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！
dwindling as her brothers and sisters had done before her。 Sebastian；
who liked to escape from his wife's grumbling and rigid supervision；
and looked forward to amusement in his own way at the races； had
grudgingly allowed her to come； and； as she described it； had been
reluctant to go to even so slight an expense in the hope of saving his
child's life。 She had watched him as closely as she could； but he had
made his escape； and the consequences Guy already knew。
If anything could have made it worse； it was finding that after parting
last night； he had returned； tried to retrieve his luck； had involved
himself further； had been drinking more； and at the very hour when his
nephew was getting up to see what could be done for him； had come home
in a state； which made it by no means likely that he would be
presentable； if his wife called him； as she offered to do。
Guy much preferred arranging with her what was to be done on the
present emergency。 She was disappointed at finding thirty pounds was
all the help he could give； but she was an energetic woman； full of
resources； and saw her way； with this assistance； through the present
difficulty。 The great point was to keep the gambling propensities out
of sight of the creditors； and as long as this was done； she had hope。
Dixon would go the next morning to the town where the musical meeting
was to be held； and there he would be with his employers； where he had
a character to preserve； so that she was in no fear of another
outbreak。
It ended； therefore； in his leaving with her Mr。 Edmonstone's draft；
securing its destination by endorsing it to the person who was to
receive it； and wishing her good morning； after a few more kind words
to little Marianne； who had sat playing with Bustle all the time；
sidling continually nearer and nearer to her new cousin； her eyes bent
down； and no expression on her face which could enable him to guess how
far she listened to or comprehended the conversation so unfit for her
ear。 When he rose to go； and stooped to kiss her； she looked wistfully
in his face； and held up a small sparkling bit of spar； the most
precious of all her hoards； gleaned from the roadsides of St。
Mildred's。
'What； child； do you want to give it to Sir Guy？' said her mother。 'He
does not want such trumpery； my dear； though you make such a work with
it。'
'Did you mean to give it to me； my dear？' said Guy； as the child hung
her head； and； crimsoned with blushes； could scarcely whisper her timid
'Yes。'
He praised it； and let her put it in his waistcoat pocket； and promised
he would always keep it； and kissed her again； and left her a happy
child； confident in his promise of always keeping it； though her mother
augured that he would throw it over the next hedge。
He was at South Moor by eleven o'clock； in time for his morning's
business； and made up for the troubles of the last few hours by a long
talk with Mr。 Wellwood in the afternoon； while the other two pupils
were gone to the races； for which he was not inclined； after his two
ten…mile walks。
The conversation was chiefly on Church prospects in general； and in
particular on Miss Wellwood and her plans； how they had by degrees
enlarged and developed as the sin； and misery； and ignorance around had
forced themselves more plainly on her notice； and her means had
increased and grown under her hand in the very distribution。 Other
schemes were dawning on her mind； of which the foremost was the
foundation of a sort of school and hospital united； under the charge of
herself； her sister； and several other ladies； who were desirous of
joining her； as a sisterhood。 But at present it was hoping against
hope； for there were no funds with which to make a commencement。 All
this was told at unawares； drawn forth by different questions and
remarks； till Guy inquired how much it would take to give them a
start？'
'It is impossible to say。 Anything； I suppose； between one thousand
and twenty。 But； by the bye； this design of Elizabeth's is an absolute
secret。 If you had not almost guessed it； I should never have said one
word to you about it。 You are a particularly dangerous man； with your
connection with Mrs。 Henley。 You must take special good care nothing
of it reaches her。'
Guy's first impression was； that he was the last person to mention it
to Mrs。 Henley； but when he remembered how often her brother was at
Hollywell； he perceived that there might be a train for carrying the
report back again to her； and recognized the absolute necessity of
silence。
He said nothing at the time； but a bright scheme came into his head；
resulting in the request for a thousand pounds； which caused so much
astonishment。 He thought himself rather shabby to have named no more；
and was afraid it was an offering that cost him nothing； but he much
enjoyed devising beforehand the letter with which he would place the
money at the disposal of Miss Wellwood's hospital。
CHAPTER 16
Yet burns the sun on high beyond the cloud；
Each in his southern cave；
The warm winds linger； but to be allowed
One breathing o'er the wave；
One flight across the unquiet sky；
Swift as a vane may turn on high；
The smile of heaven comes on。
So waits the Lord behind the veil；
His light on frenzied cheek； or pale；
To shed when the dark hour is gone。LYRA INNOCENTIUM
On the afternoon on which Guy expected an answer from Mr。 Edmonstone；
he walked with his fellow pupil； Harry Graham； to see if there were any
letters from him at Dr。 Henley's。
The servant said Mrs。 Henley was at home； and asked them to come in and
take their letters。 These were lying on a marble table； in the hall；
and while the man looked in the drawing…room for his mistress； and sent
one of the maids up…stairs in quest of her； Guy hastily took up one；
bearing his address； in the well…known hand of Mr。 Edmonstone。
Young Graham； who had taken up a newspaper； was startled by Guy's loud；
sudden exclamation；'
'Ha！ What on earth does this mean？'
And looking up； saw his face of a burning； glowing red； the features
almost convulsed； the large veins in the forehead and temples swollen
with the blood that rushed through them； and if ever his eyes flashed
with the dark lightning of Sir Hugh's； it was then。
'Morville！ What's the matter？'
'Intolerable！insulting！ Me？ What does he mean？' continued Guy； his
passion kindling more and more。 'Proofs？ I should like to see them！
The man is crazy！ I to confess！ Ha！' as he came towards the end； 'I
see it；I see it。 It is Philip； is it； that I have to thank。
Meddling coxcomb！ I'll make him repent it；' added he； with a grim
fierceness of determination。 Slandering me to them！ And that；'
looking at the words with regard to Amy；'that passes all。 He shall
see what it is to ins