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！
'I thought you no judge of the article。'
'No； it was not to inspect it that Amy sent for me； though after all it
was for a business I would almost as soon undertake； a thing I would
not do for any other living creature。'
'Then I know what it is。 To write some kind message to Captain
Morville。 Just like the dear Amy！'
'Just like her； and like no one else； except Of course my father
wrote him an official communication yesterday； very short； but the fact
must have made it sweet enough； savage as we all were towards him； as
there was no one else to be savage to； unless it might be poor Miss
Morville； who is the chief loser by being of the feminine gender；' said
Charles； again braving what he was pleased to call sentimentality。
'Well； by and by； my lady wants to know if any one has written to 〃poor
Philip；〃 as she will call him； and； by no means contented by hearing
papa had； she sends to ask me to come to her when I came in from
wheeling in the garden； and receives me with a request that I would
write and tell him how well she is； and how glad； and so on。 There's a
piece of work for me！'
'Luckily you are not quite so savage as you pretend； either to him； or
your poor little niece。'
'Whew！ I should not care whether she was niece or nephew but for him；
at least not much； as long as she comforted Amy； but to see him at
Redclyffe； and be obliged to make much of him at the same time； is more
than I can very well bear； though I may as well swallow it as best I
can； for she will have me do it； as well as on Laura's account。 Amy
believes； you know； that he will think the inheritance a great
misfortune； but that is only a proof that she is more amiable than any
one else。'
'I should think he would not rejoice。'
'Not exactly； but I have no fear that he will not console himself by
thinking of the good he will do with it。 I have no doubt that he was
thoroughly cut up； and I could even go the length of believing that
distress of mind helped to bring on the relapse； but it is some time
ago。 And as to his breaking his heart after the first ten minutes at
finding himself what he has all his life desired to be； in a situation
where the full influence of his talents may be felt；' said Charles；
with a shade of imitation of his measured tones； 'why that； no one but
silly little Amy would ever dream of。'
'Well； I dare say you will grow merciful as you write。'
'No； that is not the way to let my indignation ooze out at my fingers'
ends。 I shall begin by writing to condole with Markham。 Poor man！
what a state he must be in； all the more pitiable because he evidently
had entirely forgotten that there could ever be a creature of the less
worthy gender born to the house of Morville； so it will take him quite
by surprise。 What will he do； and how will he ever forgive Mrs。
Ashford； who； I see in the paper； has a son whom nobody wants； as if
for the express purpose of insulting Markham's feelings！ Well…a…day！
I should have liked to have had the sound of Sir Guy Morville still in
my ears； and yet I don't know that I could have endured its being
applied to a little senseless baby！ And； after all； we are the
gainers； for it would have been a forlorn thing to have seen Amy go off
to reign queen…mother at Redclyffe；and most notably well would she
have reigned； with that clear little head。 I vow 'tis a talent thrown
away！ However； I can't grumble。 She is much happier without greatness
thrust on her； and for my own part； I have my home…sister all to
myself； with no rival but that small womanand how she will pet her！'
'And how you will！ What a spoiling uncle you will be！ But now； having
heard you reason yourself into philosophy； I'll leave you to write。 We
were so anxious； that I could not help coming。 I am so glad that
little one thrives！ I should like to leave my love for Amy； if you'll
remember it；'
'The rarity of such a message from you may enable me。 I was lying here
alone； and received the collected love of five Harpers to convey up…
stairs； all which I forgot； though in its transit by Arnaud and his
French； it had become 〃that they made their friendships to my lady and
Mrs。 Edmonstone。〃'
Charles had not talked so like himself for months； and Mary felt that
Amabel's child； if she had disappointed some expectations； had come
like a spring blossom； to cheer Hollywell； after its long winter of
sorrow and anxiety。 She seemed to have already been received as a
messenger to comfort them for the loss； greatest of all to her； poor
child； though she would never know how great。 Next Mary wondered what
kind of letter Charles would indite； and guessed it would be all the
kinder for the outpouring he had made to her； the only person with whom
he ventured to indulge in a comfortable abuse of Philip； since his good
sense taught him that； ending as affairs must； it was the only wise way
to make the best of it； with father； mother； and Charlotte； all quite
sufficiently disposed to regard Philip with aversion without his help。
Philip was at breakfast with the Henleys； on the following morning； a
Sunday；or rather； sitting at the breakfast…table； when the letters
were brought in。 Mrs。 Henley； pretending to be occupied with her own；
had an eager； watchful eye on her brother； as one was placed before
him。 She knew Mr。 Edmonstone's writing； but was restrained from
exclaiming by her involuntary deference for her brother。 He flushed
deep red one moment； then turned deadly pale； his hand； when first he
raised it； trembled； but then became firm； as if controlled by the
force of his resolution。 He broke the black seal； drew out the letter；
paused another instant； unfolded it； glanced at it； pushed his chair
from the table； and hastened to me door。
'Tell me； tell me； Philip； what is it？' she exclaimed； rising to follow
him。
He turned round； threw the letter on the table； and with a sign that
forbade her to come with him； left the room。
'Poor fellow！ how he feels it！ That poor young creature！' said she；
catching up the letter for explanation。
'Ha！ No！ Listen to this； Dr。 Henley。 Why； he must have read it
wrong！'
'Hollywell； March 5th。
'DEAR PHILIP；I have to announce to you that Lady Morville was safely
confined this morning with a daughter。 I shall be ready to send all
the papers and accounts of the Redclyffe estate to any place you may
appoint as soon as she is sufficiently recovered to transact business。
Both she and the infant are as well as can be expected。
Yours sincerely；
'C。 EDMONSTONE。'
'A daughter！' cried Dr。 Henley。 'Well； my dear； I congratulate you！
It is as fine a property as any in the kingdom。 We shall see him pick
up strength now。'
'I must go and find him。 He surely has mistaken！' said Margaret；
hastening in