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in an almost imperceptible manner。 She kept watch over him； and
followed his thoughts； without stretching her mind to suppose herself
living without him； and was supported by the forgetfulness of self；
which gave her no time to realize her feelings。
'I should like to have seen Redclyffe bay again；' said Guy； after a
space。 'Now that mamma is coming； that is the one thing。 I suppose I
had set my heart on it； for it comes back to me how I reckoned on
standing on that rock with you； feeling the wind； hearing the surge；
looking at the meeting of earth and sky； and the train of sunlight。'
He spoke slowly； pausing between each recollection；'You will see it
some day；' he added。 'But I must give it up； it is earth after all；
and looking back。'
Through the evening； he seemed to be dwelling on thoughts of his own；
and only spoke to tell her of some message to friends at Redclyffe； or
Hollywell； to mention little Marianne Dixon； or some other charge that
he wished to leave。 She thought he had mentioned almost every one with
whom he had had any interchange of kindness at either of his homes；
even to old nurse at Hollywell； remembering them all with quiet
pleasure。 At half…past eleven； he sent her to bed； and she went
submissively； cheered by thinking him likely to sleep。
As soon as she could conscientiously call the night over； she returned
to him； and was received with one of the sweet； sunny； happy looks that
had always been his peculiar charm； and； of late； had acquired an
expression almost startling from their very beauty and radiance。 It
was hardly to be termed a smile； for there was very little； if any；
movement of the lips； it was more like the reflection of some glory
upon the whole countenance。
'You have had a good night？' she said。
'I have had my wish； I have seen Redclyffe；' then； seeing her look
startled； 'Of course； it was a sort of wandering； but I never quite
lost the consciousness of being here； and it was very delightful。 I
saw the waves； each touched with light；the foamthe sea…birds；
floating in shade and light；the treesthe Shagthe skyoh！ such a
glory as I never knewthemselvesbut so intensely glorious！'
'I am glad' said Amabel； with a strange participation of the delight it
had given him。
'I don't understand such goodness！' he continued。 'As if it were not
enough to look to heaven beyond； to have this longing gratified； which
I thought I ought to conquer。 Oh； Amy！ is not that being Fatherly！'
'Yes； indeed。'
'Now after that； and with mamma's coming （for you will have her if I
don't see her）； I have but one wish unfulfilled。'
'Ah！ a clergyman。'
'Yes； but if that is withheld； I must believe it is rightly ordered。
We must think of that Sunday at Stylehurst and Christmas…day； and that
last time at Munich。'
'Oh； I am so glad we stayed at Munich for that！'
'Those were times； indeed！ and many more。 Yes； I have been a great
deal too much favoured already； and now to be allowed to die just as I
should have chosen'
He broke off to take what Amabel was preparing for him； and she felt
his pulse。 There was fever still； which probably supplied the place of
strength； for he said he was very comfortable； and his eyes were as
bright as ever； but the beats were weak and fluttering； and a thrill
crossed her that it might be near； but she must attend to him； and
could not think。
When it was time for her to go down to breakfast with Philip； Guy said；
'Do you think Philip could come to me to…day？ I want much to speak to
him。'
'I am sure he could。'
'Then pray ask him to come； if it will not tire him very much。'
Philip had； the last two mornings； risen in time to breakfast with
Amabel； in the room adjoining his own； he was still very weak； and
attempted no more than crossing the room； and sitting in the balcony to
enjoy the evening air。 He had felt the heat of the weather severely；
and had been a good deal thrown back by his fatigue and agitation the
day he wrote the letter； while also anxiety for Guy was retarding his
progress； though he only heard the best side of his condition。 Besides
all this； his repentance both for his conduct with regard to Laura and
the hard measure he had dealt to Guy was pressing on him increasingly；
and the warm feelings； hardened and soured by early disappointment；
regained their force； and grew into a love and admiration that made it
still more horrible to perceive that he had acted ungenerously towards
his cousin。
When he heard of Guy's desire to see him； he was pleased； said he was
quite able to walk up…stairs； had been thinking of offering to help her
by sitting with him； and was very glad to hear he was well enough to
wish for a visit。 She saw she must prepare him for what the
conversation was likely to be。
'He is very anxious to see you；' she said。 'He is wishing to set all
in order。 And if he does speak aboutabout dying； will you be so kind
as not to contradict him？'
'There is no danger？' cried Philip； startling； with a sort of agony。
'He is no worse？ You said the fever was lower。'
'He is rather better； I think； but he wishes so much to have everything
arranged； that I am sure it will be better for him to have it off his
mind。 So； will you bear it； please； Philip？' ended she； with an
imploring look； that reminded him of her childhood。
'How do you bear it？' he asked。
'I don't knowI can't vex him。'
Philip said no more； and only asked when he should come。
'In an hour's time； perhaps； or whenever he was ready；' she said； 'for
he could rest in the sitting…room before coming in to Guy。'
He found mounting the stairs harder than he had expected； and； with
aching knees and gasping breath； at length reached the sitting…room；
where Amabel was ready to pity him； and made him rest on the sofa till
he had fully recovered。 She then conducted him in； and his first
glance gave him infinite relief； for he saw far less change than was
still apparent in himself。 Guy's face was at all times too thin to be
capable of losing much of its form； and as he was liable to be very
much tanned； the brown； fixed on his face by the sunshine of his
journey had not gone off； and a slight flush on his cheeks gave him his
ordinary colouring； his beautiful hazel eyes were more brilliant than
ever； and though the hand he held out was hot and wasted； Philip could
not think him nearly as ill as he had been himself； and was ready to
let him talk as he pleased。 He was reassured； too； by his bright
smile； and the strength of his voice； as he spoke a few playful words
of welcome and congratulation。 Amy set a chair； and with a look to
remind Philip to be cautious； glided into her own room； leaving the
door open； so as to see and hear all that passed； for they were not fit
to be left absolutely alone together。
Ph