the heir of redclyffe-第133部分

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of　the　forehead；　nose；　and　short　upper　lip　were　identical；　so　were　the　

sharply…defined　black　eyebrows；　the　colour　of　the　eyes；　and　the　way　of　

standing　in　both　had　a　curious　similarity；　but　the　expression　was　so　

entirely　different；　that　strict　comparison　alone　proved；　that　Guy's　

animated；　contemplative；　and　most　winning　countenance；　was　in　its　

original　lineaments　entirely　the　same　with　that　of　his　ancestor。　　

Although　Sir　Hugh's　was　then　far　from　unprepossessing；　and　bore　as　yet　

no　trace　of　his　unholy　passions；　it　bought　to　Amabel's　mind　the　shudder　

with　which　Guy　had　mentioned　his　likeness　to　that　picture；　and　seemed　

to　show　her　the　nature　he　had　tamed。



Philip；　meanwhile；　after　one　glance　at　Mr。　Shene's　portrait；　which　he　

had　not　before　seen；　had　turned　away；　and　stood　leaning　against　the　

window…frame。　　When　Amy　had　finished　her　silent　comparison；　and　was　

going　to　take　her　treasure　back；　he　looked　up；　and　said；　'Do　you　

dislike　leaving　that　with　me　for　a　few　minutes？'



'Keep　it　as　long　as　you　like；'　said　she；　going　at　once；　and　she　saw　him　

no　more　till　nearly　an　hour　after；　when；　as　she　was　coming　out　of　her　

own　room；　he　met　her；　and　gave　it　into　her　hands；　saying　nothing　except　

a　smothered　'Thank　you；'　but　his　eyelids　were　so　swollen　and　heavy；　

that　Charles　feared　his　head　was　bad　again；　while　Amy　was　glad　to　

perceive　that　he　had　had　the　comfort　of　tears。



Every　one　was　sorry　to　wish　Lady　Morville　and　her　brother　good…bye；　

only　consoling　themselves　with　hoping　that　their　sister　might　be　like　

them；　and　as　to　little　Mary；　the　attention　paid　to　her　was　so　devoted　

and　universal；　that　her　mamma　thought　it　very　well　she　should　receive　

the　first　ardour　of　it　while　she　was　too　young　to　have　her　head　turned。



They　again　slept　a　night　in　London；　and　in　the　morning　Philip　took　

Charles　for　a　drive　through　the　places　he　had　heard　of；　and　was　much　

edified　by　actually　beholding。　　They　were　safely　at　home　the　same　

evening；　and　on　the　following；　the　Hollywell　party　was　once　more　

complete；　gathered　round　Charles's　sofa　in　a　confusion　of　welcomes　and　

greetings。



Mrs。　Edmonstone　could　hardly　believe　her　eyes；　so　much　had　Charles's　

countenance　lost　its　invalid　look；　and　his　movements　were　so　much　more　

active；　Amabel；　too；　though　still　white　and　thin；　had　a　life　in　her　eye　

and　an　air　of　health　most　unlike　her　languor　and　depression。



Every　one　looked　well　and　happy　but　Laura；　and　she　had　a　worn；　faded；　

harassed　aspect；　which　was　not　cheered　even　by　Philip's　presence；　

indeed；　she　seemed　almost　to　shrink　from　speaking　to　him。　　She　was　the　

only　silent　one　of　the　party　that　evening；　as　they　gathered　round　the　

dinner　or　tea…table；　or　sat　divided　into　threes　or　pairs；　talking　over　

the　subjects　that　would　not　do　to　be　discussed　in　public。　　Charlotte　

generally　niched　into　Amy's　old　corner　by　Charles；　hearing　about　

Redclyffe；　or　telling　about　Ireland。　　Mrs。　Edmonstone　and　Amy　on　the　

opposite　sides　of　the　ottoman；　their　heads　meeting　over　the　central　

cushion；　talking　in　low；　fond；　inaudible　tones；　Mr。　Edmonstone　going　in　

and　out　of　the　room；　and　joining　himself　to　one　or　other　group；　telling　

and　hearing　news；　and　sometimes　breaking　up　the　pairs；　and　then　Mrs。　

Edmonstone　came　to　congratulate　Charles　on　Amy's　improved　looks；　or　

Charlotte　pressed　up　close　to　Amy　to　tell　her　about　grandmamma。　　For　

Charlotte　could　not　talk　about　Eveleen；　she　had　been　so　uncomfortable　

at　the　part　she　had　had　to　act；　that　all　the　commendation　she　received　

was　only　like　pain　and　shame；　and　her　mother　was　by　no　means　

dissatisfied　that　it　should　be　so；　since　a　degree　of　forwardness　had　

been　her　chief　cause　of　anxiety　in　Charlotte；　and　it　now　appeared　that　

without　losing　her　high　spirit　and　uncompromising　sense　of　right；　her　

sixteenth　year　was　bringing　with　it　feminine　reserve。



Laura　lingered　late　in　Amabel's　room；　and　when　her　mother　had　wished　

them　good　night；　and　left　them　together；　she　exclaimed；　'Oh；　Amy！　I　am　

so　glad　to　be　come　back　to　you。　　I　have　been　so　very　miserable！'



'But　you　see　he　is　quite　well；'　said　Amy。　　'We　think　him　looking　better　

than　in　the　summer。'



'0　yes！　　Oh；　Amy；　what　have　you　not　done？　　If　you　could　guess　the　

relief　of　hearing　you　were　with　him；　after　that　suspense！'　　But　as　if　

losing　that　subject　in　one　she　was　still　more　eager　about；　'What　did　he　

think　of　me？'



'My　dear；'　said　Amabel；　'I　don't　think　I　am　the　right　person　to　tell　

you　that。'



'You　saw　how　it　struck　him　when　he　heard　of　my　share　in　it。'



'Yours？　　Mamma　never　mentioned　you。'



'Always　kind！'　　said　Laura。　　'Oh；　Amy！　what　will　you　think　of　me　when　I　

tell　I　knew　poor　Eva's　secret　all　the　time？　　What　could　I　do；　when　Eva　

pleaded　my　own　case？　　It　was　very　different；　but　she　would　not　see　it；　

and　I　felt　as　if　I　was　guilty　of　all。　　Oh；　how　I　envied　Charlotte。'



'Dear　Laura；　no　wonder　you　were　unhappy！'



'Nothing　hitherto　has　been　equal　to　it！　said　Laura。　　'There　was　the　

misery　of　his　silence；　and　the　anxiety　that　you；　dearest；　freed　me　

from；　then　no　sooner　was　that　over　than　this　was　confided　to　me。　　Think　

what　I　felt　when　Eva　put　me　in　mind　of　a　time　when　I　argued　in　favour　

of　some　such　concealment　in　a　novel！　　No；　you　can　never　guess　what　I　

went　through；　knowing　that　he　would　think　me　weak；　blameable；　

unworthy！'



'Nay；　he　blames　himself　too　much　to　blame　you。'



'No；　that　he　must　not　do！　　It　was　my　fault　from　the　beginning。　　If　I　

had　but　gone　at　once　to　mamma！'



'Oh；　I　am　so　glad！'　exclaimed　Amy；　suddenly。



'Glad？''



'I　mean；'　said　Amy；　looking　down；　'now　you　have　said　that；　I　am　sure　

you　will　be　happier。'



'Happier；　now　I　feel　and　see　how　I　have　lowered　myself　even　in　his　

sight？'　said　Laura；　drooping　her　head　and　hiding　her　face　in　her　hands；　

as　she　went　on　in　so　low　a　tone　that　Amy　could　hardly　hear　her。　　'I　

know　it　all　now。　　He　loves　me　still；　as　he　must　whatever　he　has　once　

taken；　into　that　deep；　deep　heart　of　his：　he　will　always；　but　he　cannot　

have　that　honouring；　trusting；　confiding　love　thatyou　enjoyed　and　

deserved；　Amythat　he　would　have　had　if　I　had　cared　first　for　what　

became　me。　　If　I　had　only　at　first　told　mamma；　he　would　not　even　have　

been　blamed；　he　would　have　been　spared　half　this　suffering　and　self…

reproach；　he　would　have　loved　me　more；　Eva　might　not　have　been　led　

astray；　at　least　she　could　not　have　laid　it　to　my　charge；and　I　could　

lift　up　my　head；'　she　finished；　as　she　hung　it　almost　to　her　knees。



Her　sister　raised　the　head；　laid　it　on　her　own　bosom；　and　kissed；　the　

cheeks　and　brow　again　and　again。　　'Dearest；　dearest　Laura；　I　am　so　

sorry　for　you；　but　I　am　sure　you　must　feel　freer　and　happier　now　you　

know　it　all；　and　see　the　truth。'



'I　don't　know！'　said　Laura；　sadly。



'And　at　least　you　will　be　better　able　to　comfort　him。'



'No；　no；　I　shall　only　add　to　his　self…reproach。　　He　will　see　more　

plainly　what　a　wretched　weak　creature　he　fancied　had　firmness　and　

discretion。　　Oh；　what　a　broken　reed　I　have　been　to　him！'



'There　is　strength　and　comfort　for　us　all　to　lean　upon；'　said　Amy。　　

'But　you　ought　to　go　to　bed。　　Shall　I　read　to　you；　Laura？　you　are　so　

tired；　I　should　like　to　come　and　read　you　to　sleep。'



Laura　was　not　given　to　concealments；　that　fatal　one　had　been　her　only　

insincerity；　and　she　never　thought　of　doing　otherwise　than　telling　the　

whole　of　her　conduct　in　Ireland　to　Philip。　　She　sat　alone　with　him　the　

next　morning；　explained　all；　and　entreated　his　pardon；　humiliating　

herself　so　much；　that　he　could　not　bear　to　hear　her。



'It　was　the　fault　of　our　whole　lifetime；　Laura；'　said　he；　recovering　

himself；　when　a　few　agitated　words　had　passed　on　either　side。　　'I　

taught　you　to　take　my　dictum　for　law；　and　abused　your　trusty　and　

perverted　all　the　best　and　most　precious　qualities。　　It　is　I　who　stand　

first　to　bear　the　blame；　and　would　that　I　could　bear　all　the　suffering！　　

But　as　it　is；　Laura；　we　must　look　to　enduring　the　consequence　all　our　

lives；　and　give　each　other　what　support　we　may。'



Laura　could　hardly　brook　his　self…accusation；　but　she　could　no　longer　

argue　the　point；　and　there　was　far　more　peace　and　truth　before　them　

than　when　she　believed　him　infallible；　and　therefore　justified　herself　

for　all　she　had　done　in　blind　obedience　to　him。









CHAPTER　44







Thus　souls　by　nature　pitched　too　high；

　　By　sufferings　plunged　too　low；

Meet　in　the　church's　middle　sky；

　　Halfway　'twixt　joy　and　woe；



To　practise　there　the　soothing　lay；

　　That　sorrow　best　relieves；

Thankful　for　all　God　takes　away；

　　Humbled　by　all　He　gives。CHRISTIAN　YEAR





One　Afternoon；　late　in　April；　Charles　opened　the　dressing…room　door；　

and　paused　a　moment；　smiling。　　There　sat　Amabel　on　the　floor　before　the　

fire；　her　hand　stretched　out；　playfully　holding　back　the　little　one；　

who；　with　scanty；　flossy；　silken　curls；　hazel　eyes　and　jet…black　

lashes；　plump；　mottled　arms；　and　tiny　tottering　feet；　stood　crowing　and　

shouting　in　exulting　laughter；　having　just　made　a　triumphant　clutch　at　

her　mamma's　hair；　and　pulled　down　all　the　light；　shining　locks；　while　

under　their　shade　the　reddening；　smiling　face　recalled　the　Amy　of　days　

long　gone　by。



'That's　right！　cried　Charles；　delighted；　'pull　it　all　down。　　Out　with　

mamma's　own　curls　again！'



'No；　I　can　never　wear　my　curls　again；'　said　Amy；　so　mournfully；　that　he　

was　sorry　he　had　referred　to　them；　and　perceiving　this；　she　smiled　

sweetly；　and　pulling　a　tress　to　its　full　length；　showed　how　much　too　

short　it　was　for　anything　but　being　put　plainly　under　the　cap；　to　which　

she　restored　it。



'Is　Mrs。　Henley　come？'　she　asked。



'As　large　as　life；　and　that　is　saying　a　good　deal。　　She　would　make　two　

of　Philip。　　As　tall　and　twice　as　broad。　　I　thought　Juno　herself　was　

advancing　on　me　from　the　station。'



'How　did　you　ge