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while Charles thought how strange to see her thus pass the threshold of
her husband's house； come thither to relieve and comfort his enemy。
She entered the dark…oak hall。 On one side the light shone cheerfully
from the sitting…room； the other doors were all shut。 Markham
hesitated； and stood reluctant。
'Yes； you had better tell him I am here；' said she； in the voice； so
gentle； that no one perceived its resolution。
Markham knocked at one of the high heavy doors； and softly opened it。
Amabel stood behind it； and looked into the room； more than half dark；
without a fire； and very large； gloomy； and cheerless； in the gray
autumn twilight； that just enabled her to see the white pillows on the
sofa； and Philip's figure stretched out on it。 Markham advanced and
stood doubtful for an instant； then in extremity； began'Hem！ Lady
Morville is come； and'
Without further delay she came forward； saying'How are you； Philip？'
He neither moved nor seemed surprised； he only said； 'So you are come
to heap more coals on my head。'
A thrill of terror came over her； but she did not show it； as she said；
'I am sorry to find you so poorly。'
It seemed as if before he had taken her presence for a dream； for；
entirely roused； he exclaimed； in a tone of great surprise； 'Is it you；
Amy？' Then sitting up； 'Why？ When did you come here？'
'Just now。 We were afraid you were ill； we heard a bad account of you；
so we have taken you by storm： Charles； your goddaughter； and I； are
come to pay you a visit。'
'Charles！ Charles here？' cried Philip； starting up。 'Where is he？'
'Coming in；' said Amy； and Philip； intent only on hospitality； hastened
into the hall； and met him at the door； gave him his arm and conducted
him where the inviting light guided them to the sitting…room。 The full
brightness of lamp and fire showed the ashy paleness of his face； his
hair； rumpled with lying on the sofa； had； on the temples； acquired a
noticeable tint of gray； his whole countenance bore traces of terrible
suffering； and Amabel thought that even at Recoara she had never seen
him look more wretchedly ill。
'How did you come？' he asked。 'It was very kind。 I hope you will be
comfortable。'
'We have taken good care of ourselves；' said Amy。 'I wrote to Mr。
Markham； for I thought you were not well enough to be worried with
preparations。 We ought to beg your pardon for breaking on you so
unceremoniously。'
'If any one should be at home here' said Philip； earnestly；then
interrupting himself； he shaded his eyes from the light； 'I don't know
how to make you welcome enough。 When did you set off？'
'Yesterday afternoon；' said Charles； 'we slept in London； and came on
to…day。'
'Have you dined？' said Philip； looking perplexed to know where the
dinner could come from。
'Yes； at K…； thank you。'
'What will you have？ I'll ring for Mrs。 Drew。'
'No； thank you； don't tease yourself。 Mrs。 Drew will take care of us。
Never mind； but how bad your head is！' said Amabel； as he sat down on
the sofa； leaning his elbow on his knee； and pressing his hand very
hard on his forehead。 'You must lie down and keep quiet； and never
mind us。 We only want a little tea。 I am just going to take off my
bonnet； and see what they have done with baby； and then I'll come down。
Pray lie still till then。 Mind he does； Charlie。'
They thought she was gone； but the next moment there she was with the
two pillows from the library sofa； putting them under Philip's head；
and making him comfortable； while he； overpowered by a fresh access of
headache； had neither will nor power to object。 She rang； asked for
Mrs。 Drew； and went。
Philip lay； with closed eyes； as if in severe pain： and Charles； afraid
to disturb him； sat feeling as if it was a dream。 That he； with Amy
and her child； should be in Guy's home； so differently from their old
plans； so very differently from the way she should have arrived。 He
looked round the room； and everywhere knew what Guy's taste had
prepared for his bridepiano； books； prints； similarities to
Hollywell； all with a fresh new bridal effect； inexpressibly
melancholy。 They brought a thought of the bright eye； sweet voice；
light step； and merry whistle； and as he said to himself 'gone for
ever；' he could have hated Philip； but for the sight of his haggard
features； gray hairs； and the deep lines which； at seven…and…twenty；
sorrow had traced on his brow。 At length Philip turned and looked up。
'Charles；' he said； 'I trust you have not let her run any risk。'
'No： we got Dr。 Mayerne's permission。'
'It is like all the rest；' said Philip； closing his eyes again。
Presently he asked： 'How did you know I was not well？'
'Markham said something in a business letter that alarmed Amy。 She
wrote to inquire； and on his second letter we thought we had better
come and see after you ourselves。'
No more was said till Amabel returned。 She had made some stay up…
stairs； talking to Mrs。 Drew； who was bewildered between surprise； joy；
and grief； looking to see that all was comfortable in Charles's room；
making arrangements for the child； and at last relieving herself by a
short space of calm； to feel where she was； realize that this was
Redclyffe； and whisper to her little girl that it was her father's own
home。 She knew it was the room he had destined for her； she tried；
dark as it was； to see the view of which he had told her； and looked
up； over the mantel…piece； at Muller's engraving of St。 John。 Perhaps
that was the hardest time of all her trial； and she felt as if； without
his child in her arms； she could never have held up under the sense of
desolation that came over her； left behind； while he was in his true
home。 Left； she told herself； to finish the task he had begun； and to
become fit to follow him。 Was she not in the midst of fulfilling his
last charge； that Philip should be taken； care of？ It was no time for
giving way； and here was his own little messenger of comfort looking up
with her sleepy eyes to tell her so。 Down she must go； and put off
'thinking herself into happiness' till the peaceful time of rest； and
presently she softly re…entered the sitting…room； bringing to both its
inmates in her very presence such solace as she little guessed； in her
straightforward desire to nurse Philip； and take care Charles was not
made uncomfortable。
That stately house had probably never； since its foundation； seen
anything so home…like as Amabel making tea and waiting on her two
companions； both she and Charles pleasing each other by enjoying the
meal； and Philip giving his cup to be filled again and again； and
wondering why one person's tea should taste so unlike another's。
He was not equal to conversation； and Charles and Amabel were both
tired； so that tea was scarcely over before they parted fo