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the heir of redclyffe-第94部分

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hollows; the tract of wavelets between glittered in light; or heaved 

green under the shadow of the passing clouds; the sea…birds floated 

smoothly in sweeping undulating lines;





       As though life's only call and care

       Were graceful motion;





the hawks poised themselves high in air near the rocks。  The Cove lay 

in sunshine; its rough stone chimneys and rude slate roofs overgrown 

with moss and fern; rising rapidly; one above the other; in the fast 

descending hollow; through which a little stream rushed to the sea;

more quietly than its brother; which; at some space distant; fell sheer 

down over the crag in a white line of foam; brawling with a tone of its 

own; distinguishable among all the voices of the sea contending with 

the rocks。  Above the village; in the space where the outline of two 

hills met and crossed; rose the pinnacled tower of the village church; 

the unusual height of which was explained by the old custom of lighting 

a beacon…fire on its summit; to serve as a guide to the boats at sea。  

Still higher; apparently on the very brow of the beetling crag that 

frowned above; stood the old Gothic hall; crumbling and lofty; a fit 

eyrie for the eagles of Morville。  The sunshine was indeed full upon 

it; but it served to show how many of the dark windows were without the 

lining of blinds and curtains; that alone gives the look of life and 

habitation to a house。  How crumbled by sea…wind were the old walls; 

and the aspect altogether full of a dreary haughtiness; suiting with 

the whole of the stories connected with its name; from the time when it 

was said the very dogs crouched and fled from the presence of the 

sacrilegious murderer of the Archbishop; to the evening when the heir 

of the line lay stretched a corpse before his father's gate。



Guy sat resting on his oars; gazing at the scene; full of happiness; 

yet with a sense that it might be too bright to last; as if it scarcely 

befitted one like himself。  The bliss before him; though it was surely 

a beam from heaven; was so much above him; that he hardly dared to 

believe it real: like a child repeating; 'Is it my own; my very own?' 

and pausing before it will venture to grasp at a prize beyond its 

hopes。  He feared to trust himself fully; lest it should carry him away 

from his self…discipline; and dazzle him too much to let him keep his 

gaze on the light beyond; and he rejoiced in this time of quiet; to 

enable him to strive for power over his mind; to prevent himself from 

losing in gladness the balance he had gained in adversity。



It was such a check as he might have wished for; to look at that grim 

old castle; recollect who he was; and think of the frail tenure of all 

earthly joy; especially for one of the house of Morville。  Could that 

abode ever be a home for a creature like Amy; with the bright innocent 

mirth that seemed too soft and sweet ever to be overshadowed by gloom 

and sorrow?  Perhaps she might be early taken from him in the undimmed 

beauty of her happiness and innocence; and he might have to struggle 

through a long lonely life with only the remembrance of a short…lived 

joy to lighten it; and when he reflected that this was only a 

melancholy fancy; the answer came from within; that there was nothing 

peculiar to him in the perception that earthly happiness was fleeting。  

It was best that so it should be; and that he should rest in the trust 

that brightened on him through all;that neither life nor death; 

sorrow nor pain; could separate; for ever; him and his Amy。



And he looked up into the deep blue sky overhead; murmuring to himself; 

'In heart and mind thither ascend; and with Him continually dwell;' and 

gazed long and intently as he rocked on the green waters; till he again 

spoke to himself;'Why stand ye here gazing up into heaven?' then 

pulled vigorously back to the shore; leaving a shining wake far behind 

him。









CHAPTER 29







Hark; how the birds do sing;

And woods do ring!

All creatures have their joy; and man hath his;

Yet if we rightly measure;

Man's joy and pleasure

Rather hereafter than in present is:



Not that he may not here

Taste of the cheer;

But as birds drink and straight lift up the head;

So must he sip and think

Of better drink

He may attain to after he is dead。HERBERT





Guy returned to Hollywell on the Friday; there to spend a quiet week 

with them all; for it was a special delight to Amy that Hollywell and 

her family were as precious to him for their own sakes as for hers。  It 

was said that it was to be a quiet weekbut with all the best efforts 

of Mrs。 Edmonstone and Laura to preserve quiet; there was an amount; of 

confusion that would have been very disturbing; hut for Amy's 

propensity never to be ruffled or fluttered。



What was to be done in the honeymoon was the question for 

consideration。  Guy and Amy would have liked to make a tour among the 

English cathedrals; pay a visit at Hollywell; and then go home and live 

in a corner of the house till the rest was ready; for Amy could not see 

why she should take up so much more room than old Sir Guy; and Guy 

declared he could not see that happiness was a reason for going 

pleasure…hunting; but Charles pronounced this very stupid; and Mr。 

Edmonstone thought a journey on the Continent was the only proper thing 

for them to do。  Mrs。 Edmonstone wished Amy to see a little of the 

world。  Amy was known to have always desired to see Switzerland; it 

occurred to Guy that it would be a capital opportunity of taking Arnaud 

to see the relations he had been talking for the last twenty years of 

visiting; and so they acquiesced; for as Guy said; when they talked it 

over together; it did not seem to him to come under the denomination of 

pleasure…hunting; since they had not devised it for themselves; they 

had no house to go to; they should do Arnaud a service; and perhaps 

they should meet Philip。



'That will not be pleasure…hunting; certainly;' said Amy; then; 

remembering that he could not bear to hear Philip under…rated; she 

added; 'I mean; unless you could convince him; and then it would be 

more than pleasure。'



'It would be my first of unattained wishes;' said Guy。  'Then we will 

enjoy the journey。' 



'No fear on that score;'



'And for fear we should get too much into the stream of enjoyment; as 

people abroad forget home…duties; let us stick to some fixed time for 

coming back。'



'You said Redclyffe would be ready by Michaelmas。'



'I have told the builder it must be。  So; Amy; as far as it depends on 

ourselves; we are determined to be at home by Michaelmas。'



All seemed surprised to find the time for the wedding so near at hand。  

Charles's spirits began to flag; Amy was a greater loss to him than to 

anybody else; she could never again be to him what she had been; and 

unable as he was to take part in the general bustle and occupation; he 

had more time for feeling this; much more than his mother and Laura; 

who were employed all day。  He and Guy were exemplary in their 

civilities to each other in not engrossing Amy; and one who had only 

known him three years ago; when he was all exaction and selfishness; 

could have hardly believed him to he the same person who was now only 

striving to avoid giving pain; by showing how much it cost him to yield 

up his sister。  He could contrive to be merry; but the difficulty was 

to be cheerful; he could make them all laugh in spite of themselves; 

but when alone with Amy; or when hearing her devolve on her sisters the 

services she had been wont to perform for him; it was almost more than 

he could endure; but then he dreaded setting Amy off into one of her 

silent crying…fits; for which the only remedy was the planning a grand 

visit to Redclyffe; and talking overall the facilities of railroads and 

carriages。



The last day had come; and a long strange one it was; not exactly 

joyful to any; and very sad to some; though Amy; with her sweet pensive 

face; seemed to have a serenity of her own that soothed them whenever 

they looked at her。  Charlotte; though inclined to be wild and flighty; 

was checked and subdued in her presence; Laura could not be entirely 

wretched about her; Charles lay and looked at her without speaking; her 

father never met her without kissing her on each side of her face; and 

calling her his little jewel; her motherbut who could describe Mrs。 

Edmonstone on that day; so full of the present pain; contending with 

the unselfish gladness。



Guy kept out of the way; thinking Amy ought to be left to them。  He sat 

in his own room a good while; afterwards rode to Broadstone; in coming 

home made a long visit to Mr。 Ross; and when he returned; he found 

Charles in his wheeled chair on the lawn; with Amy sitting on the grass 

by his side。  He sat down by her and there followed a long silence;

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