beena
melancholy
winter
,
'
began
Mary
,
but
she
was
surprised
,
for
Amy
's
face
and
neck
coloured
in
a
moment
;
then
,
recovering
herself
,
with
some
hesitation
she
said
,
—
'
Oh
!
but
Charlie
is
much
better
,
and
that
is
a
great
comfort
.
I
am
glad
you
are
come
home
,
Mary
.
'
'
We
are
going
to
have
some
magic
music
,
'
was
said
at
the
other
end
of
the
room
;
'
who
will
play
?
'
'
Little
Amy
!
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
'
Where
is
she
?
She
always
does
it
to
admiration
.
Amy
,
come
and
be
performer
.
'
Amy
rose
,
and
came
forward
,
but
the
colour
had
flushed
into
her
cheeks
again
,
and
the
recollection
occurred
to
Mary
that
her
fame
as
a
performer
,
in
that
way
,
arose
from
the
very
amusing
manner
in
which
she
and
Sir
Guy
had
conducted
the
game
last
year
.
At
the
same
moment
,
her
mother
met
her
,
and
whispered
,
—
'
Had
you
rather
not
,
my
dear
?
'
'
I
can
do
it
,
mamma
,
thank
you
—
never
mind
.
'
'
I
should
like
to
send
you
up
to
Charlie
—
he
has
been
so
long
alone
.
'
'
Oh
!
thank
you
,
dear
mamma
,
'
with
a
look
of
relief
.
'
Here
is
Charlotte
wild
to
be
musician
,
'
said
Mrs.
Edmonstone
.
'
Perhaps
you
will
see
how
she
can
manage
;
for
I
think
Charles
must
want
a
visit
from
his
little
nurse
.
'
Amy
moved
quietly
away
,
and
entered
Charles
's
room
,
full
of
warm
gratitude
for
the
kindness
which
was
always
seeking
how
to
spare
her
.
Charles
was
asleep
,
and
throwing
a
shawl
round
her
,
she
sat
down
in
the
dim
light
of
the
lamp
,
relieved
by
the
stillness
,
only
broken
by
now
and
then
a
louder
note
of
the
music
down
stairs
.
It
was
very
comfortable
after
all
that
buzz
of
talk
,
and
the
jokes
that
seemed
so
nonsensical
and
tiresome
.
There
were
but
two
people
who
could
manage
to
make
a
party
entertaining
,
and
that
was
the
reason
it
was
so
different
last
year
.
Then
Amy
wondered
if
she
was
the
only
person
who
felt
sick
at
heart
and
dreary
;
but
she
only
wondered
for
a
moment
—
she
murmured
half
aloud
to
herself
,
'
I
said
I
never
would
think
of
him
except
at
my
prayers
!
Here
I
am
doing
it
again
,
and
on
Christmas
night
.
I
wo
n't
hide
my
eyes
and
moan
over
my
broken
reed
;
for
Christmas
is
come
,
and
the
circles
of
song
are
widening
round
!
Glory
!
good
will
,
peace
on
earth
!
How
he
sang
it
last
year
,
the
last
thing
,
when
the
people
were
gone
,
before
we
went
up
to
bed
.
But
I
am
breaking
my
resolution
again
.
I
must
do
something
.
'
She
took
up
a
book
of
sacred
poetry
,
and
began
to
learn
a
piece
which
she
already
nearly
knew
;
but
the
light
was
bad
,
and
it
was
dreamy
work
;
and
probably
she
was
half
asleep
,
for
her
thoughts
wandered
off
to
Sintram
and
the
Mondenberg
rocks
,
which
seemed
to
her
like
what
she
had
pictured
the
Redclyffe
crags
,
and
the
castle
itself
was
connected
in
her
imagination
with
the
deep
,
echoing
porch
,
while
Guy
's
own
voice
seemed
to
be
chanting
—
Who
lives
forlorn
,
On
God
's
own
word
doth
rest
;
His
path
is
bright
With
heavenly
light
,
His
lot
among
the
blest
.
'
Are
you
there
,
Amy
?
'
said
Charles
,
waking
.
'
What
are
you
staying
here
for
?
'
Do
n't
they
want
you
?
'
'
Mamma
was
so
kind
as
to
send
me
up
.
'
'
I
am
glad
you
are
come
,
for
I
have
something
to
tell
you
.
Mr.
Ross
has
been
up
to
see
me
,
you
know
,
and
he
has
a
letter
from
Guy
.
'
Amy
's
heart
beat
fast
,
and
with
eyes
fixed
on
the
ground
,
she
listened
,
as
Charles
continued
to
give
an
account
of
Guy
's
letter
about
Coombe
Prior
.
'
Mr
.
Ross
is
quite
satisfied
about
him
,
Amy
,
'
he
concluded
.
'
I
wish
you
could
have
heard
the
decided
way
in
which
he
said
,
'
He
will
live
it
down
.
'
Amy
's
answer
was
to
stoop
down
and
kiss
her
brother
's
forehead
.
Another
week
brought
Guy
's
renewal
of
the
correspondence
.
'
Amy
,
here
is
something
for
you
to
read
,
'
said
Charles
,
holding
up
the
letter
as
she
came
into
the
room
.
She
knew
the
writing
.
'
Wait
one
moment
,
Charlie
dear
;
'
and
she
ran
out
of
the
room
,
found
her
mother
fortunately
alone
,
and
said
,
averting
her
face
,
'
Mamma
,
dear
,
do
you
think
I
ought
to
let
Charlie
show
me
that
letter
?
'
Mrs.
Edmonstone
took
hold
of
her
hand
,
and
drew
her
round
so
as
to
look
into
the
face
through
its
veiling
curls
.
The
hand
shook
,
and
the
face
was
in
a
glow
of
eagerness
.
'
Yes
,
dearest
!
'
said
she
,
for
she
could
not
help
it
;
and
then
,
as
Amy
ran
back
again
,
she
asked
herself
whether
it
was
foolish
,
and
bad
for
her
sweet
little
daughter
;
then
declared
to
herself
that
it
must
—
it
should
—
it
would
come
right
.
There
was
not
a
word
of
Amy
in
the
letter
,
but
it
,
or
something
else
,
made
her
more
bright
and
cheerful
than
she
had
been
for
some
time
past
.
It
seemed
as
if
the
lengthening
days
of
January
were
bringing
renewed
comfort
with
them
,
when
Charles
,
who
ever
since
October
had
been
confined
to
bed
,
was
able
to
wear
the
Chinese
dressing-gown
,
be
lifted
to
a
couch
,
and
wheeled
into
the
dressing-room
,
still
prostrate
,
but
much
enjoying
the
change
of
scene
,
which
he
called
coming
into
the
world
.
These
were
the
events
at
quiet
Hollywell
,
while
Redclyffe
was
still
engrossed
with
the
shipwreck
,
which
seemed
to
have
come
on
purpose
to
enliven
and
occupy
this
solitary
winter
.
It
perplexed
the
Ashfords
about
their
baronet
more
than
ever
.
Mr.
Ashford
said
that
no
one
whose
conscience
was
not
clear
could
have
confronted
danger
as
he
had
done
;
and
yet
,
the
certainty
that
he
was
under
a
cloud
,
and
the
sadness
,
so
inconsistent
with
his
age
and
temperament
,
still
puzzled
them
.
Mrs.
Ashford
thought
,
however
,
that
she
made
a
discovery
.
The
second
day
after
the
wreck
,
the
whole
crew
,
except
the
little
cabin-boy
,
were
going
to
set
off
to
the
nearest
sea-port
;
and
the
evening
preceding
their
departure
,
they
were
to
meet
their
rescuers
,
the
fishermen
,
at
a
supper
in
the
great
servants
'
hall
at
the
park
.
Edward
and
Robert
were
in
great
glory
,
bringing
in
huge
branches
of
evergreens
to
embellish
the
very
clean
,
cold
place
,
and
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Ashford
and
Grace
were
to
come
to
see
the
entertainment
,
after
having
some
coffee
in
the
library
.
Guy
prepared
it
for
his
company
by
tumbling
his
books
headlong
from
the
sofa
to
a
more
remote
ottoman
,
sticking
a
bit
of
holly
on
the
mantel-shelf
,
putting
out
his
beloved
old
friend
,
Strutt
's
'
Sports
and
Pastimes
,
'
to
amuse
Grace
,
and
making
up
an
immense
fire
;
and
then
,
looking
round
,
thought
the
room
was
uncommonly
comfortable
;
but
the
first
thing
that
struck
Mrs.
Ashford
,
when
,
with
face
beaming
welcome
,
he
ushered
her
in
from
the
great
hall
,
was
,
how
forlorn
rooms
looked
that
had
not
a
woman
to
inhabit
them
.
The
supper
went
off
with
great
écldat
.
Arnaud
at
the
head
of
the
table
carved
with
foreign
courtesies
that
contrasted
with
the
downright
,
bluff
way
of
the
sailors
.
As
soon
as
Sir
Guy
brought
Mrs.
Ashford
to
look
in
on
them
,
old
James
Robinson
proposed
his
health
,
with
hopes
he
would
soon
come
and
live
among
them
for
good
,
and
Jonas
Ledbury
added
another
wish
that
'
Lady
Morville
'
might
soon
be
there
too
.
At
those
words
,
an
expression
of
pain
came
upon
Guy
's
face
;
his
lips
were
rigidly
pressed
together
;
he
turned
hastily
away
,
and
paced
up
and
down
before
he
could
command
his
countenance
.
All
were
so
busy
cheering
,
that
no
one
heeded
his
change
of
demeanour
save
Mrs.
Ashford
;
and
though
,
when
he
returned
to
the
place
where
he
had
been
standing
,
his
complexion
was
deepened
,
his
lip
quievered
,
and
his
voice
trembled
in
returning
thanks
,
Mr.
Ashford
only
saw
the
emotion
naturally
excited
by
his
people
's
attachment
.
The
lady
understood
it
better
;
and
when
she
talked
it
over
with
her
husband
in
the
evening
,
they
were
convinced
the
cause
of
his
trouble
must
be
some
unfortunate
attachment
,
which
he
might
think
it
his
duty
to
overcome
;
and
having
settled
this
,
they
became
very
fond
of
him
,
and
anxious
to
make
Redclyffe
agreeable
to
him
.
Captain
and
crew
departed
;
the
little
boy
was
better
,
and
his
hosts
,
Charity
and
Jem
Ledbury
,
only
wished
to
keep
him
for
ever
;
the
sensation
at
Redclyffe
was
subsiding
,
when
one
morning
Markham
came
,
in
a
state
of
extreme
satisfaction
and
importance
,
to
exhibit
the
county
paper
,
with
a
full
account
of
the
gallant
conduct
of
the
youthful
baronet
.
Two
or
three
days
after
,
on
coming
home
from
a
ride
to
Coombe
Prior
,
Guy
found
Lord
Thorndale
's
card
,
and
heard
from
Arnaud
that
'
my
lord
had
made
particular
inquiries
how
long
he
would
be
in
the
country
,
and
had
been
to
the
cliff
to
see
where
the
wreck
was
.
'
Markham
likewise
attached
great
importance
to
this
visit
,
and
went
off
into
a
long
story
about
his
influence
and
the
representation
of
Moorworth
,
or
even
of
the
county
.
As
soon
as
Guy
knew
what
he
was
talking
about
,
he
exclaimed
,
'
Oh
,
I
hope
all
that
is
not
coming
on
me
yet
!
Till
I
can
manage
Todd
and
Coombe
Prior
,
I
am
sure
I
am
not
fit
to
manage
the
country
!
'
A
few
mornings
after
,
he
found
on
the
table
an
envelope
,
which
he
studied
,
as
if
playing
with
his
eagerness
.
It
had
an
East
Hill
post-mark
,
and
a
general
air
of
Hollywell
writing
,
but
it
was
not
in
the
hand
of
either
of
the
gentlemen
,
nor
was
the
tail
of
the
y
such
as
Mrs.
Edmonstone
was
wont
to
make
.
It
had
even
a
resemblance
to
Amabel
's
own
writing
,
that
startled
him
.
He
opened
it
at
last
,
and
within
found
the
hand
he
could
not
doubt
—
Charles
's
,
namely
—
much
more
crooked
than
usual
,
and
the
words
shortened
and
blotted
:
—
'
Dear
G
.
,
—
I
ought
not
to
do
this
,
but
I
must
;
I
have
tyrannized
over
Charlotte
,
and
obtained
the
wherewithal
.
Write
me
a
full
account
of
your
gallant
conduct
.
I
saw
it
first
in
A.
's
face
.
It
has
done
you
great
good
with
my
father
.
I
will
write
more
when
I
can
.
I
ca
n't
get
on
now
.
'
C.M.E.
'
He
might
well
say
he
had
first
seen
it
in
his
sister
's
face
.
She
had
brought
him
the
paper
,
and
was
looking
for
something
he
wanted
her
to
read
to
him
,
when
'
Redclyffe
Bay
'
met
her
eye
,
and
then
came
the
whole
at
one
delightful
glance
.
He
saw
the
heightened
colour
,
the
exquisite
smile
,
the
tear-drop
on
the
eyelash
.
'
Amy
!
what
have
you
there
?
'
She
pointed
to
the
place
,
gave
the
paper
into
his
hand
,
and
burst
into
tears
,
the
gush
of
triumphant
feeling
.
Not
one
was
shed
because
she
was
divided
from
the
hero
of
the
shipwreck
;
they
were
pure
unselfish
tears
of
joy
,
exultation
,
and
thankfulness
.
Charles
read
the
history
,
and
she
listened
in
silence
;
then
looked
it
over
again
with
him
,
and
betrayed
how
thoroughly
she
had
been
taught
the
whole
geography
of
Redclyffe
Bay
.
The
next
person
who
came
in
was
Charlotte
;
and
as
soon
as
she
understood
what
occupied
them
,
she
went
into
an
ecstasy
,
and
flew
away
with
the
paper
,
rushing
with
it
straight
into
her
father
's
room
,
where
she
broke
into
the
middle
of
his
letter
writing
,
by
reading
it
in
a
voice
of
triumph
.
Mr.
Edmonstone
was
delighted
.
He
was
just
the
person
who
would
be
far
more
taken
with
an
exploit
of
this
kind
,
such
as
would
make
a
figure
in
the
world
,
than
by
steady
perseverance
in
well-doing
,
and
his
heart
was
won
directly
.
His
wrath
at
the
hasty
words
had
long
been
diminishing
,
and
now
was
absolutely
lost
in
his
admiration
.
'
Fine
fellow
!
noble
fellow
!
'
he
said
.
He
is
the
bravest
boy
I
ever
heard
of
;
but
I
knew
what
was
in
him
from
the
first
.
I
wish
from
my
heart
there
was
not
this
cloud
over
him
.
I
am
sure
the
whole
story
has
not
a
word
of
truth
in
it
,
but
he
wont
say
a
word
to
clear
himself
,
or
else
we
would
have
him
here
again
to-morrow
.
'
This
was
the
first
time
Mr.
Edmonstone
had
expressed
anything
of
real
desire
to
recall
Guy
,
and
it
was
what
Charles
meant
in
his
letter
.
The
tyranny
over
Charlotte
was
exercised
while
the
rest
were
at
dinner
,
and
they
were
alone
together
.
They
talked
over
the
adventure
for
the
tenth
time
that
day
,
and
Charles
grew
so
excited
that
he
vowed
that
he
must
at
once
write
to
Guy
;
ordered
her
to
give
him
the
materials
,
and
when
she
hesitated
,
forced
her
into
it
,
by
declaring
that
he
should
get
up
and
reach
the
things
himself
,
which
would
be
a
great
deal
worse
.
She
wanted
to
write
from
his
dictation
,
but
he
would
not
consent
,
thinking
that
his
mother
might
not
consider
it
proper
,
and
he
began
vigorously
;
but
though
long
used
to
writing
in
a
recumbent
posture
,
he
found
himself
less
capable
now
than
he
had
expected
,
and
went
on
soliloquizing
thus
:
'
What
a
pen
you
've
given
me
,
Charlotte
.
There
goes
a
blot
!
Here
,
another
dip
,
will
you
!
and
take
up
that
with
the
blotting
paper
before
it
becomes
more
like
a
spider
.
'
'
Wont
you
make
a
fresh
beginning
?
'
'
No
,
that
has
cost
me
too
much
already
.
I
've
got
no
more
command
over
my
fingers
.
Here
we
go
into
the
further
corner
of
the
paper
.
Well
!
C
.
M
.
E
.
There
'
tis
—
do
it
up
,
will
you
?
If
he
can
read
it
he
'll
be
lucky
.
How
my
arms
ache
!
'
'
I
hope
it
has
not
hurt
you
,
Charlie
;
but
I
am
sure
he
will
be
very
glad
of
it
.
Oh
!
I
am
glad
you
said
that
about
Amy
.
'
'
Who
told
you
to
read
it
,
Puss
?
'
'
I
could
not
help
it
,
'
tis
so
large
.
'
'
I
believe
I
did
n't
ought
to
have
said
it
.
Do
n't
tell
her
I
did
,
'
said
Charles
;
'
but
I
could
n't
for
the
life
of
me
—
or
what
is
more
to
the
purpose
,
for
the
trouble
of
it
—
help
putting
it
.
He
is
too
true
a
knight
not
to
hear
that
his
lady
,
not
exactly
smiled
,
but
cried
.
'
'
He
is
a
true
knight
,
'
said
Charlotte
,
emphatically
,
as
with
her
best
pen
,
and
with
infinite
satisfaction
,
she
indited
the
'
Sir
Guy
Morville
,
Bart
.
,
Redclyffe
Park
,
Moorworth
,
'
only
wishing
she
could
lengthen
out
the
words
infinitely
.
'
Do
you
remember
,
Charlie
,
how
we
sat
here
the
first
evening
he
came
,
and
you
took
me
in
about
the
deadly
feud
?
'
'
It
was
no
take-in
,
'
said
Charles
;
'
only
the
feud
is
all
on
one
side
.
'
'
Oh
,
dear
!
it
has
been
such
a
stupid
winter
without
Guy
,
'
sighed
Charlotte
;
'
if
this
wont
make
papa
forgive
him
,
I
do
n't
know
what
will
.
'
'
I
wish
it
would
,
with
all
my
heart
,
'
said
Charles
;
'
but
logically
,
if
you
understand
the
word
,
Charlotte
,
it
does
not
make
much
difference
to
the
accusation
.
It
would
not
exactly
be
received
as
exculpatory
evidence
in
a
court
of
justice
.
'
'
You
do
n't
believe
the
horrid
stories
?
'
'
I
believe
that
Guy
has
gamed
quite
as
much
as
I
have
myself
;
but
I
want
to
see
him
cleared
beyond
the
power
of
Philip
to
gainsay
or
disbelieve
it
.
I
should
like
to
have
such
a
force
of
proof
as
would
annihilate
Philip
;
and
if
I
was
anything
but
what
I
am
,
I
would
have
it
.
If
you
could
but
lend
me
a
leg
for
two
days
,
Charlotte
.
'
'
I
wish
I
could
.
'
'
One
thing
shall
be
done
,
'
proceeded
Charles
;
'
my
father
shall
go
and
meet
him
in
person
when
he
comes
of
age
.
Now
Don
Philip
is
out
of
the
way
,
I
trust
I
can
bring
that
about
.
'
'
If
he
would
but
come
here
!
'
'
No
,
that
must
not
be
,
as
mamma
says
,
till
there
is
some
explanation
;
but
if
I
was
but
in
my
usual
state
,
I
would
go
with
papa
,
and
meet
him
in
London
.
I
wonder
if
there
is
any
chance
of
it
.
The
28th
of
March
—
ten
weeks
off
!
If
I
can
but
get
hold
of
those
trusty
crutches
of
mine
by
that
time
,
I
'll
do
,
and
I
'll
do
,
and
I
'll
do
.
We
would
bring
back
Amy
's
knight
with
flying
colours
.
'
'
Oh
,
how
happy
we
should
be
!
'
'
If
I
only
knew
what
sort
of
sense
that
Markham
of
his
may
have
,
I
would
give
him
a
hint
,
and
set
him
to
ferret
out
at
St.
Mildred
's
.
Or
shall
I
get
Dr.
Mayerne
to
order
me
there
for
change
of
air
?
'
So
schemed
Charles
;
while
Guy
,
on
his
side
,
busied
himself
at
Redclyffe
as
usual
;
took
care
and
thought
for
the
cabin-boy
—
returned
Lord
Thorndale
's
call
without
finding
him
at
home
—
saw
the
school
finished
,
and
opened
—
and
became
more
intimate
with
the
Ashfords
.
He
said
he
should
not
come
home
at
Easter
,
as
he
should
be
very
busy
reading
for
his
degree
;
and
as
his
birthday
this
year
fell
in
Holy
Week
,
there
could
be
no
rejoicings
:
besides
,
as
he
was
not
to
have
his
property
in
his
own
hands
till
he
was
five-and-twenty
,
it
would
make
no
difference
to
the
people
.
The
Ashfords
agreed
they
had
rather
he
was
safe
at
home
for
the
vacation
,
and
were
somewhat
anxious
when
he
spoke
of
coming
home
to
settle
,
after
he
had
taken
his
degree
.
For
his
own
part
he
was
glad
the
season
would
prevent
any
rejoicings
,
for
he
was
in
no
frame
of
mind
to
enter
into
them
,
and
his
birthday
had
been
so
sad
a
day
for
his
grandfather
,
that
he
had
no
associations
of
pleasure
connected
with
it
.
Markham
understood
the
feeling
,
liked
it
,
and
shared
it
,
only
saying
that
they
would
have
their
day
of
rejoicing
when
he
married
.
Guy
could
not
answer
,
and
the
old
steward
remarked
the
look
of
pain
.
'
Sir
Guy
,
'
said
he
,
'
is
it
that
which
is
wrong
with
you
?
Do
n't
be
angry
with
an
old
man
for
asking
the
question
,
but
I
only
would
hope
and
trust
you
are
not
getting
into
any
scrape
.
'
'
Thank
you
,
Markham
,
'
said
Guy
,
after
an
effort
;
'
I
cannot
tell
you
about
it
.
I
will
only
set
you
at
rest
by
saying
it
is
nothing
you
could
think
I
ought
to
be
ashamed
of
.
'
'
Then
why
—
what
has
come
between
?
What
could
man
or
woman
object
to
in
you
?
'
said
Markham
,
regarding
him
proudly
.
'
These
unhappy
suspicions
,
'
said
Guy
.
'
I
ca
n't
make
it
out
,
'
said
Markham
.
'
You
must
have
been
doing
something
foolish
to
give
rise
to
them
.
'
Guy
told
nearly
what
he
had
said
on
the
first
day
of
his
return
,
but
nothing
could
be
done
towards
clearing
up
the
mystery
,
and
he
returned
to
Oxford
as
usual
.
March
commenced
,
and
Charles
,
though
no
longer
absolutely
recumbent
,
and
able
to
write
letters
again
,
could
not
yet
attempt
to
use
his
crutches
,
so
that
all
his
designs
vanished
,
except
that
of
persuading
his
father
to
go
to
London
to
meet
Guy
and
Markham
there
,
and
transact
the
business
consequent
on
his
ward
's
attaining
his
majority
.
He
trusted
much
to
Guy
's
personal
influence
,
and
said
to
his
father
,
'
You
know
no
one
has
seen
him
yet
but
Philip
,
and
he
would
tell
things
to
you
that
he
might
not
to
him
.
'
It
was
an
argument
that
delighted
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
'
Of
course
I
have
more
weight
and
experience
,
and
—
and
poor
Guy
is
very
fond
of
us
.
Eh
,
Charlie
?
'
So
Charles
wrote
to
make
an
appointment
for
Guy
to
meet
his
guardian
and
Markham
in
London
on
Easter
Tuesday
.
'
If
you
will
clear
up
the
gambling
story
,
'
he
wrote
,
'
all
may
yet
be
well
.
'
Guy
sighed
as
he
laid
aside
the
letter
.
'
All
in
vain
,
kind
Charlie
,
'
said
he
to
himself
,
'
vain
as
are
my
attempts
to
keep
my
poor
uncle
from
sinking
himself
further
!
Is
it
fair
,
thought
,
'
continued
he
,
with
vehemence
,
'
that
the
happiness
of
at
least
one
life
should
be
sacrificed
to
hide
one
step
in
the
ruin
of
a
man
who
will
not
let
himself
be
saved
?
Is
it
not
a
waste
of
self-devotion
?
Have
I
any
right
to
sacrifice
hers
?
Ought
I
not
rather
—
and
a
flash
of
joy
came
over
him
—
'
to
make
my
uncle
give
me
back
my
promise
of
concealment
?
I
can
make
it
up
to
him
.
It
cannot
injure
him
,
since
only
the
Edmonstones
will
know
it
!
But
'
—
and
he
pressed
his
lips
firmly
together
—
'
is
this
the
spirit
I
have
been
struggling
for
this
whole
winter
?
Did
I
not
see
that
patient
waiting
and
yielding
is
fit
penance
for
my
violence
.
It
would
be
ungenerous
.
I
will
wait
and
bear
,
contented
that
Heaven
knows
my
innocence
at
least
in
this
.
For
her
,
when
at
my
best
I
dreaded
that
my
love
might
bring
sorrow
on
her
—
how
much
more
now
,
when
I
have
seen
my
doom
face
to
face
,
and
when
the
first
step
towards
her
would
be
what
I
cannot
openly
and
absolutely
declare
to
be
right
!
That
would
be
the
very
means
of
bringing
the
suffering
on
her
,
and
I
should
deserve
it
.
'
Guy
quitted
these
thoughts
to
write
to
Markham
to
make
the
appointment
,
finishing
his
letter
with
a
request
that
Markham
would
stop
at
St.
Mildred
's
on
his
way
to
London
,
and
pay
Miss
Wellwood
,
the
lady
with
whom
his
uncle
's
daughter
was
placed
,
for
her
quarter
's
board
.
'
I
hope
this
will
not
be
a
very
troublesome
request
,
'
wrote
Guy
;
'
but
I
know
you
had
rather
I
did
it
in
this
way
,
than
disobey
your
maxims
,
as
to
not
sending
money
by
the
post
.
'
The
time
before
the
day
of
meeting
was
spent
in
strengthening
himself
against
the
pain
it
would
be
to
refuse
his
confidence
to
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
and
thus
to
throw
away
the
last
chance
of
reconciliation
,
and
of
Amy
.
This
would
be
the
bitterest
pang
of
all
—
to
see
them
ready
to
receive
him
,
and
be
forced
to
reject
their
kindness
.
So
passed
the
preceding
week
,
and
with
it
his
twenty-first
birthday
,
spent
very
differently
from
the
way
in
which
it
would
ordinarily
be
passed
by
a
youth
in
his
position
.
It
went
by
in
hard
study
and
sad
musings
,
in
bracing
himself
to
a
resolution
that
would
cost
him
all
he
held
dear
,
and
,
as
the
only
means
of
so
bracing
himself
,
in
trying
to
fix
his
gaze
more
steadily
beyond
the
earth
.
Easter
day
steadied
the
gaze
once
more
for
him
,
and
as
the
past
week
had
nerved
him
in
the
spirit
of
self-sacrifice
,
the
feast
day
brought
him
true
unchanging
joy
,
shining
out
of
sadness
,
and
enlightening
the
path
that
would
lead
him
to
keep
his
resolution
to
the
utmost
,
and
endure
the
want
of
earthly
hope
.
CHAPTER
III
.
Already
in
thy
spirit
thus
divine
,
Whatever
weal
or
woe
betide
,
Be
that
high
sense
of
duty
still
thy
guide
,
And
all
good
powers
will
aid
a
soul
like
thine
.
Southey
.
'
Now
for
it
!
'
thought
Guy
,
as
he
dismissed
his
cab
,
and
was
shown
up-stairs
in
the
hotel
.
'
Give
me
the
strength
to
withstand
!
'
The
door
was
opened
,
and
he
beheld
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
Markham
,
and
another
—
it
surely
was
Sebastian
Dixon
!
All
sprung
up
to
receive
him
;
and
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
seizing
him
by
both
hands
,
exclaimed
—
'
Here
he
is
himself
!
Guy
,
my
boy
,
my
dear
boy
,
you
are
the
most
generous
fellow
in
the
world
!
You
have
been
used
abominably
.
I
wish
my
two
hands
had
been
cut
off
before
I
was
persuaded
to
write
that
letter
;
but
it
is
all
right
now
.
Forget
and
forgive
—
eh
,
Guy
?
You
'll
come
home
with
me
,
and
we
will
write
this
very
day
for
Deloraine
.
'
Guy
was
almost
giddy
with
surprise
.
He
held
one
of
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
hands
,
and
pressed
it
hard
;
his
other
hand
he
passed
over
his
eyes
,
as
if
in
a
dream
.
All
right
?
'
he
repeated
.
'
All
right
!
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
'
I
know
where
your
money
went
,
and
I
honour
you
for
it
;
and
there
stands
the
man
who
told
me
the
whole
story
.
I
said
,
from
the
first
,
it
was
a
confounded
slander
.
It
was
all
owing
to
the
little
girl
.
'
Guy
turned
his
face
in
amazement
towards
his
uncle
,
who
was
only
waiting
to
explain
.
'
Never
till
this
morning
had
I
the
least
suspicion
that
I
had
been
the
means
of
bringing
you
under
any
imputation
.
How
could
you
keep
me
in
ignorance
?
'
'
You
have
told
—
'
'
Of
the
cheque
,
'
broke
in
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
'
and
of
all
the
rest
,
and
of
your
providing
for
the
little
girl
.
How
could
you
do
it
,
with
that
pittance
of
an
allowance
of
yours
?
And
master
Philip
saying
you
never
had
any
money
!
No
wonder
indeed
!
'
'
If
I
had
known
you
were
pinching
yourself
,
'
said
Dixon
,
'
my
mind
would
have
revolted
—
'
'
Let
me
understand
it
,
'
said
Guy
,
grasping
the
back
of
a
chair
.
'
Tell
me
,
Markham
.
Is
it
really
so
?
Am
I
cleared
?
Has
Mr.
Edmonstone
a
right
to
be
satisfied
?
'
'
Yes
,
Sir
Guy
,
'
was
Markham
's
direct
answer
.
'
Mr
.
Dixon
has
accounted
for
your
disposal
of
the
thirty
pound
cheque
,
and
there
is
an
end
of
the
matter
.
'
Guy
drew
a
long
breath
,
and
the
convulsive
grasp
of
his
fingers
relaxed
.
'
I
cannot
thank
you
enough
!
'
said
he
to
his
uncle
;
then
to
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
'
how
is
Charles
?
'
'
Better
—
much
better
;
you
shall
see
him
to-morrow
—
eh
,
Guy
?
'
'
But
I
cannot
explain
about
the
one
thousand
pounds
.
'
'
Never
mind
—
you
never
had
it
,
so
you
ca
n't
have
misspent
it
.
That
's
neither
here
nor
there
.
'
'
And
you
forgive
my
language
respecting
you
?
'
'
Nonsense
about
that
!
If
you
never
said
anything
worse
than
that
Philip
was
a
meddling
coxcomb
,
you
have
n't
much
to
repent
of
;
and
I
am
sure
I
was
ten
old
fools
when
I
let
him
bore
me
into
writing
that
letter
.
'
'
No
,
no
,
you
did
right
,
under
your
belief
;
and
circumstances
were
strong
against
me
.
And
is
it
clear
?
—
are
we
where
we
were
before
?
'
'
We
are
—
we
are
in
everything
;
only
we
know
better
what
you
are
worth
,
Guy
.
Shake
hands
once
more
.
There
's
an
end
of
all
misunderstanding
and
vexation
,
and
we
shall
be
all
right
at
home
again
!
'
The
shake
was
a
mighty
one
.
Guy
shaded
his
face
for
a
moment
or
two
,
and
then
said
—
'
It
is
too
much
.
I
do
n't
understand
it
.
How
did
you
know
this
matter
wanted
explanation
?
'
said
he
,
turning
to
his
uncle
.
'
I
learnt
it
from
Mr.
Markham
,
and
you
will
do
me
the
justice
to
believe
that
I
was
greatly
shocked
to
find
that
your
generosity
—
'
'
The
truth
of
the
matter
is
this
,
'
said
Markham
.
'
You
sent
me
to
Miss
Wellwood
's
,
at
St.
Mildred
's
.
The
principal
was
not
within
,
and
while
waiting
for
her
to
make
the
payment
,
I
got
into
conversation
with
her
sister
,
Miss
Jane
.
She
told
me
that
the
child
,
Mr.
Dixon
's
daughter
,
was
always
talking
of
your
kindness
,
especially
of
a
morning
at
St.
Mildred
's
,
when
you
helped
him
in
some
difficulty
.
I
thought
this
threw
some
light
on
the
matter
,
found
out
Mr.
Dixon
this
morning
and
you
see
the
result
.
'
'
I
do
indeed
,
'
said
Guy
;
'
I
wish
I
could
attempt
to
thank
you
all
.
'
'
Thanks
enough
for
me
to
see
you
look
like
yourself
,
'
said
Markham
.
'
Did
you
think
I
was
going
to
sit
still
,
and
leave
you
in
the
mess
you
had
got
yourself
into
,
with
your
irregularity
about
keeping
your
accounts
?
'
'
And
to
you
,
'
said
Guy
,
looking
at
his
uncle
,
as
if
it
was
especially
pleasant
to
be
obliged
to
him
.
'
You
never
can
guess
what
I
owe
to
you
!
'
'
Nay
,
I
deserve
no
thanks
at
all
,
'
said
Sebastian
,
'
since
I
was
the
means
of
bringing
the
imputation
on
you
;
and
I
am
sure
it
is
enough
for
a
wretch
like
me
not
to
have
brought
only
misery
wherever
I
turn
—
to
have
done
something
to
repair
the
evil
I
have
caused
.
Oh
,
could
I
but
bring
back
your
father
to
what
he
was
when
first
I
saw
him
,
as
you
are
now
!
'
He
was
getting
into
one
of
those
violent
fits
of
self-reproach
,
at
once
genuine
and
theatrical
,
of
which
Guy
had
a
sort
of
horror
,
and
it
was
well
Mr.
Edmonstone
broke
in
,
like
comedy
into
tragedy
.
'
Come
,
what
's
past
ca
n't
be
helped
,
and
I
have
no
end
of
work
to
be
done
,
so
there
's
speechifying
enough
for
once
.
Mr.
Dixon
,
you
must
not
be
going
.
Sit
down
and
look
over
the
newspaper
,
while
we
sign
these
papers
.
You
must
dine
with
us
,
and
drink
your
nephew
's
health
,
though
it
is
not
his
real
birth-day
.
'
Guy
was
much
pleased
that
Mr.
Edmonstone
should
have
given
this
invitation
,
as
well
as
with
the
consideration
Markham
had
shown
for
Dixon
in
his
narration
.
Mr.
Dixon
,
who
had
learnt
to
consider
parents
and
guardians
as
foes
and
tyrants
,
stammered
and
looked
confused
and
enraptured
;
but
it
appeared
that
he
could
not
stay
,
for
he
had
a
professional
engagement
.
He
gave
them
an
exhortation
to
come
to
the
concert
where
he
was
employed
,
and
grew
so
ardent
in
his
description
of
it
,
that
Guy
could
have
wished
to
go
;
but
his
companions
were
in
haste
to
say
there
was
far
too
much
to
do
.
And
the
next
moment
Guy
told
himself
,
that
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
good-natured
face
,
and
joyous
'
eh
,
Guy
!
'
were
more
to
him
than
any
music
he
could
hear
nearer
than
Hollywell
.
He
went
down
stairs
with
his
uncle
,
who
all
the
way
raved
about
the
music
,
satisfied
to
find
ears
that
could
comprehend
,
and
was
too
full
of
it
even
to
attend
or
respond
to
the
parting
thanks
,
for
his
last
words
were
something
about
a
magnificent
counter
tenor
.
Guy
walked
up
slowly
,
trying
to
gather
his
thoughts
;
but
when
it
came
back
to
him
that
Amy
was
his
again
,
his
brain
seemed
to
reel
with
ecstasy
,
and
it
would
have
taken
far
more
time
than
he
could
spare
to
recall
his
sober
senses
;
so
he
opened
the
door
,
to
convince
himself
at
least
of
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
presence
,
and
was
received
with
another
shake
of
the
hand
.
'
So
,
here
you
are
again
.
I
was
afraid
he
was
carrying
you
off
to
his
concert
after
all
.
I
believe
you
have
half
a
mind
for
it
.
Do
you
like
to
stay
in
London
for
the
next
?
Eh
,
Guy
?
'
and
it
was
good
to
hear
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
hearty
laugh
,
as
he
patted
his
ward
on
the
shoulder
,
saw
his
blushing
,
smiling
shake
of
the
head
,
and
gave
a
knowing
look
,
which
let
in
a
fresh
light
on
Markham
,
and
luckily
was
unseen
by
Guy
.
'
Well
,
'
continued
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
'
the
man
is
more
gentlemanlike
than
I
expected
.
A
good
sort
of
fellow
at
the
bottom
,
I
dare
say
.
He
was
pretty
considerably
shocked
to
find
he
had
brought
you
into
such
a
scrape
.
'
'
He
is
very
generous
,
'
said
Guy
.
'
Oh
,
there
is
much
of
a
noble
character
in
him
.
'
'
Noble
?
humph
!
'
put
in
Markham
.
'
He
has
gone
down-hill
fast
enough
,
since
I
used
to
see
him
in
your
father
's
time
;
but
I
am
glad
he
had
the
decency
not
to
be
the
undoing
of
you
.
'
'
His
feeling
is
his
great
point
,
'
said
Guy
,
'
when
you
can
once
get
at
it
.
I
wish
—
But
,
'
breaking
off
short
,
'
I
ca
n't
make
it
out
.
What
did
little
Marianne
tell
you
?
Or
was
it
Miss
Wellwood
?
'
'
It
was
first
the
youngest
sister
,
'
said
Markham
.
'
I
sat
there
talking
to
her
some
little
time
;
she
said
you
had
been
very
kind
to
the
family
,
and
the
child
was
very
grateful
to
you
—
was
always
talking
of
some
morning
when
you
and
your
dog
came
,
and
helped
her
mother
.
Her
father
had
been
out
all
night
,
and
her
mother
was
crying
,
she
said
,
and
declaring
he
would
be
sent
to
prison
,
till
you
came
and
helped
them
.
'
'
Yes
,
that
's
it
,
'
said
Guy
.
'
Well
,
I
remembered
what
you
had
told
me
of
the
mystery
of
the
draft
,
and
guessed
that
this
might
be
the
clue
to
it
.
I
begged
to
see
the
child
,
and
in
she
came
,
the
very
image
of
your
mother
,
and
a
sharp
little
thing
that
knew
what
she
meant
,
but
had
not
much
idea
of
the
shame
,
poor
child
,
about
her
father
.
She
told
me
the
story
of
his
coming
home
in
the
morning
,
and
her
mother
being
in
great
distress
,
and
saying
they
were
ruined
,
till
you
came
and
talked
to
her
mother
,
and
gave
her
something
.
I
asked
if
it
was
money
,
and
she
said
it
was
paper
.
I
showed
her
a
draft
,
and
she
knew
it
was
like
that
.
So
then
I
made
her
tell
me
where
to
find
her
father
,
whom
I
used
to
know
in
old
times
,
and
had
to
write
to
,
now
and
then
.
I
hunted
him
up
,
and
a
creditable
figure
he
was
,
to
be
sure
;
but
I
got
the
truth
out
of
him
at
last
,
and
when
he
heard
you
had
got
into
disgrace
on
his
account
,
he
raved
like
a
tragedy
hero
,
and
swore
he
would
come
and
tell
your
guardian
the
whole
story
.
I
put
him
into
a
cab
for
fear
he
should
repent
,
and
he
had
just
got
to
the
end
of
it
when
you
came
in
.
'
'
It
is
of
no
use
to
thank
you
again
,
Markham
!
'
'
Why
,
I
have
been
getting
your
family
out
of
scrapes
these
forty
years
or
thereabouts
,
'
said
Markham
;
'
'
tis
all
I
'm
good
for
;
and
if
they
had
been
no
worse
than
this
one
,
it
would
be
better
for
all
of
us
.
But
time
is
getting
on
,
and
there
is
enough
to
do
.
'
To
the
accounts
they
went
at
once
.
There
was
a
good
deal
to
be
settled
;
and
though
Guy
had
as
yet
no
legal
power
,
according
to
his
grandfather
's
will
,
he
was
of
course
consulted
about
everything
.
He
was
glad
that
,
since
he
could
not
be
alone
to
bring
himself
to
the
realization
of
his
newly
recovered
happiness
,
he
should
have
this
sobering
and
engrossing
occupation
.
There
he
sat
,
coolly
discussing
leases
and
repairs
,
and
only
now
and
then
allowing
himself
a
sort
of
glimpse
at
the
treasury
of
joy
awaiting
him
whenever
he
had
time
to
dwell
on
it
.
The
Coombe
Prior
matters
were
set
in
a
better
train
,
the
preliminary
arrangements
about
the
curacy
were
made
,
and
Guy
had
hopes
it
would
be
his
friend
Mr.
Wellwood
's
title
for
Orders
.
There
was
no
time
to
write
to
Hollywell
,
or
rather
Mr.
Edmonstone
forgot
to
do
so
till
it
was
too
late
,
and
then
consoled
himself
by
observing
that
it
did
not
signify
if
his
family
were
taken
by
surprise
,
since
joy
killed
no
one
.
His
family
were
by
no
means
of
opinion
that
it
did
not
signify
when
the
next
morning
's
post
brought
them
no
letter
.
Mrs.
Edmonstone
and
Charles
had
hoped
much
,
and
Amy
did
not
know
how
much
she
had
hoped
till
the
melancholy
words
'
no
letter
'
passed
from
one
to
the
other
.
To
make
it
worse
,
by
some
of
those
mismanagements
of
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
which
used
to
run
counter
to
his
wife
's
arrangements
,
a
dinner-party
had
been
fixed
for
this
identical
Wednesday
,
and
the
prospect
was
agreeable
to
no
one
,
especially
when
the
four
o'clock
train
did
not
bring
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
who
,
therefore
,
was
not
to
be
expected
till
seven
,
when
all
the
world
would
be
arrived
.
Laura
helped
Amy
to
dress
,
put
the
flowers
in
her
hair
,
kissed
her
,
and
told
her
it
was
a
trying
day
;
and
Amy
sighed
wearily
,
thanked
her
,
and
went
down
with
arms
twined
in
hers
,
whispering
,
'
If
I
could
help
being
so
foolish
as
to
let
myself
have
a
little
hope
!
'
Laura
thought
the
case
so
hopeless
,
that
she
was
sorry
Amy
could
not
cease
from
the
foolishness
,
and
did
not
answer
.
Amy
sat
down
at
the
foot
of
the
sofa
,
whither
Charles
was
now
carried
down
every
day
,
and
,
without
venturing
to
look
at
him
,
worked
at
her
netting
.
A
carriage
—
her
colour
came
and
went
,
but
it
was
only
some
of
the
guests
;
another
—
the
Brownlows
.
Amy
was
speaking
to
Miss
Brownlow
when
she
heard
more
greetings
;
she
looked
up
,
caught
by
the
arm
of
the
sofa
,
and
looked
again
.
Her
father
was
pouring
out
apologies
and
welcomes
,
and
her
mother
was
shaking
hands
with
Guy
.
Was
it
a
dream
?
She
shut
her
eyes
,
then
looked
again
.
He
was
close
to
her
by
this
time
,
she
felt
his
fingers
close
on
her
white
glove
for
one
moment
,
but
she
only
heard
his
voice
in
the
earnest
'
How
are
you
,
Charlie
?
'
Her
father
came
to
her
,
gave
her
first
his
usual
kiss
of
greeting
,
then
,
not
letting
her
go
,
looked
at
her
for
a
moment
,
and
,
as
if
he
could
not
help
it
,
kissed
her
on
both
cheeks
,
and
said
,
—
'
How
d'ye
do
,
my
little
Amy
?
'
in
a
voice
that
meant
unutterable
things
.
All
the
room
was
swimming
round
;
there
was
nothing
for
it
but
to
run
away
,
and
she
ran
,
but
from
the
ante-room
she
heard
the
call
outside
,
'
Sir
Guy
's
bag
to
his
room
,
'
and
she
could
not
rush
out
among
the
servants
.
At
that
moment
,
however
,
she
spied
Mary
Ross
and
her
father
;
she
darted
up
to
them
,
said
something
incoherent
about
Mary
's
bonnet
,
and
took
her
up
to
her
own
room
.
'
Amy
,
my
dear
,
you
look
wild
.
What
has
come
to
you
?
'
'
Papa
is
come
home
,
and
—
'
the
rest
failed
,
and
Amy
was
as
red
as
the
camellia
in
her
hair
.
'
And
?
'
repeated
Mary
;
'
and
the
mystery
is
explained
?
'
'
Oh
!
I
do
n't
know
,
they
are
only
just
come
,
and
I
was
so
silly
,
I
ran
away
,
—
I
did
not
know
what
to
do
.
'
'
They
are
come
,
are
they
?
'
thought
Mary
.
'
My
little
Amy
,
I
see
it
all
.
'
She
made
the
taking
off
her
bonnet
and
the
settling
her
lace
as
elaborate
an
operation
as
she
could
,
and
Amy
flitted
about
as
if
she
did
not
by
any
means
know
what
she
was
doing
.
A
springy
,
running
step
was
heard
on
the
stairs
and
in
the
passage
,
and
Mary
,
though
she
could
not
see
her
little
friend
's
face
,
perceived
her
neck
turn
red
for
a
moment
,
after
which
Amy
took
her
arm
,
pressed
it
affectionately
,
and
they
went
down
.
Mrs.
Edmonstone
was
very
glad
to
see
Amabel
looking
tolerably
natural
.
'
Mamma
'
was
of
course
burning
to
hear
all
,
but
she
was
so
confident
that
the
essentials
were
safe
,
that
her
present
care
was
to
see
how
her
two
young
lovers
would
be
able
to
comport
themselves
,
and
to
be
on
her
guard
against
attending
to
them
more
than
to
her
guests
.
Amy
,
after
passing
by
Charles
,
and
getting
a
squeeze
from
his
ever-sympathizing
hand
,
put
herself
away
behind
Mary
,
while
Laura
talked
to
every
one
,
hoping
to
show
that
there
was
some
self-possession
in
the
family
.
Guy
reappeared
,
but
,
after
one
glance
to
see
if
Amy
was
present
,
he
did
not
look
at
her
again
,
but
went
and
leant
over
the
lower
end
of
Charles
's
sofa
,
just
as
he
used
to
do
;
and
Charles
lay
gazing
at
him
,
and
entirely
forgetting
what
he
had
been
trying
to
say
just
before
to
Mrs.
Brownlow
,
professing
to
have
come
from
London
that
morning
,
and
making
the
absent
mistakes
likely
to
be
attributed
to
the
lovers
themselves
.
Mr.
Edmonstone
came
,
and
dinner
followed
.
As
Mrs.
Edmonstone
paired
off
her
company
,
she
considered
what
to
do
with
her
new
arrival
.
'
If
you
had
come
two
hours
ago
,
'
said
she
,
within
herself
,
'
I
would
have
let
you
be
at
home
.
Now
you
must
be
a
great
man
,
and
be
content
with
me
.
It
will
be
better
for
Amy
.
'
Accordingly
Guy
was
between
her
and
Mrs.
Gresham
.
She
did
not
try
to
speak
to
him
,
and
was
amused
by
his
fitful
attempts
at
making
conversation
with
Mrs.
Gresham
,
when
it
struck
him
that
he
ought
to
be
taking
notice
of
her
.
Amy
(
very
fortunately
,
in
her
own
opinion
)
was
out
of
sight
of
him
,
on
the
same
side
of
the
table
,
next
to
Mr.
Ross
,
who
,
like
his
daughter
,
guessed
enough
about
the
state
of
things
to
let
her
alone
.
Charles
was
enjoying
all
manner
of
delightful
conjectures
with
Charlotte
,
till
the
ladies
returned
to
the
drawing-room
,
and
then
he
said
as
much
as
he
dared
to
Mary
Ross
,
far
more
than
she
had
gained
from
Laura
,
who
,
as
they
came
out
of
the
dining-room
,
had
said
,
—
'
Do
n't
ask
me
any
questions
,
for
I
know
nothing
at
all
about
it
.
'
Amy
was
talked
to
by
Mrs.
Gresham
about
club-books
,
and
new
flowers
,
to
which
she
was
by
this
time
able
to
attend
very
well
,
satisfied
that
his
happiness
had
returned
,
and
content
to
wait
till
the
good
time
for
knowing
how
.
She
could
even
be
composed
when
the
gentlemen
came
in
,
Guy
talking
to
Mr.
Ross
about
Coombe
Prior
,
and
then
going
to
Charles
;
but
presently
she
saw
no
more
,
for
a
request
for
music
was
made
,
and
she
was
obliged
to
go
and
play
a
duet
with
Laura
.
She
did
not
dislike
this
,
but
there
followed
a
persecution
for
some
singing
.
Laura
would
have
spared
her
,
but
could
not
;
and
while
she
was
turning
over
the
book
to
try
to
find
something
that
was
not
impossible
to
begin
,
and
Laura
whispering
encouragingly
,
'
This
—
try
this
—
your
part
is
almost
nothing
;
or
ca
n't
you
do
this
?
'
another
hand
turned
over
the
leaves
,
as
if
perfectly
at
home
in
them
,
and
,
without
speaking
,
as
if
it
was
natural
for
him
to
spare
Amy
,
found
a
song
which
they
had
often
sung
together
,
where
she
might
join
as
much
or
as
little
as
she
chose
,
under
cover
of
his
voice
.
She
had
not
a
thought
or
sensation
beyond
the
joy
of
hearing
it
again
,
and
she
stood
motionless
,
as
if
in
a
trance
.
When
it
was
over
,
he
said
to
Laura
,
'
I
beg
your
pardon
for
making
such
bad
work
.
I
am
so
much
out
of
practice
.
'
Mrs.
Brownlow
was
seen
advancing
on
them
;
Amy
retreated
,
leaving
Guy
and
Laura
to
fulfil
all
that
was
required
of
them
,
which
they
did
with
a
very
good
grace
,
and
Laura
's
old
familiar
feeling
began
to
revive
,
so
much
that
she
whispered
while
he
was
finding
the
place
,
'
Do
n't
you
dislike
all
this
excessively
?
'
'
It
does
as
well
as
anything
else
,
thank
you
,
'
was
the
answer
.
'
I
can
do
it
better
than
talking
.
'
At
last
they
were
released
,
and
the
world
was
going
away
.
Mary
could
not
help
whispering
to
Mrs.
Edmonstone
,
'
How
glad
you
must
be
to
get
rid
of
us
!
'
and
,
as
Mrs.
Edmonstone
answered
with
a
smile
,
she
ventured
further
to
say
,
—
'
How
beautifully
Amy
has
behaved
!
'
Little
Amy
,
as
soon
as
she
had
heard
the
last
carriage
roll
off
,
wished
every
one
good
night
,
shook
hands
with
Guy
,
holding
up
the
lighted
candle
between
him
and
her
face
as
a
veil
,
and
ran
away
to
her
own
room
.
The
others
remained
in
a
sort
of
embarrassed
silence
,
Mr.
Edmonstone
rubbing
his
hands
;
Laura
lighted
the
candles
,
Charlotte
asked
after
Bustle
,
and
was
answered
that
he
was
at
Oxford
,
and
Charles
,
laying
hold
of
the
side
of
the
sofa
,
pulled
himself
by
it
into
a
sitting
posture
.
'
Shall
I
help
you
?
'
said
Guy
.
'
Thank
you
,
but
I
am
not
ready
yet
;
besides
,
I
am
an
actual
log
now
,
and
am
carried
as
such
,
so
it
is
of
no
use
to
wait
for
me
.
Mamma
shall
have
the
first
turn
,
and
I
wo
n't
even
leave
my
door
open
.
'
'
Yes
,
yes
,
yes
;
go
and
have
it
out
with
mamma
,
next
best
to
Amy
herself
,
as
she
is
run
away
—
eh
,
Guy
?
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
Guy
and
Mrs.
Edmonstone
had
not
hitherto
trusted
themselves
to
speak
to
each
other
,
but
they
looked
and
smiled
,
then
,
wishing
the
rest
good
night
,
they
disappeared
.
Then
there
was
a
simultaneous
outbreak
of
'
Well
?
'
'
All
right
!
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
'
Every
word
was
untrue
.
He
is
the
noblest
fellow
in
the
world
,
as
I
knew
all
the
time
,
and
I
was
an
old
fool
for
listening
to
a
pack
of
stories
against
him
.
'
'
Hurrah
!
'
cried
Charles
,
drumming
on
the
back
of
his
sofa
.
'
Let
us
hear
how
the
truth
came
out
,
and
what
it
was
.
'
'
It
was
that
Dixon
.
There
has
he
been
helping
that
man
for
ever
,
sending
his
child
to
school
,
giving
him
sums
upon
sums
,
paying
his
gaming
debts
with
that
cheque
!
'
'
Oh
,
oh
!
'
cried
Charles
.
'
Yes
,
that
was
it
!
The
child
told
Markham
of
it
,
and
Markham
brought
the
father
to
tell
me
.
It
puts
me
in
a
rage
to
think
of
the
monstrous
stories
Philip
has
made
me
believe
!
'
'
I
was
sure
of
it
!
'
cried
Charles
.
'
I
knew
it
would
come
out
that
he
had
only
been
so
much
better
than
other
people
that
nobody
could
believe
it
.
Cleared
!
cleared
!
Why
,
Charlotte
,
Mr.
Ready-to-halt
will
be
for
footing
it
cleverly
enough
!
'
as
she
was
wildly
curvetting
round
him
.
'
I
was
always
sure
,
'
said
Mr.
Edmonstone
.
;
I
knew
it
was
not
in
him
to
go
wrong
.
It
was
only
Philip
,
who
would
persuade
me
black
was
white
.
'
'
I
never
believed
one
word
of
it
,
'
said
Charles
;
'
still
less
after
I
saw
Philip
's
animosity
.
'
'
Les
absens
ont
toujours
tort
,
'
interrupted
Laura
;
then
,
afraid
of
saying
too
much
,
she
added
,
—
'
Come
,
Charlotte
,
it
is
very
late
.
'
'
And
I
shall
be
the
first
to
tell
Amy
!
'
cried
Charlotte
.
'
Good
night
,
papa
!
—
good
night
,
Charlie
!
'
She
rushed
up
stairs
,
afraid
of
being
forestalled
.
Laura
lingered
,
putting
some
books
away
in
the
ante-room
,
trying
to
overcome
the
weary
pain
at
her
heart
.
She
did
not
know
how
to
be
confident
.
Her
father
's
judgment
was
worthless
in
her
eyes
,
and
Philip
had
predicted
that
Amy
would
be
sacrificed
after
all
.
To
see
them
happy
made
her
sigh
at
the
distance
of
her
own
hopes
,
and
worse
than
all
was
self-reproach
for
unkindness
in
not
rejoicing
with
the
rest
,
in
spite
of
her
real
affection
for
Guy
himself
.
When
she
thought
of
him
,
she
could
not
believe
him
guilty
;
when
she
thought
of
Philip
's
belief
,
she
could
not
suppose
him
innocent
,
and
she
pitied
her
sister
for
enjoying
a
delusive
happiness
.
With
effort
,
however
,
she
went
to
her
room
,
and
,
finding
her
a
little
overpowered
by
Charlotte
's
tumultuous
joy
,
saw
that
peace
and
solitude
were
best
for
her
till
she
could
have
more
certain
intelligence
,
and
,
after
very
tender
good-nights
,
carried
off
Charlotte
.
It
would
be
hard
to
describe
Mrs.
Edmonstone
's
emotions
as
she
preceded
Guy
to
the
dressing-room
,
and
sat
down
,
looking
up
to
him
as
he
stood
in
his
old
place
by
the
fire
.
She
thought
he
did
not
look
well
,
though
it
might
be
only
that
the
sun-burnt
colour
had
given
place
to
his
natural
fairness
;
his
eyes
,
though
bright
as
ever
,
did
not
dance
and
sparkle
;
a
graver
expression
sat
on
his
brow
;
and
although
he
still
looked
very
young
,
a
change
there
certainly
was
,
which
made
him
man
instead
of
boy
—
a
look
of
having
suffered
,
and
conquered
suffering
.
She
felt
even
more
motherly
affection
for
him
now
than
when
he
last
stood
there
in
the
full
tide
of
his
first
outburst
of
his
love
for
her
daughter
,
and
her
heart
was
almost
too
full
for
speech
;
but
he
seemed
to
be
waiting
for
her
,
and
at
last
she
said
,
—
'
I
am
very
glad
to
have
you
here
again
.
'
He
smiled
a
little
,
then
said
,
'
May
I
tell
you
all
about
it
?
'
'
Sit
down
here
.
I
want
very
much
to
hear
it
.
I
am
sure
you
have
gone
through
a
great
deal
.
'
'
I
have
,
indeed
,
'
said
he
,
simply
and
gravely
;
and
there
was
a
silence
,
while
she
was
certain
that
,
whatever
he
might
have
endured
,
he
did
not
feel
it
to
have
been
in
vain
.
'
But
it
is
at
an
end
,
'
said
she
.
'
I
have
scarcely
seen
Mr.
Edmonstone
,
but
he
tells
me
he
is
perfectly
satisfied
.
'
'
He
is
so
kind
as
to
be
satisfied
,
though
you
know
I
still
cannot
explain
about
the
large
sum
I
asked
him
for
.
'
'
We
will
trust
you
,
'
said
Mrs.
Edmonstone
,
smiling
;
'
but
I
am
very
anxious
to
hear
how
you
came
to
an
understanding
.
'
Guy
went
over
the
story
in
detail
,
and
very
much
affected
she
was
to
hear
how
entirely
unfounded
had
been
the
suspicion
,
and
how
thankful
he
was
for
Mr.
Edmonstone
's
forgiveness
.
'
You
had
rather
to
forgive
us
!
'
said
she
.
'
You
forget
how
ill
I
behaved
,
'
said
Guy
,
colouring
.
'
If
you
knew
the
madness
of
those
first
moments
of
provocation
,
you
would
think
that
the
penance
of
a
lifetime
,
instead
of
only
one
winter
,
would
scarce
have
been
sufficient
.
'
'
You
would
not
say
,
as
Charles
does
,
that
the
suspicion
justified
your
anger
?
'
'
No
,
indeed
!
'
He
paused
and
spoke
again
.
'
Thank
Heaven
,
it
did
not
last
long
;
but
the
insight
it
gave
me
into
the
unsubdued
evil
about
me
was
a
fearful
thing
.
'
'
But
you
conquered
it
.
They
were
the
unguarded
exclamations
of
the
first
shock
.
Your
whole
conduct
since
,
especially
the
interview
with
Philip
,
has
shown
that
your
anger
has
not
been
abiding
,
and
that
you
have
learnt
to
subdue
it
.
'
'
It
could
not
abide
,
for
there
was
no
just
cause
of
offence
.
Of
course
such
a
dreadful
outburst
warned
me
to
be
on
my
guard
