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！
was so restless and dissatisfied； that any change was welcome； and the
fear of betraying herself almost took away the pleasure of his
presence。
He met them at the railway station at Broadstone； where Mr。 Edmonstone；
finding himself much too early； recollected something he had forgotten
in the town； and left his daughter to walk up and down the platform
under Philip's charge。 They felt it a precious interval； but both were
out of spirits； and could hardly profit by it。
'You will be gone long before we come back；' said Laura。
'In a fortnight or three weeks； probably。'
'But you will still be able to come to Hollywell now and then？'
'I hope so。 It is all the pleasure I can look for。 We shall never see
such a summer again。'
'Oh； it has been a memorable one！'
'Memorable！ Yes。 It has given me an assurance that compensates for
all I have lost； yet it has made me feel； more than ever before； how
poverty withers a man's hopes。'
'0 Philip； I always thought your poverty a great； noble thing！'
'You thought like a generous…tempered girl who has known nothing of its
effects。'
'And do you know that Guy says the thing to be proud of is of holding
the place you do； without the aid of rank or riches。'
'I would not have it otherwiseI would not for worlds that my father
had acted otherwise；' said Philip。 'You understand that； Laura。'
'Of course I do。'
'But when you speakwhen Guy speaks of my holding the place I do； you
little know what it is to feel that powers of usefulness are wastedto
know I have the means of working my way to honour and distinction； such
as you would rejoice in Laura； to have it all within； yet feel it
thrown away。 Locksley Hall； again〃every door is barred with gold；
and opens but to golden keys。'〃
'I wish there was anything to be done；' said Laura。
'It is my profession that is the bar to everything。 I have sold the
best years of my life； and for what？ To see my sister degrade herself
by that marriage。'
'That is the real grief；' said Laura。
'But for that； I should never have cast a look back on what I
relinquished。 However； why do I talk of these things； these vain
regrets？ They only occurred because my welfare does not concern myself
aloneand here's your father。'
Mr。 Edmonstone returned； out of breath； in too much bustle remark his
daughter's blushes。 Even when the train was moving off； he still had
his head out at the window； calling to Philip that they should expect a
visit from him as soon as ever they returned。 Such cordiality gave
Philip a pang； and in bitterness of spirit he walked back to the
barracks。 On the way he met Mrs。 Deane who wanted to consult him about
inviting his cousin； Sir Guy to a dinner…party she intended to give
next week。 'Such an agreeable； sensible youth； and we feel we owe him
some attention； he took so much pains to make apologies about the
ball。'
'I dare say he will be very happy to come。'
'We will write at once。 He is a very fine young man； without a shade
of vanity or nonsense。'
'Yes； he has very pleasant； unaffected manners。'
'I am sure he will do credit to his estate。 It is a very handsome
fortune； is it not？'
'It is a very large property。'
'I am glad of it； I have no doubt we shall see him one of the first men
of his time。'
These words brought into contrast in Philip's mind the difference
between Guy's position and his own。 The mere possession of wealth was
winning for Guy； at an age when his merits could only be negative； that
estimation which his own tried character had scarcely achieved； placing
him not merely on a level with himself； but in a situation where
happiness and influence came unbidden。 His own talents； attainments；
and equal； if not superior claims； to gentle blood； could not procure
him what seemed to lie at Guy's feet。 His own ability and Laura's
heart alone were what wealth could not affect； yet when he thought how
the want of it wasted the one； and injured the hopes of the other； he
recurred to certain visions of his sister Margaret's； in days gone by；
of what he was to do as Sir Philip； lord of Redclyffe。 He was
speculating on what would have happened had Guy died in his sickly
infancy； when； suddenly recollecting himself； he turned his mind to
other objects。
Guy was not much charmed with Mrs。 Deane's invitation。 He said he knew
he must go to make up for his rudeness about the ball； but he grumbled
enough to make Mrs。 Edmonstone laugh at him for being so stupid as to
want to stay hum…drum in the chimney corner。 No doubt it was very
pleasant there。 There was that peculiar snugness which belongs to a
remnant of a large party； when each member of it feels bound to prevent
the rest from being dull。 Guy devoted himself to Charles more than
ever； and in the fear that he might miss the late variety of amusement；
exerted even more of his powers of entertainment than Lady Eveleen had
called forth。
There were grave readings in the mornings； and long walks in the
afternoons； when he dragged Charles； in his chair； into many a place he
had never expected to see again； and enabled him to accompany his
mother and sisters in many a delightful expedition。 In the evening
there was music； or light reading； especially poetry； as this was
encouraged by Mrs。 Edmonstone； in the idea that it was better that so
excitable and enthusiastic a person as Guy should have his objects of
admiration tested by Charles's love of ridicule。
Mr。 Edmonstone had left to Guy the office of keeping the 1st of
September； one which he greatly relished。 Indeed； when he thought of
his own deserted manors； he was heard to exclaim； in commiseration for
the neglect； 'Poor partridges！' The Hollywell shooting was certainly
not like that at Redclyffe； where he could hardly walk out of his own
grounds； whereas here he had to bear in mind so many boundaries； that
Philip was expecting to have to help him out of some direful scrape。
He had generally walked over the whole extent； and assured himself that
the birds were very wild； and Bustle the best of dogs； before
breakfast； so as to be ready for all the occupations of the day。 He
could scarcely be grateful when the neighbours； thinking it must be
very dull for him to be left alone with Mrs。 Edmonstone and her
crippled son； used to ask him to shoot or dine。 He always lamented at
first； and ended by enjoying himself。
One night； he came home； in such a state of eagerness； that he must
needs tell his good news； and； finding no one in the drawing…room； he
ran up…stairs； opened Charles's door； and exclaimed'There's to be a
concert at Broadstone！' Then perceiving that Charles was fast asleep；
he retreated noiselessly； reserving his rejoicings till morning； when
it appeared that Charles had heard； but had woven the announcement in