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'That's right！ that is very well said！' answered Mr。 Edmonstone； very
much pleased。 'It would be a pity it should go out of the old line
after all； and it's a very generous thing in you to say so。'
'Oh no！' said Philip； shrinking into himself at even such praise as
this。
'Well； well；' said his uncle； 'you will see he has thought of you； be
it how it may。 There！ I only hope it is right； though it does seem
rather queer； appointing poor little Amy executor rather than me。 If I
had but been here in time！ But 'twas Heaven's will； and so It does
not signify； after all； if it is not quite formal。 We understand each
other。'
The will was on a sheet of letter…paper； in Arnaud's stiff French
handwriting； it was witnessed by the two Mr。 Morrises； and signed on
the 27th of September； in very frail and feeble characters。 Amabel and
Markham were the executors； and Amabel was to be sole guardian； in case
of the birth of a child。 If it was a son； ￡10；000 was left to Philip
himself； if not； he was to have all the plate； furniture； &c。； of
Redclyffe； with the exception of whatever Lady Morville might choose
for herself。
Philip scarcely regarded the legacy （though it smoothed away his chief
difficulties） as more than another of those ill…requited benefits which
were weighing him to the earth。 He read on to a sentence which
reproached him so acutely； that he would willingly have hidden from it；
as he had done from Guy's countenance。 It was the bequest of ￡5000 to
Elizabeth Wellwood。 Sebastian Dixon's debts were to be paid off； ￡1000
was left to Marianne Dixon； and the rest of the personal property was
to be Amabel's。
He gave back the paper； with only the words 'Thank you。' He did not
feel as if it was for him to speak； and Mr。 Edmonstone hesitated； made
an attempt at congratulating him； broke down； and asked if it was
properly drawn up。 He glanced at the beginning and end； said it was
quite correct； and laid his head down； as if the examination had been a
great deal of trouble。
'And what do you think of Amy's being under age？' fidgeted on Mr。
Edmonstone。 'How is she to act； poor dear！ Shall I act for her？'
'She will soon be of age；' said Philip； wearily。
'In January； poor darling。 Who would have thought how it would have
been with her？ I little thought； last Maybut； holloa！ what have I
been at？' cried he； jumping up in a great fright； as Philip； so weak as
to be overcome by the least agitation； changed countenance； covered his
face with his hands； and turned away with a suppressed sob。 'I didn't
mean it； I am sure！ Here！ mamma！'
'No； no；' said Philip； recovering； and sitting up； 'don't call her； I
beg。 There is nothing the matter。'
Mr。 Edmonstone obeyed； but he was too much afraid of causing a renewal
of agitation to continue the conversation； and after walking about the
room a little while； and shaking it more than Philip could well bear；
he went away to write his letters。
In the meantime； Amabel had been spending her morning in the same quiet
way as the former day。 She wrote part of a letter to Laura； and walked
to the graveyard； rather against her mother's wish； but she was so good
and obedient； it was impossible to thwart her； though Mrs。 Edmonstone
was surprised at her proposal to join her father and Philip at tea。
'Do you like it； my dear？'
'He told me to take care of him；' said Amabel。
'I cannot feel that he deserves you should worry yourself about him；'
said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'If you knew all'
'I do know all； mamma；if you mean about Laura。 Surely you must
forgive。 Think how he repents。 What； have you not had his letter？
Then how did you know？'
'I learned it from Laura herself。 Her trouble at his illness revealed
it。 Do you say he has written？'
'Yes； mamma； he told Guy all about it； and was very sorry； and wrote as
soon as he was able。 Guy sent you a long message。 He was so anxious
about it。'
Amabel showed more eagerness to understand the state of the case； than
she had about anything else。 She urged that Philip should be spoken
to； as soon as possible； saying the suspense must be grievous； and
dwelling on his repentance。 Mrs。 Edmonstone promised to speak to papa；
and this satisfied her； but she held her resolution of meeting Philip
that evening； looking on him as a charge left her by her husband； and
conscious that； as she alone understood how deep was his sorrow； she
could make the time spent with her parents less embarrassing。
Her presence always soothed him； and regard for her kept her father
quiet； so that the evening passed off very well。 Mrs。 Edmonstone
waited on both； and； in Amy's presence； was better able to resume her
usual manner towards her nephew； and he sat wondering at the placidity
of Amy's pale face。 Her hair was smoothed back； and she wore a cap；
the loss of her long shady curls helping to mark the change from the
bright days of her girlhood； but the mournfulness of her countenance
did not mar the purity and serenity that had always been its great
characteristic； and in the faint sweet smile with which she received a
kind word or attention； there was a likeness to that peculiar and
beautiful expression of her husband's； so as； in spite of the great
difference of feature and colouring； to give her a resemblance to him。
All this day had been spent by Mr。 Edmonstone in a fret to get away
from Recoara； and his wife was hardly less desirous to leave it than
himself； for she could have no peace or comfort about Amabel； till she
had her safely at home。 Still she dreaded proposing the departure； and
even more the departure itself； and； in spite of Mr。 Edmonstone's
impatience； she let her alone till she had her mourning； but when；
after two days of hard work； Anne had nearly managed to complete it；
she made up her mind to tell her daughter that they ought to set out。
Amabel replied by mentioning Philip。 She deemed him a sort of trust；
and had been reposing in the thought of making him a reason for
lingering in the scene where the brightness of her life had departed
from her。 Mrs。 Edmonstone would not allow that she ought to remain for
his sake； and told her it was her duty to resolve to leave the place。
She said； 'Yes； but for him；' and it ended in Mrs。 Edmonstone going；
without telling her； to inform him that she thought Amy ought to be at
home as soon as possible； but that it was difficult to prevail on her；
because she thought him as yet not well enough to be left。 He was； of
course； shocked at being thus considered； and as soon as he next saw
Amabel； told her； with great earnestness； that he could not bear to see
her remaining there on his account； that he was almost well； and meant
to leave Recoara very soon； the journey was very easy； the sea voyage
would be the best thing for him； and he should be glad to