the heir of redclyffe-第124部分

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



forgotten　as　if　it　had　not　been？'



'It　is　not　unhappiness　I　meant；'　he　replied；　'though　I　cannot　bear　to　

think　of　what　you　have　undergone。　　Unhappiness　enough　have　I　caused　

indeed。　　But　I　meant；　that　you　have　to　forgive　the　advantage　I　took　of　

your　reliance　on　me　to　lead　you　into　error；　when　you　were　too　young　to　

know　what　it　amounted　to。'



'It　was　not　an　engagement；'　faltered　Laura。



'Laura；　don't；　for　mercy's　sake；　recall　my　own　hateful　sophistries；'　

exclaimed　Philip；　as　if　unable　to　control　the　pain　it　gave　him；　'I　have　

had　enough　of　that　from　my　sister；'　then　softening　instantly：　'it　was　

self…deceit；　a　deception　first　of　myself；　then　of　you。　　You　had　not　

experience　enough　to　know　whither　I　was　leading　you；　till　I　had　

involved　you；　and　when　the　sight　of　death　showed　me　the　fallacy　of　the　

salve　to　my　conscience；　I　had　nothing　for　it　but　to　confess；　and　leave　

you　to　bear　the　consequences。　　0　Laura！　when　I　think　of　my　conduct　

towards　you；　it　seems　even　worse　than　that　towardstowards　your　

brother…in…law！'



His　low；　stern　tone　of　bitter　suffering　and　self…reproach　was　something　

new　and　frightful　to　Laura。　　She　clung　to　his　arm　and　tried　to　say'0；　

don't　speak　in　that　way！　　You　know　you　meant　the　best。　　You　could　not　

help　being　mistaken。'



'If　I　did　know　any　such　thing；　Laura！　but　the　misery　of　perceiving　that　

my　imagined　anxiety　for　his　good；his　good；　indeed！　was　but　a　cloak　

for　my　personal　enmityyou　can　little　guess　it。'



Laura　tried　to　say　that　appearances　were　against　Guy；　but　he　would　not　

hear。



'If　they　were；　I　triumphed　in　them。　　I　see　now　that　a　shade　of　honest　

desire　to　see　him　exculpated　would　have　enabled　me　to　find　the　clue。　　

If　I　had　gone　to　St。　Mildred's　at　onceinterrogated　him　as　a　friend

seen　Wellwoodbut　dwelling　on　the　_ifs_　of　the　last　two　years　can　

bring　nothing　but　distraction；'　he　added；　pausing　suddenly。



'And　remember；'　said　Laura；　'that　dear　Guy　himself　was　always　grateful　

to　you。　　He　always　upheld　that　you　acted　for　his　good。　　Oh！　the　way　he　

took　it　was　the　one　comfort　I　had　last　year。'



'The　acutest　sting；　and　yet　the　only　balm；'　murmured　Philip；　'see；　

Laura；'　and　he　opened　the　first　leaf　of　Guy's　prayer…book；　which　he　had　

been　using　at　the　christening。



A　whispered　'Dear　Guy！'　was　the　best　answer　she　could　make；　and　the　

tears　were　in　her　eyes。　　'He　was　so　very　kind　to　me；　when　he　saw　me　

that　unhappy　wedding…day。'



'Did　Amy　tell　you　his　last　words　to　me？'



'No；'　said　Laura。



'God　bless　you　and　my　sister！'　he　repeated；　so　low　that　she　could　

hardly　hear。



'Amy　left　that　for　you　to　tell；'　said　Laura；　as　her　tears　streamed　

fast。　　How　can　we　speak　of　her；　Philip？'



'Only　as　an　angel　of　pardon　and　peace！'　he　answered。



'I　don't　know　how　to　tell　you　of　all　her　kindness；'　said　Laura；　'half　

the　bitterness　of　it　seemed　to　be　over　when　once　she　was　in　the　house　

again；　and；　all　the　winter；　going　into　her　room　was　like　going　into　

some　peaceful　place　where　one　must　find　comfort。'



'〃Spirits　of　peace；　where　are　ye〃　I　could　have　said；　when　I　saw　her　

drive　away　at　Recoara；　and　carry　all　good　angels　with　her　except　those　

that　could　not　but　hover　round　that　grave。'



'How　very　sad　it　must　have　been！　　Did'



'Don't　speak　of　it；　don't　ask　me　of　it'　said　Philip；　hastily。　　'There　

is　nothing　in　my　mind　but　a　tumult　of　horror　and　darkness　that　it　is　

madness　to　remember。　　Tell　me　of　yourselftell　me　that　you　have　not　

been　hurt　by　all　that　I　have　brought　on　you。'



'Oh；　no！'　said　Laura　　'besides；　that　is　all　at　an　end。'



'All　an　end！　　Laura；　I　fear　in　joining　your　fate　to　mine；　you　will　find　

care　and　grief　by　no　means　at　an　end。　　You　must　be　content　to　marry　a　

saddened；　remorseful　man；　broken　down　in　health　and　spirits；　his　whole　

life　embittered　by　that　fatal　remembrance；　forced　to　endure　an　

inheritance　that　seems　to　have　come　like　the　prosperity　of　the　wicked。　　

Yet　you　are　ready　to　take　all　this？　　Then；　Laura；　that　precious；　most　

precious　love；　that　has　endured　through　all；　will　be　the　one　drop　of　

comfort　through　the　rest　of　my　life。



She　could　but　hear　such　words　with　thrills　of　rejoicing　affection；　and　

on　they　walked；　Laura　trembling　and　struck　with　sorrow　at　the　depth　of　

repentance　he　now　and　then　disclosed；　though　not　in　the　least　able　to　

fathom　it；　thinking　it　all　his　nobleness　of　mind；　justifying　him　to　

herself；　idolizing　him　too　much　to　own　he　had　ever　been　wrong；　yet　the　

innate　power　of　tact　and　sympathy　teaching　her　no　longer　to　combat　his　

self…reproaches；　and　repeat　his　former　excuses；　but　rather　to　say　

something　soothing　and　caressing；　or　put　in　some　note　of　thankfulness　

and　admiration　of　Amy　and　Guy。　　This　was　the　best　thing　she　could　do　

for　him；　as　she　was　not　capable；　like　Amy；　of　acknowledging　that　his　

repentance　was　well…founded。　　She　was　a　nurse；　not　a　physician；　to　the　

wounded　spirit；　but　a　very　good　and　gentle　nurse　she　was；　and　the　

thorough　enjoyment　of　her　affection　and　sympathy；　the　opening　into　

confidence；　and　the　freedom　from　doubt　and　suspense；　were　comforts　that　

were　doing　him　good　every　hour。



The　christening　party　consisted　only　of　the　Rosses；　and　Dr。　Mayerne；　

who　had　joined　them　at　East…hill　church；　and　walked　home　with　Mr。　

Edmonstone。　　They　could　not　have　been　without　him；　so　grateful　were　

they　for　his　kindness　all　through　their　anxious　winter；　and　Mr。　

Edmonstone　was　well　pleased　to　tell　him　on　the　way　home　that　they　might　

look　to　having　a　wedding　in　the　family；　it　had　been　a　very　long　

attachment；　constancy　as　good　as　a　story；　and　he　could　all　along　have　

told　what　was　the　matter；　when　mamma　was　calling　in　the　doctor　to　

account　for　Laura's　looking　pale。



The　doctor　was　not　surprised　at　the　news；　for　perhaps　he；　too；　had　had　

some　private　theory　about　those　pale　looks；　but；　knowing　pretty　well　

the　sentiments　Charles　had　entertained　the　winter　before　last；　he　was　

curious　to　find　out　how　he　regarded　this　engagement。　　Charles　spoke　of　

it　in　the　most　ready　cordial　way。　　'Well；　doctor；　so　you　have　heard　our　

news！　　I　flatter　myself　we　have　as　tall　and　handsome　a　pair　of　lovers　

to　exhibit　here；　as　any　in　the　United　Kingdom；　when　we　have　fattened　

him　a　little　into　condition。'



'Never　was　there　a　better　match；'　said　Dr。　Mayerne。　　'Made　for　each　

other　all　along。　　One　could　not　see　them　without　feeling　it　was　the　

first　chapter　of　a　novel。'



When　Mrs。　Edmonstone　came　in；　the　doctor　was　a　little　taken　aback。　　He　

thought　her　mind　must　be　with　poor　Sir　Guy；　and　was　afraid　the　lovers　

had　been　in　such　haste　as　to　pain　Lady　Morville；　for　there　was　a　

staidness　and　want　of　〃epanchement　du　coeur〃　of　answering　that　was　very　

unlike　her　usual　warm　manner。　　At　dinner；　Mr。　Edmonstone　was　in　high　

spirits；　delighted　at　Amy's　recovery；　happy　to　have　a　young　man　about　

the　house　again；　charmed　to　see　two　lovers　together；　pleased　that　Laura　

should　be　mistress　of　Redclyffe；　since　it　could　not　belong　to　Amy's　

child；　altogether；　as　joyous　as　ever。　　His　wife；　being　at　ease　about　

Amy；　did　her　best　to　smile；　and　even　laugh；　though　sad　at　heart　all　the　

time；　as　she　missed　the　father　from　the　christening　feast；　and　thought　

how　happy　she　had　been　in　that　far　different　reunion　last　year。　　It　

might　be　the　same　with　Charles；　but　the　outward　effect　was　exhibited　in　

lively　nonsense；　Charlotte's　spirits　were　rising　fast；　and　only　Philip　

and　Laura　themselves　were　grave　and　silent；　she；　the　more　so；　because　

she　was　disappointed　to　find　that　the　one　walk　back　from　East…hill；　

much　as　he　had　enjoyed　it；　had　greatly　tired　Philip。　　However；　the　

others　talked　enough　without　them；　and　Mr。　Edmonstone　was　very　happy；　

drinking　the　health　of　Miss　Morville；　and　himself　carrying　a　bit　of　the　

christening　cake　to　the　mamma　in　the　drawing…room。



There　sat　Amabel　by　the　fire；　knowing　that　from　henceforth　she　must　

exert　herself　to　take　part　in　the　cheerfulness　of　the　house；　and　

willing　to　join　the　external　rejoicing　in　her　child's　christening；　or　

at　least　not　to　damp　it　by　remaining　up…stairs。　　Yet　any　one　but　Mr。　

Edmonstone　would　have　seen　more　sadness　than　pleasure　in　the　sweet　

smile　with　which　she　met　and　thanked　him；　but　they　were　cheerful　tones　

in　which　she　replied；　and　in　her　presence　everything　was　hushed　and　

gentle；　subdued；　yet　not　mournful。　　The　spirit　of　that　evening　was　only　

recognized　after　it　was　past；　and　then　it　ever　grew　fairer　and　sweeter　

in　recollection；　so　as　never　to　be　forgotten　by　any　of　those　who　shared　

it。









CHAPTER　42







She　was　not　changed　when　sorrow　came；

　　That　awed　the　sternest　men；

It　rather　seemed　she　kept　her　flame

　　To　comfort　us　till　then。



But　sorrow　passed；　and　others　smiled

　　With　happiness　once　more；

And　she　drew　back　the　spirit　mild

　　She　still　had　been　before。S。　R。





Philip's　marriage　could　not　take　place　at　once。　　No　one　said；　but　every　

one　felt；　that　it　must　not　be　talked　of　till　the　end　of　Amabel's　first　

year　of　widowhood；　and　in　the　meantime　Philip　remained　at　Hollywell；　

gaining　strength　every　day；　making　more　progress　in　one　week　than　he　

had　done　in　six　at　St。　Mildred's；　finding　that；　as　his　strength　

returned；　his　mind　and　memory　regained　their　tone；　and　he　was　as　

capable　as　ever　of　applying　to　business；　and；　above　all；　much　settled　

and　comforted　by　some　long　conversations　with　Mr。　Ross。



Still　he　could　not　endure　the　thought　of　being　at　Redclyffe。　　The　

business　connected　with　it　was　always　performed　with　pain　and　dislike；　

and　he　shrank　with　suffering　at　every　casual　mention　of　his　going　

thither。　　Mrs。　Edmonstone　began　to　wonder　whether　he　could　mean　to　

linger　at　Hollywell　all　the　summer；　and　Amabel　had　some　fears　that　it　

would　end　in　his　neglecting　Redclyffe；　till　a　letter　arrived　from　Lord　

Thorndale；　saying　that　his　brother；　the　member　for　Moorwort