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She still had been before。S。 R。
Philip's marriage could not take place at once。 No one said； but every
one felt； that it must not be talked of till the end of Amabel's first
year of widowhood； and in the meantime Philip remained at Hollywell；
gaining strength every day； making more progress in one week than he
had done in six at St。 Mildred's； finding that； as his strength
returned； his mind and memory regained their tone； and he was as
capable as ever of applying to business； and； above all； much settled
and comforted by some long conversations with Mr。 Ross。
Still he could not endure the thought of being at Redclyffe。 The
business connected with it was always performed with pain and dislike；
and he shrank with suffering at every casual mention of his going
thither。 Mrs。 Edmonstone began to wonder whether he could mean to
linger at Hollywell all the summer； and Amabel had some fears that it
would end in his neglecting Redclyffe； till a letter arrived from Lord
Thorndale； saying that his brother； the member for Moorworth； had long
been thinking of giving up his seat； and latterly had only waited in
hopes that the succession at Redclyffe might come to Philip Morville。
Moorworth was entirely under the Thorndale and Morville interest； and
Lord Thorndale wrote to propose that Philip should come forward at
once； inviting him to Thorndale instead of going to his own empty
house。
To be in parliament had been one of the favourite visions of Philip's
youth； and for that very reason he hesitated； taking it as one of the
strange fulfilments of his desires that had become punishments。 He
could not but feel that as this unhappy load of wealth had descended on
him； he was bound to make it as beneficial as he could to others； and
not seeking for rest or luxury； to stand in the gap where every good
man and true was needed。 But still he dreaded his old love of
distinction。 He disliked a London life for Laura； and he thought that；
precarious as his health had become； it might expose her to much
anxiety； since he was determined that if he undertook it at all； he
would never be an idle member。
It ended in his referring the decision to Laura； who； disliking London；
fearful for his health； eager for his glory； and reluctant to keep back
such a champion from the battle； was much perplexed； only desirous to
say what he wished； yet not able to make out what that might be。 She
carried her doubts to Charles and Amabel； who both pronounced that the
thought of going to Redclyffe seemed far worse for him than any degree
of employmentthat occupation of the mind was the best thing for his
spirits； and ended by recommending that Dr。 Mayerne should be
consulted。
He was of the same opinion。 He said a man could hardly have two fevers
following； and one of them upon the brain； without having reason to
remember them。 That his constitution had been seriously weakened； and
there was an excitability of brain and nerves which made care
requisite； but depression of spirits was the chief thing to guard
against； and a London life； provided he did not overwork himself； was
better for him than solitude at Redclyffe。
Accordingly Philip went to Thorndale； and was returned for Moorworth
without opposition。 Markham sent his nephew to transact business with
him at Thorndale； for he could not bear to meet him himself； and while
there was any prospect of his coming to Redclyffe； walked about in
paroxysms of grunting and ill…humour。 The report that Mr。 Morville was
engaged to the other Miss Edmonstone did but render him more furious；
for he regarded it as a sort of outrage to Lady Morville's feelings
that a courtship should be carried on in the house with her。 She was
at present the object of all his devoted affection for the family； and
he would not believe； but that she had been as much disappointed at the
birth of her daughter； as he was himself。 He would not say one word
against Mr。 Morville； but looked and growled enough to make Mr。 Ashford
afraid that the new squire would find him very troublesome。
The Ashfords were in a state of mind themselves to think that Mr。
Morville ought to be everything excellent to make up for succeeding Sir
Guy； but having a very high opinion of him to begin with； they were
very sorry to find all Redclyffe set against him。 In common with the
parish； they were very anxious for the first report of his arrival and
at length he came。 James Thorndale； as before； drove him thither；
coming to the Ashfords while he was busy with Markham。 He would not go
up to the Park； he only went through some necessary business with
Markham； and then walked down to the Cove； afterwards sitting for about
ten minutes in Mrs。 Ashford's drawing…room。
The result of the visit was that old James Robinson reported that the
new squire took on as much about poor Sir Guy as any one could do； and
turned as pale as if he had been going into a swoon； when he spoke his
name and gave Ben his message。 And as to poor Ben； the old man said；
he regularly did cry like a child； and small blame to him； to hear that
Sir Guy had took thought of him at such a time and so far away； and he
verily believed Ben could never take again to his bad ways； after such
a message as that。
Markham was gruff with the Robinsons for some time after and was even
heard to mutter something about worshipping the rising sun； an act of
idolatry of which he could not be accused； since it was in the most
grudging manner that he allowed； that Mr。 Morville's sole anxiety
seemed to be to continue all Sir Guy had undertaken； while Mrs。
Ashford； on the other hand was much affected by the account her cousin
James had been giving her of the grief that he had suffered at Sir
Guy's death； his long illness； his loss of spirits； the reluctance he
had shown to come here at all； and his present unconquerable dread of
going to the Park。
He was soon after in London； where； as far as could be judged in such
early days； he seemed likely to distinguish himself according to the
fondest hopes that Margaret or Laura could ever have entertained。
Laura was only afraid he was overworking himself； especially as； having
at present little command of ready money； he lived in a small lodging；
kept no horse； and did not enter into society； but she was reassured
when he came to Hollywell for a day or two at Whitsuntide； not having
indeed regained flesh or colour； but appearing quite well； in better
spirits； and very eager about political affairs。
All would have been right that summer； but that； as Philip observed；
the first evening of his arrival； Amabel was not looking as well as she
had done at the time of the christening。 She had； just after it； tried
her strength and spirits too much； and had ever since been not exactly
unwell； but sad and weary； more dejected than ever before； unable to