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！
'We amuse ourselves with thinking how she gets on with Arnaud；' said
Guy。 'Their introduction took place only two days before we were
married； since which； they have had one continued tete…a…tete； which
must have been droll at first。'
'More so at last；' said Amy。 'At first Anne thought Mr。 Arnaud so fine
a gentleman； that she hardly dared to speak to him。 I believe nothing
awed her so much as his extreme courtesy； but lately he has been quite
fatherly to her； and took her to dine at his sister's chalet； where I
would have given something to see her。 She tells me he wants her to
admire the country； but she does not like the snow； and misses our
beautiful clover…fields very much。'
'Stylehurst ought to have been better training for mountains；' said
Philip。
They were fast losing the stiffness of first meeting。 Philip could not
but acknowledge to himself that Amy was looking very well； and so happy
that Guy must be fulfilling the condition on which he was to be borne
with。 However； these were early days； and of course Guy must be kind
to her at least in the honeymoon； before the wear and tear of life
began。 They both looked so young； that having advised them to wait
four years； he was ready to charge them with youthfulness； if not as a
fault； at least as a folly； indeed； the state of his own affairs made
him inclined to think it a foible； almost a want of patience； in any
one to marry before thirty。 It was a conflict of feeling。 Guy was so
cordial and good…humoured； that he could not help being almost gained；
but； on the other hand； he had always thought Guy's manners eminently
agreeable； and as happiness always made people good…humoured； this was
no reason for relying on him。 Besides； the present ease and openness
of manner might only result from security。
Other circumstances combined； more than the captain imagined； in what
is popularly called putting him out。 He had always been hitherto on
equal terms with Guy； indeed； had rather the superiority at Hollywell；
from his age and assumption of character； but here Sir Guy was
somebody； the captain nobody； and even the advantage of age was lost；
now that Guy was married and head of a family； while Philip was a stray
young man and his guest。 Far above such considerations as he thought
himself； and deeming them only the tokens of the mammon worship of the
time； Philip； nevertheless； did not like to be secondary to one to whom
he had always been preferred； and this； and perhaps the being half
ashamed of it； made him something more approaching to cross than ever
before； but now and then； the persevering amiability of both would
soften him； and restore him to his most gracious mood。
He gave them their letters when they reached the inn； feeling as if he
had a better right than they； to one which was in Laura's writing； and
when left in solitary possession of the sitting…rooma very pleasant
one； with windows opening on the terrace just above the waterpaced up
and down； chafing at his own perplexity of feeling。
Presently they came back； Guy sat down to continue their joint journal…
like letter to Charles； while Amabel made an orderly arrangement of
their properties； making the most of their few books； and taking out
her work as if she had been at home。 Philip looked at the books。
'Have you a 〃Childe Harold〃 here？' said he。 'I want to look at
something in it。'
'No； we have not。'
'Guy； you never forget poetry； I dare say you can help me out with
those stanzas about the mists in the valley。'
'I have never read it；' said Guy。 'Don't you remember warning me
against Byron？'
'You did not think that was for life！ Besides；' he continued； feeling
this reply inconsistent with his contempt for Guy's youth； 'that
applied to his perversions of human passions； not to his descriptions
of scenery。'
'I think；' said Guy； looking up from his letter； 'I should be more
unwilling to take a man like that to interpret nature than anything
else； except Scripture。 It is more profane to attempt it。'
'I see what you mean；' said Amabel； thoughtfully。
'More than I do；' said Philip。 'I never supposed you would take my
advice 〃au pied de la lettre〃；' he had almost added； 'perversely。'
'I have felt my obligations for that caution ever since I have come to
some knowledge of what Byron was；' said Guy。
'The fascination of his 〃Giaour〃 heroes has an evil influence on some
minds；' said Philip。 'I think you do well to avoid it。 The half
truth； resulting from its being the effect of self…contemplation； makes
it more dangerous。'
'True；' said Guy； though he little knew how much he owed to having
attended to that caution； for who could have told where the mastery
might have been in the period of fearful conflict with his passions； if
he had been feeding his imagination with the contemplation of revenge；
dark hatred； and malice； and identifying himself with Byron's brooding
and lowering heroes！
'But；' continued Philip； 'I cannot see why you should shun the fine
descriptions which are almost classicalthe Bridge of Sighs； the
Gladiator。'
'He may describe the gladiator as much as he pleases；' said Guy；
'indeed there is something noble in that indignant line
Butchered to make a Roman holiday；
but that is not like his meddling with these mountains or the sea。'
'Fine description is the point in both。 You are over…drawing。'
'My notion is this；' said Guy；'there is danger in listening to a man
who is sure to misunderstand the voice of nature；danger； lest by
filling our ears with the wrong voice we should close them to the true
one。 I should think there was a great chance of being led to stop
short at the material beauty； or worse； to link human passions with the
glories of nature； and so distort； defile； profane them。'
'You have never read the poem； so you cannot judge；' said Philip；
thinking this extremely fanciful and ultra…fastidious。 'Your rule would
exclude all descriptive poetry； unless it was written by angels； I
suppose？'
'No； by men with minds in the right direction。'
'Very little you would leave us。'
'I don't think so；' said Amabel。 'Almost all the poetry we really care
about was written by such men。'
'Shakspeare； for instance？'
'No one can doubt of the bent of his mind from the whole strain of his
writings；' said Guy。 'So again with Spenser； and as to Milton； though
his religion was not quite the right sort； no one can pretend to say he
had it not。 Wordsworth； Scott'
'Scott？' said Philip。
'Including the descriptions of scenery in his novels；' said Amy；
'where； I am sure； there is the spirit and the beauty。'
'Or rather； the spirit is the beauty；' said Guy。
'There is a good deal in what you say；' answered Philip； who would not
lay himself open to the accusation of