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！
periodicals under which it seemed as if her brother might some day be
stifleda vain task； for he was sure to want immediately whatever she
put out of his reach。
Laura and Amabel both played and sung； the former remarkably well； and
the first time they had any music after the arrival of Sir Guy； his
look of delighted attention struck everyone。 He ventured nearer； stood
by the piano when they practised； and at last joined in with a few
notes of so full and melodious a voice； that Laura turned round in
surprise； exclaiming； 'You sing better I than any of us！'
He coloured。 'I beg your pardon；' he said； 'I could not help it； I
know nothing of music。'
'Really！' said Laura； smiling incredulously。
'I don't even know the notes。'
'Then you must have a very good ear。 Let us try again。'
The sisters were again charmed and surprised； and Guy looked gratified；
as people do at the discovery of a faculty which they are particularly
glad to possess。 It was the first time he appeared to brighten； and
Laura and her mother agreed that it would do him good to have plenty of
music； and to try to train that fine voice。 He was beginning to
interest them all greatly by his great helpfulness and kindness to
Charles； as he learnt the sort of assistance he required； as well as by
the silent grief that showed how much attached he must have been to his
grandfather。
On the first Sunday； Mrs。 Edmonstone coming into the drawing…room at
about half…past five； found him sitting alone by the fire； his dog
lying at his feet。 As he started up； she asked if he had been here in
the dark ever since church…time？
'I have not wanted light；' he answered with a sigh； long； deep； and
irrepressible； and as she stirred the fire； the flame revealed to her
the traces of tears。 She longed to comfort him； and said
'This Sunday twilight is a quiet time for thinking。'
'Yes；' he said； 'how few Sundays ago' and there he paused。
'Ah！ you had so little preparation。'
'None。 That very morning he had done business with Markham； and had
never been more clear and collected。'
'Were you with him when he was taken ill？' asked Mrs。 Edmonstone；
perceiving that it would be a relief to him to talk。
'No； it was just before dinner。 I had been shooting； and went into the
library to tell him where I had been。 He was well then； for he spoke；
but it was getting dark； and I did not see his face。 I don't think I
was ten minutes dressing； but when I came down； he had sunk back in his
chair。 I saw it was not sleepI rangand when Arnaud came； we knew
how it was。' His； voice became low with strong emotion。'
'Did he recover his consciousness？'
'Yes； that was _the_ comfort；' said Guy； eagerly。 'It was after he had
been bled that he seemed to wake up。 He could not speak or move； but
he looked at meorI don't know what I should have done。' The last
words were almost inaudible from the gush of tears that he vainly
struggled to repress； and he was turning away to hide them； when he saw
that Mrs。 Edmonstone's were flowing fast。
'You had great reason to be attached to him！' said she； as soon as she
could speak。
'Indeed； indeed I had。' And after a long silence 'He was everything
to me； everything from the first hour I can recollect。 He never let me
miss my parents。 How he attended to all my pleasures and wishes； how
he watched and cared for me； and bore with me； even I can never know。'
He spoke in short half sentences of intense feeling； and Mrs。
Edmonstone was much moved by such affection in one said to have been
treated with an excess of strictness； much compassionating the lonely
boy； who had lost every family tie in one。
'When the first pain of the sudden parting has passed；' said she； 'you
will like to remember the affection which you knew how to value；'
'If I had but known！' said Guy； 'but there was I； hasty； reckless；
disregarding his comfort； rebelling against0； what would I not give
to have those restraints restored！'
'It is what we all feel in such losses；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'There
is always much to wish otherwise； but I am sure you can have the
happiness of knowing you were his great comfort。'
'It was what I ought to have been。'
She knew that nothing could have been more filial and affectionate than
his conduct； and tried to say something of the kind； but he would not
listen。
'That is worst of all；' he said； 'and you must not trust what they say
of me。 They would be sure to praise me； if I was anything short of a
brute。'
A silence ensued； while Mrs。 Edmonstone was trying to think of some
consolation。 Suddenly Guy looked up； and spoke eagerly：…
'I want to ask somethinga great favourbut you make me venture。 You
see how I am left aloneyou know how little I can trust myself。 Will
you take me in handlet me talk to youand tell me if I am wrong； as
freely as if I were Charles？ I know it is asking a great deal； but you
knew my grandfather； and it is in his name。'
She held out her hand； and with tears answered
'Indeed I will； if I see any occasion。'
'You will let me trust to you to tell me when I get too vehement？ above
all； when you see my temper failing？ Thank you； you don't know what a
relief it is！'
'But you must not call yourself alone。 You are one of us now。'
'Yes； since you have made that promise；' said Guy； and for the first
time she saw the full beauty of his smilea sort of sweetness and
radiance of which eye and brow partook almost as much as the lips。 It
alone would have gained her heart。
'I must look on you as a kind of nephew；' she added； kindly。 'I used to
hear so much of you from my brother。'
'Oh！' cried Guy； lighting up； 'Archdeacon Morville was always so kind
to me。 I remember him very well！'
'Ah！ I wish' there she paused； and added； tête…à…tête 'it is not
right to wish such thingsand Philip is very like his father。'
'I am very glad his regiment is so near。 I want to know him better。'
'You knew him at Redclyffe； when he was staying there？'
'Yes；' said Guy； his colour rising； 'but I was a boy then； and a very
foolish； headstrong one。 I am glad to meet him again。 What a grand…
looking person he is！'
'We are very proud of him；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； smiling。 'I don't
think there has been an hour's anxiety about him since he was born。'
The conversation was interrupted by the sound of Charles's crutches
slowly crossing the hall。 Guy sprang to help him to his sofa； and
then； without speaking； hurried up…stairs。
'Mamma； tete…a…tete with the silent one！' exclaimed Charles。
'I will not tell you all I think of him；' said she； leaving the room。
'Hum！' soliloquised Charles。 'That means that my lady mother has
adopted him； and thinks I should laugh at her； or straightway set up a
dislike to him； knowing my