友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
读书室 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

the heir of redclyffe-第95部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


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;

one of those pauses full of meaning。



'When shall we three meet again?' at length said Charles; in a would…be 

lively tone。



'And where?' said Amy。



'Here;' said Charles; 'you will come here to tell your adventures; and 

take up Bustle。'



'I hope so;' said Guy。  'We could not help it。  The telling you about 

it will be a treat to look forward to all the time。'



'Yes; your sight…seeing is a public benefit。  You have seen many a 

thing for me。'



'That is the pleasure of seeing and hearing; the thing that is not 

fleeting;' said Guy。



'The unselfish part; you mean;' said Charles; and mused again; till 

Guy; starting up; exclaimed



'There are the people!' as a carriage came in view in the lane。  'Shall 

I wheel you home; Charlie?'



'Yes; do。'



Guy leant over the back; and pushed him along; and as he did so 

murmured in a low tremulous tone; 'Wherever or whenever we may be 

destined to meet; Charlie; or if never again; I must thank you for a 

great part of my happiness herefor a great deal of kindness and 

sympathy。'



Charles looked straight before him; and answered'The kindness was all 

on your part。  I had nothing to give in return but ill…temper and 

exactions。  But; Guy; you must not think I have not felt all you have 

done for me。  You have made a new man of me; instead of a wretched 

stick; laughing at my misery; to persuade myself and others that I did 

not feel it。  I hope you are proud of it。'



'As if I had anything to do with it!'



'Hadn't; you; that's all!  I know what you won't deny; at any rate

what a capital man…of…all…work you have been to me; when I had no right 

to ask it; as now we have;' he added; smiling; because Amy was looking 

at him; but not making a very successful matter of the smile。  'When 

you come back; you'll see me treat you as indeed 〃a man and a 

brother。〃'



This talk retarded them a little; and they did not reach the house till 

the guests were arriving。  The first sight that met the eyes of Aunt 

Charlotte and Lady Eveleen as they entered; was; in the frame of the 

open window; Guy's light agile figure; assisting Charles up the step; 

his brilliant hazel eyes and glowing healthy complexion contrasting 

with Charles's pale; fair; delicate face; and features sharpened and 

refined by suffering。  Amy; her deep blushes and downcast eyes almost 

hidden by her glossy curls; stood just behind; carrying her brother's 

crutch。



'There they are;' cried Miss Edmonstone; springing forward from her 

brother and his wife; and throwing her arms round Amy in a warm 

embrace。  'My dear; dear little niece; I congratulate you with all my 

heart; and that I do;'



'I'll spare your hot cheeks; Amy dearest!' whispered Eveleen; as Amy 

passed to her embrace; while Aunt Charlotte hastily kissed Charles; and 

proceeded'I don't wait for an introduction;' and vehemently shook 

hands with Guy。



'Ay; did I say a word too much in his praise?' said Mr。 Edmonstone。  

'Isn't he all out as fine a fellow as I told you?'



Guy was glad to turn away to shake hands with Lord Kilcoran; and the 

next moment he drew Amy out of the group eagerly talking round 

Charles's sofa; and holding her hand; led her up to a sturdy; ruddy…

brown; elderly man; who had come in at the same time; but after the 

first reception had no share in the family greetings。  'You know him; 

already;' said Guy; and Amy held out her hand; saying



'Yes; I am sure I do。'



Markham was taken by surprise; he gave a most satisfied grunt; and 

shook hands as heartily as if she had been his favourite niece。



'And the little girl?' said Amy。



'0 yes。I picked her up at St。 Mildred's: one of the servants took 

charge of her in the hall。'



'I'll fetch her;' cried Charlotte; as Amy was turning to the door; and 

the next moment she led in little Marianne Dixon; clinging to her hand。  

Amy kissed her; and held her fast in her arms; and Marianne looked up; 

consoled in her bewilderment; by the greeting of her dear old friend; 

Sir Guy。



Mr。 Edmonstone patted her head; and when the others had spoken kindly 

to her; Charlotte; under whose especial charge Guy and Amy had placed 

her; carried her off to the regions up…stairs。



The rest of the evening was hurry and confusion。  Mrs。 Edmonstone was 

very busy; and glad to be so; as she must otherwise have given way; and 

there was Aunt Charlotte to be talked to; whom they had not seen since 

Charles's illness。  She was a short; bustling; active person; with a 

joyous face; inexhaustible good…humour; a considerable touch of Irish; 

and referring everything to her mother;her one thought。  Everything 

was to be told to her; and the only drawback to her complete pleasure 

was the anxiety lest she should be missed at home。



Mrs。 Edmonstone was occupied with her; telling her the history of the 

engagement; and praising Guy; Amy went up as soon as dinner was over; 

to take leave of old nurse; and to see little Marianne; and Eveleen sat 

between Laura and Charlotte; asking many eager questions; which were 

not all convenient to answer。



Why Sir Guy had not been at home at Christmas was a query to which it 

seemed as if she should never gain a reply; for that Charles had been 

ill; and Guy at Redclyffe; was no real answer; and finding she should 

not be told; she wisely held her tongue。  Again she made an awkward 

inquiry



'Now tell me; is Captain Morville pleased about this or not?'



Laura would have been silent; trusting to Eveleen's propensity for 

talking; for bringing her to some speech that it might be easier to 

answer; but Charlotte exclaimed; 'What has he been saying about it?'



'Saying?  0 nothing。  But why does not he come?'



'You have seen him more lately than we have;' said Laura。



'That is an evasion;' said Eveleen; 'as if you did not know more of his 

mind than I could ever get at; if I saw him every day of my life。'



'He is provoking; that is all;' answered Charlotte。  'I am sure we 

don't want him; but Laura and Guy will both of them take his part。'



A call came at that moment;the box of white gloves was come; and 

Laura must come and count them。  She would fain have taken Charlotte 

with her; but neither Charlotte nor Eveleen appeared disposed to move; 

and she was obliged to leave them。  Eva had already guessed that there 

was more chance of hearing the facts from Charlotte; and presently she 

knew a good deal。  Charlotte had some prudence; but she thought she 

might tell her own cousin what half the neighbourhood knewthat Philip 

had suspected Guy falsely; and had made papa very angry with him; that 

the engagement had been broken off; and Guy had been banished; while 

all the time he was behaving most gloriously。  Now it was all 

explained; but in spite of the fullest certainty; Philip would not be 

convinced; and wanted them to have waited five years。



Eveleen agreed with Charlotte that this was a great deal too bad; 

admired Guy; and pitied Amy to her heart's content。



'So; he was banished; regularly banished!' said she。  'However of 

course Amy never gave him up。'



'Oh; she never mistrusted him one minute。'



'And while he had her fast; it was little he would care for the rest。'



'Yes; if he had known it; but she could not tell him。'



Eveleen looked arch。



'But I am sure she did not;' said Charlotte; rather angrily。



'You know nothing about it; my dear。'



'Yes; but I do; for mamma said to Charlie how beautifully she did 

behave; and he too;never attempting any intercourse。'



'Very good of you to believe it。'



'I am sure of it; certain sure;' said Charlotte。  'How could you 

venture to think they would either of them do anything wrong?'



'I did not say they would。'



'What; not to write to each other when papa had forbidden it; and do it 

in secret; too?'



'My dear; don't look so innocently irate。  Goodness has nothing to do 

with it; it would be only a moderate constancy。  You know nothing at 

all of lovers。'



'If I know nothing of lovers; I know a great deal of Amy and Guy; and I 

am quite sure that nothing on earth would tempt them to do anything in 

secret that they were forbidden。'



'Wait till you are in love; and you'll change your mind。'



'I never mean to be in love;' said Charlotte indignantly。  Eveleen 

laughed the more; Charlotte grew more angry and uncomfortable at the 

tone of the conversation; and was heartily glad that it was broken off 

by the entrance of the gentlemen。  Guy helped Charles to the sofa; and 

then turned away to continue his endless talk on Redclyffe business 

with Markham。  Charlotte flew up to the sofa; seized an interval when 

no one was in hearing; and kneeling down to bring her face
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 1
快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!