the heir of redclyffe-第120部分

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sympathy。



'You　must　let　me　congratulate　you　now　on　this　unexpected　dawn　of　hope；　

after　your　long　trial；　my　dear　brother。　　It　is　a　sort　of　unconscious　

encouragement　you　could　hardly　hope　for。'



'I　did　not　know　you　knew　anything　of　it；'　said　Philip。



'Ah！　my　dear　brother；　you　betrayed　yourself。　　You　need　not　be　

disconcerted；　only　a　sister　could　see　the　real　cause　of　your　want　of　

spirits。　　Your　manner　at　each　mention　of　her；　your　anxiety；　coupled　

with　your　resolute　avoidance　of　her'



'Of　whom？　　Do　you　know　what　you　are　talking　of；　sister！'　said　Philip；　


sternly。



'Of　Amabel；　of　course。'



Philip　rose；　perfectly　awful　in　his　height　and　indignation。



'Sister！'　he　saidpaused；　and　began　again。　　'I　have　been　attached　to　

Laura　Edmonstone　for　years　past；　and　Lady　Morville　knows　it。'



'To　Laura！'　cried　Mrs。　Henley；　in　amaze。　　'Are　you　engaged？'　and；　as　he　

was　hardly　prepared　to　answer；　she　continued；　'If　you　have　not　gone　too　

far　to　recede；　only　consider　before　you　take　any　rash　step。　　You　come　

into　this　property　without　ready　money；　you　will　find　endless　claims；　

and　if　you　marry　at　once；　and　without　fortune；　you　will　never　be　clear　

from　difficulties。'



'I　have　considered；'　he　replied；　with　cold　loftiness　that　would　have　

silenced　any　one；　not　of　the　same　determined　mould。



'You　are　positively　committed；　then！'　she　said；　much　vexed。　　'Oh；　

Philip！　　I　did　not　think　you　would　have　married　for　mere　beauty。'



'I　can　hear　no　more　discussion　on　this　point；'　answered　Philip；　in　the　

serious；　calm　tone　that　showed　so　much　power　over　himself　and　every　one　

else。



It　put　Margaret　to　silence；　though　she　was　excessively　disappointed　to　

find　him　thus　involved　just　at　his　outset；　when　he　might　have　married　

so　much　more　advantageously。　　She　was　sorry；　too；　that　she　had　shown　

her　opinion　so　plainly；　since　it　was　to　be；　and　hurt　his　feelings　just　

as　he　seemed　to　be　thawing。　　She　would　fain　have　learned　more；　but　he　

was　completely　shut　up　within　himself；　and　never　opened　again　to　her。　　

She　had　never　before　so　grated　on　every　delicate　feeling　in　his　mind；　

and　he　only　remained　at　her　house　because　in　his　present　state　of　

health；　he　hardly　knew　where　to　bestow　himself　till　it　was　time　for　him　

to　go　to　Hollywell。



He　went　to　call　on　Miss　Wellwood；　to　whom　his　name　was　no　slight　

recommendation；　and　she　met　him　eagerly；　asking　after　Lady　Morville；　

who；　she　said；　had　twice　written　to　her　most　kindly　about　little　

Marianne。



It　was　a　very　pleasant　visit；　and　a　great　relief。　　He　looked　at　the　

plans；　heard　the　fresh　arrangements；　admired；　was　interested；　and　took　

pleasure　in　having　something　to　tell　Amabel。　　He　asked　for　Marianne；　

and　heard　that　she　was　one　of　the　best　of　childrenamiable；　well…

disposed；　only　almost　too　sensitive。　　Miss　Wellwood　said　it　was　

remarkable　how　deep　an　impression　Sir　Guy　had　made　upon　her；　and　how　

affectionately　she　remembered　his　kindness；　and　her　distress　at　hearing　

of　his　death　had　been　far　beyond　what　such　a　child　could　have　been　

supposed　to　feel；　both　in　violence　and　in　duration。

　

Philip　asked　to　see　her；　knowing　it　would　please　Amabel；　and　in　she　

camea　long；　thin；　nine…year…old　child；　just　grown　into　the　

encumbering　shyness；　that　is　by　no　means　one　of　the　graces　of　〃la　

vieillesse　de　l'enfance〃。



He　wished　to　be　kind　and　encouraging；　but　melancholy；　added　to　his　

natural　stateliness；　made　him　very　formidable；　and　poor　Marianne　was　

capable　of　nothing　beyond　'yes'　or　'no。'



He　told　her　he　was　going　to　see　Lady　Morville　and　her　little　girl；　

whereat　she　eagerly　raised　her　eyes；　then　shrank　in　affright　at　

anything　so　tall；　and　so　unlike　Sir　Guy。　　He　said　the　baby　was　to　be　

christened　next　Sunday；　and　Miss　Wellwood　helped　him　out　by　asking　the　

name。



'Mary；'　he　said；　for　he　was　by　no　means　inclined　to　explain　the　Verena；　

though　he　knew　not　half　what　it　conveyed　to　Amabel。



Lastly；　he　asked　if　Marianne　had　any　message；　when　she　hung　down　her　

head；　and　whispered　to　Miss　Wellwood；　what　proved　to　be　'My　love　to　

dear　little　cousin　Mary。'



He　promised　to　deliver　it；　and　departed；　wishing　he　could　more　easily　

unbend。









CHAPTER　40







Blest；　though　every　tear　that　falls

Doth　in　its　silence　of　past　sorrow　tell；

And　makes　a　meeting　seem　most　like　a　dear　farewell。WORDSWORTH





On　Saturday　afternoon；　about　half…past　five；　Philip　Morville　found　

himself　driving　up　to　the　well…known　front　door　of　Hollywell。　　At　the　

door　he　heard　that　every　one　was　out　excepting　Lady　Morville；　who　never　

came　down　till　the　evening；　save　for　a　drive　in　the　carriage。



He　entered　the　drawing…room；　and　gazed　on　the　scene　where　he　had　spent　

so　many　happy　hours；　only　darkened　by　that　one　evil　spot；　that　had　

grown　till　it　not　only　poisoned　his　own　mind；　but　cast　a　gloom　over　

that　bright　home。



All　was　as　usual。　　Charles's　sofa；　little　table；　books；　and　inkstand；　

the　work…boxes　on　the　table；　the　newspaper　in　Mr。　Edmonstone's　old　

folds。　　Only　the　piano　was　closed；　and　an　accumulation　of　books　on　the　

hinge　told　how　long　it　had　been　so；　and　the　plants　in　the　bay　window　

were　brown　and　dry；　not　as　when　they　were　Amabel's　cherished　nurslings。　　

He　remembered　Amabel's　laughing　face　and　abundant　curls；　when　she　

carried　in　the　camellia；　and　thought　how　little　he　guessed　then　that　he　

should　be　the　destroyer　of　the　happiness　of　her　young　life。　　How　should　

he　meet　hera　widow　in　her　father's　houseor　look　at　her　fatherless　

child？　　He　wondered　how　he　had　borne　to　come　thither　at　all；　and　shrank　

at　the　thought　that　this　very　evening；　in　a　few　hours；　he　must　see　her。



The　outer　door　opened；　there　was　a　soft　step；　and　Amabel　stood　before　

him；　pale；　quiet；　and　with　a　smile　of　welcome。　　Her　bands　of　hair　

looked　glossy　under　her　widow's　cap；　and　the　deep　black　of　her　dress　

was　relieved　by　the　white　robes　of　the　babe　that　lay　on　her　arm。　　She　

held　out　her　hand；　and　he　pressed　it　in　silence。



'I　thought　you　would　like　just　to　see　baby；'　said　she；　in　a　voice　

something　like　apology。



He　held　out　his　arms　to　take　it；　for　which　Amy　was　by　no　means　

prepared。　　She　was　not　quite　happy　even　in　trusting　it　in　her　sister's　

arms；　and　she　supposed　he　had　never　before　touched　an　infant。　　But　that　

was　all　nonsense；　and　she　would　not　vex　him　with　showing　any　

reluctance；　so　she　laid　the　little　one　on　his　arm；　and　saw　his　great　

hand　holding　it　most　carefully；　but　the　next　moment　he　turned　abruptly　

from　her。　　Poor　silly　little　Amy；　her　heart　beat　not　a　little　till　he　

turned　back；　restored　the　babe；　and　while　he　walked　hastily　to　the　

window；　she　saw　that　two　large　tear…drops　had　fallen　on　the　white　folds　

of　its　mantle。　　She　did　not　speak；　she　guessed　how　much　he　must　feel　in　

thus　holding　Guy's　child；　and；　besides；　her　own　tears　would　now　flow　so　

easily　that　she　must　be　on　her　guard。　　She　sat　down；　settled　the　little　

one　on　her　knee；　and　gave　him　time　to　recover　himself。



Presently　he　came　and　stood　by　her　saying；　in　a　most　decided　tone；　

'Amabel；　you　must　let　me　do　this　child　justice。'



She　looked　up；　wondering　what　he　could　mean。



'I　will　not　delay　in　taking　steps　for　restoring　her　inheritance；'　said　

he；　hoping　by　determination　to　overpower　Amabel；　and　make　her　believe　

it　a　settled　and　a　right　thing。



'0　Philip；　you　are　not　thinking　of　that！'



'It　is　to　be　done。'



'You　would　not　be　so　unkind　to　this　poor　little　girl；'　said　Amy；　with　a　

persuasive　smile；　partaking　of　her　old　playfulness；　adding；　very　much　

in　earnest；　'Pray　put　it　out　of　your　head　directly；　for　it　would　be　

very　wrong。'



The　nurse　knocked　at　the　door　to　fetch　the　baby；　as　Amabel　had　desired。　　

When　this　interruption　was　over；　Philip　came　and　sat　down　opposite　to　

her；　and　began　with　his　most　decided　manner：



'You　must　listen　to　me；　Amy；　and　not　allow　any　scruples　to　prevent　you　

from　permitting　your　child　to　be　restored　to　her　just　rights。　　You　must　

see　that　the　estate　has　come　to　me　by　circumstances　such　that　no　honest　

man　can　be　justified　in　retaining　it。　　The　entail　was　made　to　exclude　

females；　only　because　of　the　old　Lady　Granard。　　It　is　your　duty　to　

consent。'



'The　property　has　always　gone　in　the　male　line；'　replied　Amabel。



'There　never　was　such　a　state　of　things。　　Old　Sir　Guy　could　never　have　

thought　of　entailing　it　away　from　his　own　descendant　on　a　distant　

cousin。　　It　would　be　wrong　of　me　to　profit　by　these　unforeseen　

contingencies；　and　you　ought　not；　in　justice　to　your　child；　to　object。'



He　spoke　so　forcibly　and　decidedly　that　he　thought　he　must　have　

prevailed。　　But　not　one　whit　convinced；　Amabel　answered；　in　her　own　

gentle　voice；　but　beginning　with　a　business…like　argument：'Such　a　

possibility　was　contemplated。　　It　was　all　provided　for　in　the　marriage　

settlements。　　Indeed；　I　am　afraid　that；　as　it　is；　she　will　be　a　great　

deal　too　rich。　　Besides；　Philip；　I　am　sure　this　is　exactly　what　Guy　

would　have　chosen；'　and　the　tears　rose　in　her　eyes。　　'The　first　thing　

that　came　into　my　head　when　she　was　born；　was；　that　it　was　just　what　he　

wished；　that　I　should　have　her　for　myself；　and　that　you　should　take　

care　of　Redclyffe。　　I　am　certain　now　that　he　hoped　it　would　be　so。　　I　

knowindeed　I　dothat　he　took　great　pleasure　in　thinking　of　its　being　

in　your　hands；　and　of　your　going　on　with　all　he　began。　　You　can't　have　

forgotten　how　much　he　left　in　your　charge？　　If　you　were　to　give　it　up；　

it　would　be　against　his　desire；　and　with　that　knowledge；　how　could　I　

suffer　it？　　Then　think　what　a　misfortune　to　her；　poor　little　thing；　to　

be　a　great　heiress；　and　how　very　bad　for　Redclyffe　to　have　no　better　a　

manager　than　me！　　Oh；　Philip；　can　you　not　see　it　is　best　as　it　is；　and　

just　as　he　wished？'



He　almost　groaned　'If　you　could　guess　what　a　burden　it　is。'



'Ah！　but　you　must　carry　it；　not