the heir of redclyffe-第31章
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to venture on a remark。 She was thinking that she did not wonder that
strangers deemed Guy crotchety; since he was so difficult to
understand; and then she considered whether to take him to see King
Charles; in the library; and concluded that she would wait; for she
felt as if the martyr king's face would look on her too gravely to suit
her present tone。
Philip helped her to ice; and brought her back to her mother's
neighbourhood without many more words。 He then stood thoughtful for
some time; entered into conversation with one of the elder gentlemen;
and; when that was interrupted; turned to talk to his aunt。
Lady Eveleen and her two cousins were for a moment together。 'What is
the matter; Eva?' said Amy; seeing a sort of dissatisfaction on her
bright face。
'The roc's egg?' said Laura; smiling。 'The queen of the evening can't
be content'
'No; you are the queen; if the one thing can make you sothe one thing
wanting to me。'
'How absurd you are; Evawhen you say you are so afraid of him; too。'
'That is the very reason。 I should get a better opinion of myself!
Besides; there is nobody else so handsome。 I declare I'll make a bold
attempt。'
'Oh! you don't think of such a thing;' cried Laura; very much shocked。
'Never fear;' said Eveleen; 'faint heart; you know。' And with a nod; a
flourish; of her bouquet; and an arch smile at her cousin's horror; she
moved on; and presently they heard her exclaiming; gaily; 'Captain
Morville; I really must scold you。 You are setting a shocking example
of laziness! Aunt Edmonstone; how can you encourage such proceedings!
Indolence is the parent of vice; you know。'
Philip smiled just as much as the occasion required; and answered; 'I
beg your pardon; I had forgotten my duty。 I'll attend to my business
better in future。' And turning to a small; shy damsel; who seldom met
with a partner; he asked her to dance。 Eveleen came back to Laura with
a droll disappointed gesture。 'Insult to injury;' said she;
disconsolately。
'Of course;' said Amy; 'he could not have thought you wanted to dance
with him; or you would not have gone to stir him up。'
'Well; then; he was very obtuse。'
'Besides; you are engaged。'
'0 yes; to Mr。 Thorndale! But who would be content with the squire
when the knight disdains her?'
Mr。 Thorndale came to claim Eveleen at that moment。 It was the second
time she had danced with him; and it did not pass unobserved by Philip;
nor the long walk up and down after the dance was over。 At length his
friend came up to him and said something warm in admiration of her。
'She is very Irish;' was Philip's answer; with a cold smile; and Mr。
Thorndale stood uncomfortable under the disapprobation; attracted by
Eveleen's beauty and grace; yet so unused to trust his own judgment
apart from 'Morville's;' as to be in an instant doubtful whether he
really admired or not。
'You have not been dancing with her?' he said; presently。
'No: she attracts too many to need the attention of a nobody like
myself。'
That 'too many;' seeming to confound him with the vulgar herd; made Mr。
Thorndale heartily ashamed of having been pleased with her。
Philip was easy about him for the present; satisfied that admiration
had been checked; which; if it had been allowed to grow into an
attachment; would have been very undesirable。
The suspicions Charles had excited were so full in Philip's mind;
however; that he could not as easily set it at rest respecting his
cousin。 Guy had three times asked her to dance; but each time she had
been engaged。 At last; just as the clock struck the hour at which the
carriage had been ordered; he came up; and impetuously claimed her。
'One quadrille we must have; Laura; if you are not tired?'
'No! Oh; no! I could dance till this time to…morrow。'
'We ought to be going;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'0 pray; Mrs。 Edmonstone; this one more;' cried Guy; eagerly。 'Laura
owes me this one。'
'Yes; this one more; mamma;' said Laura; and they went off together;
while Philip remained; in a reverie; till requested by his aunt to see
if the carriage was ready。
The dance was over; the carriage was waiting; but Guy and Laura did not
appear till; after two or three minutes spent in wonder and inquiries;
they came quietly walking back from the library; where they had been
looking at King Charles。
All the way home the four ladies in the carriage never ceased laughing
and talking。 The three gentlemen in theirs acted diversely。 Mr。
Edmonstone went to sleep; Philip sat in silent thought; Guy whistled
and hummed the tunes; and moved his foot very much as if he was still
dancing。
They met for a moment; and parted again in the hall at Hollywell; where
the daylight was striving to get in through the closed shutters。
Philip went on to Broadstone; Guy said he could not go to bed by
daylight; called Bustle; and went to the river to bathe; and the rest
crept upstairs to their rooms。 And so ended Lord Kilcoran's ball。
CHAPTER 8
Like Alexander; I will reign;
And I will reign alone;
My thoughts shall ever more disdain
A rival near my throne。
But I must rule and govern still;
And always give the law;
And have each subject at my will;
And all to stand in awe。MONTROSE。
One very hot afternoon; shortly after the ball; Captain Morville walked
to Hollywell; accelerating his pace under the influence of anxious
reflections。
He could not determine whether Charles had spoken in jest; but in spite
of Guy's extreme youth; he feared there was ground for the suspicion
excited by the hint; and was persuaded that such an attachment could
produce nothing but unhappiness to his cousin; considering how little
confidence could be placed in Guy。 He perceived that there was much to
inspire affectionattractive qualities; amiable disposition; the
talent for music; and now this recently discovered power of versifying;
all were in Guy's favour; besides the ancient name and long ancestry;
which conferred a romantic interest; and caused even Philip to look up
to him with a feudal feeling as head of the family。 There was also the
familiar intercourse to increase the danger; and Philip; as he
reflected on these things; trembled for Laura; and felt himself her
only protector; for his uncle was nobody; Mrs。 Edmonstone was
infatuated; and Charles would not listen to reason。 To make everything
worse; he had that morning heard that there was to be a grand
inspection of the regiment; and a presentation of colours; Colonel
Deane was very anxious; and it was plain that in the interval the
officers would be allowed little leisure。 The whole affair was to end
with a ball; which would lead to a repetition of what had already
disturbed him。
Thus meditating; Philip; heated and dusty; walked into the smooth green
enclosure of Hollywell。 Everything; save the dancing clouds of insect
youth which whirled in his face; was drooping in the heat。 The house
every door and window openedseemed gasping for breath; the cows
sought refuge in the shade; the pony drooped its head drowsily; the
leaves hung wearily; the flowers were faint and thirsty; and Bustle was
stretched on the stone steps; mouth open; tongue out; only his tail now
and then moving; till he put back his ears and crested his head to
greet the arrival。 Philip heard the sounds that had caused the motion
of the sympathizing tailthe rich tones of Guy's voice。 Stepping over
the dog; he entered; and heard more clearly
'Two loving hearts may sever;
For sorrow fails them never。'
And then another voice
'Who knows not love in sorrow's night;
He knows not love in light。'
In the drawing…room; cool and comfortable in the green shade of the
Ve