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！
advantage of her visit to have the measles； not like reasonable
children； all at once； so as to be one trouble； but one after the
other； so as to keep Aunt Mary with them as long as possible； and Mr。
Ross did not know what would have become of the female department of
his parish but for Laura； who worked at school…keeping indefatigably。
Laura had some difficulty in shaking off Charlotte's company this
afternoon； and was obliged to make the most of the probability of rain；
and the dreadful dirt of the roads。 Indeed； she represented it as so
formidable； that Mrs。 Edmonstone； who had hardly time to look out of
window； much less to go out of doors； strongly advised her to stay at
home herself； and Charlotte grew all the more eager for the fun。
Luckily； however； for Laura； Dr。 Mayerne came in； laughing at the
reports of the weather； and as he was wanted to prescribe for a poor
old man in an opposite direction； he took Charlotte with him to show
the way； and she was much better pleased to have him for a companion
than the grave Laura。
Philip； in the meantime； had walked all the way to Broadstone； timing
his return exactly； that he might meet Laura as she came out of the
school； and feel as if it had been by chance。 It was a gray； misty
November day； and the leaves of the elm…trees came floating round them；
yellow and damp。
'You have had a wet walk；' said Laura； as they met。
'It is not quite raining；' he answered； and they proceeded for some
minutes in silence； until he said；'It is time we should come to an
understanding。'
She looked at him in alarm； and his voice was immediately gentler；
indeed； at times it was almost inaudible from his strong emotion。 'I
believe that no affection has ever been stronger or truer than ours。'
'Has been！' repeated Laura； in a wondering； bewildered voice。
'And is； if you are satisfied to leave things as they are。'
'I must be； if you are。'
'I will not say I am satisfied with what must be； as I am situated； but
I felt it due to you to set the true state of the case before you。 Few
would venture their love as I do mine with you； bound in reality；
though not formally； with no promise sought or given； yet I am not more
assured that I stand here than I am that our love is for ever。'
'I am sure it is！' she repeated fervently。 '0 Philip； there never was
a time I did not love you： and since that day on Ashen Down； I have
loved you with my whole heart。 I am sometimes afraid it has left no
proper room for the rest； when I find how much more I think of your
going away than of poor Charles。'
'Yes；' he said； 'you have understood me as none but you would have
done； through coldness and reserve； apparently； even towards yourself；
and when to others I have seemed grave and severe beyond my years。 You
have never doubted； you have recognized the warmth within； you have
trusted your happiness to me； and it shall be safe in my keeping； for；
Laura； it is all mine。'
'There is only one thing；' said Laura； timidly； 'would it not be better
if mamma knew？'
'Laura； I have considered that； but remember you are not bound； I have
never asked you to bind yourself。 You might marry to…morrow； and I
should have no right to complain。 There is nothing to prevent you。'
She exclaimed； as if with pain。
'True；' he answered； 'you could not； and that certainty suffices me。 I
ask no more without your parents' consent； but it would be giving them
and you useless distress and perplexity to ask it now。 They would
object to my poverty； and we should gain nothing； for I would never be
so selfish as to wish to expose you to such a life as that of the wife
of a poor officer； and an open engagement could not add to our
confidence in each other。 We must be content to wait for my promotion。
By that time'he smiled gravely'our attachment will have lasted so
many years as to give it a claim to respect。'
'It is no new thing。'
'No newer than our lives； but remember； my Laura； that you are but
twenty。'
'You have made me feel much older；' sighed Laura； 'not that I would be
a thoughtless child again。 That cannot last long； not even for poor
little Amy'
'No one would wish to part with the deeper feelings of elder years to
regain the carelessness of childhood； even to be exempted from the
suffering that has brought them。'
'No； indeed。'
'For instance； these two years have scarcely been a time of great
happiness to you。'
'Sometimes；' whispered Laura； 'sometimes beyond all words； but often
dreary and oppressive。'
'Heaven knows how unwillingly I have rendered it so。 Rather than dim
the brightness of your life； I would have repressed my own sentiments
for ever。'
'But； then； where would have been my brightness？'
'I would； I say； but for a peril to you。 I see my fears were
unfounded。 You were safe； but in my desire to guard you from what has
come on poor Amy； my feelings； though not wont to overpower me； carried
me further than I intended。'
'Did they？'
'Do not suppose I regret it。 No； no； Laura； those were the most
precious moments in my life； when I drew from you those words and looks
which have been blessed in remembrance ever since； and doubly； knowing；
as I do； that you also prize that day。'
'Yesyes；'
'In the midst of much that was adverse； and with a necessity for a
trust and self…control of which scarce a woman but yourself would have
been capable； you have endured nobly'
'I could bear anything； if you were not going so far away；'
'You will bear that too； Laura； and bravely。 It will not be for ever。'
'How long do you think？'
'I cannot tell。 Several years may pass before I have my promotion。 It
may be that I shall not see that cheek in its fresh bloom again； but I
shall find the same Laura that I left； the same in love； and strength；
and trust。'
'Ah； I shall grow faded and gray； and you will be a sun…burnt old
soldier；' said Laura； smiling； and looking； half sadly； half proudly；
up to his noble features； 'but hearts don't change like faces！'
After they came near the house； they walked up and down the lane for a
long time； for Philip avoided a less public path； in order to keep up
his delusion that he was doing nothing in an underhand way。 It grew
dark； and the fog thickened； straightening Laura's auburn ringlets； and
hanging in dew…drops on Philip's rough coat； but little recked they； it
was such an hour as they had never enjoyed before。 Philip had never so
laid himself open； or assured her so earnestly of the force of his
affection； and her thrills of ecstasy overcame the desolate expectation
of his departure； and made her sensible of strength to bear seven； ten；
twenty years of loneliness and apparent neglect。 She knew him； and he
would never fail her。
Yet； when at last they went in…doors；