the heir of redclyffe-第50节
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only did what she was told； and did not know the malice of it。 There；
you're relenting！ There's a good aunt！ And now； if you won't be
grateful； as any other mamma in the world would have been； and as I
calculated on； when I pretended to have been a prudent； designing
woman； instead of a wild mischievous monkey at least you'll forgive me
enough to invite me to the wedding。 Oh！ what a beauty of a wedding it
will be！ I'd come from Kilcoran all the way on my bare knees to see
it。 And you'll let me be bridesmaid； and have a ball after it？'
'There is no saying what I may do； if you'll only be a good girl； and
hold your tongue。 I don't want to prevent your telling anything to
your mamma； of course； but pray don't let it go any further。 Don't let
Maurice hear it； I have especial reasons for wishing it should not be
known。 You know it is not even an engagement； and nothing must be done
which can make Guy feel in the least bound？'
Eveleen promised； and Mrs。 Edmonstone knew that she had sense and
proper feeling enough for her promise to deserve trust。
CHAPTER 14
For falsehood now doth flow；
And subject faith doth ebbe；
Which would not be； if reason ruled；
Or wisdom weav'd the webbe。
The daughter of debate；
That eke discord doth sowe；
Shal reape no gaine where former rule
Hath taught stil peace to growe。QUEEN ELIZABETH
'ATHENAEUM TERRACE；
ST MILDRED'S；
August 4th；
'MY DEAR PHILIP；
Thank you for returning the books； which were brought safely by Sir
Guy。 I am sorry you do not agree in my estimate of them。 I should
have thought your strong sense would have made you perceive that
reasoning upon fact； and granting nothing without tangible proof； were
the best remedy for a dreamy romantic tendency to the weakness and
credulity which are in the present day termed poetry and faith。 It is
curious to observe how these vague theories reduce themselves to the
absurd when brought into practice。 There are two Miss Wellwoods here；
daughters of that unfortunate man who fell in a duel with old Sir Guy
Morville； who seem to make it their business to become the general
subject of animadversion； taking pauper children into their house；
where they educate them in a way to unfit them for their station； and
teach them to observe a sort of monastic rule； preaching the poor
people in the hospital to death； visiting the poor at all sorts of
strange hours。 Dr Henley actually found one of them； at twelve o'clock
at night； in a miserable lodging…house； filled with the worst
description of inmates。 Quite young women； too； and with no mother or
elder person to direct them； but it is the fashion among the attendants
at the new chapel to admire them。 This subject has diverted me from
what I intended to say with respect to the young baronet。 Your
description agrees with all I have hitherto seen； though I own I
expected a Redclyffe Morville to have more of the 〃heros de roman〃； or
rather of the grand tragic cast of figure； as； if I remember right； was
the case with this youth's father； a much finer and handsomer young
man。 Sir Guy is certainly gentlemanlike； and has that sort of
agreeability which depends on high animal spirits。 I should think him
clever； but superficial； and with his mania for music； he can hardly
fail to be merely an accomplished man。 In spite of all you said of the
Redclyffe temper； I was hardly prepared to find it so ready to flash
forth on the most inexplicable provocations。 It is like walking on a
volcano。 I have seen him two or three times draw himself up； bite his
lip； and answer with an effort and a sharpness that shows how thin a
crust covers the burning lava； but I acknowledge that he has been very
civil and attentive； and speaks most properly of what he owes to you。
I only hope he will not be hurt by the possession of so large a
property so early in life； and I have an idea that our good aunt at
Hollywell has done a good deal to raise his opinion of himself。 We
shall； of course； show him every civility in our power； and give him
the advantage of intellectual society at our house。 His letters are
directed to this place； as you know South Moor Farm is out of the
cognizance of the post。 They seem to keep up a brisk correspondence
with him from Hollywell。 Few guardians' letters are； I should guess；
honoured with such deepening colour as his while reading one from my
uncle。 He tells me he has been calling at Stylehurst； it is a pity；
for his sake； that Colonel Harewood is at home； for the society of
those sons is by no means advisable for him。 I can hardly expect to
offer him what is likely to be as agreeable to him as the conversation
and amusements of Edward and Tom Harewood； who are sure to be at home
for the St。 Mildred's races。 I hear Tom has been getting into fresh
scrapes at Cambridge。
'Your affectionate sister；
'MARGARET HENLEY。'
'ATHENAEUM TERRACE。
ST。 MILDRED'S；
Sept。 6th。
'MY DEAR PHILIP；
No one can have a greater dislike than myself to what is called
mischief…making； therefore I leave it entirely to you to make what use
you please of the following facts； which have fallen under my notice。
Sir Guy Morville has been several times at St。 Mildred's； in company
with Tom Harewood； and more than once alone with some strange
questionable…looking people； and not many days ago； my maid met him
coming out of a house in one of the low streets； which it is hard to
assign a motive for his visiting。 This； however； might be accident；
and I should never have thought of mentioning it； but for a
circumstance that occurred this morning。 I had occasion to visit
Grey's Bank； and while waiting in conversation with Mr。 Grey； a person
came in whom I knew to be a notorious gambler； and offered a cheque to
be changed。 As it lay on the counter； my eye was caught by the
signature。 It was my uncle's。 I looked again； and could not be
mistaken。 It was a draft for ￡3O on Drummond； dated the 12th of
August； to Sir Guy Morville； signed C。 Edmonstone； and endorsed in Sir
Guy's own writing； with the name of John White。 In order that I might
be certain that I was doing the poor young man no injustice； I
outstayed the man； and asked who he was； when Mr。 Grey confirmed me in
my belief that it was one Jack White； a jockeying sort of man who
attends all the races in the country； and makes his livelihood by
betting and gambling。 And now； my dear brother； make what use of this
fact you think fit； though I fear there is little hope of rescuing the
poor youth from the fatal habits which are hereditary in his family；
and must be strong indeed not to have been eradicated by such careful
training as you say he has received。 I leave it entirely to you；
trusting in your excellent judgment； and only hoping you will not bring
my name forward。 Grieving much at having to be the first to
communicate such unpleasant tidings； which will occasion so much
vexation at Hollywell。'
'Your affectionate sister；
'MARGARET HENLEY。'
Captain Morville was alone when he received the latter of these
letters。 At first； a look divided between irony and melancholy passed
over his face； as he read his sister's preface and her hearsay
evidence； but； as he went farther； his upper lip curled； and a sudden
gleam； as of exultation in a verified prophecy； lighted his eye；
shading off quickly； however； and giving place to an iron expression of
rigidity and sternness； the compressed mouth； coldly…fixed eye； and
sedate brow； composed into a grave severity that might have served for
an impersonation of stern justice。 He looked through the letter a
second time； folded it up； put it in his pocket； and went about his
usual affairs； but the expression did not leave his face all day； and
the next morning he took a day…ticket by the railway to Broadstone；
where； as it was the day of the petty sessions； he had little doubt of
meeting Mr。 Edmonstone。 Accordingly； he had not walked far down the
High Street； before he saw his uncle standing on the step of the post…
office； opening a letter he had just received。
'Ha！ Philip； what brings you here？ The very man I wanted。 Coming to
Hollywell？'
'No； thank you； I go back this evening；' said Philip； and； as he spoke；
he saw that the letter which Mr。 Edmonstone held； and twisted with a
hasty； nervous movement； was in Guy's writing。
'Well； I am glad you are here； at any rate。 Here is the most
extraordinary thing！
