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becoming open to receive comfort； the blank dark remorse in which he
had been living began to lighten； and the tone of his mind to return。
He spoke more cheerfully to Susan when he restored the key； but she had
been so shocked at his appearance； that when； the next day； a report
reached her that Mr。 Philip was now a grand gentleman； and very rich；
she answered；
'Well； if it be so； I am glad of it； but he said never a word of it to
me； and it is my belief he would give all the money as ever was coined；
to have the poor young gentleman back again。 Depend upon it； he hates
the very sound of it。'
At the cost of several sheets of paper； Philip at length completed a
letter to Mr。 Edmonstone； which； when he had sent it； made his suspense
more painful。
'St。 Mildred's； March 12th。
'MY DEAR MR。 Edmonstone；It is with a full sense of the unfitness of
intruding such a subject upon you in the present state of the family；
that I again address you on the same topic as that on which I wrote to
you from Italy； at the first moment at which I have felt it possible to
ask your attention。 I was then too ill to be able to express my
contrition for all that has passed； in fact； I doubt whether it was
even then so deep as at present； since every succeeding week has but
added to my sense of the impropriety of my conduct； and my earnest
desire for pardon。 I can hardly venture at such a time to ask anything
further； but I must add that my sentiments towards your daughter are
unaltered； and can never cease but with my life； and though I know I
have rendered myself unworthy of her； and my health； both mental and
bodily； is far from being re…established； I cannot help laying my
feelings before you； and entreating that you will put an end to the
suspense which has endured for so many months； by telling me to hope
that I have not for ever forfeited your consent to my attachment。 At
least； I trust to your kindness for telling me on what terms I am for
the present to stand with your family。 I am glad to hear such
favourable reports of Lady Morville； and with all my heart I thank
Charles for his letter。
'Yours ever affectionately；
'P。 H。 MORVILLE。'
He ardently watched for a reply。 He could not endure the idea of
receiving it where Margaret's eyes could scan the emotion he could now
only conceal by a visible rigidity of demeanour； and he daily went
himself to the post…office； but in vain。 He received nothing but
business letters； and among them one from Markham； with as much
defiance and dislike in its style as could be shown； in a perfectly
formal； proper letter。 Till he had referred to Lady Morville； he would
not make any demonstration towards Redclyffe； and evaded all his
sister's questions as to what he was doing about it； and when he should
take measures for leaving the army； or obtaining a renewal of the
baronetcy。
Anxiety made him look daily more wretchedly haggard； the Doctor was at
fault； Mrs。 Henley looked sagacious； while his manner became so dry and
repellent that visitors went away moralizing on the absurdity of
〃nouveaux riches〃 taking so much state on them。
He wondered how soon he might venture to write to Amabel； on whom alone
he could depend； but he felt it a sort of profanity to disturb her。
He had nearly given up his visits to the post in despair； when one
morning he beheld what never failed to bring some soothing influence；
namely； the fair pointed characters he had not dared to hope for。 He
walked quickly into the promenade； sat down； and read：
'Hollywell； March 22nd。
'MY DEAR PHILIP；Papa does not answer your letter； because he says
speaking is better than writing； and we hope you are well enough to
come to us before Sunday week。 I hope to take our dear little girl to
be christened on that day； and I want you to be so kind as to be her
godfather。 I ask it of you； not only in my own name； but in her
father's； for I am sure it is what he would choose。 Her Aunt Laura and
Mary Ross are to be her godmothers； I hope you will not think me very
foolish and fanciful for naming her Mary Verena； in remembrance of our
old readings of Sintram。 She is a very healthy； quiet creature； and I
am getting on very well。 I am writing from the dressing…room； and I
expect to be down…stairs in a few days。 If you do not dislike it very
much； could you be so kind as to call upon Miss Wellwood； and pay
little Marianne Dixon's quarter for me？ It is ￡10； and it will save
trouble if you would do it； besides that； I should like to hear of her
and the little girl。 I am sorry to hear you are not better；perhaps
coming here may do you good。Four o'clock。 I have been keeping my
letter in hopes of persuading papa to put in a note； but he says he had
rather send a message that he is quite ready to forgive and forget； and
it will be best to talk it over when you come。〃
'Your affectionate cousin；
'A。 F。 MORVILLE。'
It was well he was not under his sister's eye； for he could not read
this letter calmly； and he was obliged to take several turns along the
walk before he could recover his composure enough to appear in the
breakfast…room； where he found his sister alone； dealing her letters
into separate packets of important and unimportant。
'Good morning； Philip。 Dr。 Henley is obliged to go to Bramshaw this
morning； and has had an early breakfast。 Have you been out？'
'Yes； it is very fineI mean it will bethe haze is clearing。'
Margaret saw that he was unusually agitated； and not by grief； applied
herself to tea…making； and hoped his walk had given him an appetite；
but there seemed little chance of this so long were his pauses between
each morsel； and so often did he lean back in his chair。
'I am going to leave you onon Friday；' he said at length； abruptly。
'Oh； are you going to Redclyffe？'
'No； to Hollywell。 Lady Morville wishes me to be her little girl's
sponsor； I shall go to London on Friday； and on； the next day。'
'I am glad they have asked you。 Does she write herself？ Is she pretty
well？
'Yes； she is to go down…stairs in a day or two。'
'I am rejoiced that she is recovering so well。 Do you know whether she
is in tolerable spirits？'
'She writes cheerfully。'
'How many years is it since I saw her？ She was quite a child； but very
sweet…tempered and attentive to poor Charles；' said Mrs。 Henley；
feeling most amiably disposed towards her future sister…in…law。
'Just so。 Her gentleness and sweet temper were always beautiful； and
she has shown herself under her trials what it would be presumptuous to
praise。'
Margaret had no doubt now； and thought he was ready for more open
sympathy。
'You must let me congratulate you now on this unexpected dawn of hope；
after your long trial； my dear