the heir of redclyffe-第40部分

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track　quite　smooth　enough　to　drive　Charlie　to　the　top。'



Amy　wondered　at　her　mother's　look　of　hesitation。　　In　fact；　the　scheme　

was　so　accordant　with　their　usual　habits　that　it　was　impossible　to　find　

any　objection；　yet　it　all　hinged　on　Guy；　and　the　appointment　at　East…

hill　might　lead　to　a　great　many　more。



'Do　you　wish　us　to　do　anything　else；　mamma？　　We　don't　care　about　it。'



'No；　my　dear；'　said　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　'I　see　no　reason　against　it。　　But…

…'　and　she　felt　as　if　she　was　making　a　desperate　plunge；　'there　is　

something　I　want　to　say　to　you。'



Amy　stood　ready　to　hear；　but　Mrs。　Edmonstone　paused。　　Another　effort；　

and　she　spoke：…



'Amy；　my　dear；　I　don't　wish　to　find　fault；　but　I　thought　of　advising　

you　to　take　care。　　About　Guy'



The　very　brilliant　pink　which　instantly　overspread　Amy's　face　made　her　

mother　think　her　warning　more　expedient。



'You　have　been　spending　a　great　deal　of　time　with　him　of　late；　very　

sensibly　and　pleasantly；　I　know；　I　don't　blame　you　at　all；　my　dear；　so　

you　need　not　look　distressed。　　I　only　want　you　to　be　careful。　　You　

know；　though　we　call　him　cousin；　he　is　scarcely　a　relation　at　all。'



'0　mamma；　don't　go　on；'　said　poor　little　Amy；　hurriedly；　'indeed　I　am　

very　sorry！'



For　Amy　understood　that　it　was　imputed　to　her　that　she　had　been　forward　

and　unmaidenly。　　Mrs。　Edmonstone　saw　her　extreme　distress；　and；　grieved　

at　the　pain　she　had　inflicted；　tried　to　reassure　her　as　much　as　might　

be　safe。



'Indeed；　my　dear；　you　have　done　nothing　amiss。　　I　only　intended　to　tell　

you　to　be　cautious　for　fear　you　should　get　into　a　way　of　going　on　which　

might　not　look　well。　　Don't　make　any　great　difference；　I　only　meant　

that　there　should　not　be　quite　so　much　singing　and　gardening　alone　with　

him；　or　walking　in　the　garden　in　the　evening。　　You　can　manage　to　draw　

back　a　little；　so　as　to　keep　more　with　me　or　with　Laura；　and　I　think　

that　will　be　the　best　way。'



Every　word；　no　matter　what；　increased　the　burning　of　poor　Amy's　cheeks。　　

A　broad　accusation　of　flirting　would　have　been　less　distressing　to　many　

girls　than　this　mild　and　delicate　warning　was　to　one　of　such　shrinking　

modesty　and　maidenly　feeling。　　She　had　a　sort　of　consciousness　that　she　

enjoyed　partaking　in　his　pursuits；　and　this　made　her　sense　of　confusion　

and　shame　overwhelming。　　What　had　she　been　thoughtlessly　doing？　　She　

could　not　speak；　she　could　not　look。　　Her　mother　put　her　arm　round　her；　

and　Amy　hid　her　head　on　her　shoulder；　and　held　her　fast。　　Mrs。　

Edmonstone　kissed　and　caressed　the　little　fluttering　bird；　then　saying；　

'Good　night；　my　own　dear　child；'　unloosed　her　embrace。



'Good　night；　dear　mamma；'　whispered　Amy。　'I　am　very　sorry。'



'You　need　not　be　sorry；　my　dear；　only　be　careful。　　Good　night。'　　And　it　

would　be　hard　to　say　whether　the　mother　or　the　daughter　had　the　hottest　

cheeks。



Poor　little　Amy！　what　was　her　dismay　as　she　asked　herself；　again　and　

again；　what　she　had　been　doing　and　what　she　was　to　do？　　The　last　was　

plain；she　knew　what　was　right；　and　do　it　she　must。　　There　would　be　an　

end　of　much　that　was　pleasant；　and　a　fresh　glow　came　over　her　as　she　

owned　how　very；　very　pleasant；　but　if　it　was　not　quite　the　thing；if　

mamma　did　not　approve；　so　it　must　be。　　True；　all　her　doings　received　

their　zest　from　Guy；her　heart　bounded　at　the　very　sound　of　his　

whistle；　she　always　heard　his　words　through　all　the　din　of　a　whole　

party；nothing　was　complete　without　him；　nothing　good　without　his　

without　his　approval；but　so　much　the　more　shame　for　her。　　It　was　a　

kind　of　seeking　him　which　was　of　all　things　the　most　shocking。　　So　

there　should　be　an　end　of　it；never　mind　the　rest！　　Amy　knelt　down；　

and　prayed　that　she　might　keep　her　resolution。



She　did　not　know　how　much　of　her　severity　towards　herself　was　learned　

from　the　example　that　had　been　two　years　before　her。　　Nor　did　she　think　

whether　the　seeking　had　been　mutual；　she　imagined　it　all　her　own　doing；　

and　did　not　guess　that　she　would　give　pain　to　Guy　by　withdrawing　

herself　from　him。



The　morning　gave　vigour　to　her　resolution；　and　when　Laura　came　to　ask　

what　mamma　thought　of　their　project；　Amy　looked　confusedsaid　she　did　

not　knowshe　believed　it　would　not　do。　　But　just　then　in　came　her　

mother；　to　say　she　had　been　considering　of　the　expedition；　and　meant　to　

join　it　herself。　　Amy　understood；　blushed；　and　was　silently　grateful。



When　Laura　wanted　to　alter　her　demeanour　towards　Guy；　being　perfectly　

cool；　and　not　in　the　least　conscious；　she　had　acted　with　great　

judgment；　seen　exactly　what　to　do；　and　what　to　leave　undone；　so　as　to　

keep　up　appearances。　　But　it　was　not　so　with　Amy。　　She　was　afraid　of　

herself；　and　was　in　extremes。　　She　would　not　come　down　till　the　last　

moment；　that　there　might　be　no　talking　in　the　window。　　She　hardly　spoke　

at　breakfast…time；　and　adhered　closely　to　Laura　and　Eveleen　when　they　

wandered　in　the　garden。　　Presently　Charles　looked　out　from　the　

dressing…room　window；　calling；



'Amy；　Guy　is　ready　to　read。'



'I　can't　come。　　Read　without　me；'　she　answered；　hoping　Charlie　would　

not　be　vexed；　and　feeling　her　face　light　up　again。



The　hour　for　the　expedition　came；　and　Amy　set　off　walking　with　Laura；　

because　Guy　was　with　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　but　presently；　after　holding　open　

a　gate　for　Charlotte；　who　was　on　the　donkey；　he　came　up　to　the　sisters；　

and　joined　in　the　conversation。　　Amy　saw　something　in　the　hedgea　

foxglove；　she　believedit　would　have　done　as　well　if　it　had　been　a　

nettleshe　stopped　to　gather　it；　hoping　to　fall　behind　them；　but　they　

waited　for　her。　　She　grew　silent；　but　Guy　appealed　to　her。　　She　ran　on　

to　Charlotte　and　her　donkey；　but　at　the　next　gate　Guy　had　joined　

company　again。　　At　last　she　put　herself　under　her　mother's　wing；　and　by　

keeping　with　her　did　pretty　well　all　the　time　she　was　at　East…hill。　　

But　when　they　went　on；　she　was　riding　the　donkey；　and　it；　as　donkeys　

always　are；　was　resolved　on　keeping　a…head　of　the　walkers；　so　that　as　

Guy　kept　by　her　side；　it　was　a　more　absolute　tete…a…tete　than　ever。



At　the　top　of　the　hill　they　found　a　fine　view；　rich　and　extensive；　

broad　woods；　fields　waving　with　silvery　barley；　trim　meadows；　fair　hazy　

blue　distance；　and　a　dim　line　of　sea　beyond。　　This；　as　Amy　knew；　was　

Guy's　delight；　and　further；　what　she　would　not　tell　herself；　was　that　

he　chiefly　cared　for　showing　it　to　her。　　It　was　so　natural　to　call　him　

to　admire　everything　beautiful；　and　ask　if　it　was　equal　to　Redclyffe；　

that　she　found　herself　already　turning　to　him　to　participate　in　his　

pleasure；　as　he　pointed　out　all　that　was　to　be　seen；　but　she　

recollected；　blushed；　and　left　her　mother　to　speak。　　He　had　much　to　

show。　　There　was　a　hanging　wood　on　one　side　of　the　hill；　whence　he　had　

brought　her　more　than　one　botanical　prize；　and　she　must　now　visit　their　

native　haunts。　　It　was　too　great　a　scramble　for　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　with　

all　her　good　will；　Eveleen　was　to　be　kept　still；　and　not　to　tire　

herself；　Laura　did　not　care　for　botany；　nor　love　brambles；　and　Amy　was　

obliged　to　stand　and　look　into　the　wood；　saying；　'No；　thank　you；　I　

don't　think　I　can；'　and　then　run　back　to　Mary　and　Charles；　while　

Charlotte　was　loudly　calling　out　that　it　was　delightful　fun；　and　that　

she　was　very　stupid。　　In　another　minute　Guy　had　overtaken　her；　and　in　

his　gentle；　persuasive　voice；　was　telling　her　it　was　very　easy；　and　she　

must　come　and　see　the　bird's…nest　orchises。　　She　would　have　liked　it　

above　all　things；　but　she　thought　it　very　kind　of　Guy　not　to　seem　angry　

when　she　said；　'No；　thank　you。'



Mary；　after　what　she　had　seen　yesterday；　could　not　guess　at　the　real　

reason；　or　she　would　have　come　with　her；　but　she　thought　Amy　was　tired；　

and　would　rather　not。　　Poor　Amy　was　tired；　very　tired；　before　the　walk　

was　over；　but　her　weary　looks　made　it　worse；　for　Guy　offered　her　his　

arm。　　'No　thank　you；'　she　said；　'I　am　getting　on　very　well；'　and　she　

trudged　on　resolutely；　for　her　mother　was　in　the　carriage；　and　to　lag　

behind　the　others　would　surely　make　him　keep　with　her。



Mrs。　Edmonstone　was　very　sorry　for　her　fatigue；　but　Amy　found　it　a　good　

excuse　for　not　wandering　in　the　garden；　or　joining　in　the　music。　　It　

had　been　a　very　uncomfortable　day；　she　hoped　she　had　done　right；　at　any　

rate；　she　had　the　peaceful　conviction　of　having　tried　to　do　so。



The　next　day；　Amy　was　steady　to　her　resolution。　　No　reading　with　the　

two　youths；　though　Charles　scolded　her；　sitting　in　her　room　till　Guy　

was　gone　out；　going　indoors　as　soon　as　she　heard　him　return；　and　in　the　

evening　staying　with　Charles　when　her　sisters　and　cousins　went　out；　but　

this　did　not　answer；　for　Guy　came　and　sat　by　them。　　She　moved　away　as　

soon　as　possible；　but　the　more　inclined　she　was　to　linger；　the　more　she　

thought　she　ought　to　go；　so　murmuring　something　about　looking　for　

Laura；　she　threw　on　her　scarf；　and　sprung　to　the　window。　　Her　muslin　

caught　on　the　bolt；　she　turned；　Guy　was　already　disentangling　it；　and　

she　met　his　eye。　　It　was　full　of　anxious；　pleading　inquiry；　which　to　

her　seemed　upbraiding；　and；　not　knowing　what　to　do；　she　exclaimed；　

hurriedly；　'Thank　you；　no　harm　done！'　and　darted　into　the　garden；　

frightened　to　feel　her　face　glowing　and　her　heart　throbbing。　　She　could　

not　help　looking　back　to　see　if　he　was　following。　　No；　he　was　not　

attempting　it；　he　was　leaning　against　the　window；　and　on　she　hastened；　

the　perception　dawning　on　her　that　she　was　hurting　him；　he　might　think　

her　rude；　unkind；　capricious；　he　who　had　always　been　so　kind　to　her；　

and　when　he　was　going　away　so　soon。　　'But　it　is　right；　it　must　be　

done；'　said　little　Amy　to　herself；　standing　still；　now　that　she　was　out　

of　sight。　　'If　I　was　wrong　before；　I　must　bear　it　now；　and　he　will　see　

the　rights　of　it　sooner　or　later。　　The　worst　of　all　would　be　my　not　

doing　the　very　_most_　_right_　to　please　any　body。　　Besides　he　can't　

really　car