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at once given to him。
'A baddish state of things； eh； doctor！' said Charles。 'Well； what do
you think this lady proposes？ To set off forthwith； both of us； to
take charge of him。 What do you think of that； Dr。 Mayerne？'
'I should say it was the only chance for him；' said the doctor； looking
only at the latter。 'Spirits and health reacting on each other； I see
it plain enough。 Over…worked in parliament； doing nothing in
moderation； going down to that gloomy old place； dreaming away by
himself； going just the right way to work himself into another attack
on the brain； and then he is done for。 I don't know that you could do
a wiser thing than go to him； for he is no more fit to tell what is
good for him than a child。' So spoke the doctor； thinking only of the
patient till looking up at the pair he was dismissing to such a charge；
the helpless； crippled Charles； unable to cross the room without
crutches； and Amabel； her delicate face and fragile figure in her
widow's mourning； looking like a thing to be pitied and nursed with the
tenderest care； with that young child； too； he broke off and said'But
you don't mean you are in earnest？'
'Never more so in our lives；' said Charles； on which Dr。 Mayerne looked
so wonderingly and inquiringly at Amabel； that she answered；
'Yes that we are； if you think it safe for Charles and baby。'
'Is there no one else to go？ What's become of his sister？'
'That would never do；' said Charles； 'that is not the question；' and he
detailed their plan。
'Well； I don't see why it should not succeed；' said the doctor； 'or how
you can any of you damage yourselves。'
'And baby？' said Amy。
'What should happen to her； do you think？' said the doctor with his
kind； reassuring roughness。 'Unless you leave her behind in the
carriage； I don't see what harm she could come to； and even then； if
you direct her properly； she will come safe to hand。'
Amabel smiled； and saying she would fetch her to be inspected； ran up…
stairs with the light nimble step of former days。
'There goes one of the smallest editions of the wonders of the world！'
said Charles； covering a sigh with a smile。 'You don't think it will
do her any harm？'
'Not if she wishes it。 I have long thought a change； a break； would be
the best thing for herpoor child！I should have sent her to the sea…
side if you had been more movable； and if I had not seen every fuss
about her made it worse。'
'That's what I call being a reasonable and valuable doctor；' said
Charles。 'If you had routed the poor little thing out to the sea； she
would have only pined the more。 But suppose the captain turns out too
bad for her management； for old Markham seems in a proper taking？'
'Hem！ No； I don't expect it is come to that。'
'Be that as it may； I have a head； if nothing else； and some one is
wanted。 I'll write to you according as we find Philip。'
The doctor was wanted for another private interview； in which to assure
Amabel that there was no danger for Charles； and then； after promising
to come to Redclyffe if there was occasion； and engaging to write and
tell Mrs。 Edmonstone they had his consent； he departed to meet them by
and by at the station； and put Charles into the carriage。
A very busy morning followed； Amabel arranged household affairs as
befitted the vice…queen； took care that Charles's comforts were
provided for； wrote many a note； herself took down Guy's picture； and
laid it in her box； before Anne commenced her packing； and lastly；
walked down to the village to take leave of Alice Lamsden。
Just as the last hues of sunset were fading； on the following evening；
Lady Morville and Charles Edmonstone were passing from the moor into
the wooded valley of Redclyffe。 Since leaving Moorworth not a word had
passed。 Charles sat earnestly watching his sister； though there was
too much crape in the way for him to see her face； and she was
perfectly still； so that all he could judge by was the close； rigid
clasping together of the hands； resting on the sleeping infant's white
mantle。 Each spot recalled to him some description of Guy's； the
church…tower； the school with the two large new windows； the park wall；
the rising ground within。 What was she feeling？ He did not dare to
address her； till； at the lodge…gate； he exclaimed'There's Markham；'
and； at the same time； was conscious of a feeling between hope and
fear； that this might after all be a fool's errand； and a wonder how
they and the master of the house would meet if it turned out that they
had taken fright without cause。
At his exclamation； Amy leant forward； and beckoned。 Markham came up
to the window； and after the greeting on each side； walked along with
his hand on the door； as the carriage slowly mounted the steep hill；
answering her questions： 'How is he？'
'No better。 He has been putting on leeches； and made himself so giddy；
that yesterday he could hardly stand。'
'And they have not relieved him？'
'Not in the least。 I am glad you are come； for it has been an absurd
way of going on。'
'Is he up？'
'Yes； on the sofa in the library。'
'Did you give him my note？ Does he expect us？'
'No； I went to see about telling him this morning； but found him so low
and silent； I thought it was better not。 He has not opened a letter
this week； and he might have refused to see you； as he did Lord
Thorndale。 Besides； I didn't know how he would take my writing about
him； though if you had not written； I believe I should have let Mrs。
Henley know by this time。'
'There is an escape for him；' murmured Charles to his sister。
'We have done the best in our power to receive you' proceeded Markham；
'I hope you will find it comfortable； Lady Morville； but'
'Thank you； I am not afraid；' said Amy； smiling a little。 Markham's
eye was on the little white bundle in her lap； but he did not speak of
it； and went on with explanations about Mrs。 Drew and Bolton and the
sitting…room； and tea being ready。
Charles saw the great red pile of building rise dark； gloomy； and
haunted…looking before them。 The house that should have been Amabel's！
Guy's own beloved home！ How could she bear it？ But she was eagerly
asking Markham how Philip should be informed of their arrival； and
Markham was looking perplexed； and saying； that to drive under the
gateway； into the paved court； would make a thundering sound； that he
dreaded for Mr。 Morville。 Could Mr。 Charles Edmonstone cross the court
on foot？ Charles was ready to do so； the carriage stopped； Amabel gave
the baby to Anne； saw Arnaud help Charles out； and turning to Markham；
said； 'I had better go to him at once。 Arnaud will show my brother the
way。'
'The sitting…room； Arnaud' said Markham； and walked on fast with her；
while Charles thought how strange to see her thus pass the thr