the heir of redclyffe-第106章

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Philip　would　not　have　thanked　his　sister　for　her　surmise；　but　it　was　so　

far　in　his　favour　that　it　made　her　avoid　the　subject；　and　he　was　thus　

spared　from　hearing　much　of　Amabel　or　of　Redclyffe。　　It　was　bad　enough　

without　this。　　Sometimes　in　nursery　tales；　a　naughty　child；　under　the　

care　of　a　fairy；　is　chained　to　an　exaggeration　of　himself　and　his　own　

faults；　and　rendered　a　slave　to　this　hateful　self。　　The　infliction　he　

underwent　in　his　sister's　house　was　somewhat　analogous；　for　Mrs。　

Henley's　whole　character；　and　especially　her　complacent　speeches；　were　

a　strong　resemblance　of　his　own　in　the　days　he　most　regretted。　　He　had　

ever　since　her　marriage　regarded　her　as　a　man　looks　at　a　fallen　idol；　

but　never　had　her　alteration　been　so　clear　to　him；　as　he　had　not　spent　

much　time　with　her；　making　her　short　visits；　and　passing　the　chief　of　

each　day　at　Stylehurst。　　Now；　he　was　almost　entirely　at　her　mercy；　and　

her　unvarying　kindness　to　him　caused　her　deterioration　to　pain　him　all　

the　more；　while　each　self…assertion；　or　harsh　judgment；　sounded　on　his　

ear　like　a　repetition　of　his　worst　and　most　hateful　presumption。　　She　

little　guessed　what　she　made　him　endure；　for　he　had　resumed　his　wonted　

stoicism　of　demeanour；　though　the　hardened　crust　that　had　once　grown　

over　his　feelings　had　been　roughly　torn　away；　leaving　an　extreme　

soreness　and　tenderness　to　which　an　acute　pang　was　given　whenever　he　

was　reminded；　not　only　of　his　injuries　to　Guy；　but　of　the　pride　and　

secret　envy　that　had　been　their　root。



At　the　same　time　he　disappointed　her　by　his　continued　reserve　and　

depression。　　The　confidence　she　had　forfeited　was　never　to　be　restored；　

and　she　was　the　last　person　to　know　how　incapable　she　was　of　receiving　

it；　or　how　low　she　had　sunk　in　her　self…exaltation。



He　was　soon　able　to　resume　the　hours　of　the　family；　but　was　still　far　

from　well；　suffering　from　languor；　pain　in　the　head；　want　of　sleep　and　

appetite；　and　an　evening　feverishness。　　He　was　unequal　to　deep　reading；　

and　was　in　no　frame　for　light　books；　he　could　not　walk　far；　and　his　

sister's　literary　coteries；　which　he　had　always　despised；　were　at　

present　beyond　his　powers　of　endurance。　　She　hoped　that　society　would　

divert　his　thoughts　and　raise　his　spirits；　and　arranged　her　parties　

with　a　view　to　him；　but　he　never　could　stay　long　in　the　room；　and　Dr。　

Henley；　who；　though　proud　of　his　wife　and　her　talents；　had　little　

pleasure　in　her　learned　circle；　used　to　aid　and　abet　his　escape。

　

Thus　Philip　got　through　the　hours　as　best　he　might；　idly　turning　the　

pages　of　new　club…books；　wandering　on　the　hills　till　he　tired　himself；　

sitting　down　to　rest　in　the　damp　air；　coming　home　chilled　and　fatigued；　

and　lying　on　the　sofa　with　his　eyes　shut；　to　avoid　conversation；　all　

the　evening。　　Neither　strength；　energy；　nor　intellect　would；　serve　him　

for　more；　and　this；　with　the　load　and　the　stings　of　a　profound　

repentance；　formed　his　history　through　the　next　fortnight。



He　used　often　to　stand　gazing　at　the　slowly…rising　walls　of　Miss　

Wellwood's　buildings；　and　the　only　time　he　exerted　himself　in　his　old　

way　to　put　down　any　folly　in　conversation；　was　when　he　silenced　some　of　

the　nonsense　talked　about　her；　and　evinced　his　own　entire　approval　of　

her　proceedings。









CHAPTER　39







Beneath　a　tapering　ash…tree's　shade

Three　graves　are　by　each　other　laid。

Around　the　very　place　doth　brood

A　strange　and　holy　quietude。BAPTISTERY





Late　on　the　afternoon　of　the　6th　of　March；　Mary　Ross　entered　by　the　

half…opened　front　door　at　Hollywell；　just　as　Charles　appeared　slowly　

descending　the　stairs。



'Well！　how　is　she？'　asked　Mary　eagerly。



'Poor　little　dear！'　he　answered；　with　a　sigh；　'she　looks　very　nice　and　

comfortable。'



'What；　you　have　seen　her？'



'I　am　at　this　moment　leaving　her　room。'



'She　is　going　on　well；　I　hope？'



'Perfectly　well。　　There　is　one　comfort　at　least；'　said　Charles；　drawing　

himself　down　the　last　step。



'Dear　Amy！　　And　the　babedid　you　see　it？'



'Yes；　the　little　creature　was　lying　by　her；　and　she　put　her　hand　on　it；　

and　gave　one　of　those　smiles　that　are　so　terribly　like　his；　but　I　could　

not　have　spoken　about　it　for　the　world。　　Such　fools　we　be！'　concluded　

Charles；　with　an　attempt　at　a　smile。



'It　is　healthy？'



'All　a　babe　ought　to　be；　they　say；　all　that　could　be　expected　of　it；　

except　the　not　being　of　the　right　sort；　and　if　Amy　does　not　mind　that；　

I　don't　know　who　should；'　and　Charles　deposited　himself　on　the　sofa；　

heaving　a　deep　sigh；　intended　to　pass　for　the　conclusion　of　the　

exertion。



'Then　you　think　she　is　not　disappointed？'



'Certainly　not。　　The　first　thing　she　said　when　she　was　told　it　was　a　

girl；　was；　〃I　am　so　glad！〃　and　she　does　seem　very　happy　with　it；　poor　

little　thing！　　In　fact；　mamma　thinks　she　had　so　little　expected　that　it　

would　go　well　with　herself；　or　with　it；　that　now　it　is　all　like　a　

surprise。'



There　was　a　silence；　first　broken　by　Charles　saying；　'You　must　be　

content　with　meI　can't　send　for　anyone。　　Bustle　has　taken　papa　and　

Charlotte　for　a　walk；　and　Laura　is　on　guard　over　Amy；　for　we　have　made　

mamma　go　and　lie　down。　　It　was　high　time；　after　sitting　up　two　nights；　

and　meaning　to　sit　up　a　third。'



'Has　she　reallycan　she　bear　it？'



'Yes；　I　am　afraid　I　have　trained　her　in　sitting　up；　and　Amy　and　all　of　

us　know　that　anxiety　hurts　her　more　than　fatigue。　　She　would　only　lie　

awake　worrying　herself；　instead　of　sitting　peaceably　by　the　fire；　

holding　the　baby；　or　watching　Amy；　and　having　a　quiet　cry　when　she　is　

asleep。　　For；　after　all；　it　is　very　sad！'　　Charles　was　trying　to　brave　

his　feelings；　but　did　not　succeed　very　well。　　'Yesterday　morning　I　was　

properly　frightened。　　I　came　into　the　dressing…room；　and　found　mamma　

crying　so；　that　I　fully　believed　it　was　all　wrong；　but　she　was　just　

coming　to　tell　us；　and　was　only　overcome　by　thinking　of　not　having　him　

to　call　first；　and　how　happy　he　would　have　been。'



'And　the　dear　Amy　herself！'



'I　can't　tell。　　She　is　a　wonderful　person　for　keeping　herself　composed　

when　she　ought。　　I　see　she　has　his　picture　in　full　view；　but　she　says　

not　a　word；　except　that　mamma　saw　her　to…day；　when　she　thought　no　one　

was　looking；　fondling　the　little　thing；　and　whispering　to　it〃Guy's　

baby！〃　and　〃Guy's　little　messenger！〃'　　Charles　gave　up　the　struggle；　

and　fairly　cried；　but　in　a　moment　rallying　his　usual　tone；　he　went　on；　

half　laughing；'To　be　sure；　what　a　morsel　of　a　creature　it　is！　　It　is　

awful　to　see　anything　so　small　calling　itself　a　specimen　of　humanity！'



'It　is　your　first　acquaintance　with　infant　humanity；　I　suppose？　　Pray；　

did　you　ever　see　a　baby？'



'Not　to　look　at。　　In　fact；　Mary；　I　consider　it　a　proof　of　your　being　a　

rational　woman　that　you　have　not　asked　me　whether　it　is　pretty。'



'I　thought　you　no　judge　of　the　article。'



'No；　it　was　not　to　inspect　it　that　Amy　sent　for　me；　though　after　all　it　

was　for　a　business　I　would　almost　as　soon　undertake；　a　thing　I　would　

not　do　for　any　other　living　creature。'



'Then　I　know　what　it　is。　　To　write　some　kind　message　to　Captain　

Morville。　　Just　like　the　dear　Amy！'



'Just　like　her；　and　like　no　one　else；　except　Of　course　my　father　

wrote　him　an　official　communication　yesterday；　very　short；　but　the　fact　

must　have　made　it　sweet　enough；　savage　as　we　all　were　towards　him；　as　

there　was　no　one　else　to　be　savage　to；　unless　it　might　be　poor　Miss　

Morville；　who　is　the　chief　loser　by　being　of　the　feminine　gender；'　said　

Charles；　again　braving　what　he　was　pleased　to　call　sentimentality。　　

'Well；　by　and　by；　my　lady　wants　to　know　if　any　one　has　written　to　〃poor　

Philip；〃　as　she　will　call　him；　and；　by　no　means　contented　by　hearing　

papa　had；　she　sends　to　ask　me　to　come　to　her　when　I　came　in　from　

wheeling　in　the　garden；　and　receives　me　with　a　request　that　I　would　

write　and　tell　him　how　well　she　is；　and　how　glad；　and　so　on。　　There's　a　

piece　of　work　for　me！'



'Luckily　you　are　not　quite　so　savage　as　you　pretend；　either　to　him；　or　

your　poor　little　niece。'



'Whew！　　I　should　not　care　whether　she　was　niece　or　nephew　but　for　him；　

at　least　not　much；　as　long　as　she　comforted　Amy；　but　to　see　him　at　

Redclyffe；　and　be　obliged　to　make　much　of　him　at　the　same　time；　is　more　

than　I　can　very　well　bear；　though　I　may　as　well　swallow　it　as　best　I　

can；　for　she　will　have　me　do　it；　as　well　as　on　Laura's　account。　　Amy　

believes；　you　know；　that　he　will　think　the　inheritance　a　great　

misfortune；　but　that　is　only　a　proof　that　she　is　more　amiable　than　any　

one　else。'



'I　should　think　he　would　not　rejoice。'



'Not　exactly；　but　I　have　no　fear　that　he　will　not　console　himself　by　

thinking　of　the　good　he　will　do　with　it。　　I　have　no　doubt　that　he　was　

thoroughly　cut　up；　and　I　could　even　go　the　length　of　believing　that　

distress　of　mind　helped　to　bring　on　the　relapse；　but　it　is　some　time　

ago。　　And　as　to　his　breaking　his　heart　after　the　first　ten　minutes　at　

finding　himself　what　he　has　all　his　life　desired　to　be；　in　a　situation　

where　the　full　influence　of　his　talents　may　be　felt；'　said　Charles；　

with　a　shade　of　imitation　of　his　measured　tones；　'why　that；　no　one　but　

silly　little　Amy　would　ever　dream　of。'



'Well；　I　dare　say　you　will　grow　merciful　as　you　write。'



'No；　that　is　not　the　way　to　let　my　indignation　ooze　out　at　my　fingers'　

ends。　　I　shall　begin　by　writing　to　condole　with　Markham。　　Poor　man！　

what　a　state　he　must　be　in；　all　the　more　pitiable　because　he　evidently　

had　entirely　forgotten　that　there　could　ever　be　a　creature　of　the　less　

worthy　gender　born　to　the　house　of　Morville；　so　it　will　take　him　quite　

by　surprise。　　What　will　he　do；　and　how　will　he　ever　forgive　Mrs。　

Ashford；　who；　I　see　in　the　paper；　has　a　son　whom　nobody　wants；　as　if　

for　the　express　purpose　of　insulting　Markham's　feelings！　　Well…a…day！　　

I　should　have　liked　to　have　had　the　sound　of　Sir　Guy　Morville　still　in　

my　ears；　and　yet　I　don't　know　that　I　could　have　endured　its　being　

applied　to　a　little　senseless　baby！　　And；　after　all；　we　are　the　

gainers；　for　it　would　have　been　a　forlorn　thing　to　have　seen　Amy　go　off　

to　reign　queen…mother　at　Redclyffe；and　most　notably　well　would　she　

have　reigned；　with　that　clear　little　head。　　I　vow　'tis　a　talent　thrown　

away！　　However；　I　can't　grumble。　　She　is　much　happier　without　greatness　

thrust　on　her；　and　for　my　own　part；　I　have　my　home…sister　all　to　

myself；　with　no　rival　but　that　small　womanand　how　she　will　pet　her！'



'And　how　you　will！　　What　a　spoiling　uncle　you　will　be！　　But　now；　having　

heard　you　reason　yourself　into　philosophy；　I'll　leave　you　to　write。　　We　

were　so　anxious；　that　I　could　not　help　coming。　　I　am　so　glad　that　

little　one　thrives！　　I　should　like　to　leave　my　love　for　Amy；　if　you'll　

remember　it；'



'The　rarity　of　such　a　message　from　you　may　enable　me。　　I　was　lying　h