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！
silence he said； 'Will you read that again？' and when he had heard it；
he sat shading his brow with his hand； as if to bring the fair； girlish
picture fully before his mind； while Mrs。 Edmonstone sought in vain
among her letters for one which did not speak of the fiery passions
ignited on either side； in terms too strong to be fit for his ears。
When next he spoke it was to repeat that he had not been informed of
the history of his parents till within the last few months。 He had； of
course； known the manner of their death； but had only lately become
aware of the circumstances attending it。
The truth was that Guy had grown up peculiarly shielded from evil； but
ignorant of the cause of the almost morbid solicitude with which he was
regarded by his grandfather。 He was a very happy； joyous boy； leading
an active； enterprising life； though so lonely as to occasion greater
dreaminess and thoughtfulness than usual at such an early age。 He was
devotedly attached to his grandfather； looking on him as the first and
best of human beings； and silencing the belief that Sir Hugh Morville
had entailed a doom of crime and sorrow on the family； by a reference
to him； as one who had been always good and prosperous。
When； however； Guy had reached an age at which he must encounter the
influences which had proved so baneful to others of his family； his
grandfather thought it time to give him the warning of his own history。
The sins； which the repentance of years had made more odious in the
eyes of the old man； were narrated； the idleness and insubordination at
first； then the reckless pursuit of pleasure； the craving for
excitement； the defiance of rule and authority； till folly had become
vice； and vice had led to crime。
He had fought no fewer than three duels； and only one had been
bloodless。 His misery after the first had well…nigh led to a reform；
but time had dulled its acutenessit had been lost in fresh scenes of
excitementand at the next offence rage had swept away such
recollections。 Indeed； so far had he lost the natural generosity of
his character； that his remorse had been comparatively slight for the
last； which was the worst of all； since he had forced the quarrel on
his victim； Captain Wellwood； whose death had left a wife and children
almost destitute。 His first awakening to a sense of what his course
had been； was when he beheld his only child； in the prime of youth；
carried lifeless across his threshold； and attributed his death to his
own intemperance and violence。 That hour made Sir Guy Morville an old
and a broken…hearted man； and he repented as vigorously as he had
sinned。
From the moment he dared to hope that his son's orphan would be spared；
he had been devoted to him； but still mournfully； envying and pitying
his innocence as something that could not last。
He saw bright blossoms put forth； as the boy grew older； but they were
not yet fruits； and he did not dare to believe they ever would be。 The
strength of will which had； in his own case； been the slave of his
passions； had been turned inward to subdue the passions themselves； but
this was only the beginningthe trial was not yet come。 He could hope
his grandson might repent； but this was the best that he dared to think
possible。 He could not believe that a Morville could pass unscathed
through the world； or that his sins would not be visited on the head of
his only descendant； and the tone of his narration was throughout such
as might almost have made the foreboding cause its own accomplishment。
The effect was beyond what he had expected； for a soul deeply dyed in
guilt； even though loathing its own stains； had not the power of
conceiving how foul was the aspect of vice； to one hitherto guarded
from its contemplation； and living in a world of pure； lofty day…
dreams。 The boy sat the whole time without a word； his face bent down
and hidden by his clasped hands； only now and then unable to repress a
start or shudder at some fresh disclosure； and when it was ended； he
stood up； gazed round； and walked uncertainly； as if he did not know
where he was。 His next impulse was to throw himself on his knee beside
his grandfather； and caress him as he used to when a child。 The 'good…
night' was spoken； and Guy was shut into his room； with his
overwhelming emotions。
His grandfather a blood…stained； remorseful man！ The doom was
complete； himself heir to the curse of Sir Hugh； and fated to run the
same career； and as he knew full well； with the tendency to the family
character strong within him； the germs of these hateful passions ready
to take root downwards and bear fruit upwards； with the very
countenance of Sir Hugh； and the same darkening； kindling eyes； of
which traditions had preserved the remembrance。
He was crushed for awhile。 The consciousness of strength not his own；
of the still small voice that could subdue the fire； the earthquake；
and the whirlwind； was slow in coming to him； and when it came； he；
like his grandfather； had hope rather of final repentance than of
keeping himself unstained。
His mind had not recovered the shock when his grandfather died；died
in faith and fear； with good hope of accepted repentance； but unable to
convey the assurance of such hope to his grandson。 Grief for the only
parent he had ever known； and the sensation of being completely alone
in the world； were joined to a vague impression of horror at the
suddenness of the stroke； and it was long before the influence of
Hollywell； or the elasticity of his own youthfulness； could rouse him
from his depression。
Even then it was almost against his will that he returned to enjoyment；
unable to avoid being amused； but feeling as if joy was not meant for
him； and as if those around were walking 'in a world of light；' where
he could scarcely hope to tread a few uncertain steps。 In this
despondency was Guy's chief danger； as it was likely to make him deem a
struggle with temptation fruitless； while his high spirits and powers
of keen enjoyment increased the peril of recklessness in the reaction。
It was Mrs。 Edmonstone who first spoke with him cheerfully of a
successful conflict with evil； and made him perceive that his
temptations were but such as is common to man。 She had given him a
clue to discover when and how to trust himself to enjoy； the story of
Sintram had stirred him deeply； and this very day； Amy's words；
seemingly unheeded and unheard； had brought home to him the hope and
encouragement of that marvellous tale。
They had helped him in standing； looking steadfastly upwards； and
treading down not merely evil； but the first token of coming evil；
regardless of the bruises he might inflict on himself。 Well for him if
he was constant。
Such was Guy's inner life； his outward life； frank and joyous； has been
shown； and the two flowed on like