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last seen blessing her and her husband。 It ended by her looking up to
him when it was time for him to go； and saying； 'Thank you。 You will
come again when you have time； I hope。 My love to dear Mary； I should
like to see her soon； but I knew you would do me more good than
anybody； and know better how it feels。'
Mr。 Ross knew she meant that he must better understand her loss；
because he was a widower； and was greatly touched； though he only
answered by a blessing； a farewell； and a promise to come very soon to
see her again。
Amabel was right； the peace which he had recalled； and the power of
resignation that had returned； had a better effect on her than all her
mother's precautions； she began to improve； and in a few days more was
able to leave her bed； and lie on the sofa in the dressing…room； though
she was still so weak and languid that this was as much as she could
attempt。 Any exertion was to be carefully guarded against； and her
tears now flowed so easily； that she was obliged to keep a check on
them lest they might again overpower her。 Mr。 Ross came again and
again； and she was able to tell him much of the grounds for her great
happiness in Guy； hear how entirely he had understood him； and be
assured that she had done right； and not taken an undue responsibility
on herself by the argument she had used to summon Philip； that last
evening。 She had begun to make herself uneasy about this； for she said
she believed she was thinking of nothing but Guy； and had acted on
impulse； and she was very glad Mr。 Ross did not think it wrong； while
Mr。 Ross meanwhile was thinking how fears and repentance mingle with
the purest sweetest； holiest deeds。
She was able now to take pleasure in seeing Mary Ross； she wrote to
Philip at Corfu； and sent for Markham to begin to settle the executor's
business。 Poor Markham！ the Edmonstones thought he looked ten years
older when he arrived； and after his inquiry for Lady Morville； his
grunt almost amounted to a sob。 The first thing he did was to give
Mrs。 Edmonstone a note； and a little box sent from Mrs。 Ashford。 The
note was to say that Mrs。 Ashford had intended for her wedding present；
a little cross made out of part of the wood of the wreck； which she now
thought it beat to send to Mrs。 Edmonstone； that she might judge
whether Lady Morville would like to see it。
Mrs。 Edmonstone's judgment was to carry it at once to Amabel； and she
was right； for the pleasure she took in it was indescribable。 She
fondled it； set it up by her on her little table； made Charlotte put it
in different places that she might see what point of view suited it
best； had it given back to her； held it in her hands caressingly； and
said she must write at once to Mrs。 Ashford to thank her for
understanding her so well。 There was scarcely one of the mourners to
be pitied more than Markham； for the love he had set on Sir Guy had
been intense； compounded of feudal affection； devoted admiration； and
paternal careand that he； the very flower of the whole race； should
thus have been cut down in the full blossom of his youth and hopes； was
almost more than the old man could bear or understand。 It was a great
sorrow； too； that he should be buried so far away from his forefathers；
and the hearing it was by his own desire； did not satisfy him； he
sighed over it still； and seemed to derive a shade of comfort only when
he was told there was to be a tablet in Redclyffe church to the memory
of Guy； sixth baronet。
In the evening Markham became very confidential with Charles； telling
him about the grievous mourning and lamentation at Redclyffe； when the
bells rung a knell instead of greeting the young master and his bride；
and how there was scarcely one in the parish that did not feel as if
they had lost a son or a brother。 He also told more and more of Sir
Guy's excellence； and talked of fears of his own； especially last
Christmas； that the boy was too unlike other people； too good to live；
and lastly； he indulged in a little abuse of Captain Morville； which
did Charles's heart good； at the same time as it amused him to think
how Markham would recollect it； when he came to hear of Laura's
engagement。
In the course of the next day； Markham had his conference with Lady
Morville in the dressing…room； and brought her two or three precious
parcels； which he would not； for the world； have given into any other
hands。 He could hardly bear to look at her in her widow's cap； and
behaved to her with a manner varying between his deference and respect
to the Lady of Redclyffe； and his fatherly fondness for the wife of
'his boy。' As to her legal powers； he would have thought them
foolishly bestowed； if they had been conferred by any one save his own
Sir Guy； and he began by not much liking to act with her； but he found
her so clear…headed； that he was much surprised to find a woman could
have so much good sense； and began to look forward with some
satisfaction to being her prime minister。 They understood each other
very well； Amabel's good sense and way of attending to the one matter
in hand； kept her from puzzling and alarming herself by thinking she
had more to do than she could ever understand or accomplish； she knew
it was Guy's work； and a charge he had given her；a great proof of his
confidence；and she did all that was required of her very well； so
that matters were put in train to be completed when she should be of
age； in the course of the next January。
When Markham left her she was glad to be alone； and to open her
parcels。 There was nothing here to make her hysterical； for she was
going to contemplate the living soul； and felt almost； as if it was
again being alone with her husband。 There were his most prized and
used books； covered with marks and written notes； there was Laura's
drawing of Sintram； which had lived with him in his rooms at Oxford；
there was a roll of music； and there was his desk。 The first thing
when she opened it was a rough piece of spar； wrapped in paper； on
which was written； 'M。 A。 D。； Sept。 18。' She remembered what he had
told her of little Marianne's gift。 The next thing made her heart
thrill； for it was a slip of pencilling in her own writing； 'Little
things； on little wings； bear little souls to heaven。'
Her own letters tied up together； those few that she had written in the
short time they were separated just before their marriage！ Could that
be only six months ago？ A great bundle of Charles's and of Mrs。
Edmonstone's； those she might like to read another time； but not now。
Many other papers letters signed S。 B。 Dixon； which she threw aside；
notes of lectures； and memoranda； only precious for the handwriting；
but when she came to the lower division； she found it full of verses；
almost all the poetry he had ever written。
There were the classical translations that use