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the heir of redclyffe-第8章

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periodicals under which it seemed as if her brother might some day be 

stifleda vain task; for he was sure to want immediately whatever she 

put out of his reach。



Laura and Amabel both played and sung; the former remarkably well; and 

the first time they had any music after the arrival of Sir Guy; his 

look of delighted attention struck everyone。  He ventured nearer; stood 

by the piano when they practised; and at last joined in with a few 

notes of so full and melodious a voice; that Laura turned round in 

surprise; exclaiming; 'You sing better I than any of us!'



He coloured。  'I beg your pardon;' he said; 'I could not help it; I 

know nothing of music。'



'Really!' said Laura; smiling incredulously。 



'I don't even know the notes。'



'Then you must have a very good ear。  Let us try again。' 



The sisters were again charmed and surprised; and Guy looked gratified; 

as people do at the discovery of a faculty which they are particularly 

glad to possess。  It was the first time he appeared to brighten; and 

Laura and her mother agreed that it would do him good to have plenty of 

music; and to try to train that fine voice。  He was beginning to 

interest them all greatly by his great helpfulness and kindness to 

Charles; as he learnt the sort of assistance he required; as well as by 

the silent grief that showed how much attached he must have been to his 

grandfather。



On the first Sunday; Mrs。 Edmonstone coming into the drawing…room at 

about half…past five; found him sitting alone by the fire; his dog 

lying at his feet。  As he started up; she asked if he had been here in 

the dark ever since church…time?



'I have not wanted light;' he answered with a sigh; long; deep; and 

irrepressible; and as she stirred the fire; the flame revealed to her 

the traces of tears。  She longed to comfort him; and said



'This Sunday twilight is a quiet time for thinking。'



'Yes;' he said; 'how few Sundays ago' and there he paused。 



'Ah! you had so little preparation。'



'None。  That very morning he had done business with Markham; and had 

never been more clear and collected。'



'Were you with him when he was taken ill?' asked Mrs。 Edmonstone; 

perceiving that it would be a relief to him to talk。 



'No; it was just before dinner。  I had been shooting; and went into the 

library to tell him where I had been。  He was well then; for he spoke; 

but it was getting dark; and I did not see his face。  I don't think I 

was ten minutes dressing; but when I came down; he had sunk back in his 

chair。  I saw it was not sleepI rangand when Arnaud came; we knew 

how it was。'  His; voice became low with strong emotion。'



'Did he recover his consciousness?' 



'Yes; that was _the_ comfort;' said Guy; eagerly。  'It was after he had 

been bled that he seemed to wake up。  He could not speak or move; but 

he looked at meorI don't know what I should have done。'  The last 

words were almost inaudible from the gush of tears that he vainly 

struggled to repress; and he was turning away to hide them; when he saw 

that Mrs。 Edmonstone's were flowing fast。



'You had great reason to be attached to him!' said she; as soon as she 

could speak。



'Indeed; indeed I had。'  And after a long silence 'He was everything 

to me; everything from the first hour I can recollect。  He never let me 

miss my parents。  How he attended to all my pleasures and wishes; how 

he watched and cared for me; and bore with me; even I can never know。'



He spoke in short half sentences of intense feeling; and Mrs。 

Edmonstone was much moved by such affection in one said to have been 

treated with an excess of strictness; much compassionating the lonely 

boy; who had lost every family tie in one。



'When the first pain of the sudden parting has passed;' said she; 'you 

will like to remember the affection which you knew how to value;'



'If I had but known!' said Guy; 'but there was I; hasty; reckless; 

disregarding his comfort; rebelling against0; what would I not give 

to have those restraints restored!'



'It is what we all feel in such losses;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。  'There 

is always much to wish otherwise; but I am sure you can have the 

happiness of knowing you were his great comfort。'



'It was what I ought to have been。'



She knew that nothing could have been more filial and affectionate than 

his conduct; and tried to say something of the kind; but he would not 

listen。



'That is worst of all;' he said; 'and you must not trust what they say 

of me。  They would be sure to praise me; if I was anything short of a 

brute。'



A silence ensued; while Mrs。 Edmonstone was trying to think of some 

consolation。  Suddenly Guy looked up; and spoke eagerly:…



'I want to ask somethinga great favourbut you make me venture。  You 

see how I am left aloneyou know how little I can trust myself。  Will 

you take me in handlet me talk to youand tell me if I am wrong; as 

freely as if I were Charles?  I know it is asking a great deal; but you 

knew my grandfather; and it is in his name。'



She held out her hand; and with tears answered



'Indeed I will; if I see any occasion。'



'You will let me trust to you to tell me when I get too vehement? above 

all; when you see my temper failing?  Thank you; you don't know what a 

relief it is!'



'But you must not call yourself alone。  You are one of us now。'



'Yes; since you have made that promise;' said Guy; and for the first 

time she saw the full beauty of his smilea sort of sweetness and 

radiance of which eye and brow partook almost as much as the lips。  It 

alone would have gained her heart。



'I must look on you as a kind of nephew;' she added; kindly。 'I used to 

hear so much of you from my brother。'



'Oh!' cried Guy; lighting up; 'Archdeacon Morville was always so kind 

to me。  I remember him very well!'



'Ah! I wish' there she paused; and added; tête…à…tête 'it is not 

right to wish such thingsand Philip is very like his father。'



'I am very glad his regiment is so near。  I want to know him better。'



'You knew him at Redclyffe; when he was staying there?'



'Yes;' said Guy; his colour rising; 'but I was a boy then; and a very 

foolish; headstrong one。  I am glad to meet him again。  What a grand…

looking person he is!'



'We are very proud of him;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone; smiling。  'I don't 

think there has been an hour's anxiety about him since he was born。'



The conversation was interrupted by the sound of Charles's crutches 

slowly crossing the hall。  Guy sprang to help him to his sofa; and 

then; without speaking; hurried up…stairs。



'Mamma; tete…a…tete with the silent one!' exclaimed Charles。



'I will not tell you all I think of him;' said she; leaving the room。



'Hum!' soliloquised Charles。  'That means that my lady mother has 

adopted him; and thinks I should laugh at her; or straightway set up a 

dislike to him; knowing my
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