the heir of redclyffe-第6部分

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glad　to　possess。　　It　was　the　first　time　he　appeared　to　brighten；　and　

Laura　and　her　mother　agreed　that　it　would　do　him　good　to　have　plenty　of　

music；　and　to　try　to　train　that　fine　voice。　　He　was　beginning　to　

interest　them　all　greatly　by　his　great　helpfulness　and　kindness　to　

Charles；　as　he　learnt　the　sort　of　assistance　he　required；　as　well　as　by　

the　silent　grief　that　showed　how　much　attached　he　must　have　been　to　his　

grandfather。



On　the　first　Sunday；　Mrs。　Edmonstone　coming　into　the　drawing…room　at　

about　half…past　five；　found　him　sitting　alone　by　the　fire；　his　dog　

lying　at　his　feet。　　As　he　started　up；　she　asked　if　he　had　been　here　in　

the　dark　ever　since　church…time？



'I　have　not　wanted　light；'　he　answered　with　a　sigh；　long；　deep；　and　

irrepressible；　and　as　she　stirred　the　fire；　the　flame　revealed　to　her　

the　traces　of　tears。　　She　longed　to　comfort　him；　and　said



'This　Sunday　twilight　is　a　quiet　time　for　thinking。'



'Yes；'　he　said；　'how　few　Sundays　ago'　and　there　he　paused。　



'Ah！　you　had　so　little　preparation。'



'None。　　That　very　morning　he　had　done　business　with　Markham；　and　had　

never　been　more　clear　and　collected。'



'Were　you　with　him　when　he　was　taken　ill？'　asked　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　

perceiving　that　it　would　be　a　relief　to　him　to　talk。　



'No；　it　was　just　before　dinner。　　I　had　been　shooting；　and　went　into　the　

library　to　tell　him　where　I　had　been。　　He　was　well　then；　for　he　spoke；　

but　it　was　getting　dark；　and　I　did　not　see　his　face。　　I　don't　think　I　

was　ten　minutes　dressing；　but　when　I　came　down；　he　had　sunk　back　in　his　

chair。　　I　saw　it　was　not　sleepI　rangand　when　Arnaud　came；　we　knew　

how　it　was。'　　His；　voice　became　low　with　strong　emotion。'



'Did　he　recover　his　consciousness？'　



'Yes；　that　was　_the_　comfort；'　said　Guy；　eagerly。　　'It　was　after　he　had　

been　bled　that　he　seemed　to　wake　up。　　He　could　not　speak　or　move；　but　

he　looked　at　meorI　don't　know　what　I　should　have　done。'　　The　last　

words　were　almost　inaudible　from　the　gush　of　tears　that　he　vainly　

struggled　to　repress；　and　he　was　turning　away　to　hide　them；　when　he　saw　

that　Mrs。　Edmonstone's　were　flowing　fast。



'You　had　great　reason　to　be　attached　to　him！'　said　she；　as　soon　as　she　

could　speak。



'Indeed；　indeed　I　had。'　　And　after　a　long　silence　'He　was　everything　

to　me；　everything　from　the　first　hour　I　can　recollect。　　He　never　let　me　

miss　my　parents。　　How　he　attended　to　all　my　pleasures　and　wishes；　how　

he　watched　and　cared　for　me；　and　bore　with　me；　even　I　can　never　know。'



He　spoke　in　short　half　sentences　of　intense　feeling；　and　Mrs。　

Edmonstone　was　much　moved　by　such　affection　in　one　said　to　have　been　

treated　with　an　excess　of　strictness；　much　compassionating　the　lonely　

boy；　who　had　lost　every　family　tie　in　one。



'When　the　first　pain　of　the　sudden　parting　has　passed；'　said　she；　'you　

will　like　to　remember　the　affection　which　you　knew　how　to　value；'



'If　I　had　but　known！'　said　Guy；　'but　there　was　I；　hasty；　reckless；　

disregarding　his　comfort；　rebelling　against0；　what　would　I　not　give　

to　have　those　restraints　restored！'



'It　is　what　we　all　feel　in　such　losses；'　said　Mrs。　Edmonstone。　　'There　

is　always　much　to　wish　otherwise；　but　I　am　sure　you　can　have　the　

happiness　of　knowing　you　were　his　great　comfort。'



'It　was　what　I　ought　to　have　been。'



She　knew　that　nothing　could　have　been　more　filial　and　affectionate　than　

his　conduct；　and　tried　to　say　something　of　the　kind；　but　he　would　not　

listen。



'That　is　worst　of　all；'　he　said；　'and　you　must　not　trust　what　they　say　

of　me。　　They　would　be　sure　to　praise　me；　if　I　was　anything　short　of　a　

brute。'



A　silence　ensued；　while　Mrs。　Edmonstone　was　trying　to　think　of　some　

consolation。　　Suddenly　Guy　looked　up；　and　spoke　eagerly：…



'I　want　to　ask　somethinga　great　favourbut　you　make　me　venture。　　You　

see　how　I　am　left　aloneyou　know　how　little　I　can　trust　myself。　　Will　

you　take　me　in　handlet　me　talk　to　youand　tell　me　if　I　am　wrong；　as　

freely　as　if　I　were　Charles？　　I　know　it　is　asking　a　great　deal；　but　you　

knew　my　grandfather；　and　it　is　in　his　name。'



She　held　out　her　hand；　and　with　tears　answered



'Indeed　I　will；　if　I　see　any　occasion。'



'You　will　let　me　trust　to　you　to　tell　me　when　I　get　too　vehement？　above　

all；　when　you　see　my　temper　failing？　　Thank　you；　you　don't　know　what　a　

relief　it　is！'



'But　you　must　not　call　yourself　alone。　　You　are　one　of　us　now。'



'Yes；　since　you　have　made　that　promise；'　said　Guy；　and　for　the　first　

time　she　saw　the　full　beauty　of　his　smilea　sort　of　sweetness　and　

radiance　of　which　eye　and　brow　partook　almost　as　much　as　the　lips。　　It　

alone　would　have　gained　her　heart。



'I　must　look　on　you　as　a　kind　of　nephew；'　she　added；　kindly。　'I　used　to　

hear　so　much　of　you　from　my　brother。'



'Oh！'　cried　Guy；　lighting　up；　'Archdeacon　Morville　was　always　so　kind　

to　me。　　I　remember　him　very　well！'



'Ah！　I　wish'　there　she　paused；　and　added；　tête…à…tête　'it　is　not　

right　to　wish　such　thingsand　Philip　is　very　like　his　father。'



'I　am　very　glad　his　regiment　is　so　near。　　I　want　to　know　him　better。'



'You　knew　him　at　Redclyffe；　when　he　was　staying　there？'



'Yes；'　said　Guy；　his　colour　rising；　'but　I　was　a　boy　then；　and　a　very　

foolish；　headstrong　one。　　I　am　glad　to　meet　him　again。　　What　a　grand…

looking　person　he　is！'



'We　are　very　proud　of　him；'　said　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　smiling。　　'I　don't　

think　there　has　been　an　hour's　anxiety　about　him　since　he　was　born。'



The　conversation　was　interrupted　by　the　sound　of　Charles's　crutches　

slowly　crossing　the　hall。　　Guy　sprang　to　help　him　to　his　sofa；　and　

then；　without　speaking；　hurried　up…stairs。



'Mamma；　tete…a…tete　with　the　silent　one！'　exclaimed　Charles。



'I　will　not　tell　you　all　I　think　of　him；'　said　she；　leaving　the　room。



'Hum！'　soliloquised　Charles。　　'That　means　that　my　lady　mother　has　

adopted　him；　and　thinks　I　should　laugh　at　her；　or　straightway　set　up　a　

dislike　to　him；　knowing　my　contempt　for　heroes　and　hero…worship。　　It's　

a　treat　to　have　Philip　out　of　the　way；　and　if　it　was　but　possible　to　

get　out　of　hearing　of　his　perfection；　I　should　have　some　peace。　　If　I　

thought　this　fellow　had　one　spice　of　the　kind；　I'd　never　trouble　my　

head　about　him　more；　and　yet　I　don't　believe　he　has　such　a　pair　of　

hawk's　eyes　for　nothing！'



The　hawk's　eyes；　as　Charles　called　them；　shone　brighter　from　that　day　

forth；　and　their　owner　began　to　show　more　interest　in　what　passed　

around。　　Laura　was　much　amused　by　a　little　conversation　she　held　with　

him　one　day　when　a　party　of　their　younger　neighbours　were　laughing　and　

talking　nonsense　round　Charles's　sofa。　　He　was　sitting　a　little　way　off　

in　silence；　and　she　took　advantage　of　the　loud　laughing　to　say：



'You　think　this　is　not　very　satisfactory？'　　And　as　he　gave　a　quick　

glance　of　inquiry　'Don't　mind　saying　so。　　Philip　and　I　often　agree　

that　it　is　a　pity　spend　so　much　time　in　laughing　at　nothingat　such　

nonsense。'



'It　is　nonsense？'



'Listenno　don't；　it　is　too　silly。'



'Nonsense　must　be　an　excellent　thing　if　it　makes　people　so　happy；'　said　

Guy　thoughtfully。　　'Look　at　them；　they　are　likenot　a　picturethat　

has　no　lifebut　a　dreamor；　perhaps　a　scene　in　a　play。'



'Did　you　never　see　anything　like　it？'



'Oh；　no！　　　All　the　morning　calls　I　ever　saw　were　formal；　every　one　

stiff；　and　speaking　by　rote；　or　talking　politics。　　How　glad　I　used　to　

be　to　get　on　horseback　again！　　But　to　see　thesewhy；　it　is　like　the　

shepherd's　glimpse　at　the　pixies！as　one　reads　a　new　book；　or　watches　

what　one　only　half　understandsa　rook's　parliament；　or　a　gathering　of　

sea…fowl　on　the　Shag　Rock。'



'A　rook's　parliament？'



'The　people　at　home　call　it　a　rook's　parliament　when　a　whole　cloud　of　

rooks　settle　on　some　bare；　wide　common；　and　sit　there　as　if　they　were　

consulting；　not　feeding；　only　stalking　about；　with　drooping　wings；　and　

solemn；　black　cloaks。'



'You　have　found　a　flattering　simile；'　said　Laura；　'as　you　know　that　

rooks　never　open　their　mouths　without　cause。'



Guy　had　never　heard　the　riddle；　but　he　caught　the　pun　instantly；　and　

the　clear　merry　sound　of　his　hearty　laugh　surprised　Charles；　who　

instantly　noted　it　as　another　proof　that　was　some　life　in　him。



Indeed；　each　day　began　to　make　it　evident　that　he　had；　on　the　whole；　

rather　a　superabundance　of　animation　than　otherwise。　　He　was　quite　

confidential　with　Mrs。　Edmonstone；　on　whom　he　used　to　lavish；　with　

boyish　eagerness；　all　that　interested　him；　carrying　her　the　passages　in　

books　that　pleased　him；　telling　her　about　Redclyffe's　affairs；　and　

giving　her　his　letters　from　Markham；　the　steward。　　His　head　was　full　of　

his　horse；　Deloraine；　which　was　coming　to　him　under　the　charge　of　a　

groom；　and　the　consultations　were　endless　about　the　means　of　transport；　

Mr。　Edmonstone　almost　as　eager　about　it　as　he　was　himself。



He　did　not　so　quickly　become　at　home　with　the　younger　portion　of　the　

family；　but　his　spirits　rose　every　day。　　He　whistled　as　he　walked　in　

the　garden；　and　Bustle；　instead　of　pacing　soberly　behind　him；　now　

capered；　nibbled　his　pockets；　and　drew　him　into　games　of　play　which　

Charles　and　Amabel　were　charmed　to　overlook　from　the　dressing…room　

window。　　There　was　Guy　leaping；　bounding；　racing；　rolling　the　dog　over；　

tripping　him　up；　twitching　his　ears；　tickling　his　feet；　catching　at　his　

tail；　laughing　at　Bustle's　springs；　contortions；　and　harmless　open…

mouthed　attacks；　while　the　dog　did　little　less　than　laugh　too；　with　his　

intelligent　amber　eyes；　and　black　and　red　mouth。　　Charles　began　to　find　

a　new　interest　in　his　listless　life　in　the　attempt　to　draw　Guy　out；　and　

make　him　give　one　of　his　merry　laughs。　　In　this；　however；　he　failed　

when　his　wit　consisted　in　allusions　to　the　novels　of　the　day；　of　which　

Guy　knew　nothing。　　One　morning　he　underwent　a　regular　examination；　

ending　in



'Have　you　rea