the heir of redclyffe-第84章

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into　the　room；　and　she　told　him　Guy　was　gone　to　settle　their　plans　with　

Arnaud。　　After　lingering　a　little　by　the　window；　Philip　turned；　and　

with　more　abruptness　than　was　usual　with　him；　said



'You　don't　think　there　is　any　cause　of　anxiety　about　Laura？'



'No；　certainly　not！'　said　Amy；　surprised。　　'She　has　not　been　looking　

well　lately；　but　Dr。　Mayerne　says　it　is　nothing；　and　you　know'she　

blushed　and　looked　down'there　were　many　things　to　make　this　a　trying　

time。'



'Is　she　quite　strong？　　Can　she　do　as　much　as　usual？'



'She　does　more　than　ever：　mamma　is　only　afraid　of　her　overworking　

herself；　but　she　never　allows　that　she　is　tired。　　She　goes　to　school　

three　days　in　the　week；　besides　walking　to　East…hill　on　Thursday；　to　

help　in　the　singing；　and　she　is　getting　dreadfully　learned。　　Guy　gave　

her　his　old　mathematical　books；　and　Charlie　always　calls　her　Miss　

Parabola。'



Philip　was　silent；　knowing　too　well　why　she　sought　to　stifle　care　in　

employment；　and　feeling　embittered　against　the　whole　world；　against　her　

father；　against　his　own　circumstances；　against　the　happiness　of　others；　

nay；　perhaps；　against　the　Providence　which　had　made　him　what　he　was。



Presently　Guy　came　in；　and　the　first　thing　he　said　was；　'I　am　afraid　we　

must　give　up　our　plan。'



'How？'　exclaimed　both　Philip　and　Amy。



'I　have　just　heard　that　there　is　a　fever　at　Sondrio；　and　all　that　

neighbourhood；　and　every　one　says　it　would　be　very　foolish　to　expose　

ourselves　to　it。'



'What　shall　we　do　instead？'　said　Amy。



'I　told　Arnaud　we　would　let　him　know　in　an　hour's　time；　I　thought　of　

Venice。'



'Venice；　oh；　yes；　delightful。'



'What　do　you　say；　Philip？'　said　Guy。



'I　say　that　I　cannot　see　any　occasion　for　our　being　frightened　out　of　

our　original　determination。　　If　a　fever　prevails　among　the　half…starved　

peasantry；　it　need　not　affect　well…fed　healthy　persons；　merely　passing　

through　the　country。'



'You　see　we　could　hardly　manage　without　sleeping　there；'　said　Guy：　'we　

must　sleep　either　at　Colico；　or　at　Madonna。　　Now　Colico；　they　say；　is　a　

most　unhealthy　place　at　this　time　of　year；　and　Madonna　is　the　very　

heart　of　the　feverSondrio　not　much　better。　　I　don't　see　how　it　is　to　

be　safely　done；　and　though　very　likely　we　might　not　catch　the　fever；　I　

don't　see　any　use　in　trying。'



'That　is　making　yourself　a　slave　to　the　fear　of　infection。'



'I　don't　know　what　purpose　would　be　answered　by　running　the　risk；'　said　

Guy。



'If　you　chose　to　give　it　so　dignified　a　name　as　a　risk；'　said　Philip。



'I　don't；　then；'　said　Guy；　smiling。　　'I　should　not　care　if　there　was　

any　reason　for　going　there；　but；　as　there　is　not；　I　shall　face　Mr。　

Edmonstone　better　if　I　don't　run　Amy　into　any　more　chances　of　

mischief。'



'Is　Amy　grateful　for　the　care；'　said　Philip；　'after　all　her　wishes　for　

the　eastern　bank？'



'Amy　is　a　good　wife；'　said　Guy。　　'For　Venice；　then。　　I'll　ring　for　

Arnaud。　　You　will　come　with　us；　won't　you；　Philip？'



'No；　I　thank　you；　I　always　intended　to　see　the　Valtelline；　and　an　

epidemic　among　the　peasantry　does　not　seem　to　me　to　be　sufficient　to　

deter。'



'0　Philip；　you　surely　will　not？'　said　Amy。



'My　mind　is　made　up；　Amy；　thank　you。'



'I　wish　you　would　be　persuaded；'　said　Guy。　　'I　should　like　particularly　

to　have　you　to　lionize　us　there；　and　I　don't　fancy　your　running　into　

danger。'



The　argument　lasted　long。　　Philip　by　no　means　approved　of　Venice；　

especially　after　the　long　loitering　at　Munich；　thinking　that　in　both　

places　there　was　danger　of　Guy's　being　led　into　mischief　by　his　musical　

connections。　　Therefore　he　did　his　best；　for　Amabel's　sake；　to　turn　

them　from　their　purpose；　persuaded　in　his　own　mind　that　the　fever　was　a　

mere　bugbear；　raised　up　by　Arnaud；　and；　perhaps；　in　his　full　health　and　

strength；　almost　regarding　illness　itself　as　a　foible；　far　more　the　

dread　of　it。　　He　argued；　therefore；　in　his　most　provoking　strain；　

becoming　more　vexatious　as　the　former　annoyance　was　revived　at　finding　

the　impossibility　of　making　Guy　swerve　from　his　purpose；　while　

additional　mists　of　suspicion　arose　before　him；　making　him　imagine　that　

the　whole　objection　was　caused　by　Guy's　dislike　to　submit　to　him；　and　a　

fit　of　impatience　of　which　Amy　was　the　victim；　nay；　that　his　cousin　

wanted　to　escape　from　his　surveillance；　and　follow　the　beat　of　his　

inclinations；　and　the　whole　heap　of　prejudices　and　half…refuted　

accusations　resumed　their　full　ascendancy。　　Never　had　his　manner　been　

more　vexatious；　though　without　departing　from　the　coolness　which　always　

characterized　it；　but　all　the　time；　Guy；　while　firm　and　unmoved　in　

purpose；　kept　his　temper　perfectly；　and　apparently　without　effort。　　

Even　Amabel　glowed　with　indignation；　at　the　assumption　with　which　he　

was　striving　to　put　her　husband　down；　though　she　rejoiced　to　see　its　

entire　failure：　for　some　sensible　argument；　or　some　gay；　lively；　good…

humoured　reply；　was　the　utmost　he　could　elicit。　　Guy　did　not　seem　to　be　

in　the　least　irritated　or　ruffled　by　the　very　behaviour　which　used　to　

cause　him　so　many　struggles。　　Having　once　seriously　said　that　he　did　

not　think　it　right　to　run　into　danger；　without　adequate　cause；　he　held　

his　position　with　so　much　ease；　that　he　could　afford　to　be　playful；　and　

laugh　at　his　own　dread　of　infection；　his　changeableness；　and　credulity。　　

Never　had　temper　been　more　entirely　subdued；　for　surely　if　he　could　

bear　this；　he　need　never　fear　himself　again。



So　passed　the　hour；　and　Amabel　was　heartily　glad　when　the　debate　was　

closed　by　Arnaud's　coming　for　orders。　　Guy　went　with　him；　Amabel　began　

to　collect　her　goods；　and　Philip；　after　a　few　moments'　reflection；　

spoke　in　the　half…compassionate；　half…patronizing　manner　with　which　he　

used；　now　and　then；　to　let　fall　a　few　crumbs　of　counsel　or　commendation　

for　silly　little　Amy。



'Well；　Amy；　you　yielded　very　amiably；　and　that　is　the　only　way。　　You　

will　always　find　it　best　to　submit。'



He　got　no　further　in　his　intended　warning　against　the　dissipations　of　

Venice；　for　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　him　at　first　with　a　look　of　extreme　

wonder。　　Then　her　face　assumed　an　expression　of　dignity；　and　gently；　

but　gravely；　she　said；　'I　think　you　forget　to　whom　you　are　speaking。'



The　gentlemanlike　instinct　made　him　reply；　'I　beg　your　pardon'and　

there　he　stopped；　as　much　taken　by　surprise　as　if　a　dove　had　flown　in　

his　face。　　He　actually　was　confused；　for　in　very　truth；　he　had；　after　a　

fashion；　forgotten　that　she　was　Lady　Morville；　not　the　cousin　Amy　with　

whom　Guy's　character　might　be　freely　discussed。　　He　had　often　presumed　

as　far　with　his　aunt；　but　she；　though　always　turning　the　conversation；　

had　never　given　him　a　rebuff。　　Amabel　had　not　done；　and　in　her　soft　

voice；　firmly；　though　not　angrily；　she　spoke　on。　　'One　thing　I　wish　to　

say；　because　we　shall　never　speak　on　this　subject　again；　and　I　was　

always　afraid　of　you　before。　　You　have　always　misunderstood　him；　I　

might　almost　say；　chosen　to　misunderstand　him。　　You　have　tried　his　

temper　more　than　any　one；　and　never　appreciated　the　struggles　that　have　

subdued　it。　　It　is　not　because　I　am　his　wife　that　I　say　thisindeed　I　

am　not　sure　it　becomes　me　to　say　it；　yet　I　cannot　bear　that　you　should　

not　be　told　of　it；　because　you　think　he　acts　out　of　enmity　to　you。　　You　

little　know　how　your　friendship　has　been　his　first　desirehow　he　has　

striven　for　ithow；　after　all　you　have　done　and　written；　he　defended　

you　with　all　his　might　when　those　at　home　were　angryhow　he　sought　you　

out　on　purpose　to　try　to　be　real　cordial　friends'



Philip's　face　had　grown　rigid；　and　chiefly　at　the　words；　'those　at　home　

were　angry。'　　'It　is　not　I　that　prevent　that　friendship；'　said　he：　'it　

is　his　own　want　of　openness。　　My　opinion　has　never　changed。'



'No；　I　know　it　has　never　changed'　said　Amy；　in　a　tone　of　sorrowful　

displeasure。　　'Whenever　it　does；　you　will　be　sorry　you　have　judged　him　

so　harshly。'



She　left　the　room；　and　Philip　held　her　in　higher　esteem。　　He　saw　there　

was　spirit　and　substance　beneath　that　soft　girlish　exterior；　and　hoped　

she　would　better　be　able　to　endure　the　troubles　which　her　precipitate　

marriage　was　likely　to　cause　her；　but　as　to　her　husband；　his　combined　

fickleness　and　obstinacy　had　only　become　more　apparent　than　ever

fickleness　in　forsaking　his　purpose；　obstinacy　in　adherence　to　his　own　

will。

　　

Displeased　and　contemptuous；　Philip　was　not　softened　by　Guy's　freedom　

and　openness　of　manner　and　desire　to　help　him　as　far　as　their　roads　lay　

together。　　He　was　gracious　only　to　Lady　Morville；　whom　he　treated　with　

kindness；　intended　to　show　that　he　was　pleased　with　her　for　a　reproof　

which　became　her　position　well；　though　it　could　not　hurt　him。　　Perhaps　

she　thought　this　amiability　especially　insufferable：　for　when　she　

arrived　at　Varenna　her　chief　thought　was　that　here　they　should　be　free　

of　him。



'Come；　Philip；'　said　Guy；　at　that　last　moment；　'I　wish　you　would　think　

better　of　it　after　all；　and　come　with　us　to　Milan。'



'Thank　you；　my　mind　is　made　up。'



'Well；　mind　you　don't　catch　the　fever：　for　I　don't　want　the　trouble　of　

nursing　you。'



'Thank　you；　I　hope　to　require　no　such　services　of　my　friends；'　said　

Philip；　with　a　proud　stem　air；　implying；　'I　don't　want　you。'



'Good…bye；　then；'　said　Guy。　　Then　remembering　his　promise　to　Laura；　he　

added；　'I　wish　we　could　have　seen　more　of　you。　　They　will　be　glad　to　

hear　of　you　at　Hollywell。　　You　have　had　one　warm　friend　there　all　

along。'



He　was　touched　for　a　moment　by　this　kind　speech；　and　his　tone　was　less　

grave　and　dignified。　　'Remember　me　to　them　when　you　write；'　he　

answered；　'and　tell　Laura　she　must　not　wear　herself　out　with　her　

studies。　　Good…bye；　Amy；　I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　journey。'



The　farewells　were　exchanged　and　the　carriage　drove　off。　　'Poor　little　

Amy！'　said　Philip　to　himself；　'how　she　is　improved。　　He　has　a　sweet　

little　wife　in　her。　　The　fates　have　conspired　to　crown　him　with　all　man　

can　desire；　and　little　marvel　if　he　should　abuse　his　advantages。　　Poor　

little　Amy！　　I　have　less　hope　than　ever；　since　even　her　evident　wishes　

could　not　bend　his　determination　in　this　trifle；　but　she　is　a　good　

little　creature；　happy　in　her　blindness。　　May　it　long　continue！　　It　is　

my　uncle　and　aunt　who　are　to　be　blamed。'　



He　set　himself　to　ascend　the　mountain　path；　and　they　looked　back；　

watching　the　firm　vigorous　steps　with　which　he　climbed　the　hill　side；　

then　stood　to　wave　his　hand　to　Amabel　looking　a　perfect　specimen　of　

health　and　activity。



'Just　like　himself；'　said　Amy；　drawing　so　long　a　breath　that　Guy　

smiled；　but　did　not　speak。



'Are　you　much　vexed？'　said　she。



'I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　made　the　most　of　my　opportunities。'



'Then　if　you　have　not；　I　can　tell　you　who　has。　　What　do　you　think　of　

his　beginning　to　give　me　a　lecture　how　to