hisprayer
for
one
in
whom
there
was
no
tangible
evil
,
and
whom
others
thought
a
pattern
of
all
that
could
be
desired
by
the
fondest
hopes
.
He
knelt
down
,
with
bowed
head
,
and
hands
clasped
.
Assuredly
,
if
his
father
could
have
beheld
him
then
,
it
would
have
been
with
rejoicing
.
He
would
not
have
sorrowed
that
that
robust
frame
was
wasted
,
and
great
strength
brought
low
;
that
the
noble
features
were
worn
,
the
healthful
cheek
pale
,
and
the
powerful
intellect
clouded
and
weakened
;
he
would
hardly
have
mourned
for
the
cruel
grief
and
suffering
,
such
would
have
been
his
joy
that
the
humble
,
penitent
,
obedient
heart
had
been
won
at
last
.
Above
all
,
he
would
have
rejoiced
that
the
words
that
most
soothed
that
wounded
spirit
were
,
—
'
A
broken
and
contrite
heart
,
O
God
,
Thou
wilt
not
despise
.
'
There
was
solace
in
that
solemn
silence
;
the
throbs
of
head
and
heart
were
stilled
in
the
calm
around
.
It
was
as
if
the
influences
of
the
prayers
breathed
for
him
by
his
father
,
and
the
forgiveness
and
loving
spirit
there
won
by
Guy
,
had
been
waiting
for
him
there
till
he
came
to
take
them
up
,
for
thenceforth
the
bitterest
of
his
despair
was
over
,
and
he
could
receive
each
token
of
Amabel
's
forgiveness
,
not
as
heaped
coals
of
fire
,
but
as
an
earnest
of
forgiveness
sealed
in
heaven
.
The
worst
was
over
,
and
though
he
still
had
much
to
suffer
,
he
was
becoming
open
to
receive
comfort
;
the
blank
dark
remorse
in
which
he
had
been
living
began
to
lighten
,
and
the
tone
of
his
mind
to
return
.
He
spoke
more
cheerfully
to
Susan
when
he
restored
the
key
;
but
she
had
been
so
shocked
at
his
appearance
,
that
when
,
the
next
day
,
a
report
reached
her
that
Mr.
Philip
was
now
a
grand
gentleman
,
and
very
rich
,
she
answered
,
—
'
Well
,
if
it
be
so
,
I
am
glad
of
it
,
but
he
said
never
a
word
of
it
to
me
,
and
it
is
my
belief
he
would
give
all
the
money
as
ever
was
coined
,
to
have
the
poor
young
gentleman
back
again
.
Depend
upon
it
,
he
hates
the
very
sound
of
it
.
'
At
the
cost
of
several
sheets
of
paper
,
Philip
at
length
completed
a
letter
to
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
which
,
when
he
had
sent
it
,
made
his
suspense
more
painful
.
'
St
.
Mildred
's
,
March
12th
.
'
My
Dear
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
—
It
is
with
a
full
sense
of
the
unfitness
of
intruding
such
a
subject
upon
you
in
the
present
state
of
the
family
,
that
I
again
address
you
on
the
same
topic
as
that
on
which
I
wrote
to
you
from
Italy
,
at
the
first
moment
at
which
I
have
felt
it
possible
to
ask
your
attention
.
I
was
then
too
ill
to
be
able
to
express
my
contrition
for
all
that
has
passed
;
in
fact
,
I
doubt
whether
it
was
even
then
so
deep
as
at
present
,
since
every
succeeding
week
has
but
added
to
my
sense
of
the
impropriety
of
my
conduct
,
and
my
earnest
desire
for
pardon
.
I
can
hardly
venture
at
such
a
time
to
ask
anything
further
,
but
I
must
add
that
my
sentiments
towards
your
daughter
are
unaltered
,
and
can
never
cease
but
with
my
life
;
and
though
I
know
I
have
rendered
myself
unworthy
of
her
,
and
my
health
,
both
mental
and
bodily
,
is
far
from
being
re-established
,
I
cannot
help
laying
my
feelings
before
you
,
and
entreating
that
you
will
put
an
end
to
the
suspense
which
has
endured
for
so
many
months
,
by
telling
me
to
hope
that
I
have
not
for
ever
forfeited
your
consent
to
my
attachment
.
At
least
,
I
trust
to
your
kindness
for
telling
me
on
what
terms
I
am
for
the
present
to
stand
with
your
family
.
I
am
glad
to
hear
such
favourable
reports
of
Lady
Morville
,
and
with
all
my
heart
I
thank
Charles
for
his
letter
.
'
Yours
ever
affectionately
,
'
Ph
.
Morville
.
'
He
ardently
watched
for
a
reply
.
He
could
not
endure
the
idea
of
receiving
it
where
Margaret
's
eyes
could
scan
the
emotion
he
could
now
only
conceal
by
a
visible
rigidity
of
demeanour
,
and
he
daily
went
himself
to
the
post-office
,
but
in
vain
.
He
received
nothing
but
business
letters
,
and
among
them
one
from
Markham
,
with
as
much
defiance
and
dislike
in
its
style
as
could
be
shown
in
a
perfectly
formal
,
proper
letter
.
Till
he
had
referred
to
Lady
Morville
,
he
would
not
make
any
demonstration
towards
Redclyffe
,
and
evaded
all
his
sister
's
questions
as
to
what
he
was
doing
about
it
,
and
when
he
should
take
measures
for
leaving
the
army
,
or
obtaining
a
renewal
of
the
baronetcy
.
Anxiety
made
him
look
daily
more
wretchedly
haggard
;
the
doctor
was
at
fault
,
Mrs.
Henley
looked
sagacious
,
while
his
manner
became
so
dry
and
repellent
that
visitors
went
away
moralizing
on
the
absurdity
of
nuvoeaux
riches
taking
so
much
state
on
them
.
He
wondered
how
soon
he
might
venture
to
write
to
Amabel
,
on
whom
alone
he
could
depend
;
but
he
felt
it
a
sort
of
profanity
to
disturb
her
.
He
had
nearly
given
up
his
visits
to
the
post
in
despair
,
when
one
morning
he
beheld
what
never
failed
to
bring
some
soothing
influence
,
namely
,
the
fair
pointed
characters
he
had
not
dared
to
hope
for
.
He
walked
quickly
into
the
promenade
,
sat
down
,
and
read
:
—
'
Hollywell
,
March
22nd
.
'
My
dear
Philip
,
—
Papa
does
not
answer
your
letter
,
because
he
says
speaking
is
better
than
writing
,
and
we
hope
you
are
well
enough
to
come
to
us
before
Sunday
week
.
I
hope
to
take
our
dear
little
girl
to
be
christened
on
that
day
,
and
I
want
you
to
be
so
kind
as
to
be
her
godfather
.
I
ask
it
of
you
,
not
only
in
my
own
name
,
but
in
her
father
's
,
for
I
am
sure
it
is
what
he
would
choose
.
Her
aunt
Laura
and
Mary
Ross
are
to
be
her
godmothers
.
I
hope
you
will
not
think
me
very
foolish
and
fanciful
for
naming
her
Mary
Verena
,
in
remembrance
of
our
old
readings
of
Sintram
.
She
is
a
very
healthy
,
quiet
creature
,
and
I
am
getting
on
very
well
.
I
am
writing
from
the
dressing-room
,
and
I
expect
to
be
down
stairs
in
a
few
days
.
If
you
do
not
dislike
it
very
much
,
could
you
be
so
kind
as
to
call
upon
Miss
Wellwood
,
and
pay
little
Marianne
Dixon
's
quarter
for
me
?
It
is
£
10
,
and
it
will
save
trouble
if
you
would
do
it
;
besides
that
,
I
should
like
to
hear
of
her
and
the
little
girl
.
I
am
sorry
to
hear
you
are
not
better
,
—
perhaps
coming
here
may
do
you
good
.
—
Four
o'clock
.
I
have
been
keeping
my
letter
in
hopes
of
persuading
papa
to
put
in
a
note
,
but
he
says
he
had
rather
send
a
message
that
'
he
is
quite
ready
to
forgive
and
forget
,
and
it
will
be
best
to
talk
it
over
when
you
come
.
'
'
Your
affectionate
cousin
,
'
A
.
F
.
Morville
.
'
It
was
well
he
was
not
under
his
sister
's
eye
,
for
he
could
not
read
this
letter
calmly
,
and
he
was
obliged
to
take
several
turns
along
the
walk
before
he
could
recover
his
composure
enough
to
appear
in
the
breakfast-room
,
where
he
found
his
sister
alone
,
dealing
her
letters
into
separate
packets
of
important
and
unimportant
.
'
Good
morning
,
Philip
.
Dr.
Henley
is
obliged
to
go
to
Bramshaw
this
morning
,
and
has
had
an
early
breakfast
.
Have
you
been
out
?
'
'
Yes
,
it
is
very
fine
—
I
mean
it
will
be
—
the
haze
is
clearing
.
'
Margaret
saw
that
he
was
unusually
agitated
,
and
not
by
grief
;
applied
herself
to
tea-making
,
and
hoped
his
walk
had
given
him
an
appetite
;
but
there
seemed
little
chance
of
this
,
so
long
were
his
pauses
between
each
morsel
,
and
so
often
did
he
lean
back
in
his
chair
.
'
I
am
going
to
leave
you
on
—
on
Friday
,
'
he
said
,
at
length
,
abruptly
.
'
Oh
,
are
you
going
to
Redclyffe
?
'
'
No
;
to
Hollywell
.
Lady
Morville
wishes
me
to
be
her
little
girl
's
sponsor
;
I
shall
go
to
London
on
Friday
,
and
on
,
the
next
day
.
'
'
I
am
glad
they
have
asked
you
.
Does
she
write
herself
?
Is
she
pretty
well
?
'
'
Yes
;
she
is
to
go
downstairs
in
a
day
or
two
.
'
'
I
am
rejoiced
that
she
is
recovering
so
well
.
Do
you
know
whether
she
is
in
tolerable
spirits
?
'
'
She
writes
cheerfully
.
'
'
How
many
years
is
it
since
I
saw
her
?
She
was
quite
a
child
;
but
very
sweet-tempered
and
attentive
to
poor
Charles
,
'
said
Mrs.
Henley
,
feeling
most
amiably
disposed
towards
her
future
sister-in-law
.
'
Just
so
.
Her
gentleness
and
sweet
temper
were
always
beautiful
;
and
she
has
shown
herself
under
her
trials
what
it
would
be
presumptuous
to
praise
.
'
Margaret
had
no
doubt
now
,
and
thought
he
was
ready
for
more
open
sympathy
.
'
You
must
let
me
congratulate
you
now
on
this
unexpected
dawn
of
hope
,
after
your
long
trial
,
my
dear
brother
.
It
is
a
sort
of
unconscious
encouragement
you
could
hardly
hope
for
.
'
'
I
did
not
know
you
knew
anything
of
it
,
'
said
Philip
.
'
Ah
!
my
dear
brother
,
you
betrayed
yourself
.
You
need
not
be
disconcerted
;
only
a
sister
could
see
the
real
cause
of
your
want
of
spirits
.
Your
manner
at
each
mention
of
her
,
your
anxiety
,
coupled
with
your
resolute
avoidance
of
her
—
'
'
Of
whom
?
Do
you
know
what
you
are
talking
of
,
sister
?
'
said
Philip
,
sternly
.
'
Of
Amabel
,
of
course
.
'
Philip
rose
,
perfectly
awful
in
his
height
and
indignation
.
'
Sister
!
'
he
said
—
paused
,
and
began
again
.
'
I
have
been
attached
to
Laura
Edmonstone
for
years
past
,
and
Lady
Morville
knows
it
.
'
'
To
Laura
!
'
cried
Mrs.
Henley
,
in
amaze
.
'
Are
you
engaged
?
'
and
as
he
was
hardly
prepared
to
answer
,
she
continued
,
'
If
you
have
not
gone
too
far
to
recede
,
only
consider
before
you
take
any
rash
step
.
You
come
into
this
property
without
ready
money
,
you
will
find
endless
claims
,
and
if
you
marry
at
once
and
without
fortune
,
you
will
never
be
clear
from
difficulties
.
'
'
I
have
considered
,
'
he
replied
,
with
cold
loftiness
that
would
have
silenced
any
one
,
not
of
the
same
determined
mould
.
'
You
are
positively
committed
,
then
!
'
she
said
,
much
vexed
.
'
Oh
,
Philip
!
I
did
not
think
you
would
have
married
for
mere
beauty
.
'
'
I
can
hear
no
more
discussion
on
this
point
,
'
answered
Philip
,
in
the
serious
,
calm
tone
that
showed
so
much
power
over
himself
and
every
one
else
.
It
put
Margaret
to
silence
,
though
she
was
excessively
disappointed
to
find
him
thus
involved
just
at
his
outset
,
when
he
might
have
married
so
much
more
advantageously
.
She
was
sorry
,
too
,
that
she
had
shown
her
opinion
so
plainly
,
since
it
was
to
be
,
and
hurt
his
feelings
just
as
he
seemed
to
be
thawing
.
She
would
fain
have
learnt
more
;
but
he
was
completely
shut
up
within
himself
,
and
never
opened
again
to
her
.
She
had
never
before
so
grated
on
every
delicate
feeling
in
his
mind
;
and
he
only
remained
at
her
house
because
,
in
his
present
state
of
health
,
he
hardly
knew
where
to
bestow
himself
till
it
was
time
for
him
to
go
to
Hollywell
.
He
went
to
call
on
Miss
Wellwood
,
to
whom
his
name
was
no
slight
recommendation
,
and
she
met
him
eagerly
,
asking
after
Lady
Morville
,
who
,
she
said
,
had
twice
written
to
her
most
kindly
about
little
Marianne
.
It
was
a
very
pleasant
visit
,
and
a
great
relief
.
He
looked
at
the
plans
,
heard
the
fresh
arrangements
,
admired
,
was
interested
,
and
took
pleasure
in
having
something
to
tell
Amabel
.
He
asked
for
Marianne
,
and
heard
that
she
was
one
of
the
best
of
children
—
amiable
,
well-disposed
,
only
almost
too
sensitive
.
Miss
Wellwood
said
it
was
remarkable
how
deep
an
impression
Sir
Guy
had
made
upon
her
,
and
how
affectionately
she
remembered
his
kindness
;
and
her
distress
at
hearing
of
his
death
had
been
far
beyond
what
such
a
child
could
have
been
supposed
to
feel
,
both
in
violence
and
in
duration
.
Philip
asked
to
see
her
,
knowing
it
would
please
Amabel
,
and
in
she
came
—
a
long
,
thin
,
nine-year
old
child
,
just
grown
into
the
encumbering
shyness
,
that
is
by
no
means
one
of
the
graces
of
la
vieillesse
de
lenfance
.
He
wished
to
be
kind
and
encouraging
;
but
melancholy
,
added
to
his
natural
stateliness
,
made
him
very
formidable
;
and
poor
Marianne
was
capable
of
nothing
beyond
'
yes
'
or
'
no
.
'
He
told
her
he
was
going
to
see
Lady
Morville
and
her
little
girl
,
whereat
she
eagerly
raised
her
eyes
,
then
shrank
in
affright
at
anything
so
tall
,
and
so
unlike
Sir
Guy
.
He
said
the
baby
was
to
be
christened
next
Sunday
,
and
Miss
Wellwood
helped
him
out
by
asking
the
name
.
Mary
,
he
said
,
for
he
was
by
no
means
inclined
to
explain
the
Verena
,
though
he
knew
not
half
what
it
conveyed
to
Amabel
.
Lastly
,
he
asked
if
Marianne
had
any
message
;
when
she
hung
down
her
head
,
and
whispered
to
Miss
Wellwood
,
what
proved
to
be
'
My
love
to
dear
little
cousin
Mary
.
'
He
promised
to
deliver
it
,
and
departed
,
wishing
he
could
more
easily
unbend
.
CHAPTER
XVIII
.
Blest
,
though
every
tear
that
falls
Doth
in
its
silence
of
past
sorrow
tell
,
And
makes
a
meeting
seem
most
like
a
dear
farewell
.
Wordsworth
.
On
Saturday
afternoon
,
about
half-past
five
,
Philip
Morville
found
himself
driving
up
to
the
wellknown
front
door
of
Hollywell
.
At
the
door
he
heard
that
every
one
was
out
excepting
Lady
Morville
,
who
never
came
down
till
the
evening
,
save
for
a
drive
in
the
carriage
.
He
entered
the
drawing-room
,
and
gazed
on
the
scene
where
he
had
spent
so
many
happy
hours
,
only
darkened
by
that
one
evil
spot
,
that
had
grown
till
it
not
only
poisoned
his
own
mind
,
but
cast
a
gloom
over
that
bright
home
.
All
was
as
usual
.
Charles
's
sofa
,
little
table
,
books
,
and
inkstand
,
the
work-boxes
on
the
table
,
the
newspaper
in
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
old
folds
.
Only
the
piano
was
closed
,
and
an
accumulation
of
books
on
the
hinge
told
how
long
it
had
been
so
;
and
the
plants
in
the
bay
window
were
brown
and
dry
,
not
as
when
they
were
Amabel
's
cherished
nurselings
.
He
remembered
Amabel
's
laughing
face
and
abundant
curls
,
when
she
carried
in
the
camellia
,
and
thought
how
little
he
guessed
then
that
he
should
be
the
destroyer
of
the
happiness
of
her
young
life
.
How
should
he
meet
her
—
a
widow
in
her
father
's
house
—
or
look
at
her
fatherless
child
?
He
wondered
how
he
had
borne
to
come
thither
at
all
,
and
shrank
at
the
thought
that
this
very
evening
,
in
a
few
hours
,
he
must
see
her
.
The
outer
door
opened
,
there
was
a
soft
step
,
and
Amabel
stood
before
him
,
pale
,
quiet
,
and
with
a
smile
of
welcome
.
Her
bands
of
hair
looked
glossy
under
her
widow
's
cap
,
and
the
deep
black
of
her
dress
was
relieved
by
the
white
robes
of
the
babe
that
lay
on
her
arm
.
She
held
out
her
hand
,
and
he
pressed
it
in
silence
.
'
I
thought
you
would
like
just
to
see
baby
,
'
said
she
,
in
a
voice
something
like
apology
.
He
held
out
his
arms
to
take
it
,
for
which
Amy
was
by
no
means
prepared
.
She
was
not
quite
happy
even
in
trusting
it
in
her
sister
's
arms
,
and
she
supposed
he
had
never
before
touched
an
infant
.
But
that
was
all
nonsense
,
and
she
would
not
vex
him
with
showing
any
reluctance
;
so
she
laid
the
little
one
on
his
arm
,
and
saw
his
great
hand
holding
it
most
carefully
;
but
the
next
moment
he
turned
abruptly
from
her
.
Poor
silly
little
Amy
,
her
heart
beat
not
a
little
till
he
turned
back
,
restored
the
babe
,
and
while
he
walked
hastily
to
the
window
,
she
saw
that
two
large
teardrops
had
fallen
on
the
white
folds
of
its
mantle
.
She
did
not
speak
;
she
guessed
how
much
he
must
feel
in
thus
holding
Guy
's
child
,
and
,
besides
,
her
own
tears
would
now
flow
so
easily
that
she
must
be
on
her
guard
.
She
sat
down
,
settled
the
little
one
on
her
knee
,
and
gave
him
time
to
recover
himself
.
Presently
he
came
and
stood
by
her
,
saying
,
in
a
most
decided
tone
,
'
Amabel
,
you
must
let
me
do
this
child
justice
.
'
She
looked
up
,
wondering
what
he
could
mean
.
'
I
will
not
delay
in
taking
steps
for
restoring
her
inheritance
,
'
said
he
,
hoping
by
determination
to
overpower
Amabel
,
and
make
her
believe
it
a
settled
and
a
right
thing
.
'
O
Philip
,
you
are
not
thinking
of
that
!
'
'
It
is
to
be
done
.
'
'
You
would
not
be
so
unkind
to
this
poor
little
girl
,
'
said
Amy
,
with
a
persuasive
smile
,
partaking
of
her
old
playfulness
;
adding
,
very
much
in
earnest
,
'
Pray
put
it
out
of
your
head
directly
,
for
it
would
be
very
wrong
.
'
The
nurse
knocked
at
the
door
to
fetch
the
baby
,
as
Amabel
had
desired
.
When
this
interruption
was
over
,
Philip
came
and
sat
down
opposite
to
her
,
and
began
with
his
most
decided
manner
:
—
'
You
must
listen
to
me
,
Amy
,
and
not
allow
any
scruples
to
prevent
you
from
permitting
your
child
to
be
restored
to
her
just
rights
.
You
must
see
that
the
estate
has
come
to
me
by
circumstances
such
that
no
honest
man
could
be
justified
in
retaining
it
.
The
entail
was
made
to
exclude
females
,
only
because
of
the
old
Lady
Granard
.
It
is
your
duty
to
consent
.
'
'
The
property
has
always
gone
in
the
male
line
,
'
replied
Amabel
.
'
There
never
was
such
a
state
of
things
.
Old
Sir
Guy
could
never
have
thought
of
entailing
it
away
from
his
own
descendant
on
a
distant
cousin
.
It
would
be
wrong
of
me
to
profit
by
these
unforeseen
contingencies
,
and
you
ought
not
,
in
justice
to
your
child
,
to
object
.
'
He
spoke
so
forcibly
and
decidedly
that
he
thought
he
must
have
prevailed
.
But
not
one
whit
convinced
,
Amabel
answered
,
in
her
own
gentle
voice
,
but
beginning
with
a
business-like
argument
:
—
'
Such
a
possibility
was
contemplated
.
It
was
all
provided
for
in
the
marriage
settlements
.
Indeed
,
I
am
afraid
that
,
as
it
is
,
she
will
be
a
great
deal
too
rich
.
Besides
,
Philip
,
I
am
sure
this
is
exactly
what
Guy
would
have
chosen
,
'
and
the
tears
rose
in
her
eyes
.
'
The
first
thing
that
came
into
my
head
when
she
was
born
,
was
,
that
it
was
just
what
he
wished
,
that
I
should
have
her
for
myself
,
and
that
you
should
take
care
of
Redclyffe
.
I
am
certain
now
that
he
hoped
it
would
be
so
.
I
know
—
indeed
I
do
—
that
he
took
great
pleasure
in
thinking
of
its
being
in
your
hands
,
and
of
your
going
on
with
all
he
began
.
You
ca
n't
have
forgotten
how
much
he
left
in
your
charge
?
If
you
were
to
give
it
up
,
it
would
be
against
his
desire
;
and
with
that
knowledge
,
how
could
I
suffer
it
?
Then
think
what
a
misfortune
to
her
,
poor
little
thing
,
to
be
a
great
heiress
,
and
how
very
bad
for
Redclyffe
to
have
no
better
a
manager
than
me
!
Oh
,
Philip
,
can
you
not
see
it
is
best
as
it
is
,
and
just
as
he
wished
?
'
He
almost
groaned
—
'
If
you
could
guess
what
a
burden
it
is
.
'
'
Ah
!
but
you
must
carry
it
,
not
throw
it
down
on
such
hands
as
mine
and
that
tiny
baby
's
,
'
said
she
,
smiling
.
'
It
would
have
been
the
same
if
it
had
been
a
boy
.
'
'
Yes
;
then
I
must
have
done
the
best
I
could
,
and
there
would
have
been
an
end
to
look
to
,
but
I
am
so
glad
to
be
spared
.
And
you
are
so
fit
for
it
,
and
will
make
it
turn
to
so
much
use
to
every
one
.
'
'
I
do
n't
feel
as
if
I
should
ever
be
of
use
to
any
one
,
'
said
Philip
,
in
a
tone
of
complete
dejection
.
'
Your
head
is
aching
,
'
said
she
,
kindly
.
'
It
always
does
,
more
or
less
,
'
replied
he
,
resting
it
on
his
hand
.
'
I
am
so
sorry
.
Has
it
been
so
ever
since
you
were
ill
?
But
you
are
better
?
You
look
better
than
when
I
saw
you
last
.
'
'
I
am
better
on
the
whole
,
but
I
doubt
whether
I
shall
ever
be
as
strong
as
I
used
to
be
.
That
ought
to
make
me
hesitate
,
even
if
'
—
then
came
a
pause
,
while
he
put
his
hand
over
his
face
,
and
seemed
struggling
with
irrepressible
emotion
;
and
after
all
he
was
obliged
to
take
two
walks
to
the
window
before
he
could
recover
composure
,
and
could
ask
in
a
voice
which
he
tried
to
make
calm
and
steady
,
though
his
face
was
deeply
flushed
—
'
Amy
,
how
is
Laura
?
'
'
She
is
very
well
,
'
answered
Amabel
.
'
Only
you
must
not
be
taken
by
surprise
if
you
see
her
looking
thinner
.
'
'
And
she
has
trusted
—
she
has
endured
through
all
?
'
said
he
,
with
inquiring
earnestness
.
'
O
yes
!
'
'
And
they
—
your
father
and
mother
—
can
forgive
?
'
'
They
do
—
they
have
.
But
,
Philip
,
it
was
one
of
the
things
I
came
down
to
say
to
you
.
I
do
n't
think
you
must
expect
papa
to
begin
about
it
himself
.
You
know
he
does
not
like
awkwardness
,
though
he
will
be
very
glad
when
once
it
is
done
,
and
ready
to
meet
you
half
way
.
'
He
did
not
answer
,
and
after
a
silence
Amabel
added
,
'
Laura
is
out
of
doors
.
She
and
Charlotte
take
very
long
walks
.
'
'
And
is
she
really
strong
and
well
,
or
is
it
that
excited
overdoing
of
employment
that
I
first
set
her
upon
?
'
he
asked
,
anxiously
.
'
She
is
perfectly
well
,
and
to
be
busy
has
been
a
great
help
to
her
,
'
said
Amabel
.
'
It
was
a
great
comfort
that
we
did
not
know
how
ill
you
had
been
at
Corfu
,
till
the
worst
was
over
.
Eveleen
only
mentioned
it
when
you
were
better
.
I
was
very
anxious
,
for
I
had
some
fears
from
the
note
that
you
sent
by
Arnaud
.
I
am
very
glad
to
see
you
safe
here
,
for
I
have
felt
all
along
that
we
forsook
you
;
but
I
could
not
help
it
.
'
'
I
am
very
glad
you
did
not
stay
.
The
worst
of
all
would
have
been
that
you
should
have
run
any
risk
.
'
'
There
is
the
carriage
,
'
said
Amy
.
'
Mamma
and
Charlie
have
been
to
Broadstone
.
They
thought
they
might
meet
you
by
the
late
train
.
'
Philip
's
colour
rose
.
He
stood
up
—
sat
down
;
then
rising
once
more
,
leant
on
the
mantel-piece
,
scarcely
knowing
how
to
face
either
of
them
—
his
aunt
,
with
her
well-merited
displeasure
,
and
Charles
,
who
,
when
he
parted
with
him
,
had
accused
him
so
justly
—
Charles
,
who
had
seen
through
him
and
had
been
treated
with
scorn
.
A
few
moments
,
and
Charles
came
in
,
leaning
on
his
mother
.
They
both
shook
hands
,
exclaimed
at
finding
Amabel
down
stairs
,
and
Mrs.
Edmonstone
asked
after
Philip
's
health
in
her
would-be
cordial
manner
.
The
two
ladies
then
went
upstairs
together
,
and
thus
ended
that
conference
,
in
which
both
parties
had
shown
rare
magnanimity
,
of
which
they
were
perfectly
unconscious
;
and
perhaps
the
most
remarkable
part
of
all
was
that
Philip
quietly
gave
up
the
great
renunciation
and
so-called
sacrifice
,
with
which
he
had
been
feeding
his
hopes
,
at
the
simple
bidding
of
the
gentle-spoken
Amabel
—
not
even
telling
her
that
he
resigned
it
.
He
kept
the
possessions
which
he
abhorred
,
and
gave
up
the
renunciation
he
had
longed
to
make
;
and
in
this
lay
the
true
sacrifice
,
the
greater
because
the
world
would
think
him
the
gainer
.
When
the
mother
and
daughter
were
gone
,
the
cousins
were
silent
,
Philip
resting
his
elbow
on
the
mantelshelf
and
his
head
on
his
hand
,
and
Charles
sitting
at
the
end
of
the
sofa
,
warming
first
one
hand
,
then
the
other
,
while
he
looked
up
to
the
altered
face
,
and
perceived
in
it
grief
and
humiliation
almost
as
plainly
as
illness
.
His
keen
eyes
read
that
the
sorrow
was
indeed
more
deeply
rooted
than
he
had
hitherto
believed
,
and
that
Amabel
's
pity
had
not
been
wasted
;
and
he
was
also
struck
by
the
change
from
the
great
personal
strength
that
used
to
make
nothing
of
lifting
his
whole
weight
.
'
I
am
sorry
to
see
you
so
pulled
down
,
'
said
he
.
'
We
must
try
if
we
can
doctor
you
better
than
they
did
at
St.
Mildred
's
.
Are
you
getting
on
,
do
you
think
?
'
He
had
hardly
ever
spoken
to
Philip
so
entirely
without
either
bitterness
or
sarcasm
,
and
his
manner
hardly
seemed
like
that
of
the
same
person
.
'
Thank
you
,
I
am
growing
stronger
;
but
as
long
as
I
cannot
get
rid
of
this
headache
,
I
am
good
for
nothing
.
'
'
You
have
had
a
long
spell
of
illness
indeed
,
'
said
Charles
.
You
ca
n't
expect
to
shake
off
two
fevers
in
no
time
.
Now
all
the
anxiety
is
over
,
you
will
brighten
like
this
house
.
'
'
But
tell
me
,
what
is
thought
of
Amabel
?
Is
she
as
well
as
she
ought
to
be
?
'
'
Yes
,
quite
,
they
say
—
has
recovered
her
strength
very
fast
,
and
is
in
just
the
right
spirits
.
She
was
churched
yesterday
,
and
was
not
the
worse
for
it
.
It
was
a
trial
,
for
she
had
not
been
to
East
Hill
since
—
since
last
May
.
'
'
It
is
a
blessing
indeed
,
'
said
Philip
,
earnestly
.
'
She
has
been
so
very
happy
with
the
baby
,
'
said
Charles
.
'
You
hear
what
its
name
is
to
be
?
'
'
Yes
,
she
told
me
in
her
letter
.
'
'
To
avoid
having
to
tell
you
here
,
I
suppose
.
Mary
is
for
common
wear
,
Verena
for
ourselves
.
She
asked
if
it
would
be
too
foolish
to
give
such
a
name
,
and
mamma
said
the
only
question
was
,
whether
she
would
like
indifferent
people
to
ask
the
reason
of
it
.
'
Philip
lapsed
into
thought
,
and
presently
said
,
abruptly
,
'
When
last
we
parted
you
told
me
I
was
malignant
.
You
were
right
.
'
'
Shake
hands
!
'
was
all
Charles
's
reply
,
and
no
more
was
said
till
Charles
rose
,
saying
it
was
time
to
dress
.
Philip
was
about
to
help
him
,
but
he
answered
,
'
No
,
thank
you
,
I
am
above
trusting
to
anything
but
my
own
crutches
now
;
I
am
proud
to
show
you
what
feats
I
can
perform
.
'
Charles
certainly
did
get
on
with
less
difficulty
than
heretofore
,
but
it
was
more
because
he
wanted
to
spare
Philip
fatigue
than
because
he
disdained
assistance
,
that
he
chose
to
go
alone
.
Moreover
,
he
did
what
he
had
never
done
for
any
one
before
—
he
actually
hopped
the
whole
length
of
the
passage
,
beyond
his
own
door
,
to
do
the
honours
of
Philip
's
room
,
and
took
a
degree
of
pains
for
his
comfort
that
seemed
too
marvellous
to
be
true
in
one
who
had
hitherto
only
lived
to
be
attended
on
.
By
the
time
he
had
settled
Philip
,
the
rest
of
the
party
had
come
home
,
and
he
found
himself
wanted
in
the
dressing-room
to
help
his
mother
to
encourage
his
father
to
enter
on
the
conversation
with
Philip
in
the
evening
,
for
poor
Mr.
Edmonstone
was
in
such
a
worry
and
perplexity
,
that
the
whole
space
till
the
dinner-bell
rang
was
insufficient
to
console
him
in
.
Laura
,
meanwhile
,
was
with
Amabel
,
who
was
trying
to
cheer
her
fluttering
spirits
and
nerves
,
which
,
after
having
been
so
long
harassed
,
gave
way
entirely
at
the
moment
of
meeting
Philip
again
.
How
would
he
regard
her
after
her
weakness
in
betraying
him
for
want
of
self-command
?
Might
he
not
be
wishing
to
be
free
of
one
who
had
so
disappointed
him
,
and
only
persisting
in
the
engagement
from
a
sense
of
honour
?
The
confidence
in
his
affection
,
which
had
hitherto
sustained
her
,
was
failing
;
and
not
all
Amabel
could
say
would
reassure
her
.
No
one
could
judge
of
him
but
herself
;
his
words
were
so
cautious
,
and
he
had
so
much
command
over
himself
,
that
nobody
could
guess
.
Of
course
he
felt
bound
to
her
;
but
if
she
saw
one
trace
of
his
being
only
influenced
by
honour
and
pity
,
she
would
release
him
,
and
he
should
never
see
the
struggle
.
She
had
worked
herself
up
into
almost
a
certainty
that
so
it
would
be
,
and
Amabel
was
afraid
she
would
not
be
fit
to
go
down
to
dinner
;
but
the
sound
of
the
bell
,
and
the
necessity
of
moving
,
seemed
to
restore
the
habit
of
external
composure
in
a
moment
.
She
settled
her
countenance
,
and
left
the
room
.
Charlotte
,
meantime
,
had
been
dressing
alone
,
and
raging
against
Philip
,
declaring
she
could
never
bear
to
speak
to
him
,
and
that
if
she
was
Amy
she
would
never
have
chosen
him
for
a
godfather
.
And
to
think
of
his
marrying
just
like
a
good
hero
in
a
book
,
and
living
very
happy
ever
after
!
To
be
sure
,
she
was
sorry
for
poor
Laura
;
but
it
was
all
very
wrong
,
and
now
they
would
be
rewarded
!
How
could
Charlie
be
so
provoking
as
to
talk
about
his
sorrow
!
She
hoped
he
was
sorry
;
and
as
to
his
illness
,
it
served
him
right
.
All
this
Charlotte
communicated
to
Bustle
;
but
Bustle
had
heard
some
mysterious
noise
,
and
insisted
on
going
to
investigate
the
cause
;
and
Charlotte
,
finding
her
own
domain
dark
and
cold
,
and
private
conferences
going
on
in
Amabel
's
apartment
and
the
dressing-room
,
was
fain
to
follow
him
downstairs
,
as
soon
as
her
toilette
was
complete
,
only
hoping
Philip
would
keep
out
of
the
way
.
But
,
behold
,
there
he
was
,
and
even
Bustle
was
propitiated
,
for
she
found
him
,
his
nose
on
Philip
's
knee
,
looking
up
in
his
face
,
and
wagging
his
tail
,
while
Philip
stroked
and
patted
him
,
and
could
hardly
bear
the
appealing
expression
of
the
eyes
,
that
,
always
wistful
,
now
seemed
to
every
one
to
be
looking
for
his
master
.
To
see
this
attention
to
Bustle
won
Charlotte
over
in
a
moment
.
'
How
are
you
,
Philip
?
Good
dog
,
dear
old
Bustle
!
'
came
in
a
breath
,
and
they
were
both
making
much
of
the
dog
,
when
she
amicably
asked
if
he
had
seen
the
baby
,
and
became
eager
in
telling
about
the
christening
.
The
dinner-bell
brought
every
one
down
but
Amabel
.
The
trembling
hands
of
Philip
and
Laura
met
for
a
moment
,
and
they
were
in
the
dining-room
.
Diligently
and
dutifully
did
Charles
and
Mrs.
Edmonstone
keep
up
the
conversation
;
the
latter
about
her
shopping
,
the
former
about
the
acquaintances
who
had
come
to
speak
to
him
as
he
sat
in
the
carriage
.
As
soon
as
possible
,
Mrs.
Edmonstone
left
the
dining-room
,
then
Laura
flew
up
again
to
the
dressing-room
,
sank
down
on
a
foot-stool
by
Amabel
's
side
,
and
exclaiming
,
'
O
Amy
,
he
is
looking
so
ill
!
'
burst
into
a
flood
of
tears
.
The
change
had
been
a
shock
for
which
Laura
had
not
been
prepared
.
Amy
,
who
had
seen
him
look
so
much
worse
,
had
not
thought
of
it
,
and
it
overcame
Laura
more
than
all
her
anxieties
lest
his
love
should
be
forfeited
.
She
sobbed
inconsolably
over
the
alteration
;
and
it
was
long
before
Amabel
could
get
her
to
hear
that
his
face
was
much
less
thin
now
,
and
that
he
was
altogether
much
stronger
;
it
was
fatigue
and
anxiety
to-night
,
and
to-morrow
he
would
be
better
.
Laura
proceeded
to
brood
over
her
belief
that
his
altered
demeanour
,
his
settled
melancholy
,
his
not
seeking
her
eye
,
his
cold
shake
of
the
hand
,
all
arose
from
the
diminution
of
his
love
,
and
his
dislike
to
be
encumbered
with
a
weak
,
foolish
wife
,
with
whom
he
had
entangled
himself
when
he
deemed
her
worthy
of
him
.
She
dwelt
on
all
this
in
silence
,
as
she
sat
at
her
sister
's
feet
,
and
Amy
left
her
to
think
,
only
now
and
then
giving
some
caress
to
her
hair
or
cheek
,
and
at
each
touch
the
desolate
waste
of
life
that
poor
Laura
was
unfolding
before
herself
was
rendered
less
dreary
by
the
thought
,
'
I
have
my
sister
still
,
and
she
knows
sorrow
too
.
'
Then
she
half
envied
Amy
,
who
had
lost
her
dearest
by
death
,
and
held
his
heart
fast
to
the
last
;
not
,
like
herself
,
doomed
to
see
the
love
decay
for
which
she
had
endured
so
long
—
decay
at
the
very
moment
when
the
suspense
was
over
.
Laura
might
justly
have
envied
Amabel
,
though
for
another
reason
;
it
was
because
in
her
cup
there
was
no
poison
of
her
own
infusing
.
There
she
stayed
till
Charlotte
came
to
summon
her
to
tea
saying
the
gentlemen
,
except
Charles
,
were
still
in
the
dining-room
.
They
had
remained
sitting
over
the
fire
for
a
considerable
space
,
waiting
for
each
other
to
begin
,
Mr.
Edmonstone
irresolute
,
Philip
striving
to
master
his
feelings
,
and
to
prevent
increasing
pain
and
confusion
from
making
him
forget
what
he
intended
to
say
.
At
last
,
Mr.
Edmonstone
started
up
,
pulled
out
his
keys
,
took
a
candle
,
and
said
,
'
Come
to
the
study
—
I
'll
give
you
the
Redclyffe
papers
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
'
said
Philip
,
also
rising
,
but
only
because
he
could
not
sit
while
his
uncle
stood
.
'
Not
to-night
,
if
you
please
.
I
could
not
attend
to
them
.
'
'
What
,
your
head
?
Eh
?
'
'
Partly
.
Besides
,
there
is
another
subject
on
which
I
hope
you
will
set
me
at
rest
before
I
can
enter
on
any
other
.
'
'
Yes
—
yes
—
I
know
,
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
moving
uneasily
.
'
I
am
perfectly
conscious
how
deeply
I
have
offended
.
'
Mr.
Edmonstone
could
not
endure
the
apology
.
'
Well
,
well
,
'
he
broke
in
,
nervously
,
'
I
know
all
that
,
and
it
ca
n't
be
helped
.
Say
no
more
about
it
.
Young
people
will
be
foolish
,
and
I
've
been
young
and
in
love
myself
.
'
That
Captain
Morville
should
live
to
be
thankful
for
being
forgiven
,
in
consideration
of
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
having
been
young
!
'
May
I
then
consider
myself
as
pardoned
,
and
as
having
obtained
your
sanction
?
'
'
Yes
,
yes
,
yes
;
and
I
hope
it
will
cheer
poor
Laura
up
again
a
little
.
Four
years
has
it
gone
on
?
Constancy
,
indeed
!
and
it
is
time
it
should
be
rewarded
.
We
little
thought
what
you
were
up
to
,
so
grave
and
demure
as
you
both
were
.
So
you
wont
have
the
papers
to-night
?
I
ca
n't
say
you
do
look
fit
for
business
.
Perhaps
Laura
may
suit
you
better
—
eh
,
Philip
?
'
Love-making
was
such
a
charming
sight
to
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
that
having
once
begun
to
look
on
Philip
and
Laura
as
a
pair
of
lovers
,
he
could
not
help
being
delighted
,
and
forgetting
,
as
well
as
forgiving
,
all
that
had
been
wrong
.
They
did
not
,
however
,
exactly
answer
his
ideas
;
Laura
did
not
once
look
up
,
and
Philip
,
instead
of
going
boldly
to
take
the
place
next
her
,
sat
down
,
holding
his
hand
to
his
forehead
,
as
if
too
much
overpowered
by
indisposition
to
think
of
anything
else
.
Such
was
in
great
measure
the
case
;
he
was
very
much
fatigued
with
the
journey
,
and
these
different
agitating
scenes
had
increased
the
pain
in
his
head
to
a
violent
degree
;
besides
which
,
feeling
that
his
aunt
still
regarded
him
as
she
did
at
Recoara
,
he
could
not
bear
to
make
any
demonstration
towards
Laura
before
her
;
lest
she
might
think
it
a
sort
of
triumphant
disregard
of
her
just
displeasure
.
Poor
Laura
saw
in
it
both
severe
suffering
and
dislike
to
her
,
and
the
more
she
understood
from
her
father
's
manner
what
had
passed
in
the
other
room
,
the
more
she
honoured
him
for
the
sacrifice
he
was
making
of
himself
.
Mrs.
Edmonstone
waited
on
the
headache
with
painful
attention
,
but
they
all
felt
that
the
only
thing
to
be
done
for
the
two
poor
things
was
to
let
them
come
to
an
explanation
;
so
Charlotte
was
sent
to
bed
,
her
mother
went
up
to
Amy
,
Charles
carried
off
his
father
to
the
study
,
and
they
found
themselves
alone
.
Laura
held
down
her
face
,
and
struggled
to
make
her
palpitating
heart
and
dry
tongue
suffer
her
to
begin
the
words
to
which
she
had
wound
herself
up
.
Philip
raised
his
hand
from
his
eyes
as
the
door
shut
,
then
rose
up
,
and
fixed
them
on
Laura
.
She
too
looked
up
,
as
if
to
begin
;
their
eyes
met
,
and
they
understood
all
.
He
stepped
towards
her
,
and
held
out
his
hands
.
The
next
moment
both
hers
were
clasped
in
his
—
he
had
bent
down
and
kissed
her
brow
.
No
words
of
explanation
passed
between
them
.
Laura
knew
he
was
her
own
,
and
needed
no
assurance
that
her
misgivings
had
been
vain
.
There
was
a
start
of
extreme
joy
,
such
as
she
had
known
twice
before
,
but
it
could
be
only
for
a
moment
while
he
looked
so
wretchedly
unwell
.
It
did
but
give
her
the
right
to
attend
to
him
.
The
first
thing
she
said
was
to
beg
him
to
lie
down
on
the
sofa
;
her
only
care
was
to
make
him
comfortable
with
cushions
,
and
he
was
too
entirely
worn
out
to
say
anything
he
had
intended
,
capable
only
of
giving
himself
up
to
the
repose
of
knowing
her
entirely
his
own
,
and
of
having
her
to
take
care
of
him
.
There
he
lay
on
the
sofa
,
with
his
eyes
shut
,
and
Laura
's
hand
in
his
,
while
she
sat
beside
him
,
neither
of
them
speaking
;
and
,
excepting
that
she
withdrew
her
hand
,
neither
moved
when
the
others
returned
.
Mrs.
Edmonstone
compassionated
him
,
and
showed
a
great
deal
of
solicitude
about
him
,
trying
hard
to
regard
him
as
she
used
to
do
,
yet
unable
to
bring
back
the
feeling
,
and
therefore
,
do
what
she
would
,
failing
to
wear
its
semblance
.
Laura
,
sad
,
anxious
,
and
restless
,
had
no
relief
till
she
went
to
wish
her
sister
good
night
.
Amable
,
who
was
already
in
bed
,
stretched
out
her
hand
with
a
sweet
look
,
beaming
with
affection
and
congratulation
.
'
You
do
n't
want
to
be
convinced
now
that
all
is
right
!
'
said
she
.
'
His
head
is
so
dreadfully
bad
!
'
said
Laura
.
'
Ah
!
it
will
get
better
now
his
mind
is
at
rest
.
'
'
If
it
will
but
do
so
!
'
'
And
you
know
you
must
be
happy
to-morrow
,
because
of
baby
.
'
'
My
dear
,
'
said
Mrs.
Edmonstone
,
coming
in
,
'
I
am
sorry
to
prevent
your
talk
,
but
Amy
must
not
be
kept
awake
.
She
must
keep
her
strength
for
to-morrow
.
'
'
Good
night
,
then
,
dear
,
dear
Laura
.
I
am
so
glad
your
trouble
is
over
,
and
you
have
him
again
!
'
whispered
Amabel
with
her
parting
kiss
;
and
Laura
went
away
,
better
able
to
hope
,
to
pray
,
and
to
rest
,
than
she
could
have
thought
possible
when
she
left
the
drawing-room
.
'
Poor
dear
Laura
!
'
said
Mrs.
Edmonstone
,
sighing
;
'
I
hope
he
will
soon
be
better
.
'
'
Has
it
been
very
uncomfortable
?
'
'
I
ca
n't
say
much
for
it
,
my
dear
.
He
was
suffering
terribly
with
his
head
,
so
that
I
should
have
been
quite
alarmed
if
he
had
not
said
it
was
apt
to
get
worse
in
the
evening
;
and
she
,
poor
thing
,
was
only
watching
him
.
However
,
it
is
a
comfort
to
have
matters
settled
,
and
papa
and
Charlie
are
well
pleased
with
him
.
But
I
must
not
keep
you
awake
after
driving
Laura
away
.
You
are
not
over-tired
to-night
,
I
hope
,
my
dear
?
'
'
Oh
!
no
;
only
sleepy
.
Good-night
,
dearest
mamma
.
'
'
Good-night
,
my
own
Amy
;
'
then
as
Amy
put
back
the
coverings
to
show
the
little
face
nestled
to
sleep
on
her
bosom
,
'
good-night
,
you
little
darling
!
do
n't
disturb
your
mamma
.
How
comfortable
you
look
!
Good-night
,
my
dearest
!
'
Mrs.
Edmonstone
looked
for
a
moment
,
while
trying
to
check
the
tears
that
came
at
the
thought
of
the
night
,
one
brief
year
ago
,
when
she
left
Amy
sleeping
in
the
light
of
the
Easter
moon
.
Yet
the
sense
of
peace
and
serenity
that
had
then
given
especial
loveliness
to
the
maiden
's
chamber
on
that
night
,
was
there
still
with
the
young
widow
.
It
was
dim
lamplight
now
that
beamed
on
the
portrait
of
her
husband
,
casting
on
it
the
shade
of
the
little
wooden
cross
in
front
,
while
she
was
shaded
by
the
white
curtain
drawn
from
her
bed
,
round
the
infant
's
little
cot
,
so
as
to
shut
them
both
into
the
quiet
twilight
,
where
she
lay
with
an
expression
of
countenance
that
,
though
it
was
not
sorrow
,
made
Mrs.
Edmonstone
more
ready
to
weep
than
if
it
had
been
;
so
with
her
last
good-night
,
she
left
her
.
And
Amabel
always
liked
to
be
shut
in
by
herself
,
dearly
as
she
loved
them
all
,
and
mamma
especially
;
there
was
always
something
pleasnt
in
being
able
to
return
to
her
own
world
,
to
rest
in
the
thoughts
of
her
husband
,
and
in
the
possession
of
the
little
unconscious
creature
that
had
come
to
inhabit
that
inner
world
of
hers
,
the
creature
that
was
only
his
and
hers
.
She
had
from
the
first
always
felt
herself
less
lonely
when
quite
alone
,
before
with
his
papers
,
and
now
with
his
child
;
and
could
Mrs.
Edmonstone
have
seen
her
face
,
she
would
have
wept
and
wondered
more
,
as
Amy
fondled
and
hushed
her
babe
,
whispering
to
it
fond
words
which
she
could
never
have
uttered
in
the
presence
of
any
one
who
could
understand
them
,
and
which
had
much
of
her
extreme
youthfulness
in
them
.
Not
one
was
so
often
repeated
or
so
endearing
as
'
Guy
's
baby
!
Guy
's
own
dear
little
girl
!
'
It
did
not
mean
half
so
much
when
she
called
it
her
baby
;
and
she
loved
to
tell
the
little
one
that
her
father
had
been
the
best
and
the
dearest
,
but
he
was
gone
away
,
and
would
she
be
contented
to
be
loving
and
good
with
only
her
mother
to
take
care
of
her
,
and
tell
her
,
as
well
as
she
could
,
what
a
father
hers
was
,
when
she
was
old
enough
to
know
about
him
?
To-night
.
Amy
told
her
much
in
that
soft
,
solemn
,
murmuring
tone
,
about
what
was
to
befall
her
to-morrow
,
and
the
great
blessings
to
be
given
to
her
,
and
how
the
poor
little
fatherless
one
would
be
embraced
in
the
arms
of
His
mercy
,
and
received
by
her
great
Father
in
heaven
;
—
'
Ay
,
and
brought
nearer
to
your
own
papa
,
and
know
him
in
some
inner
way
,
and
he
will
know
his
little
child
then
,
for
you
will
be
as
good
and
pure
and
bright
as
he
,
and
you
will
belong
to
the
great
communion
of
saints
to-morrow
,
you
precious
one
,
and
be
so
much
nearer
to
him
as
you
will
be
so
much
better
than
I
.
Oh
!
baby
,
if
we
can
but
both
endure
to
the
end
!
'
With
such
half-uttered
words
,
Amabel
Morville
slept
the
night
before
her
babe
's
christening
.
CHAPTER
XIX
.
A
stranger
's
roof
to
hold
thy
head
,
A
stranger
's
foot
thy
grave
to
tread
;
Desert
and
rock
,
and
Alp
and
sea
,
Spreading
between
thy
home
and
thee
.
Sewell
.
Mary
Ross
was
eager
for
the
first
report
from
Hollywell
the
next
morning
,
and
had
some
difficulty
in
keeping
her
attention
fixed
on
her
class
at
school
.
Laura
and
Charlotte
came
in
together
in
due
time
,
and
satisfied
her
so
far
as
to
tell
her
that
Amy
was
very
well
.
'
Is
Captain
Morville
come
?
'
thought
Mary
.
'
No
,
I
cannot
guess
by
Laura
's
impassive
face
.
Never
mind
,
Charles
will
tell
me
all
between
services
.
'
The
first
thing
she
saw
on
coming
out
of
school
was
the
pony-carriage
,
with
Charles
and
Captain
Morville
himself
.
Charlotte
,
who
was
all
excitement
,
had
time
to
say
,
while
her
sister
was
out
of
hearing
,
—
'
It
is
all
made
up
now
,
Mary
,
and
I
really
am
very
sorry
for
Philip
.
'
It
was
fortunate
that
Mary
understood
the
amiable
meaning
this
speech
was
intended
to
convey
,
and
she
began
to
enter
into
its
grounds
in
the
short
conference
after
church
,
when
she
saw
the
alteration
in
the
whole
expression
of
countenance
.
'
Yes
,
'
said
Charles
,
who
as
usual
remained
at
the
vicarage
between
the
two
services
,
and
who
perceived
what
passed
in
her
mind
,
'
if
it
is
any
satisfaction
to
you
to
have
a
good
opinion
of
your
fellow-sponsor
,
I
assure
you
that
I
am
converted
to
Amy
's
opinion
.
I
do
believe
the
black
dog
is
off
his
back
for
good
and
all
.
'
'
I
never
saw
any
one
more
changed
,
'
said
Mary
.
'
Regularly
tamed
,
'
said
Charles
.
'
He
is
something
more
like
his
old
self
to-day
than
last
night
,
and
yet
not
much
.
He
was
perfectly
overpowered
then
—
so
knocked
up
that
there
was
no
judging
of
him
.
Today
he
has
all
his
sedateness
and
scrupulous
attention
,
but
all
like
a
shadow
of
former
times
—
not
a
morsel
of
sententiousness
,
and
seeming
positively
grateful
to
be
treated
in
the
old
fashion
.
'
'
He
looks
very
thin
and
pale
.
Do
you
think
him
recovered
?
'
'
A
good
way
from
it
,
'
said
Charles
.
'
He
is
pretty
well
to-day
,
comparatively
,
though
that
obstinate
headache
hangs
about
him
.
If
this
change
last
longer
than
that
and
his
white
looks
,
I
shall
not
even
grudge
him
the
sponsorship
Amy
owed
me
.
'
'
Very
magnanimous
!
'
said
Mary
.
'
Poor
Laura
!
I
am
glad
her
suspense
is
over
.
I
wondered
to
see
her
at
school
.
'
'
They
are
very
sad
and
sober
lovers
,
and
it
is
the
best
way
of
not
making
themselves
unbearable
,
considering
—
Well
,
that
was
a
different
matter
—
How
little
we
should
have
believed
it
,
if
any
one
had
told
us
last
year
what
would
be
the
state
of
affairs
to-day
.
By
the
by
,
Amy
's
godson
is
christened
to-day
.
'
'
Who
?
'
'
Did
n't
you
hear
that
the
Ashfords
managed
to
get
Amy
asked
if
she
would
dislike
their
calling
their
boy
by
that
name
we
shall
never
hear
again
,
and
she
was
very
much
pleased
,
and
made
offer
in
her
own
pretty
way
to
be
godmother
.
I
wonder
how
Markham
endures
it
?
I
believe
he
is
nearly
crazy
.
He
wrote
me
word
he
should
certainly
have
given
up
all
concern
with
Redclyffe
,
but
for
the
especial
desire
of
—
What
a
state
of
mind
he
will
be
in
,
when
he
remembers
how
he
has
been
abusing
the
captain
to
me
!
'
The
afternoon
was
fresh
and
clear
,
and
there
was
a
spring
brightness
in
the
sunshine
that
Amabel
took
as
a
greeting
to
her
little
maiden
,
as
she
was
carried
along
the
churchyard
path
.
Many
an
eye
was
bent
on
the
mother
and
child
,
especially
on
the
slight
form
unseen
since
she
had
last
walked
down
the
aisle
,
her
arm
linked
in
her
bridegroom
's
.
'
Little
Amy
Edmonstone
,
'
as
they
had
scarcely
learnt
to
cease
from
calling
her
before
she
was
among
them
again
,
the
widowed
Lady
Morville
;
and
with
those
kind
looks
of
compassion
for
her
,
were
joined
many
affectionate
mourning
thoughts
of
the
young
husband
and
father
,
lying
far
away
in
his
foreign
grave
and
endeared
by
kindly
remembrances
to
almost
all
present
.
There
was
much
of
pity
for
his
unconscious
infant
,
and
tears
were
shed
at
the
thought
of
what
the
wife
must
be
suffering
;
but
if
the
face
could
have
been
seen
beneath
the
thick
crape
folds
of
her
veil
,
it
would
have
shown
no
tears
—
only
a
sweet
,
calm
look
of
peace
,
and
almost
gladness
.
The
babe
was
on
her
knees
when
the
time
for
the
christening
came
;
she
was
awake
,
and
now
and
then
making
a
little
sound
,
and
as
she
was
quieter
with
her
than
any
one
else
,
Amabel
thought
she
might
herself
carry
her
to
the
font
.
It
was
deep
,
grave
happiness
to
stand
there
,
with
her
child
in
her
arms
,
and
with
an
undefined
sense
that
she
was
not
alone
,
as
if
in
some
manner
her
husband
was
present
with
her
;
praying
with
her
prayers
,
and
joining
in
offering
up
their
treasure
;
when
the
babe
was
received
into
Mr.
Ross
's
arms
,
and
Amy
,
putting
back
her
veil
,
gazed
up
with
a
wistful
but
serene
look
.
'
To
her
life
's
end
!
'
Therewith
came
a
vision
of
the
sunrise
at
Recoara
,
and
the
more
glorious
dawn
that
had
shone
in
Guy
's
dying
smile
,
and
Amabel
knew
what
would
be
her
best
prayer
for
his
little
Mary
Verena
,
as
she
took
her
back
,
the
drops
glistening
on
her
brow
,
her
eyes
open
,
and
arms
outspread
.
It
was
at
that
moment
that
Amabel
was
first
thrilled
with
a
look
in
her
child
that
was
like
its
father
.
She
had
earnestly
and
often
sought
a
resemblance
without
being
able
honestly
to
own
that
she
perceived
any
;
but
now
,
though
she
knew
not
in
what
it
consisted
,
there
was
something
in
that
baby
face
that
recalled
him
more
vividly
than
picture
or
memory
.
'
Lord
,
now
lettest
Thou
Thy
servant
depart
in
peace
.
'
Those
words
seemed
to
come
from
her
own
heart
.
She
had
brought
Guy
's
daughter
to
be
baptized
,
and
completed
his
work
of
pardon
,
and
she
had
a
yearning
to
be
departing
in
peace
,
whither
her
sunshine
was
gone
.
But
he
had
told
her
not
to
wish
that
his
child
should
be
motherless
;
she
had
to
train
her
to
be
fit
to
meet
him
.
The
sunshine
was
past
,
but
she
had
plenty
to
do
in
the
shade
,
and
it
was
for
his
sake
.
She
would
,
therefore
,
be
content
to
remain
to
fulfil
her
duties
among
the
dear
ones
to
whom
he
had
trusted
her
for
comfort
,
and
with
the
sense
of
renewed
communion
with
him
that
she
had
found
in
returning
again
to
church
.
So
felt
Amabel
,
as
she
entered
into
the
calm
that
followed
the
one
year
in
which
she
had
passed
through
the
great
events
of
life
,
and
known
the
chief
joy
and
deepest
grief
that
she
could
ever
experience
.
It
was
far
otherwise
with
her
sister
.
Laura
's
term
of
trouble
seemed
to
be
ending
,
and
the
spring
of
life
beginning
to
dawn
on
her
.
Doubt
and
fear
were
past
;
she
and
Philip
were
secure
of
each
other
,
he
was
pardoned
,
and
they
could
be
together
without
apprehension
,
or
playing
tricks
with
their
consciences
;
but
she
had
as
yet
scarcely
been
able
to
spend
any
time
with
him
;
and
as
Charles
said
,
their
ways
were
far
more
grave
and
less
lover-like
than
would
have
seemed
natural
after
their
long
separation
.
In
truth
,
romantic
and
uncalculating
as
their
attachment
was
,
they
never
had
been
lover-like
.
They
had
never
had
any
fears
or
doubts
;
her
surrender
of
her
soul
had
been
total
,
and
every
thought
,
feeling
,
and
judgment
had
taken
its
colour
from
him
as
entirely
as
if
she
had
been
a
wife
of
many
years
'
standing
.
She
never
opened
her
mind
to
perceive
that
he
had
led
her
to
act
wrongly
,
and
all
her
unhappiness
had
been
from
anxiety
for
him
,
not
repentance
on
her
own
account
;
for
so
complete
was
her
idolatry
,
that
she
entirely
overlooked
her
failure
in
duty
to
her
parents
.
It
took
her
