there; had 

taken possession of her; and she did not agitate herself to know how or 

why; for mamma; had told her to put herself to sleep; so she thought of 

all the most thanksgiving verses of her store of poetry; and before the 

moon had passed away from her window; Amabel Edmonstone was wrapped in 

a sleep dreamless and tranquil as an infant's。









CHAPTER 26







Hence; bashful cunning;

And prompt me; plain and holy innocence。

I am your wife if you will marry me。TEMPEST





Amabel awoke to such a sense of relief and repose that she scarcely 

liked to ask herself the cause; lest it might ruffle her complete 

peace。  Those words 'all right;' seemed to be enough to assure her that 

the cloud was gone。



Her mother came in; told her one or two of the main facts; and took her 

down under her wing; only stopping by the way for a greeting to 

Charles; who could not rise till after breakfast。  He held her fast; 

and gazed up in her face; but she coloured so deeply; cast down her 

eyes; and looked so meek and submissive; that he let her go; and said 

nothing。



The breakfast party were for the most part quiet; silent; and happy。  

Even Charlotte was hushed by the subdued feeling of the rest; and Mr。 

Edmonstone's hilarity; though replied to in turn by each; failed to 

wake them into mirth。  Guy ran up and down…stairs continually; to wait 

upon Charles; and thus the conversation was always interrupted as fast 

as it began; so that the only fact that came out was the cause of the 

lateness of their arrival yesterday。  Mr。 Edmonstone had taken it for 

granted that Guy; like Philip; would watch for the right time; and warn 

him; while Guy; being excessively impatient; had been so much afraid of 

letting himself fidget; as to have suffered the right moment to pass; 

and then borne all the blame。



'How you must have wanted to play the Harmonious Blacksmith;' said 

Charlotte。



'I caught myself going through the motions twice;' said Guy。



Mrs。 Edmonstone said to herself that he might contest the palm of 

temper with Amy even; the difference being; that hers was naturally 

sweet; his a hasty one; so governed that the result was the same。  When 

breakfast was over; as they were rising; Guy made two steps towards 

Amabel; at whom he had hitherto scarcely looked; and said; very low; in 

his straightforward way: 'Can I speak to you a little while?'



Amy's face glowed as she moved towards him; and her mother said 

something about the drawing…room; where the next moment she found 

herself。  She did not use any little restless arts to play with her 

embarrassment; she did not torment the flowers or the chimney 

ornaments; nor even her own rings; she stood with her hands folded and 

her head a little bent down; like a pendant blossom; ready to listen to 

whatever might be said to her。



He did not speak at first; but moved uneasily about。  At last he came 

nearer; and began speaking fast and nervously。



'Amabel; I want you to consideryou really ought to think whether this 

is not a very bad thing for you。'



The drooping head was raised; the downcast lids lifted up; and the blue 

eyes fixed on him with a look at once confiding and wondering。  He 

proceeded



'I have brought you nothing but unhappiness already。  So far as you 

have taken any interest in me; it could cause you only pain; and the 

more I think of it; the more unfit it seems that one so formed for 

light; and joy; and innocent mirth; should have anything to do with the 

darkness that is round me。  Think well of it。  I feel as if I had done 

a selfish thing by you; and now; you know; you are not bound。  You are 

quite free!  No one knows anything about it; or if they did; the blame 

would rest entirely with me。  I would take care it should。  So; Amy; 

think; and think well; before you risk your happiness。'



'As to that;' replied Amy; in a soft; low voice; with _such_ a look of 

truth in her clear eyes; 'I must care for whatever happens to you; and 

I had rather it was with you; than without you;' she said; casting them 

down again。



'My Amy!my own!my Verena!'and he held fast one of her hands; as 

they sat together on the sofa'I had a feeling that so it might be 

through the very worst; yet I can hardly believe it now。'



'Guy;' said Amy; loo
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