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to leave Recoara very soon； the journey was very easy； the sea voyage
would be the best thing for him； and he should be glad to get to the
regimental doctor at Corfu。
Amabel sighed； and knew she ought to be convinced。 The very pain it
gave her to lose sight of that green； grave； the chestnut…tree； and the
white mountain； to leave the rooms and passages which still； to her
ears； were haunted by Guy's hushed step and voice； and to part with the
window where she used each wakeful night to retrace his profile as he
had stood pausing before telling her of his exceeding happiness； that
very pain made her think that opposition would be selfish。 She must go
some time or other； and it was foolish to defer the struggle； she must
not detain her parents in an infected place； nor keep her mother from
Charles。 She therefore consented； and let them do what they pleased；
only insisting on Arnaud's being left with Philip。
Philip did not think this necessary； but yielded； when she urged it as
a relief to her own mind； and Arnaud； though unwilling； and used to his
own way； could make no objection when she asked it as a personal
favour。 Arnaud was； at his own earnest wish； to continue in her
service； and； as soon as Philip was able to embark； was to follow her
to Hollywell。
All this time nothing passed about Laura。 Amabel asked several times
whether papa had spoken； but was always answered； 'Not yet；' and at
last Mrs。 Edmonstone； after vainly trying to persuade him； was obliged
to give it up。 The truth was； he could not begin； he was afraid of his
nephew； and so unused to assume superiority over him that he did not
know what to do； and found all kinds of reasons for avoiding the
embarrassing scene。 Since Philip still must be dealt with cautiously；
better not enter on the subject at all。 When reminded that the
suspense was worse than anything； he said； no one could tell how things
would； turn out； and grew angry with his wife for wishing him to make
up a shameful affair like that； when poor Guy had not been dead a week；
and he had been the death of him； but it was just like mamma； she
always spoilt him。 He had a great mind to vow never to consent to his
daughter's marrying such an overbearing； pragmatical fellow； she ought
to be ashamed of even thinking of him； when he was no better than her
brother's murderer。
After this tirade； Mrs。 Edmonstone might well feel obliged to tell
Amabel； that papa must not be pressed any further； and； of course； if
he would not speak； she could not （nor did she wish it）。
'Then； mamma；' said Amabel； with the air of decision that had lately
grown on her； 'I must tell him。 I beg your pardon；' she added；
imploringly； 'but indeed I must。 It is hard on him not to hear that
you had not his letter； and that Laura has told。 I know Guy would wish
me； so don't be displeased； dear mamma。'
'I can't be displeased with anything you do。'
'And you give me leave？'
'To be sure I do；leave to do anything but hurt yourself。'
'And would it be wrong for me to offer to write to him？ No one else
will； and it will be sad for him not to hear。 It cannot be wrong； can
it？' said she； as the fingers of her right hand squeezed her wedding…
ring； a habit she had taken up of late。
'Certainly not； my poor darling。 Do just as you think fit。 I am sorry
for him； for I am sure he is in great trouble； and I should like him to
be comfortedif he can。 But； Amy； you must not ask me to do it。 He
has disappointed me too much。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone left the room in tears。
Amabel went up to the window； looked long at the chestnut…tree； then up
into the sky； sat down； and leant her forehead on her hand in
meditation； until she rose up； cheered and sustained； as if she had
been holding council with her husband。
She did not over…estimate Philip's sufferings from suspense and
anxiety。 He had not heard a word of Laura； how she had borne his
illness； nor how much displeasure his confession had brought upon her；
nor could he learn what hope there was that his repentance was
accepted。 He did not venture to ask； for after engaging to leave all
to them； could he intrude his own concerns on them at such a time？ It
was but a twelvemonth since he had saddened and shadowed Guy's short
life and love with the very suffering from uncertainty that he found so
hard to bear。 As he remembered this； he had a sort of fierce
satisfaction in enduring this retributive justice； though there were
moods when he felt the torture so acutely； that it seemed to him as if
his brain would turn if he saw them depart； and was left behind to this
distracting doubt。
The day had come； on which they were to take their first stage； as far
as Vicenza； and his last hopes were fading。 He tried to lose the sense
of misery by bestirring himself in the preparations； but he was too
weak； and Mrs。 Edmonstone； insisting on his attempting no more； sent
him back： to his own sitting…room。
Presently there was a knock； and in came Amabel； dressed； for the first
time； in her weeds； the blackness and width of her sweeping crape
making her young face look smaller and paler； while she held in her
hand some leaves of chestnut； that showed where she had been。 She
smiled a little as she came in； saying； 'I am come to you for a little
quiet； out of the bustle of packing up。 I want you to do something for
me。'
'Anything for you。'
'It is what you will like to do；' said she； with _that_ smile； 'for it
is more for _him_ than for me。 Could you； without teasing yourself；
put that into Latin for me； by and by？ I think it should be in Latin；
as it is in a foreign country。'
She gave him a paper in her own writing。
GUY MORVILLE；
OF REDCLYFFE； ENGLAND。
DIED THE EVE OF ST。 MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS； 18
AGED 21 1/2。
I BELIEVE IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS。
'Will you be so kind as to give it to Arnaud when it is done？' she
continued； 'he will send it to the man who is making the cross。 I
think the kind people here will respect it。'
'Yes；' said Philip；' it is soon done； and thank you for letting me do
it。 But； Amy； I would not alter your choice； yet there is one that
seems to me more applicable 〃Greater love hath no man〃'
'I know what you mean；' said Amy； 'but that has so high a meaning that
he could not bear it to be applied to him。'
'Or rather； what right have I to quote it？' said Philip； bitterly。
'His friend！ No； Amy； you should rather choose； 〃If thine enemy
thirst； give him drink； for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire
on his head。〃 I am sure they are burning on mine；' and he pressed his
hand on his forehead。
'Don't say such things。 We both know that； at the worst of times； he
looked on you as a sincere friend。'
Philip groaned； and she thought it best to go on to something else。 'I
like this best；