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！
he said much more than was right or judicious； so that his advocacy
only injured the cause。 He had many representations to make on the
injustice of condemning Guy unheard； of not even laying before him the
proofs on which the charges were founded； and on the danger of actually
driving him into mischief； by shutting the doors of Hollywell against
him。 'If you wanted to make him all you say he is； you are taking the
very best means。'
Quite true； but Charles had made his father too angry to pay attention。
This stormy discussion continued for nearly two hours； with no effect
save inflaming the minds of all parties。 At last Mr。 Edmonstone was
called away； and Charles； rising； declared he should go at that moment；
and write to tell Guy that there was one person at least still in his
senses。
'You will do as you please；' said Philip。
'Thank you for the permission；' said Charles； proudly。
'It is not to me that your submission is due；' said Philip。
'I'll tell you what； Philip； I submit to my own father readily； but I
do not submit to Captain Morville's instrument。'
'We have had enough of unbecoming retorts for one day；' said Philip；
quietly； and offering his arm。
Much as Charles disliked it； he was in too great haste not to accept
it； and perceiving that there were visitors in the drawing…room； he
desired to go up…stairs。
'People who always come when they are not wanted！' he muttered； as he
went up； pettish with them as with everything else。
'I do not think you in a fit mood to be advised； Charles；' said Philip；
'but to free my own conscience； let me say this。 Take care how you
promote this unfortunate attachment。'
'Take care what you say！' exclaimed Charles； flushing with anger； as he
threw himself forward； with an impatient movement； trusting to his
crutch rather than retain his cousin's arm； but the crutch slipped； he
missed his grasp at the balusters； and would have fallen to the bottom
of the flight if Philip had not been close behind。 Stretching out his
foot； he made a barrier； receiving Charles's weight against his breast；
and then； taking him in his arms； carried him up the rest of the way as
easily as if he had been a child。 The noise brought Amy out of the
dressing…room； much frightened； though she did not speak till Charles
was deposited on the sofa； and assured them he was not in the least
hurt； but he would hardly thank his cousin for having so dexterously
saved him； and Philip； relieved from the fear of his being injured；
viewed the adventure as a mere ebullition of ill…temper； and went away。
'A fine helpless log am I；' exclaimed Charles； as he found himself
alone with Amy。 'A pretty thing for me to talk of being of any use；
when I can't so much as show my anger at an impertinence about my own
sister； without being beholden for not breaking my neck to the very
piece of presumption that uttered it。'
'Oh； don't speak so' began Amy； and at that moment Philip was close to
them； set down the crutch that had been dropped； and went without
speaking。
'I don't care who hears；' said Charles； 'I say there is no greater
misery in this world than to have the spirit of a man and the limbs of
a cripple。 I know if I was good for anything； things would not long be
in this state。 I should be at St。 Mildred's by this time； at the
bottom of the whole story； and Philip would be taught to eat his words
in no time； and make as few wry faces as suited his dignity。 But what
is the use of talking？ This sofa'and be struck his fist against it
'is my prison； and I am a miserable cripple； and it is mere madness in
me to think of being attended to。'
'O Charlie！' cried Amy； caressingly； and much distressed； 'don't talk
so。 Indeed； I can't bear it！ You know it is not so。'
'Do I？ Have not I been talking myself hoarse； showing up their
injustice； saying all a man could say to bring them to reason； and not
an inch could I move them。 I do believe Philip has driven my father
stark mad with these abominable stories of his sister's； which I verily
believe she invented herself。'
'0 no； she could not。 Don't say so。'
'What！ Are you going to believe them； too？'
'Never！'
'It is that which drives me beyond all patience；' proceeded Charles；
'to see Philip lay hold of my father； and twist him about as he
chooses； and set every one down with his authority。'
'Philip soon goes abroad；' said Amy； who could not at the moment say
anything more charitable。
'Ay！ there is the hope。 My father will return to his natural state
provided they don't drive Guy； in the meantime； to do something
desperate。'
'No； they won't；' whispered Amy。
'Well； give me the blotting…book。 I'll write to him this moment； and
tell him we are not all the tools of Philip's malice。'
Amy gave the materials to her brother； and then turning away； busied
herself in silence as best she might； in the employment her mother had
recommended her； of sorting some garden…seeds for the cottagers。 After
an interval； Charles said；
'Well； Amy； what shall I say to him for you？'
There was a little silence； and presently Amy whispered； 'I don't think
I ought。'
'What？' asked Charles； not catching her very low tones； as she sat
behind him； with her head bent down。
'I don't think it would be right；' she repeated； more steadily。
'Not right for you to say you don't think him a villain？'
'Papa said I was to have no'and there her voice was stopped with
tears。
'This is absurd； Amy；' said Charles； 'when it all was approved at
first； and now my father is acting on a wrong impression； what harm can
there be in it？ Every one would do so。'
'I am sure he would not think it right；' faltered Amy。
'He？ You'll never have any more to say to him； if you don't take care
what you are about。'
'I can't help it；' said Amy； in a broken voice。 'It is not right。'
'Nonsense！ folly！' said Charles。 'You are as bad as the rest。 When
they are persecuting； and slandering； and acting in the most outrageous
way against him； and you know one word of yours would carry him through
all； you won't say it； to save him from distraction； and from doing all
my father fancies he has done。 Then I believe you don't care a rush
for him； and never want to see him again； and believe the whole
monstrous farrago。 I vow I'll say so。'
'0 Charles； you are very cruel！' said Amy； with an irrepressible burst
of weeping。
'Then； if you don't believe it； why can't you send one word to comfort
him？'
She wept in silence for some moments； at last she said；
'It would not comfort him to think me disobedient。 He will trust me
without； and he will know what you think。 You are very kind； dear
Charlie； but don't persuade me any more； for I can't bear it。 I am
going away now； but don't fancy I am angry； only I