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He was not equal to conversation； and Charles and Amabel were both
tired； so that tea was scarcely over before they parted for the night；
and Amy； frightened at the bright and slipperiness of the dark…oak
stairs； could not be at peace till she had seen Arnaud help Charles
safely up them； and made him promise not to come down without
assistance in the morning。
She was in the sitting…room soon after nine next morning； and found
breakfast on one table； and Charles writing a letter on the other。
'Well；' said he； as she kissed him； 'all right with you and little
miss？'
'Quite； thank you。 And are you rested？'
'Slept like a top； and what did you do？ Did you sleep like a sensible
woman？'
'Pretty well； and baby was very good。 Have you heard anything of
Philip？'
'Bolton thinks him rather better； and says he is getting up。'
'How long have you been up？'
'A long time。 I told Arnaud to catch Markham when he came up； as he
always does in a morning to see after Philip； and I have had a
conference with him and Bolton； so that I can lay the case before Dr。
Mayerne scientifically。'
'What do you think of it？'
'I think we came at the right time。 He has been getting more and more
into work in London； taking no exercise； and so was pretty well knocked
up when he came here； and this place finished it。 He tried to attend
to business about the property； but it always ended in his head growing
so bad； he had to leave all to Markham； who； by the way； has been
thoroughly propitiated by his anxiety for him。 Then he gave up
entirely； has not been out of doors； written a note； nor seen a
creature the last fortnight； but there he has lain by himself in the
library； given up to all manner of dismal thoughts without a break。'
'How dreadful！' said Annabel； with tears in her eyes。 'Then he would
not see Mr。 Ashford？ Surely； he could have done something for him。'
'I'll tell you what；' said Charles； lowering his voice；' from what
Bolton says； I think he had a dread of worse than brain fever。'
She shuddered； and was paler； but did not speak。
'I believe；' continued Charles； 'that it is one half nervous and the
oppression of this place； and the other half； the over…straining of a
head that was already in a ticklish condition。 I don't think there was
any real danger of more than such a fever as he had at Corfu； which
would probably have been the death of him； but I think he dreaded still
worse； and that his horror of seeing any one； or writing to Laura；
arose from not knowing how far he could control his words。'
'0！ I am glad we came；' repeated Amabel； pressing her hands together。
'He has been doctoring himself；' proceeded Charles； 'and probably has
kept off the fever by strong measures； but； of course； the more he
reduced his strength； the greater advantage he gave to what was simply
low spirits。 He must have had a terrible time of it； and where it
would have ended I cannot guess； but it seems to me that most likely；
now that he is once roused； he will come right again。'
Just as Charles had finished speaking； he came down； looking extremely
ill； weak； and suffering； but calmed； and resting on that entire
dependence on Amabel which had sprung up at Recoara。
She would not let him go back to his gloomy library； but made him lie
on the sofa in the sitting…room； and sat there herself； as she thought
a little quiet conversation between her and Charles would be the best
thing for him。 She wrote to Laura； and he sent a message； for he could
not yet attempt to write； and Charles wrote reports to his mother and
Dr。 Mayerne； a little talk now and then going on about family matters。
Amabel asked Philip if he knew that Mr。 Thorndale was at Kilcoran。
'Yes；' he said； 'he believed there was a letter from him； but his eyes
had ached too much of late to read。'
Mrs。 Ashford sent in to ask whether Lady Morville would like to see
her。 Amabel's face flushed； and she proposed going to her in the
library； but Philip； disliking Amy's absence more than the sight of a
visitor； begged she might come to the sitting…room。
The Ashfords had been surprised beyond measure at the tidings that Lady
Morville had actually come to Redclyffe； and had been very slow to
believe it； but when convinced by Markham's own testimony； Mrs。
Ashford's first idea had been to go and see if she could be any help to
the poor young thing in that great desolate house； whither Mrs。 Ashford
had not been since； just a year ago； Markham had conducted her to
admire his preparations。 There was much anxiety； too； about Mr。
Morville； of whose condition； Markham had been making a great mystery；
and on her return； Mr。 Ashford was very eager for her report。
Mr。 Morville； she said； did look and seem very far from well； but Lady
Morville had told her they hoped it was chiefly from over fatigue； and
that rest would soon restore him。 Lady Morville herself was a fragile
delicate creature； very sweet looking； but so gentle and shrinking；
apparently； that it gave the impression of her having no character at
all； not what Mrs。 Ashford would have expected Sir Guy to choose。 She
had spoken very little； and the chief of the conversation had been
sustained by her brother。
'I was very much taken with that young Mr。 Edmonstone；' said Mrs。
Ashford； 'he is about three…and…twenty； sadly crippled； but with such a
pleasing； animated face； and so extremely agreeable and sensible； I do
not wonder at Sir Guy's enthusiastic way of talking of him。 I could
almost fancy it was admiration of the brother transferred to the
sister。'
'Then after all you are disappointed in her； and don't lament； like
Markham； that she is not mistress here？'
'No： I won't say I am disappointed； she is a very sweet creature。 0
yes； very！ but far too soft and helpless for such a charge as this
property； unless she had her father or brother to help her。 But I must
tell you that she took me to see her baby； a nice little lively thing；
poor little dear！ and when we were alone； she spoke rather more； begged
me to send her godson to see her； thanked me for coming； but crying
stopped her from saying more。 I could grow very fond of her。 No； I
don't wonder at him； for there is a great charm in anything so soft and
dependent。
Decidedly； Mary Ross had been right when she said； that except Sir Guy；
there was no one so difficult to know as Amy。
In the afternoon； Charles insisted on Amabel's going out for fresh air
and exercise； and she liked the idea of a solitary wandering； but
Philip； to her surprise； offered to come with her； and she was too glad
to see him exert himself； to regret the musings she had hoped for； so
out they went； after opening the window to give Charles what he called
an airing； and he said； that in addition he should 'hirple about a
little to exp