按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
When the mother and daughter were gone； the cousins were silent； Philip
resting his elbow on the mantel…shelf and his head on his hand； and
Charles sitting at the end of the sofa； warming first one hand； then
the other； while he looked up to the altered face； and perceived in it
grief and humiliation almost as plainly as illness。 His keen eyes read
that the sorrow was indeed more deeply rooted than he had hitherto
believed； and that Amabel's pity had not been wasted； and he was also
struck by the change from the great personal strength that used to make
nothing of lifting his whole weight。
'I am sorry to see you so pulled down；' said he。 'We must try if we
can doctor you better than they did at St。 Mildred's。 Are you getting
on； do you think？'
He had hardly ever spoken to Philip； so entirely without either
bitterness or sarcasm； and his manner hardly seemed like that of the
same person。
'Thank you； I am growing stronger； but as long as I cannot get rid of
this headache； I am good for nothing。'
'You have had a long spell of illness indeed；' said Charles。 'You
can't expect to shake off two fevers in no time。 Now all the anxiety
is over； you will brighten like this house。'
'But tell me； what is thought of Amabel？ Is she as well as she ought
to be？'
'Yes； quite； they sayhas recovered her strength very fast； and is in
just the right spirits。 She was churched yesterday； and was not the
worse for it。 It was a trial； for she had not been to East…hill since…
…since last May。'
'It is a blessing； indeed；' said Philip； earnestly。
'She has been so very happy with the baby；' said Charles。 'You hear
what its name is to be？'
'Yes； she told me in her letter。'
'To avoid having to tell you here； I suppose。 Mary is for common wear；
Verena is for ourselves。 She asked if it would be too foolish to give
such a name； and mamma said the only question was； whether she would
like indifferent people to ask the reason of it。'
Philip lapsed into thought； and presently said； abruptly； 'When last
we parted you told me I was malignant。 You were right。'
'Shake hands！' was all Charles's reply； and no more was said till
Charles rose； saying it was time to dress。 Philip was about to help
him； but he answered； 'No； thank you； I am above trusting to anything
but my own crutches now； I am proud to show you what feats I can
perform。'
Charles certainly did get on with less difficulty than heretofore； but
it was more because he wanted to spare Philip fatigue than because he
disdained assistance； that he chose to go alone。 Moreover； he did what
he had never done for any one beforehe actually hopped the whole
length of the passage； beyond his own door to do the honours of
Philip's room； and took a degree of pains for his comfort that seemed
too marvellous to be true in one who had hitherto only lived to be
attended on。
By the time he had settled Philip； the rest of the party had come home；
and he found himself wanted in the dressing…room； to help his mother to
encourage his father to enter on the conversation with Philip in the
evening； for poor Mr。 Edmonstone was in such a worry and perplexity；
that the whole space till the dinner…bell rang was insufficient to
console him in。 Laura； meanwhile； was with Amabel； who was trying to
cheer her fluttering spirits and nerves； which； after having been so
long harassed； gave way entirely at the moment of meeting Philip again。
How would he regard her after her weakness in betraying him for want of
self…command？ Might he not be wishing to be free of one who had so
disappointed him； and only persisting in the engagement from a sense of
honour！ The confidence in his affection； which had hitherto sustained
her； was failing； and not all Amabel could say would reassure her。 No
one could judge of him but herself； his words were so cautious； and he
had so much command over himself； that nobody could guess。 Of course
he felt bound to her； but if she saw one trace of his being only
influenced by honour and pity； she would release him； and he should
never see the struggle。
She had worked herself up into almost a certainty that so it would be；
and Amabel was afraid she would not be fit to go down to dinner； but
the sound of the bell； and the necessity of moving； seemed to restore
the habit of external composure in a moment。 She settled her
countenance； and left the room。
Charlotte； meantime； had been dressing alone； and raging against
Philip； declaring she could never bear to speak to him； and that if she
was Amy she would never have chosen him for a godfather。 And to think
of his marrying just like a good hero in a book； and living very happy
ever after！ To be sure she was sorry for poor Laura； but it was all
very wrong； and now they would be rewarded！ How could Charlie be so
provoking as to talk about his sorrow！ She hoped he was sorry； and as
to his illness； it served him right。
All this Charlotte communicated to Bustle； but Bustle had heard some
mysterious noise； and insisted on going to investigate the cause； and
Charlotte； finding her own domain dark and cold； and private
conferences going on in Amabel's apartment and the dressing…room； was
fain to follow him down…stairs； as soon as her toilet was complete；
only hoping Philip would keep out of the way。
But； behold； there he was； and even Bustle was propitiated； for she
found him； his nose on Philip's knee； looking up in his face； and
wagging his tail； while Philip stroked and patted him； and could hardly
bear the appealing expression of the eyes； that； always wistful； now
seemed to every one to be looking for his master。
To see this attention to Bustle won Charlotte over in a moment。 'How
are you； Philip？ Good dog； dear old Bustle！' came in a breath； and
they were both making much of the dog； when she amicably asked if he
had seen the baby； and became eager in telling about the christening。
The dinner…bell brought every one down but Amabel。 The trembling hands
of Philip and Laura met for a moment； and they were in the dining…room。
Diligently and dutifully did Charles and Mrs。 Edmonstone keep up the
conversation； the latter about her shopping； the former about the
acquaintances who had come to speak to him as he sat in the carriage。
As soon as possible； Mrs。 Edmonstone left the dining…room； then Laura
flew up again to the dressing…room； sank down on a footstool by
Amabel's side； and exclaiming； '0 Amy； he is looking so ill！' burst
into a flood of tears。
The change had been a shock for which Laura had not been prepared。
Amy； who had seen him look so much worse； had not thought of it； and it
overcame Laura more than all her anxieties； lest his love should be
forfeited。 She sobbed inconsolably over the alteration； and it was
long before Amabel could get her to hear that