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friend； Mr。 Wellwood； and set on foot many plans for improvements；
giving them as much attention as if he had nothing else to occupy his
mind。 Both the curate and Markham were surprised that he did not leave
these details till his return home； but he answered；
'Better do things while we may。 The thought of this unhappy place is
enough to poison everything； and I don't think I could rest without
knowing that the utmost was being done for it。'
He was very happy making arrangements for a village feast on the
wedding…day。 The Ashfords asked if he would not put it off till his
return； and preside himself。
'It won't hurt them to have one first。 Let them make sure of all the
fun they can；' he answered； and the sentiment was greatly applauded by
Edward and Robert； who followed him about more than ever； and grew so
fond of him； that it made them very angry to be reminded of the spirit
of defiance in which their acquaintance had begun。 Nevertheless they
seemed to be preparing the same spirit for his wife； for when their
mother told them they must not expect to monopolize him thus when he
was married； they declared； that they did not want a Lady Morville at
all； and could not think why he was so stupid as to want a wife。
Their father predicted that he would never have time to fulfil his old
engagement of taking them out to the Shag Rock； but the prediction was
not verified； for he rowed both them and Mr。 Ashford thither one fine
May afternoon； showed them all they wanted to see； and let them
scramble to their heart's content。 He laughed at their hoard of scraps
of the wood of the wreck； which they said their mamma had desired them
to fetch for her。
So many avocations came upon Guy at once；so many of the neighbours
came to call on him；such varieties of people wanted to speak to him；…
…the boys followed him so constantly；and he had so many invitations
from Mr。 Wellwood and the Ashfords； that he never had any time for
himself； except what must be spent in writing to Amabel。 There was a
feeling upon him； that he must have time to commune with himself； and
rest from this turmoil of occupation； in the solitude of which
Redclyffe had hitherto been so full。 He wanted to be alone with his
old home； and take leave of it； and of the feelings of his boyhood；
before beginning on this new era of his life； but whenever he set out
for a solitary walk； before he could even get to the top of the crag；
either Markham marched up to talk over some important question；a
farmer waylaid him to make some request；some cottager met him； to
tell of a grievance；Mr。 Wellwood rode over；or the Ashford boys
rushed up； and followed like his shadow。
At length； on Ascension day； the last before he was to leave Redclyffe；
with a determination that he would escape for once from his pursuers；
he walked to the Cove as soon as he returned from morning service；
launched his little boat and pushed off into the rippling whispering
waters。 It was a resumption of the ways of his boyhood； it seemed like
a holiday to have left all these cares behind him； just as it used to
be when all his lessons were prepared； and he had leave to disport
himself； by land or water； the whole afternoon； provided he did not go
out beyond the Shag Rock。 He took up his sculls and rowed merrily；
singing and whistling to keep time with their dash； the return to the
old pleasure quite enough at first； the salt breeze； the dashing waves；
the motion of the boat。 So he went on till he had come as far as his
former boundary； then he turned and gazed back on the precipitous
rocks； cleft with deep fissures； marbled with veins of different shades
of red； and tufted here and therewith clumps of samphire； grass； and a
little brushwood； bright with the early green of spring。 The white
foam and spray were leaping against their base； and roaring in their
hollows； the tract of wavelets between glittered in light； or heaved
green under the shadow of the passing clouds； the sea…birds floated
smoothly in sweeping undulating lines；
As though life's only call and care
Were graceful motion；
the hawks poised themselves high in air near the rocks。 The Cove lay
in sunshine； its rough stone chimneys and rude slate roofs overgrown
with moss and fern； rising rapidly； one above the other； in the fast
descending hollow； through which a little stream rushed to the sea；
more quietly than its brother； which； at some space distant； fell sheer
down over the crag in a white line of foam； brawling with a tone of its
own； distinguishable among all the voices of the sea contending with
the rocks。 Above the village； in the space where the outline of two
hills met and crossed； rose the pinnacled tower of the village church；
the unusual height of which was explained by the old custom of lighting
a beacon…fire on its summit； to serve as a guide to the boats at sea。
Still higher； apparently on the very brow of the beetling crag that
frowned above； stood the old Gothic hall； crumbling and lofty； a fit
eyrie for the eagles of Morville。 The sunshine was indeed full upon
it； but it served to show how many of the dark windows were without the
lining of blinds and curtains； that alone gives the look of life and
habitation to a house。 How crumbled by sea…wind were the old walls；
and the aspect altogether full of a dreary haughtiness； suiting with
the whole of the stories connected with its name； from the time when it
was said the very dogs crouched and fled from the presence of the
sacrilegious murderer of the Archbishop； to the evening when the heir
of the line lay stretched a corpse before his father's gate。
Guy sat resting on his oars； gazing at the scene； full of happiness；
yet with a sense that it might be too bright to last； as if it scarcely
befitted one like himself。 The bliss before him； though it was surely
a beam from heaven； was so much above him； that he hardly dared to
believe it real： like a child repeating； 'Is it my own； my very own？'
and pausing before it will venture to grasp at a prize beyond its
hopes。 He feared to trust himself fully； lest it should carry him away
from his self…discipline； and dazzle him too much to let him keep his
gaze on the light beyond； and he rejoiced in this time of quiet； to
enable him to strive for power over his mind； to prevent himself from
losing in gladness the balance he had gained in adversity。
It was such a check as he might have wished for； to look at that grim
old castle； recollect who he was； and think of the frail tenure of all
earthly joy； especially for one of the house of Morville。 Could that
abode ever be a home for a creature like Amy； with the bright innocent
mirth that seemed too soft and sweet ever to be overshadowed by gloom
and sorrow？ Perhaps she might be early taken from him in the undimmed
beauty of her happiness and i