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'If you thought so； why not mention it to me？ Oh！ sister； what would
you not have spared me！'
'I might have done so if it had appeared that it might lead to his
exculpation； but you were so fully convinced that his whole course
confirmed the suspicions； that a mere vague idea was not worth dwelling
on。 Your general opinion； of him satisfied me。'
'I cannot blame you；' was all his reply； as he sat down again； with his
face averted from the light。
And Mrs。 Henley was doubtful whether he meant that she had been
judicious！ She spoke again； unconscious of the agony each word
inflicted。
'Poor youth！ we were mistaken in those facts； and of course； all is
forgiven and forgotten now； but he certainly had a tremendous temper。
I shall never forget that exhibition。 Perhaps poor Amabel is saved
much unhappiness。'
'Once for all；' said Philip； sternly； 'let me never hear you speak of
him thus。 We were both blind to a greatness of soul and purity of
heart that we shall never meet again。 Yours was only prejudice； mine I
must call by a darker name。 Remember； that he and his wife are only to
be spoken of with reverence。'
He composed himself to silence； and Margaret； after looking at him for
some moments in wonder； began in a sort of exculpatory tone：
'Of course we owe him a great deal of gratitude。 It was very kind and
proper to come to you when you were ill； and his death must have been a
terrible shock。 He was a fine young man； amiable； very attractive in
manner。'
'No more！' muttered Philip。
'That； you always said of him；' continued she； not hearing； 'but you
have no need to reproach yourself。 You always acted the part of a true
friend； did full justice to his many good qualities； and only sought
his real good。'
'Every word you speak is the bitterest satire on me；' said Philip；
goaded into rousing himself for a moment。 'Say no more； unless you
would drive me distracted！'
Margaret was obliged to be silent； and marvel； while her brother sat
motionless； leaning back in his chair； till Dr。 Henley came in； and
after a few words to him； went on talking to his wife； till dinner was
announced。 Philip went with them into the dining…room； but had
scarcely sat down before he said he could not stay； and returned to the
drawing…room sofa。 He said he only wanted quiet and darkness； and sent
his sister and her husband back to their dinner。
'What has he been doing？' said the Doctor； 'here is his pulse up to a
hundred again。 How can he have raised it？'
'He only came down an hour ago； and has been sitting still ever since。'
'Talking？'
'Yes； and there； perhaps； I was rather imprudent。 I did not know he
could so little bear to hear poor Sir Guy's name mentioned； and；
besides； he did not know； till I told him； that he had so much chance
of Redclyffe。 He did not know the entail excluded daughters。'
'Did he not！ That accounts for it。 I should like to see the man who
could hear coolly that he was so near such a property。 This suspense
is unlucky just now； very much against him。 You must turn his thoughts
from it as much as possible。'
All the next day； Mrs。 Henley wondered why her brother's spirits were
so much depressed； resisting every attempt to amuse or cheer them； but；
on the third； she thought some light was thrown on the matter。 She was
at breakfast with the Doctor when the post came in； and there was a
black…edged letter for Captain Morville； evidently from Amabel。 She
took it up at once to his room。 He stretched out his hand for it
eagerly； but laid it down； and would not open it while she was in the
room。 The instant she was gone； however； he broke the seal and read：
'Hollywell； February 20th。
'MY DEAR PHILIP；Thank you much for writing to me。 It was a great
comfort to see your writing again； and to hear of your being safe in
our own country。 We had been very anxious about you； though we did not
hear of your illness till the worst was over。 I am very glad you are
at St。 Mildred's； for I am sure Margaret must be very careful of you；
and Stylehurst air must be good for you。 Every one here is well；
Charles growing almost active； and looking better than I ever saw him。
I wish I could tell you how nice and quiet a winter it has been； it has
been a great blessing to me in every way； so many things have come to
me to enjoy。 Mr。 Ross has come to me every Sunday； and often in the
week； and has been so very kind。 I think talking to him will be a
great pleasure to you when you are here again。 You will like to hear
that Mr。 Shene has sent me the picture； and the pleasure it gives me
increases every day。 Indeed； I am so well off in every way； that you
must not grieve yourself about me； though I thank you very much for
what you say。 Laura reads to me all the evening from dinner to tea。 I
am much better than I was in the winter； and am enjoying the soft
spring air from the open window； making it seem as if it was much later
in the year。
'Good…bye； my dear cousin； may God bless and comfort you。 Remember；
that after all； it was God's will； not your doing； and therefore； as he
said himself； all is as it should be； and so it will surely be。
'Your affectionate cousin；
'AMABEL F。 MORVILLE。'
Childishly simple as this letter might be called； with its set of facts
without comment； and the very commonplace words of consolation； it
spoke volumes to Philip of the spirit in which it was written
resignation； pardon； soothing； and a desire that her farewell； perhaps
her last； should carry with it a token of her perfect forgiveness。
Everything from Amabel did him good； and he was so perceptibly better；
that his sister exclaimed； when she was next alone with Dr。 Henley； 'I
understand it all； poor fellow； I thought long ago； he had some secret
attachment； and now I see it was to Amabel Edmonstone。'
'To Lady Morville？'
'Yes。 You know how constantly he was at Hollywell； my aunt so fond of
him？ I don't suppose Amy knew of it； and； of course； she could not be
blamed for accepting such an offer as Sir Guy's； besides； she never had
much opinion of her own。'
'How？ No bad speculation for him。 She must have a handsome jointure；
but what are your grounds？'
'Everything。 Don't you remember he would not go to the marriage？ He
mentions her almost like a saint； can't hear her name from any one
elsekeeps her letter to open alone； is more revived by it than
anything else。 Ah！ depend upon it； it was to avoid her； poor fellow；
that he refused to go to Venice with them。'
'Their going to nurse him is not as if Sir Guy suspected it。'
'I don't suppose he did； nor Amy either。 No one ever had so much power
over himself。'
Philip would not have thanked his sister for her surmise； but it was so
far in his favour that it