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！
the utmost parts of the field； where she was the very centre of
'winding up the clock；' and sorely against her will； dragged her off
the wet grass。 About sixty yards from the house； Guy met them with an
umbrella； which； without speaking； he gave to Charlotte。 Amy said；
'Thank you；' and again came that look。 Charlotte rattled on； and hung
back to talk to Guy； so that Amy could not hasten on without leaving
her shelterless。 It may be believed that she had the conversation to
herself。 At the door they met Mary and her father； going to dismiss
their flock； who had taken refuge in a cart…shed at the other end of
the field。 Guy asked if he could be of any use； Mr。 Ross said no； and
Mary begged Amy and Charlotte to go up to her room； and change their
wet shoes。
There； Amy would fain have stayed； flushed and agitated as those looks
made her； but Charlotte was in wild spirits； delighted at having been
caught in the rain； and obliged to wear shoes a mile too large； and
eager to go and share the fun in the drawing…room。 There； in the
twilight； they found a mass of young ladies herded together； making a
confused sound of laughter； and giggling； while at the other end of the
room； Amy could just see Guy sitting alone in a dark corner。
Charlotte's tongue was soon the loudest in the medley； to which Amy did
not at first attend； till she heard Charlotte saying
'Ah！ you should hear Guy sing that。'
'What？' she whispered to Eveleen。
'〃The Land of the Leal；〃' was the answer。
'I wish he would sing it now；' said Ellen Harper。
'This darkness would be just the time for music；' said Eveleen； 'it is
quite a witching time。'
'Why don't you ask him？' said Ellen。 'Come； Charlotte； there's a good
girl； go and ask him。'
'Shall I？' said Charlotte； whispering and giggling with an affectation
of shyness。
'No； no； Charlotte；' said Laura。
'No！ why not？' said Eveleen。 'Don't be afraid； Charlotte。'
'He is so grave；' said Charlotte。
Eveleen had been growing wilder and less guarded all day； and now；
partly liking to tease and surprise the others； and partly emboldened
by the darkness； she answered；
'It will do him all manner of good。 Here； Charlotte； I'll tell you how
to make him。 Tell him Amy wants him to do it。'
'Ay！ tell him so；' cried Ellen； and they laughed in a manner that
overpowered Amy with horror and shyness。 She sprung to seize
Charlotte； and stop her； she could not speak； but Louisa Harper caught
her arm； and Laura's grave orders were drowned in a universal titter；
and suppressed exclamation；'Go； Charlotte； go； we will never forgive
you if you don't！'
'Stop！' Amy struggled to cry； breaking from Louisa； and springing up in
a sort of agony。 Guy； who had such a horror of singing anything deep
in pathos or religious feeling to mixed or unfit auditors； asked to do
so in her name！ 'Stop！ oh； Charlotte！' It was too late； Charlotte；
thoughtless with merriment； amused at vexing Laura； set up with
applause； and confident in Guy's good nature； had come to him； and was
saying；'Oh； Guy！ Amy wants you to come and sing us the 〃Land of the
Leal。〃'
Amy saw him start up。 What； did he think of her？ Oh； what！ He
stepped towards them。 The silly girls cowered as if they had roused a
lion。 His voice was not loudit was almost as gentle as usual； but it
quivered； as if it was hard to keep it so； and； as well as she could
see； his face was rigid and stern as iron。 'Did you wish it？' he said；
addressing himself to her； as if she was the only person present。
Her breath was almost gone。 'Oh！ I beg your pardon；' she faltered。
She could not exculpate herself； she saw it looked like an idle； almost
like an indecorous trick； unkind； everything abhorrent to her and to
him； especially in the present state of things。 His eyes were on her；
his head bent towards her； he waited for an answer。 'I beg your
pardon；' was all she could say。
There wasyes； there wasone of those fearful flashes of his kindling
eye。 She felt as if she was shrinking to nothing； she heard him say；
in a low； hoarse tone； 'I am afraid I cannot；' then Mr。 Ross； Mary；
lights came in； there was a bustle and confusion； and when next she was
clearly conscious； Laura was ordering the carriage。
When it came； there was an inquiry for Sir Guy。
'He is gone home；' said Mr。 Ross。 'I met him in the passage； and
wished him good night。'
Mr。 Ross did not add what he afterwards told his daughter； that Guy
seemed not to know whether it was raining or not； that he had put an
umbrella into his hand； and seen him march off at full speed； through
the pouring rain； with it under his arm。
The ladies entered the carriage。 Amy leant back in her corner； Laura
forbore to scold either Eveleen or Charlotte till she could have them
separately； Eveleen was silent； because she was dismayed at the effect
she had produced； and Charlotte； because she knew there was a scolding
impending over her。
They found no one in the drawing…room but Mr。 Edmonstone and Charles；
who said they had heard the door open； and Guy run up…stairs； but they
supposed he was wet through； as he had not made his appearance。 It was
very inhospitable in the girls not to have made room for him in the
carriage。
Amy went to see how her mother was； longing to tell her whole trouble；
but found her asleep； and was obliged to leave it till the morrow。
Poor child； she slept very little； but she would not go to her mother
before breakfast； lest she should provoke the headache into staying
another day。 Guy was going by the train at twelve o'clock； and she was
resolved that something should be done； so； as soon as her father had
wished Guy goodbye； and ridden off to his justice meeting； she
entreated her mother to come into the dressing…room； and hear what she
had to say。
'Oh； mamma！ the most dreadful thing has happened！' and； hiding her
face； she told her story； ending with a burst of weeping as she said
how Guy was displeased。 'And well he might be！ That after all that
has vexed him this week； I should tease him with such a trick。 Oh；
mamma； what must he think？'
'My dear； there was a good deal of silliness； but you need not treat it
as if it was so very shocking。'
'Oh； but it hurt him！ He was angry； and now I know how it is； he is
angry with himself for being angry。 Oh； how foolish I have been！ What
shall I do？'
'Perhaps we can let him know it was not your fault；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone； thinking it might be very salutary for Charlotte to send
her to confess。
'Do you think so？' cried Amy； eagerly。 'Oh！ that would make it all
comfortable。 Only it was partly mine； for not keeping Charlotte in
better order； and we must not throw it all on her and Eveleen。 You
think we may tell him？'
'I think he ought not to be allowed to fancy y