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！
Philip groaned； and she thought it best to go on to something else。 'I
like this best；' she said。 'It will be nice to think of far away。 I
should like； too； for these Italians to see the stranger has the same
creed as themselves。'
After a moment's pause； during which he looked at the paper； he said；
'Amy； I have one thing to ask of you。 Will you write my name in the
Prayer…book？'
'That I will；' said she； and Philip drew it from under the sofa
cushion； and began putting together his pocket gold pen。 While he was
doing this； she said； 'Will you write to me sometimes？ I shall be so
anxious to know how you get on。'
'Yes； thank you；' said he； with a sigh； as if he would fain have said
more。
She paused； then said； abruptly； 'Do you know they never had your
letter？'
'Ha！ Good heavens！' cried he； starting up in consternation； 'then they
don't know it！'
'They do。 Sit down； Philip； and hear。 I wanted to tell you about it。
They know it。 Poor Laura was so unhappy when you were ill； that mamma
made it out from her。'
He obeyed the hand that invited him back to his seat； and turned his
face earnestly towards her。 He must let her be his comforter； though a
moment before his mind would have revolted at troubling the newly…made
widow with his love affairs。 Amabel told him； as fully and clearly as
she could； how the truth had come out； how gently Laura had been dealt
with； how Charles had been trying to soften his father； and papa had
not said one angry word to her。
'They forgive her。 Oh； Amy； thanks indeed！ You have taken away one of
the heaviest burdens。 I am glad； indeed； that she spoke first。 For my
own part； I see through all their kindness and consideration how they
regard me。'
'They know how sorry you are； and that you wrote to tell all；' said
Amabel。 'They forgive； indeed they do； but they cannot bear to speak
about it just yet。'
'If you forgive； Amy；' said he； in a husky voice； 'I may hope for
pardon from any。'
'Hush！ don't say that。 You have been so kind； all this time； and we
have felt together so much； that no one could help forgetting anything
that went before。 Then you will write to me； and will you tell me how
to direct to you？'
'You will write to me？' cried Philip； brightening for a moment with
glad surprise。 'Oh； Amy； you will quite overpower me with your
goodness！ The coals of fire；' he finished； sinking his voice； and
again pressing his hand to his brow。
'You must not speak so； Philip；' then looking at him； 'Is your head
aching？'
'Not so much aching as' he paused； and exclaimed； as if carried away
in spite of himself； 'almost bursting with the thoughts ofof you；
Amy；of him whom I knew too late；wilfully misunderstood； envied；
persecuted； who；oh！ Amy； Amy； if you could guess at the anguish of
but one of my thoughts； you would know what the first murderer meant
when he said； 〃My punishment is greater than I can bear。〃'
'I can't say don't think；' said Amy； in her sweet； calm tone； 'for I
have seen how happy repentance made him； but I know it must be
dreadful。 I suppose the worse it is at the time； the better it must be
afterwards。 And I am sure this Prayer…book'she had her hand on it
all the time； as if it was a pleasure to her to touch it again'must
be a comfort to you。 Did you not see that he made me give it to you to
use that day； when； if ever； there was pardon and peace'
'I remember；' said Philip； in a low； grave； heartfelt tone； and as she
took the pen； and was writing his name below the old inscription； he
added； 'And the date； Amy； andyes；' as he saw her write 'From G。 M。'…
…'but put from A。 F。 M。 too。 Thank you！ One thing more；' he
hesitated； and spoke very low； 'You _must_ write in it what you said
when you came to fetch me that day；〃A broken〃'
As she finished writing； Mrs。 Edmonstone came in。 ' My Amy； all is
ready。 We must go。 Good…bye； Philip；' said she； in the tone of one so
eager for departure as to fancy farewells would hasten it。 However；
she was not more eager than Mr。 Edmonstone； who rushed in to hurry them
on； shaking hands cordially with Philip； and telling him to make haste
and recover his good looks。 Amabel held out her hand。 She would fain
have said something cheering； but the power failed her。 A deep colour
came into her cheeks； she drew her thick black veil over her face； and
turned away。
Philip came down…stairs with them； saw her enter the carriage followed
by her mother； Mr。 Edmonstone outside。 He remembered the gay smile
with which he last saw her seated in that carriage； and the active
figure that had sprung after her； he thought of the kind bright eyes
that had pleaded with him for the last time； and recollected the
suspicions and the pride with which he had plumed himself on his
rejection； and thrown away the last chance。
Should he ever see Amabel again？ He groaned and went back to the
deserted rooms。
CHAPTER 37
And see
If aught of sprightly； fresh； or free；
With the calm sweetness may compare
Of the pale form half slumbering there。
Therefore this one dear couch about
We linger hour by hour：
The love that each to each we bear；
All treasures of enduring care；
Into her lap we pour。LYRA INNOCENTUM
The brother and sisters； left at home together； had been a very sad and
silent party； unable to attempt comforting each other。 Charlotte's
grief was wild and ungovernable； breaking out into fits of sobbing； and
attending to nothing till she was abashed first by a reproof from Mr。
Ross； and next by the description of Amabel's conduct； when she grew
ashamed and set herself to atone； by double care； for her neglect of
Charles's comforts。
Charles； however； wanted her little。 He had rather be let alone。
After one exclamation of； 'My poor Amy！' he said not a word of
lamentation； but lay hour after hour without speaking； dwelling on the
happy days he had spent with Guy；companion； friend； brother；the
first beam that had brightened his existence； and taught him to make it
no longer cheerless； musing on the brilliant promise that had been cut
off； remembering his hopes for his most beloved sister； and feeling his
sorrow with imagining hers。 It was his first grief； and a very deep
one。 He seemed to have no comfort but in Mr。 Ross； who contrived to
come to him every day； and would tell him how fully he shared his
affection and admiration for Guy； how he had marvelled at his whole
character； as it had shown itself more especially at the time of his
marriage； when his chastened temper had been the more remarkable in so
young a man； with the world opening on him so brightly。 As to the
promise lost； that； indeed； Mr。 Ross owned； and pleased Charles by
saying how he had hoped to watch its fulfilment； but he spoke of its