the heir of redclyffe-第49部分

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tell　him　where　they　were；　but　always　gave　his　address　at　the　place　of　

his　engagement）；　was　conducted　by　him　to　some　concert　in　the　evening；　

and　had　him　to　breakfast　in　the　morning。　　He　could　not　think　there　was　

any　harm　in　this；　he　explained　all　he　had　done　to　Mr。　Edmonstone　the　

first　time；　but　nothing　was　gained　by　it：　his　visits　to　London　

continued　to　be　treated　as　something　to　be　excused　or　overlookedas　

something　not　quite　correct。



He　would　almost　have　been　ready　to　discontinue　them；　but　that　he　saw　

that　his　uncle　regarded　him　with　affection；　and　he　could　not　bear　the　

thought　of　giving　up　a　poor　relation　for　the　sake　of　the　opinion　of　his　

rich　friends。　　These　meetings　were　the　one　pure　pleasure　to　which　

Sebastian　looked；　recalling　to　him　the　happier　days　of　his　youth；　and　

of　his　friendship　with　Guy's　father；　and　when　Guy　perceived　how　he　

valued　them；　it　would　have　seemed　a　piece　of　cruel　neglect　to　gratify　

himself　by　giving　the　time　to　Hollywell。



Early　in　the　course　of　their　acquaintance；　the　importunity　of　a　

creditor　revealed　that；　in　spite　of　his　handsome　salary；　Sebastian　

Dixon　was　often　in　considerable　distress　for　money。　　In　process　of　

time；　Guy　discovered　that　at　the　time　his　uncle　had　been　supporting　his　

sister　and　her　husband　in　all　the　luxury　he　thought　befitted　their　

rank；　he　had　contracted　considerable　debts；　and　he　had　only　been　able　

to　return　to　England　on　condition　of　paying　so　much　a…year　to　his　

creditors。　　This　left　him　very　little　on　which　to　maintain　his　family；　

but　still　his　pride　made　him　bent　on　concealing　his　difficulties；　and　

it　was　not　without　a　struggle　that　he　would　at　first　consent　to　receive　

assistance　from　his　nephew。



Guy　resolved　that　these　debts；　which　he　considered　as　in　fact　his　

father's　own；　should　be　paid　as　soon　as　he　had　the　command　of　his　

property；　but；　in　the　meantime；　he　thought　himself　bound　to　send　his　

uncle　all　the　help　in　his　power；　and　when　once　the　effort　of　accepting　

it　at　all　was　over；　Dixon's　expectations　extended　far　beyond　his　power。　　

His　allowance　was　not　large；　and　the　constant　requests　for　a　few　pounds　

to　meet　some　pressing　occasion　were　more　than　he　could　well　meet。　　They　

kept　him　actually　a　great　deal　poorer　than　men　without　a　tenth　part　of　

his　fortune；　and　at　the　end　of　the　term　he　would　look　back　with　

surprise　at　having　been　able　to　pay　his　way；　but　still　he　contrived　

neither　to　exceed　his　allowance；　nor　to　get　into　debt。　　This　was；　

indeed；　only　done　by　a　rigid　self…denial　of　little　luxuries　such　as　

most　young　men　look　on　nearly　as　necessaries；　but　he　had　never　been　

brought　up　to　think　self…indulgence　a　consequence　of　riches；　he　did　not　

care　what　was　said　of　him；　he　had　no　expensive　tastes；　for　he　did　not　

seek　after　society；　so　that　he　was　not　ill…prepared　for　such　a　course；　

and　only　thought　of　it　as　an　assistance　in　abstaining　from　the　time…

wasting　that　might　have　tempted　him　if　he　had　had　plenty　of　money　to　

spend。



The　only　thing　that　concerned　him　was　a　growing　doubt　lest　he　might　be　

feeding　extravagance　instead　of　doing　good；　and　the　more　he　disliked　

himself　for　the　suspicion；　the　more　it　would　return。　　There　was　no　

doubt　much　distress；　the　children　were　sickly；　several　of　them　died；　

the　doctor's　bills；　and　other　expenses；　pressed　heavily；　and　Guy　blamed　

himself　for　having　doubted。　　Yet；　again；　he　could　not　conceal　from　

himself　traces　that　his　uncle　was　careless　and　imprudent。　　He　had　once；　

indeed；　in　a　violent　fit　of　self…reproach；　confessed　as　much；　allowed　

that　what　ought　to　have　been　spent　in　the　maintenance　of　his　family；　

had　gone　in　gambling；　but　immediately　after；　he　had　been　seized　with　a　

fit　of　terror；　and　implored　Guy　to　guard　the　secret；　since；　if　once　it　

came　to　the　knowledge　of　his　creditors；　it　would　be　all　over　with　him。　　　

Concealment　of　his　present　difficulties　was　therefore　no　less　necessary　

than　assistance　in　paying　the　sum　he　owed。　　Indeed；　as　far　as　Guy　was　

able　to　understand　his　confused　statement；　what　he　wanted　was　at　once　

to　pay　a　part　of　his　debt；　before　he　could　go　on　to　a　place　where　he　

was　engaged　to　perform；　and　where　he　would　earn　enough　to　make　up　the　

rest。



Guy　had　intended　to　have　sent　for　Deloraine；　but　had　since　given　up　the　

idea；　in　order　to　be　able　to　help　forward　some　plans　of　Miss　

Wellwood's；　and　resigning　this　project　would　enable　him　to　place　thirty　

pounds　at　his　uncle's　disposal；　leaving　him　just　enough　to　pay　his　

expenses　at　South　Moor；　and　carry　him　back　to　Hollywell。　　It　was　sorely　

against　his　inclination　that；　instead　of　helping　a　charity；　his　savings　

should　go　to　pay　gaming　debts；　and　his　five…miles　walk　was　spent　in　

self…debate　on　the　right　and　wrong　of　the　matter；　and　questions　what　

should　be　done　for　the　futurefor　he　was　beginning　to　awaken　to　the　

sense　of　his　responsibility；　and　feared　lest　he　might　be　encouraging　

vice。



Very　early　next　morning　Guy　put　his　head　into　his　tutor's　room；　

announced　that　he　must　walk　into　St。　Mildred's　on　business；　but　should　

be　back　by　eleven　at　the　latest；　ran　down…stairs；　called　Bustle；　and　

made　interest　with　the　farmer's　wife　for　a　hunch　of　dry　bread　and　a　cup　

of　new　milk。



Then　rejoicing　that　he　had　made　up　his　mind；　though　not　light…hearted　

enough　to　whistle；　he　walked　across　the　moorland；　through　the　white　

morning　mist；　curling　on　the　sides　of　the　hills　in　fantastic　forms；　and　

now　and　then　catching　his　lengthened　shadow；　so　as　to　make　him　smile　by　

reminding　him　of　the　spectre　of　the　Brocken。



Not　without　difficulty；　he　found　a　back　street；　and　a　little　shop；　

where　a　slovenly　maid　was　sweeping　the　steps；　and　the　shutters　were　not　

yet　taken　down。　　He　asked　if　Mr。　Dixon　lodged　there。　　'Yes；'　the　woman　

said；　staring　in　amazement　that　such　a　gentleman　could　be　there　at　that　

time　in　the　morning；　asking　for　Mr。　Dixon。



'Is　he　at　home？'



'Yes；　sir　but　he　is　not　up　yet。　　He　was　very　late　last　night。　　Did　you　

want　to　speak　to　him？　　I'll　tell　Mrs。　Dixon。'



'Is　Mrs。　Dixon　here？　　Then　tell　her　Sir　Guy　Morville　would　be　glad　to　

speak　to　her。'



The　maid　curtseyed；　hurried　off；　and　returned　with　a　message　from　Mrs。　

Dixon　to　desire　he　would　walk　in。　　She　conducted　him　through　a　dark　

passage；　and　up　a　still　darker　stair；　into　a　dingy　little　parlour；　with　

a　carpet　of　red　and　green　stripes；　a　horsehair　sofa；　a　grate　covered　

with　cut　paper；　and　a　general　perfume　of　brandy　and　cigars。　　There　were　

some　preparations　for　breakfast；　but　no　one　was　in　the　room　but　a　

little　girl；　about　seven　years　old；　dressed　in　shabby…genteel　mourning。



She　was　pale　and　sickly…looking；　but　her　eyes　were　of　a　lovely　deep　

blue；　with　a　very　sweet　expression；　and　a　profusion　of　thick　flaxen　

curls　hung　round　her　neck　and　shoulders。　She　said　in　a　soft；　little；　

shy　voice；



'Mamma　says　she　will　be　here　directly；　if　you　will　excuse　her　a　

moment。'



Having　made　this　formal　speech；　the　little　thing　was　creeping　off　on　

tip…toe；　so　as　to　escape　before　the　maid　shut　the　door；　but　Guy　held　

out　his　hand；　sat　down　so　as　to　be　on　a　level　with　her；　and　said；



'Don't　go；　my　little　maid。　　Won't　you　come　and　speak　to　your　cousin　

Guy？'



Children　never　failed　to　be　attracted；　whether　by　the　winning　beauty　of　

his　smile；　or　the　sweetness　of　the　voice　in　which　he　spoke　to　anything　

small　or　weak；　and　the　little　girl　willingly　came　up　to　him；　and　put　

her　hand　into　his。　　He　stroked　her　thick；　silky　curls；　and　asked　her　

name。



'Marianne；'　she　answered。



It　was　his　mother's　name；　and　this　little　creature　had　more　resemblance　

to　his　tenderly…cherished　vision　of　his　young　mother　than　any　

description　Dixon　could　have　given。　　He　drew　her　closer　to　him；　took　

the　other　small；　cold　hand；　and　asked　her　how　she　liked　St。　Mildred's。



'Oh！　much　better　than　London。　　There　are　flowers！'　and　she　proudly　

exhibited　a　cup　holding　some　ragged　robins；　dead　nettles；　and　other　

common　flowers　which　a　country　child　would　have　held　cheap。　　He　admired　

and　gained　more　of　her　confidence；　so　that　she　had　begun　to　chatter　

away　quite　freely　about　'the　high；　high　hills　that　reached　up　to　the　

sky；　and　the　pretty　stones；'　till　the　door　opened；　and　Mrs。　Dixon　and　

Bustle　made　their　entrance。



Marianne　was　so　much　afraid　of　the　dog；　Guy　so　eager　to　console；　and　

her　mother　to　scold　her；　and　protest　that　it　should　not　be　turned　out；　

that　there　was　nothing　but　confusion；　until　Guy　had　shown　her　that　

Bustle　was　no　dangerous　wild　beast；　induced　her　to　accept　his　offered　

paw；　and　lay　a　timid　finger　on　his　smooth；　black　head；　after　which　the　

transition　was　short　to　dog　and　child　sitting　lovingly　together　on　the　

floor；　Marianne　stroking　his　ears；　and　admiring　him　with　a　sort　of　

silent　ecstasy。



Mrs。　Dixon　was　a　great；　coarse；　vulgar　woman；　and　Guy　perceived　why　his　

uncle　had　been　so　averse　to　taking　him　to　his　home；　and　how　he　must　

have　felt　the　contrast　between　such　a　wife　and　his　beautiful　sister。　　

She　had　a　sort　of　broad　sense；　and　absence　of　pretension；　but　her　

manner　of　talking　was　by　no　means　pleasant；　as　she　querulously　accused　

her　husband　of　being　the　cause　of　all　their　misfortunes；　not　even　

restrained　by　the　presence　of　her　child　from　entering　into　a　full　

account　of　his　offences。



Mrs。　Dixon　said　she　should　not　say　a　word；　she　should　not　care　if　it　

was　not　for　the　child；　but　she　could　not　see　her　wronged　by　her　own　

father；　and　not　complain；　poor　little　dear！　she　was　the　last；　and　she　

supposed　she　should　not　keep　her　long。



It　then　appeared　that　on　her　husband's　obtaining　an　engagement　for　a　

series　of　concerts　at　the　chief　county　town；　Mrs。　Dixon　had　insisted　on　

coming　with　him　to　St。　Mildred's　in　the　hope　that　country　air　might　

benefit　Marianne；　who；　in　a　confined　lodging　in　London；　was　pining　and　

dwindling　as　her　brothers　and　sisters　had　done　before