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the heir of redclyffe-第89部分

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letter put off you had better give some hopes ofOh! he is gone; and 

disinterested advice it is of mine; for what is to become of me without 

Amy remains to be proved。  Laura; poor thing; looks like Patience on a 

monument。  I wonder whether Philip's disgrace has anything to do with 

it。  Hum!  If mamma's old idea was right; the captain has been more 

like moth and candle than consistent with his prudence; unless he 

thought it 〃a toute epreuve〃。  I wonder what came to pass last autumn; 

when I was ill; and mamma's head full of me。  He may not intend it; and 

she may not know it; but I would by no means answer for Cupid's being 

guiltless of that harassed look she has had ever since that ball…going 

summer。  Oh! there go that pretty study; Amy and her true knight。  As 

to Guy; he is more incomprehensible than ever; yet there is no avoiding 

obeying him; on the principle on which that child in the 〃Moorland 

cottage〃 said she should obey Don Quixote。'



So when his father came in; Charles wiled him into deferring the letter 

till the next day; by giving him an indistinct hope that some notion 

when the marriage would be; might be arrived at by that time。  He 

consented the more readily; because he was in haste to investigate a 

complaint that had just been made of the union doctor; but his last 

words to his wife and son before he went; were'Of course; they must 

marry directly; there is nothing on earth to wait for。  Live at 

Redclyffe alone?  Not to be thought of。  No; I'll see little Amy my 

Lady Morville; before Philip goes abroad; if only to show him I am not 

a man to be dictated to。'



Mrs。 Edmonstone sighed; but when he was gone; she agreed with Charles 

that there was nothing to wait for; and that it would be better for Guy 

to take his wife at once with him; when he settled at Redclyffe。  So it 

must be whenever Amy could make up her mind to it; and thereupon they 

made plans for future meetings; Charles announcing that the Prince of 

the Black Isles would become locomotive; and Charlotte forming grand 

designs upon Shag Island。



In the meantime; Guy and Amy were walking in the path through the wood; 

where he began: 'I would not have asked you to do anything so 

unpleasant as reading that letter; but I thought you ought to consider 

of it。'



'It was just like himself!  How could he?' said Amy; indignantly。



'I wonder whether he will ever see his own harshness?' said Guy。  'It 

is very strange; that with all his excellence and real kindness; there 

should be some distortion in his view of all that concerns me。  I 

cannot understand it。'



'You must let me call it prejudice; Guy; in spite of your protest。  It 

is a relief to say something against him。'



'Amy; don't be venomous!' said Guy; in a playful tone of reproach。



'Yes; but you know it is not _me_ whom he has been abusing。'



'Well;' said Guy; musingly; 'I suppose it is right there should be this 

cloud; or it would be too bright for earth。  It has been one of my 

chief wishes to have things straight with Philip; ever since the time 

he stayed at Redclyffe as a boy。  I saw his superiority then; but it 

fretted me; and I never could make a companion of him。  Ever since; I 

have looked to his approval as one of the best things to be won。  It 

shows his ascendancy of character; yet; do what I will; the mist has 

gone on thickening between us; and with reason; for I have never been 

able to give him the confidence he required; and his conduct about my 

uncle has so tried my patience; that I never have been quite sure 

whether I ought to avoid him or not。'



'And now you are the only person who will speak for him。  I don't 

wonder papa is provoked with you;' said she; pretending to be wilful。  

'I only hope you don't want to make me do the same。  I could bear 

anything better than his old saying about your attractive manners and 

good impulses; and his opinion that has never altered。  0 Guy; he is 

the most provoking person in all the world。  Don't try to make me 

admire him; nor be sorry for him。'



'Not when you remember how he was looked on here? and how; without 

doing anything worthy of blame; nay; from his acting unsparingly; as he 

thought right; every one has turned against him? even mamma; who used 

to be so fond of him?'



'Not Laura。'



'No; not Laura; and I am thankful to her for it; for all this makes me 

feel as if I had supplanted him。'



'Yes; yes; yes; it is like you; but don't ask me to feel that yet;' 

said Amy; with tears in her eyes;' or I shall be obliged to tell you 

what you won't like to hear; about his tone of triumph that terrible 

time last year。  It was so very different; I don't think I could ever 

forgive him; if it had not made me so miserable too。'



Guy pressed her arm。  'Yes; but he thought himself right。  He meant to 

do the kindest thing by you;' said he; so entirely without effort; that 

no one could doubt it came straight from his heart。  'So he thinks 

still; Amy; there is fairness; justice; good sense in his letter; and 

we must not blind our eyes to it; though there is injustice; at least; 

harshness。  I did fail egregiously in my first trial。'



'Fail!'



'In temper。'



'Oh!'



'And; Amy; I wanted to ask what you think about the four years he 

speaks of。  Do you think; as he says; my habits might be more fixed; 

and altogether you might have more confidence?'



'I don't look on you quite as he does now;' said Amy; with a very 

pretty smile。  'Do you think his opinion of you will ever alter?'



'But what do you think?  Is there not some reason in what he says?'



'The only use I can see is; that perhaps I should be wiser at twenty…

four; and fitter to take care of such a great house; but then you have 

been always helping me to grow wiser; and I am not much afraid but that 

you will be patient with me。  Indeed; Guy; I don't know whether it is a 

thing I ought to say;' she added; blushing; 'but I think it would be 

dismal for you to go and live all alone at Redclyffe。'



'Honestly; Amy;' replied he; after a little pause; 'if you feel so; and 

your father approves; I don't think it will be better to wait。  I know 

your presence is a safeguard; and if the right motives did not suffice 

to keep me straight; and I was only apparently so from hopes of you; 

why then I should be so utterly good for nothing at the bottom; if not 

on the surface; that you had better have nothing to say to me。'



Amy laughed incredulously。



'That being settled;' proceeded Guy; 'did you hear what your father 

said as you left the breakfast…room?'



She coloured all over; and there was silence。  'What did you answer?' 

said she; at length。



'I said; whatever happened; you must not be taken by surprise in having 

to decide quickly。  Do you wish to have time to think?  I'll go in and 

leave you to consider; if you like。'



'I only want to know what you wish;' said Amy; not parting with his 

arm。



'I had rather you did just as suits you best。  Of course; you know what 

my wish must be。'



Amy walked on a little way in silence。  'Very well;' said she; 

presently; 'I think you and mamma had better settle it。  The worst'

she had tears in her eyes'the going awaymammaCharlieall that 

will be as bad at one time as at another。'  The tears flowed faster。  

'It had better be as you all like best。'



'0 Amy!  I wonder at myself for daring to ask you to exchange your 

bright cheerful home for my gloomy old house。'



'No; your home;' said Amy; softly。



'I used to wonder why it was called gloomy; but it will be so no more 

when you are there。  Yet there is a shadow hanging over it; which makes 

it sometimes seem too strange that you and it should be brought 

together。'



'I have read somewhere that there is no real gloom but what people 

raise for themselves。'



'True。  Gloom is in sin; not sorrow。  Yes; there would be no comfort if 

I were not sure that if aught of grief or pain should come to you 

through me; it will not; cannot really hurt you; my Amy。'



'No; unless by my own fault; and you will help me to meet it。  Hark! 

was that a nightingale?'



'Yes; the first!  How beautiful!  Theredon't you see it?  Look on 

that hazel; you may see its throat moving。  Well!' when they had 

listened for a long time;'after all; that creature and the sea will 

hardly let one speak of gloom; even in this world; to say nothing of 

other things。



'The sea!  I am glad I have never seen it; because now you will show it 

to me for the first time。'



'You will never; can never imagine it; Amy! and he sung;





         'With all tones of waters blending;

          Glorious is the breaking deep;

          Glorious; beauteous; without ending;

          Songs of ocean never sleep。'





A silence followed; only broken by the notes of the birds; and 

presently by the strokes of th
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