the heir of redclyffe-第103节

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humoured　reply；　was　the　utmost　he　could　elicit。　　Guy　did　not　seem　to　be　

in　the　least　irritated　or　ruffled　by　the　very　behaviour　which　used　to　

cause　him　so　many　struggles。　　Having　once　seriously　said　that　he　did　

not　think　it　right　to　run　into　danger；　without　adequate　cause；　he　held　

his　position　with　so　much　ease；　that　he　could　afford　to　be　playful；　and　

laugh　at　his　own　dread　of　infection；　his　changeableness；　and　credulity。　　

Never　had　temper　been　more　entirely　subdued；　for　surely　if　he　could　

bear　this；　he　need　never　fear　himself　again。



So　passed　the　hour；　and　Amabel　was　heartily　glad　when　the　debate　was　

closed　by　Arnaud's　coming　for　orders。　　Guy　went　with　him；　Amabel　began　

to　collect　her　goods；　and　Philip；　after　a　few　moments'　reflection；　

spoke　in　the　half…compassionate；　half…patronizing　manner　with　which　he　

used；　now　and　then；　to　let　fall　a　few　crumbs　of　counsel　or　commendation　

for　silly　little　Amy。



'Well；　Amy；　you　yielded　very　amiably；　and　that　is　the　only　way。　　You　

will　always　find　it　best　to　submit。'



He　got　no　further　in　his　intended　warning　against　the　dissipations　of　

Venice；　for　her　eyes　were　fixed　on　him　at　first　with　a　look　of　extreme　

wonder。　　Then　her　face　assumed　an　expression　of　dignity；　and　gently；　

but　gravely；　she　said；　'I　think　you　forget　to　whom　you　are　speaking。'



The　gentlemanlike　instinct　made　him　reply；　'I　beg　your　pardon'and　

there　he　stopped；　as　much　taken　by　surprise　as　if　a　dove　had　flown　in　

his　face。　　He　actually　was　confused；　for　in　very　truth；　he　had；　after　a　

fashion；　forgotten　that　she　was　Lady　Morville；　not　the　cousin　Amy　with　

whom　Guy's　character　might　be　freely　discussed。　　He　had　often　presumed　

as　far　with　his　aunt；　but　she；　though　always　turning　the　conversation；　

had　never　given　him　a　rebuff。　　Amabel　had　not　done；　and　in　her　soft　

voice；　firmly；　though　not　angrily；　she　spoke　on。　　'One　thing　I　wish　to　

say；　because　we　shall　never　speak　on　this　subject　again；　and　I　was　

always　afraid　of　you　before。　　You　have　always　misunderstood　him；　I　

might　almost　say；　chosen　to　misunderstand　him。　　You　have　tried　his　

temper　more　than　any　one；　and　never　appreciated　the　struggles　that　have　

subdued　it。　　It　is　not　because　I　am　his　wife　that　I　say　thisindeed　I　

am　not　sure　it　becomes　me　to　say　it；　yet　I　cannot　bear　that　you　should　

not　be　told　of　it；　because　you　think　he　acts　out　of　enmity　to　you。　　You　

little　know　how　your　friendship　has　been　his　first　desirehow　he　has　

striven　for　ithow；　after　all　you　have　done　and　written；　he　defended　

you　with　all　his　might　when　those　at　home　were　angryhow　he　sought　you　

out　on　purpose　to　try　to　be　real　cordial　friends'



Philip's　face　had　grown　rigid；　and　chiefly　at　the　words；　'those　at　home　

were　angry。'　　'It　is　not　I　that　prevent　that　friendship；'　said　he：　'it　

is　his　own　want　of　openness。　　My　opinion　has　never　changed。'



'No；　I　know　it　has　never　changed'　said　Amy；　in　a　tone　of　sorrowful　

displeasure。　　'Whenever　it　does；　you　will　be　sorry　you　have　judged　him　

so　harshly。'



She　left　the　room；　and　Philip　held　her　in　higher　esteem。　　He　saw　there　

was　spirit　and　substance　beneath　that　soft　girlish　exterior；　and　hoped　

she　would　better　be　able　to　endure　the　troubles　which　her　precipitate　

marriage　was　likely　to　cause　her；　but　as　to　her　husband；　his　combined　

fickleness　and　obstinacy　had　only　become　more　apparent　than　ever

fickleness　in　forsaking　his　purpose；　obstinacy　in　adherence　to　his　own　

will。

　　

Displeased　and　contemptuous；　Philip　was　not　softened　by　Guy's　freedom　

and　openness　of　manner　and　desire　to　help　him　as　far　as　their　roads　lay　

together。　　He　was　gracious　only　to　Lady　Morville；　whom　he　treated　with　

kindness；　intended　to　show　that　he　was　pleased　with　her　for　a　reproof　

which　became　her　position　well；　though　it　could　not　hurt　him。　　Perhaps　

she　thought　this　amiability　especially　insufferable：　for　when　she　

arrived　at　Varenna　her　chief　thought　was　that　here　they　should　be　free　

of　him。



'Come；　Philip；'　said　Guy；　at　that　last　moment；　'I　wish　you　would　think　

better　of　it　after　all；　and　come　with　us　to　Milan。'



'Thank　you；　my　mind　is　made　up。'



'Well；　mind　you　don't　catch　the　fever：　for　I　don't　want　the　trouble　of　

nursing　you。'



'Thank　you；　I　hope　to　require　no　such　services　of　my　friends；'　said　

Philip；　with　a　proud　stem　air；　implying；　'I　don't　want　you。'



'Good…bye；　then；'　said　Guy。　　Then　remembering　his　promise　to　Laura；　he　

added；　'I　wish　we　could　have　seen　more　of　you。　　They　will　be　glad　to　

hear　of　you　at　Hollywell。　　You　have　had　one　warm　friend　there　all　

along。'



He　was　touched　for　a　moment　by　this　kind　speech；　and　his　tone　was　less　

grave　and　dignified。　　'Remember　me　to　them　when　you　write；'　he　

answered；　'and　tell　Laura　she　must　not　wear　herself　out　with　her　

studies。　　Good…bye；　Amy；　I　hope　you　will　have　a　pleasant　journey。'



The　farewells　were　exchanged　and　the　carriage　drove　off。　　'Poor　little　

Amy！'　said　Philip　to　himself；　'how　she　is　improved。　　He　has　a　sweet　

little　wife　in　her。　　The　fates　have　conspired　to　crown　him　with　all　man　

can　desire；　and　little　marvel　if　he　should　abuse　his　advantages。　　Poor　

little　Amy！　　I　have　less　hope　than　ever；　since　even　her　evident　wishes　

could　not　bend　his　determination　in　this　trifle；　but　she　is　a　good　

little　creature；　happy　in　her　blindness。　　May　it　long　continue！　　It　is　

my　uncle　and　aunt　who　are　to　be　blamed。'　



He　set　himself　to　ascend　the　mountain　path；　and　they　looked　back；　

watching　the　firm　vigorous　steps　with　which　he　climbed　the　hill　side；　

then　stood　to　wave　his　hand　to　Amabel　looking　a　perfect　specimen　of　

health　and　activity。



'Just　like　himself；'　said　Amy；　drawing　so　long　a　breath　that　Guy　

smiled；　but　did　not　speak。



'Are　you　much　vexed？'　said　she。



'I　don't　feel　as　if　I　had　made　the　most　of　my　opportunities。'



'Then　if　you　have　not；　I　can　tell　you　who　has。　　What　do　you　think　of　

his　beginning　to　give　me　a　lecture　how　to　behave　to　you？'



'Did　he　think　you　wanted　it　very　much？'



'I　don't　know：　for　of　course　I　could　not　let　him　go　on。'



Guy　was　so　much　diverted　at　the　idea　of　her　wanting　a　lecture　on　wife…

like　deportment；　that　he　had　no　time　to　be　angry　at　the　impertinence；　

and　he　made　her　laugh　also　by　his　view　that　was　all　force　of　habit。



'Now；　Guidogood　Cavaliere　Guidodo　grant　me　one　satisfaction；'　said　

she；　coaxingly。　　'Only　say　you　are　very　glad　he　is　gone　his　own　way。'



On　the　contrary；　I　am　sorry　he　is　running　his　head　into　a　fever；'　said　

Guy；　pretending　to　be　provoking。



'I　don't　want　you　to　be　glad　of　that；　I　only　want　you　to　be　glad　he　is　

not　sitting　here　towering　over　us。'　　Guy　smiled；　and　began　to　whistle





　　　　　　　　'Cock　up　your　beaver；　and　cock　it　fu'　sprush！'









CHAPTER　31







And　turned　the　thistles　of　a　curse

To　types　beneficent。WORDSWORTH





It　was　about　three　weeks　after　the　rendezvous　at　Bellagio；　that　Sir　Guy　

and　Lady　Morville　arrived　at　Vicenza；　on　their　way　from　Venice。　　They　

were　in　the　midst　of　breakfast　when　Arnaud　entered；　saying；



'It　was　well；　Sir　Guy；　that　you　changed　your　intention　of　visiting　the　

Valtelline　with　Captain　Morville。'



'What！　　Have　you　heard　anything　of　him？'



'I　fear　that　his　temerity　has　caused　him　to　suffer。　　I　have　just　heard　

that　an　Englishman　of　your　name　is　severely　ill　at　Recoara。'



'Where？'



'At　〃la　badia　di　Recoara〃。　　It　is　what　in　English　we　call　a　watering…

place；　on　the　mountains　to　the　north；　where　the　Vicentini　do　go　in　

summer　for　〃fraicheur〃；　but　they　have　all　returned　in　the　last　two　days　

for　fear　of　the　infection。'



'I'll　go　and　make　inquiries'　said　Guy；　rising　in　haste。　　Returning　in　a　

quarter　of　an　hour；　he　said；'It　is　true。　　It　can　be　no　other　than　

poor　Philip。　　I　have　seen　his　doctor；　an　Italian；　who；　when　he　saw　our　

name　written；　said　it　was　the　same。　　He　calls　it　〃una　febbre　molto　

grave〃。'



'Very　heavy！　　Did　he　only　know　the　name　in　writing？'



'Only　from　seeing　it　on　his　passport。　　He　has　been　unable　to　give　any　

directions。'



'How　dreadfully　ill　he　must　be！　　And　alone！　　What　shall　we　do？　　You　

won't　think　of　leaving　me　behind　you；　whatever　you　do？'　　exclaimed　

Amabel；　imploringly。



'It　is　at　no　great　distance；　and'



'0；　don't　say　that。　　Only　take　me　with　you。　　I　will　try　to　bear　it；　if　

you　don't　think　it　right；　but　it　will　be　very　hard。'



Her　eyes　were　full　of　tears；　but　she　struggled　to　repress　them；　and　was　

silent　in　suspense　as　she　saw　him　considering。



'My　poor　Amy！'　said　he；　presently；　'I　believe　the　anxiety　would　be　

worse　for　you　if　I　were　to　leave　you　here。'



'Oh；　thank　you！'　exclaimed　she。



'You　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　nursing。　　No；　I　don't　think　there　

is　much　risk；　so　we　will　go　together。'



'Thank　you！　thank　you！　and　perhaps　I　may　be　of　some　use。　　But　is　it　

very　infectious？'



'I　hope　not：　caught　at　Colico；　a