the heir of redclyffe-第115部分

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sofa。　　My　aunt　would　like　nothing　so　well　as　making　a　great　fuss　about　

her。'



'Have　you　any　objection　to　show　me　her　letter？'　said　Philip；　unable　to　

bear　hearing　Amabel　thus　spoken　of；　yet　desirous　to　learn　all　he　could　

respecting　her。



'I　have　not　preserved　it；'　was　the　answer。　　'My　correspondence　is　so　

extensive　that　there　would　be　no　limit　to　the　accumulation　if　I　did　not　

destroy　the　trivial　letters。'



There　was　a　sudden　flush　on　Philip's　pale　face　that　caused　his　sister　

to　pause　in　her　measured；　self…satisfied　speech；　and　ask　if　he　was　in　

pain。



'No；'　he　replied；　shortly；　and　Margaret　pondered　on　his　strange　manner；　

little　guessing　what　profanation　her　mention　of　Amabel's　letter　had　

seemed　to　him；　or　how　it　jarred　on　him　to　hear　this　exaggerated　

likeness　of　his　own　self…complacent　speeches。



She　was　much　shocked　and　grieved　to　see　him　so　much　more　unwell　than　

she　had　expected。　　He　was　unfit　for　anything　but　to　go　to　bed　on　his　

arrival。　　Dr。　Henley　said　the　system　had　received　a　severe　shock；　and　

it　would　be　long　before　the　effects　would　be　shaken　off；　but　that　there　

was　no　fear　but　his　health　would　be　completely　restored　if　he　would　

give　himself　entire　rest。



There　was　no　danger　that　Margaret　would　not　lavish　care　enough　on　her　

brother。　　She　waited　on　him　in　his　room　all　the　next　day；　bringing　him　

everything　he　could　want；　and　trying　to　make　him　come　down…stairs；　for　

she　thought　sitting　alone　there　very　bad　for　his　spirits；　but　he　said　

he　had　a　letter　to　write；　and　very　curious　she　was　to　know　why　he　was　

so　long　doing　it；　and　why　he　did　not　tell　her　to　whom　it　was　addressed。　　

However；　she　saw　when　it　was　put　into　the　post…bag；　that　it　was　for　

Lady　Morville。



At　last；　too　late　to　see　any　of　the　visitors　who　had　called　to　inquire；　

when　the　evening　had　long　closed　in；　she　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　

Philip　enter　the　drawing…room；　and　settling　him　in　the　most　comfortable　

of　her　easy…chairs　on　one　side　of　the　fire　to　wait　till　the　Doctor　

returned　for　dinner。　　The　whole　apartment　was　most　luxurious；　spacious；　

and　richly　furnished；　the　fire；　in　its　brilliant　steel　setting；　

glancing　on　all　around；　and　illuminating　her　own　stately　presence；　and　

rich　glace　silk；　as　she　sat　opposite　her　brother　cutting　open　the　

leaves　of　one　of　the　books　of　the　club　over　which　she　presided。　　She　

felt　that　this　was　something　like　attaining　one　of　the　objects　for　

which　she　used　to　say　and　think　she　married；namely；　to　be　able　to　

receive　her　brother　in　a　comfortable　home。　　If　only　he　would　but　look　

more　like　himself。



'Do　you　like　a　cushion　for　your　head；　Philip？　　Is　it　better？'



'Better　since　morning；　thank　you。'



'Did　those　headaches　come　on　before　your　second　illness？'



'I　can't　distinctly　remember。'



'Ah！　　I　cannot　think　how　the　Edmonstones　could　leave　you。　　I　shall　

always　blame　them　for　that　relapse。'



'It　had　nothing　to　do　with　it。　　Their　remaining　was　impossible。'



'On　Amabel's　account？　　No；　poor　thing；　I　don't　blame　her；　for　she　must　

have　been　quite　helpless；　but　it　was　exactly　like　my　aunt；　to　have　but　

one　idea　at　a　time。　　Charles　used　to　be　the　idol；　and　now　it　is　Amy；　I　

suppose。'



'If　anything　could　have　made　it　more　intolerable　for　me；　it　would　have　

been　detaining　them　there　for　my　sake；　at　such　a　time。'



'Ah！　　I　felt　a　great　deal　for　you。　　You　must　have　been　very　sorry　for　

that　poor　little　Amy。　　She　was　very　kind　in　writing　while　you　were　ill。　　

How　did　she　contrive；　poor　child？　　I　suppose　you　took　all　the　head　work　

for　her？'



'I？　　I　was　nothing　but　a　burden。'



'Were　you　still　so　very　ill？'　said　Margaret；　tenderly。　　'I　am　sure　you　

must　have　been　neglected。'



'Would　that　I　had！'　muttered　Philip；　so　low　that　she　did　not　catch　the　

words。　　Then　aloud；'No　care　could　have　been　greater　than　was　taken　

for　me。　　It　was　as　if　no　one　had　been　ill　but　myself；　and　the　whole　

thought　of　every　one　had　been　for　me。'



'Then　Amabel　managed　well；　poor　thing！　　We　do　sometimes　see　those　weak　

soft　characters'



'Sister！'　he　interrupted。'



'Have　not　you　told　me　so　yourself？'



'I　was　a　fool；　or　worse；'　said　he；　in　a　tone　of　suffering。　　'No　words　

can　describe　what　she　proved　herself。'



'Self…possessed？　energetic？'　asked　Mrs。　Henley；　with　whom　those　were　

the　first　of　qualities；　and　as　her　brother　paused　from　repugnance　to　

speak　of　Amabel　to　one　so　little　capable　of　comprehending　her；　she　

proceeded：　'No　doubt　she　did　the　best　she　could；　but　she　must　have　been　

quite　inexperienced。　　It　was　a　very　young　thing　in　the　poor　youth　to　

make　her　executrix。　　I　wonder　the　will　was　valid；　but　I　suppose　you　

took　care　of　that。'



'I　did　nothing。'



'Did　you　see　it？'



'My　uncle　showed　it　to　me。'



'Then　you　can　tell　me　what　I　want　to　hear；　for　no　one　has　told　me　

anything。　　I　suppose　my　uncle　is　to　be　guardian？'



'No；　Lady　Morville。'



'You　don't　mean　it？　　Most　lover…like　indeed。　　That　poor　girl　to　manage　

that　great　property？　　Everything　left　to　her！'　said　Mrs。　Henley；　

continuing　her　catechism　in　spite　of　the　unwillingness　of　his　replies。　　

'Were　there　any　legacies？　　I　know　of　Miss　Wellwood's。'



'That　to　Dixon's　daughter；　and　my　own；'　he　answered。



'Yours？　　How　was　it　that　I　never　heard　of　it？　　What　is　it？'



'Ten　thousand；'　said　Philip；　sadly。



'I　am　delighted　to　hear　it！'　cried　Margaret。　　'Very　proper　of　Sir　Guy

very　proper　indeed；　poor　youth。　　It　is　well　thought　of　to　soften　the　

disappointment。'



Philip　started　forward。　　'Disappointment！'　exclaimed　he；　with　horror。



'You　need　not　look　as　if　I　wished　to　commit　murder；'　said　his　sister；　

smiling。　　'Have　you　forgotten　that　it　depends　on　whether　it　is　a　son　or　

daughter？'



His　dismay　was　not　lessened。　　'Do　you　mean　to　say　that　this　is　to　come　

on　me　if　the　child　is　a　daughter？'



'Ah！　you　were　so　young　when　the　entail　was　made；　that　you　knew　nothing　

of　it。　　Female　heirs　were　expressly　excluded。　　There　was　some　aunt　whom　

old　Sir　Guy　passed　over；　and　settled　the　property　on　my　father　and　you；　

failing　his　own　male　heirs。'



'No　one　would　take　advantage　of　such　a　chance；'　said　Philip。



'Do　not　make　any　rash　resolutions；　my　dear　brother；　whatever　you　do；'　

said　Margaret。　　'You　have　still　the　same　fresh　romantic　generous　spirit　

of　self…sacrifice　that　is　generally　so　soon　worn　out；　but　you　must　not　

let　it　allow　you'



'Enough　of　this；'　said　Philip；　hastily；　for　every　word　was　a　dagger。



'Ah！　you　are　right　not　to　dwell　on　the　uncertainty。　　I　am　almost　sorry　

I　told　you；'　said　Margaret。　　'Tell　me　about　Miss　Wellwood's　legacy；'　

she　continued；　desirous　of　changing　the　subject。　　'I　want　to　know　the　

truth　of　it；　for　every　one　is　talking　of　it。''How　comes　the　world　to　

know　of　it？'



'There　have　been　reports　ever　since　his　death；　and　now　it　has　been　

paid；　whatever　it　is；　on　Lady　Morville's　coming　of　age。　　Do　you　know　

what　it　is？　　The　last　story　I　was　told　was；　that　it　was　￡20；000；　to　

found　a　convent　to　pray　for　his　grand'



'Five　thousand　for　her　hospital；'　interrupted　Philip。　　'Sister！'　he　

added；　speaking　with　effort；　'it　was　for　that　hospital　that　he　made　the　

request　for　which　we　persecuted　him。'



'Ah！　　I　thought　so；　I　could　have　told　you　so！'　cried　Margaret；　

triumphant　in　her　sagacity；　but　astonished；　as　her　brother　started　up　

and　stood　looking　at　her；　as　if　he　could　hardly　resolve　to　give　credit　

to　her　words。



'Youthoughtso；'　he　repeated　slowly。



'I　guessed　it　from　the　first。　　He　was　always　with　that　set；　and　I　

thought　it　a　very　bad　thing　for　him；　but　as　it　was　only　a　guess；　it　was　

not　worth　while　to　mention　it：　besides；　the　cheque　seemed　full　

evidence。　　It　was　the　general　course；　not　the　individual　action。'



'If　you　thought　so；　why　not　mention　it　to　me？　　Oh！　sister；　what　would　

you　not　have　spared　me！'



'I　might　have　done　so　if　it　had　appeared　that　it　might　lead　to　his　

exculpation；　but　you　were　so　fully　convinced　that　his　whole　course　

confirmed　the　suspicions；　that　a　mere　vague　idea　was　not　worth　dwelling　

on。　　Your　general　opinion；　of　him　satisfied　me。'



'I　cannot　blame　you；'　was　all　his　reply；　as　he　sat　down　again；　with　his　

face　averted　from　the　light。



And　Mrs。　Henley　was　doubtful　whether　he　meant　that　she　had　been　

judicious！　　She　spoke　again；　unconscious　of　the　agony　each　word　

inflicted。



'Poor　youth！　we　were　mistaken　in　those　facts；　and　of　course；　all　is　

forgiven　and　forgotten　now；　but　he　certainly　had　a　tremendous　temper。　　

I　shall　never　forget　that　exhibition。　　Perhaps　poor　Amabel　is　saved　

much　unhappiness。'



'Once　for　all；'　said　Philip；　sternly；　'let　me　never　hear　you　speak　of　

him　thus。　　We　were　both　blind　to　a　greatness　of　soul　and　purity　of　

heart　that　we　shall　never　meet　again。　　Yours　was　only　prejudice；　mine　I　

must　call　by　a　darker　name。　　Remember；　that　he　and　his　wife　are　only　to　

be　spoken　of　with　reverence。'



He　composed　himself　to　silence；　and　Margaret；　after　looking　at　him　for　

some　moments　in　wonder；　began　in　a　sort　of　exculpatory　tone：



'Of　course　we　owe　him　a　great　deal　of　gratitude。　　It　was　very　kind　and　

proper　to　come　to　you　when　you　were　ill；　and　his　death　must　have　been　a　

terrible　shock。　　He　was　a　fine　young　man；　amiable；　very　attractive　in　

manner。'



'No　more！'　muttered　Philip。



'That；　you　always　said　of　him；'　continued　she；　not　hearing；　'but　you　

have　no　need　to　reproach　yourself。　　You　always　acted　the　part　of　a　true　

friend；　did　full　justice　to　his　many　good　qualities；　and　only　sought　

his　real　good。'



'Every　word　you　speak　is　the　bitterest　satire　on　me；'　said　Philip；　

goaded　into　rousing　himself　for　a　moment。　　'Say　no　more；　unless　you　

would　drive　me　distracted！'



Margaret　was　obliged　to　be　silent；　and　marvel；　while　her　brother　sat　

motionless；　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　till　Dr。　Henley　cam