the heir of redclyffe-第93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！



say；　because　we　shall　never　speak　on　this　subject　again；　and　I　was　

always　afraid　of　you　before。　　You　have　always　misunderstood　him；　I　

might　almost　say；　chosen　to　misunderstand　him。　　You　have　tried　his　

temper　more　than　any　one；　and　never　appreciated　the　struggles　that　have　

subdued　it。　　It　is　not　because　I　am　his　wife　that　I　say　thisindeed　I　

am　not　sure　it　becomes　me　to　say　it；　yet　I　cannot　bear　that　you　should　

not　be　told　of　it；　because　you　think　he　acts　out　of　enmity　to　you。　　You　

little　know　how　your　friendship　has　been　his　first　desirehow　he　has　

striven　for　ithow；　after　all　you　have　done　and　written；　he　defended　

you　with　all　his　might　when　those　at　home　were　angryhow　he　sought　you　

out　on　purpose　to　try　to　be　real　cordial　friends'



Philip's　face　had　grown　rigid；　and　chiefly　at　the　words；　'those　at　home　

were　angry。'　　'It　is　not　I　that　prevent　that　friendship；'　said　he：　'it　

is　his　own　want　of　openness。　　My　opinion　has　never　changed。'



'No；　I　know　it　has　never　changed'　said　Amy；　in　a　tone　of　sorrowful　

displeasure。　　'Whenever　it　does；　you　will　be　sorry　you　have　judged　him　

so　harshly。'



She　left　the　room；　and　Philip　held　her　in　higher　esteem。　　He　saw　there　

was　spirit　and　substance　beneath　that　soft　girlish　exterior；　and　hoped　

she　would　better　be　able　to　endure　the　troubles　which　her　precipitate　

marriage　was　likely　to　cause　her；　but　as　to　her　husband；　his　combined　

fickleness　and　obstinacy　had　only　become　more　apparent　than　ever

fickleness　in　forsaking　his　purpose；　obstinacy　in　adherence　to　his　own　

will。

　　

Displeased　and　contemptuous；　Philip　was　not　softened　by　Guy's　freedom　

and　openness　of　manner　and　desire　to　help　him　as　far　as　their　roads　lay　

together。　　He　was　gracious　only　to　Lady　Morville；　whom　he　treated　with　

kindness；　intended　to　show　that　he　was　pleased　with　her　for　a　reproof　

which　became　her　position　well；　though　it　could　not　hurt　him。　　Perhaps　

she　thought　this　amiability　especially　insufferable：　for　when　she　

arrived　at　Varenna　her　chief　thought　was　that　here　they　should　be　free　

of　him。



'Come；　Philip；'　said　Guy；　at　that　last　moment；　'I　wish　you　would　think　

better　of　it　after　all；　and　come　with　us　to　Milan。'



'Thank　you；　my　mind　is　made　up。'



'Well；　mind　you　don't　catch　the　fever：　for　I　don't　want　the　trouble　of　

nursing　you。'



'Thank　you；　I　hope　to　require　no　such　services　of　my　friends；'　said　

Philip；　with　a　proud　stem　air；　implying；　'I　don't　want　you。'



'Good…bye；　then；'　said　Guy。　　Then　remembering　his　promise　to　Laura；　he　

added；　'I　wish　we　could　have　seen　more　of　you。　　They　will　be　glad　to　

hear　of　you　at　Hollywell。　　You　have　had　one　warm　friend　there　all　

along。'



He　was　touched　for　a　moment　by　this　kind　speech；　and　his　tone　was　less　

grave　and　dignified。　　'Remember　me　to　them　when　you　write；'　he　

answered；　'and　tell　Laura　she　must　not　wear　herself　out　with　her　

studies。　　Good…bye；　Amy；　I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　journey。'



The　farewells　were　exchanged　and　the　carriage　drove　off。　　'Poor　little　

Amy！'　said　Philip　to　himself；　'how　she　is　improved。　　He　has　a　sweet　

little　wife　in　her。　　The　fates　have　conspired　to　crown　him　with　all　man　

can　desire；　and　little　marvel　if　he　should　abuse　his　advantages。　　Poor　

little　Amy！　　I　have　less　hope　than　ever；　since　even　her　evident　wishes　

could　not　bend　his　determination　in　this　trifle；　but　she　is　a　good　

little　creature；　happy　in　her　blindness。　　May　it　long　continue！　　It　is　

my　uncle　and　aunt　who　are　to　be　blamed。'　



He　set　himself　to　ascend　the　mountain　path；　and　they　looked　back；　

watching　the　firm　vigorous　steps　with　which　he　climbed　the　hill　side；　

then　stood　to　wave　his　hand　to　Amabel　looking　a　perfect　specimen　of　

health　and　activity。



'Just　like　himself；'　said　Amy；　drawing　so　long　a　breath　that　Guy　

smiled；　but　did　not　speak。



'Are　you　much　vexed？'　said　she。



'I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　made　the　most　of　my　opportunities。'



'Then　if　you　have　not；　I　can　tell　you　who　has。　　What　do　you　think　of　

his　beginning　to　give　me　a　lecture　how　to　behave　to　you？'



'Did　he　think　you　wanted　it　very　much？'



'I　don't　know：　for　of　course　I　could　not　let　him　go　on。'



Guy　was　so　much　diverted　at　the　idea　of　her　wanting　a　lecture　on　wife…

like　deportment；　that　he　had　no　time　to　be　angry　at　the　impertinence；　

and　he　made　her　laugh　also　by　his　view　that　was　all　force　of　habit。



'Now；　Guidogood　Cavaliere　Guidodo　grant　me　one　satisfaction；'　said　

she；　coaxingly。　　'Only　say　you　are　very　glad　he　is　gone　his　own　way。'



On　the　contrary；　I　am　sorry　he　is　running　his　head　into　a　fever；'　said　

Guy；　pretending　to　be　provoking。



'I　don't　want　you　to　be　glad　of　that；　I　only　want　you　to　be　glad　he　is　

not　sitting　here　towering　over　us。'　　Guy　smiled；　and　began　to　whistle





　　　　　　　　'Cock　up　your　beaver；　and　cock　it　fu'　sprush！'









CHAPTER　31







And　turned　the　thistles　of　a　curse

To　types　beneficent。WORDSWORTH





It　was　about　three　weeks　after　the　rendezvous　at　Bellagio；　that　Sir　Guy　

and　Lady　Morville　arrived　at　Vicenza；　on　their　way　from　Venice。　　They　

were　in　the　midst　of　breakfast　when　Arnaud　entered；　saying；



'It　was　well；　Sir　Guy；　that　you　changed　your　intention　of　visiting　the　

Valtelline　with　Captain　Morville。'



'What！　　Have　you　heard　anything　of　him？'



'I　fear　that　his　temerity　has　caused　him　to　suffer。　　I　have　just　heard　

that　an　Englishman　of　your　name　is　severely　ill　at　Recoara。'



'Where？'



'At　〃la　badia　di　Recoara〃。　　It　is　what　in　English　we　call　a　watering…

place；　on　the　mountains　to　the　north；　where　the　Vicentini　do　go　in　

summer　for　〃fraicheur〃；　but　they　have　all　returned　in　the　last　two　days　

for　fear　of　the　infection。'



'I'll　go　and　make　inquiries'　said　Guy；　rising　in　haste。　　Returning　in　a　

quarter　of　an　hour；　he　said；'It　is　true。　　It　can　be　no　other　than　

poor　Philip。　　I　have　seen　his　doctor；　an　Italian；　who；　when　he　saw　our　

name　written；　said　it　was　the　same。　　He　calls　it　〃una　febbre　molto　

grave〃。'



'Very　heavy！　　Did　he　only　know　the　name　in　writing？'



'Only　from　seeing　it　on　his　passport。　　He　has　been　unable　to　give　any　

directions。'



'How　dreadfully　ill　he　must　be！　　And　alone！　　What　shall　we　do？　　You　

won't　think　of　leaving　me　behind　you；　whatever　you　do？'　　exclaimed　

Amabel；　imploringly。



'It　is　at　no　great　distance；　and'



'0；　don't　say　that。　　Only　take　me　with　you。　　I　will　try　to　bear　it；　if　

you　don't　think　it　right；　but　it　will　be　very　hard。'



Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　but　she　struggled　to　repress　them；　and　was　

silent　in　suspense　as　she　saw　him　considering。



'My　poor　Amy！'　said　he；　presently；　'I　believe　the　anxiety　would　be　

worse　for　you　if　I　were　to　leave　you　here。'



'Oh；　thank　you！'　exclaimed　she。



'You　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　nursing。　　No；　I　don't　think　there　

is　much　risk；　so　we　will　go　together。'



'Thank　you！　thank　you！　and　perhaps　I　may　be　of　some　use。　　But　is　it　

very　infectious？'



'I　hope　not：　caught　at　Colico；　and　imported　to　a　fresh　place。　　I　should　

think　there　was　little　fear　of　its　spreading。　　However；　we　must　soon　be　

off：　I　am　afraid　he　is　very　ill；　and　almost　deserted。　　In　the　first　

place；　I　had　better　send　an　express　to　the　Consul　at　Venice；　to　ask　him　

to　recommend　us　a　doctor；　for　I　have　not　much　faith　in　this　Italian。'



They　were　soon　on　the　way　to　Recoara；　a　road　bordered　on　one　side　by　

high　rocks；　on　the　other　by　a　little　river　flowing　down　a　valley；　shut　

in　by　mountains。　　The　valley　gradually　contracted　in　the　ascent；　till　

it　became　a　ravine；　and　further　on　a　mere　crevice　marked　by　the　thick　

growth　of　the　chestnut…trees；　but　before　this　greater　narrowing；　they　

saw　the　roofs　of　the　houses　in　the　little　town。　　The　sun　shone　clear；　

the　air　had　grown　fresh　as　they　mounted　higher；　Amabel　could　hardly　

imagine　sickness　and　sorrow　in　so　fair　a　spot；　and　turned　to　her　

husband　to　say　so；　but　he　was　deep　in　thought；　and　she　would　not　

disturb　him。



The　town　was　built　on　the　bank　of　the　stream；　and　very　much　shut　in　by　

the　steep　crags；　which　seemed　almost　to　overhang　the　inn；　to　which　they　

drove；　auguring　favourably　of　the　place　from　its　fresh；　clean　aspect。



Guy　hastened　to　the　patient；　while　Amabel　was　conducted　to　a　room　with　

a　polished　floor；　and　very　little　furniture；　and　there　waited　anxiously　

until　he　returned。　　There　was　a　flush　on　his　face；　and　almost　before　he　

spoke；　he　leant　far　out　of　the　window　to　try　to　catch　a　breath　of　air。



'We　must　find　another　room　for　him　directly；'　said　he。　　'He　cannot　

possibly　exist　where　he　isa　little　densuch　an　atmosphere　of　fever

enough　to　knock　one　down！　　Will　you　have　one　got　ready　for　him？'



'Directly；'　said　Amabel；　ringing。　　'How　is　he？'



'He　is　in　a　stupor；　it　is　not　sleep。　　He　is　frightfully　ill；　I　never　

felt　anything　like　the　heat　of　his　skin。　　But　that　stifling　hole　would　

account　for　much；　very　likely　he　may　revive；　when　we　get　him　into　a　

better　atmosphere。　　No　one　has　attended　to　him　properly。　　It　is　a　

terrible　thing　to　be　ill　in　a　foreign　country　without　a　friend！'



Arnaud　came；　and　Amabel　sent　for　the　hostess；　while　Guy　returned　to　his　

charge。　　Little　care　had　been　taken　for　the　solitary　traveller　on　foot；　

too　ill　to　exact　attention；　and　whose　presence　drove　away　custom；　but　

when　his　case　was　taken　up　by　a　Milord　Inglese；　the　people　of　the　inn　

were　ready　to　do　their　utmost　to　cause　their　neglect　to　be　forgotten；　

and　everything　was　at　the　disposal　of　the　Signora。　　The　rooms　were　

many；　but　very　small；　and　the　best　she　could　contrive　was　to　choose　

three　rooms　on　the　lower　floor；　rather　larger　than　the　rest；　and　

opening　into　each　other；　as　well　as　into　the　passage；　so　that　it　was　

possible　to　produce　a　thorough　draught。　　Under　her　superintendence；　

Anne　made　the　apartment　look　comfortable；　and　almost　English；　and　

sending　word　that　all　wa