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high…coloured； he was a person on whom the traces of illness were
particularly visible。 The colour was totally gone； even from his lips；
his cheeks were sunken； his brow looked broader and more massive from
the thinness of his face and the loss of his hair； and his eyes
themselves appeared unlike what they used to be in the hollows round
them。 He seemed tranquil； and comfortable； but so wan； weak； and
subdued； and so different from himself； that she was very much shocked；
as smiling and holding out a hand； where the white skin seemed hardly
to cover the bone and blue vein； he said； in a tone； slow； feeble； and
languid； though cheerful；
'Good morning； Amy。 You see Guy was right； after all。 I am sorry to
have made your wedding tour end so unpleasantly。'
'Nay； most pleasantly； since you are better；' said Amabel； laughing；
because she was almost ready to cry； and her displeasure went straight
out of her head。
'Are you doing the honours of my room； Guy？' said Philip； raising his
head from the pillow； with a becoming shade of his ceremonious
courtesy。 'Give her a chair。'
Amy smiled and thanked him； while he lay gazing at her as a sick person
is apt to do at a flower； or the first pretty enlivening object from
which he is able to derive enjoyment； and as if he could not help
expressing the feeling； he said
'Is that your wedding…dress； Amy？'
'Oh； no； that was all lace and finery。'
'You look so nice and bridal'
'There's a compliment that such an old wife ought to make the most of；
Amy；' said Guy； looking at her with a certain proud satisfaction in
Philip's admiration。 'It is high time to leave off calling you a
bride； after your splendid appearance at the party at Munich； in all
your whiteness and orange…flowers。'
'That was quite enough of it；' said Amy； smiling。
'Not at all；' said Philip； 'you have all your troubles in the visiting
line to come； when you go home。'
'Ah！ you know the people； and will be a great help to us；' said Amy；
and Guy was much pleased to hear her taking a voluntary share in the
invitation； knowing as he did that she only half liked it。
'Thank you； we shall see；' replied Philip。
'Yes； we shall see when you are fit for the journey； and it will not be
long before we can begin； by short stages。 You have got on wonderfully
in the last few days。 How do you think he is looking； Amy？' finished
Guy； with an air of triumph； that was rather amusing； considering what
a pale skeleton face he was regarding with so much satisfaction。
'I dare say he is looking much mended；' said Amy； 'but you must not
expect me to see it。'
'You can't get a compliment for me； Guy；' said Philip。 'I was a good
deal surprised when Arnaud brought me the glass this morning。'
'It is a pity you did not see yourself a week ago；' said Guy； shaking
his head drolly。
'It is certain； as the French doctor says； that monsieur has a very
vigorous constitution。'
'Charles says； having a good constitution is only another name for
undergoing every possible malady；' said Amy。
'Rather good' said Guy； 'for I certainly find it answer very well to
have none at all。'
'Haven't you？' said Amy； rather startled。
'Or how do you know？' said Philip； 'especially as you never were ill。'
'It is a dictum of old Walters； the Moorworth doctor； the last time I
had anything to do with him； when I was a small child。 I suppose I
remembered it for its oracular sound； and because I was not intended to
listen。 He was talking over with Markham some illness I had just got
through； and wound up with； 〃He may be healthy and active now； but he
has no constitution； there is a tendency to low fever； and if he meets
with any severe illness； it will go hard with him。〃'
'How glad I am I did not know that before' cried Amy。
'Did you remember it when you came here？' said Philip。
'Yes；' said Guy； not in the least conscious of the impression his words
made on the others。 'By the bye； Philip； I wish you would tell us how
you fared after we parted； and how you came here。'
'I went on according to my former plan；' said Philip； 'walking through
the Valtelline； and coming down by a mountain path。 I was not well at
Bolzano； but I thought it only fatigue； which a Sunday's rest would
remove； so on I went for the next two days； in spite of pain in head
and limbs。'
'Not walking！' said Amy。
'Yes； walking。 I thought it was stiffness from mountain climbing； and
that I could walk it off； but I never wish to go through anything like
what I did the last day； between the up and downs of that mountain
path； and the dazzle of the snow and heat of the sun。 I meant to have
reached Vicenza； but I must have been quite knocked up when I arrived
here； though I cannot tell。 My head grew so confused； that my dread；
all the way； was that I should forget my Italian； I can just remember
conning a phrase over and over again； lest I should lose it。 I suppose
I was able to speak when I came here； but the last thing I remember was
feeling very ill in some room； different from this； quite alone； and
with a horror of dying deserted。 The next is a confused recollection
of the relief of hearing English again； and seeing my excellent nurse
here。'
There was a little more talk； but a little was enough for Philip's
feeble voice； and Guy soon told him he was tired； and ordered in his
broth。 He begged that Amy would stay； and it was permitted on
condition that he would not talk； Guy even cutting short a quotation
of；'As Juno had been sick and he her dieter；'appropriate to the
excellence of the broths； which Amabel and her maid； thanks to their
experience of Charles's fastidious tastes； managed to devise and
execute； in spite of bad materials。 It was no small merit in Guy to
stop the compliment； considering how edified he had been by his wife's
unexpected ingenuity； and what a comical account he had written of it
to her mother； such； as Amy told him； deserved to be published in a
book of good advice to young ladies； to show what they might come to if
they behaved well。 However； she was glad to have ocular demonstration
of the success of the cookery； which she had feared might turn out
uneatable； and her gentle feelings towards Philip were touched； by
seeing one wont to be full of independence and self…assertion； now meek
and helpless； requiring to be lifted； and propped up with pillows； and
depending entirely and thankfully upon Guy。
When he had been settled and made comfortable； they read the service；
and she thought her husband's tones had never been so sweet as now；
modulated to the pitch best suited to the sickroom； and with the
peculiarly beautiful expression he always gave such reading。 It was
the lesson from Jeremiah； on the different destiny of Josiah and his
sons； and he read that verse； 'Weep ye not