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第95章

the heir of redclyffe-第95章

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hear how the truth came out; and what it was。'



'It was that Dixon。  There has he been helping that man for ever; 

sending his child to school; giving him sums upon sums; paying his 

gaming debts with that cheque!'



'Oh; oh!' cried Charles。



'Yes that was it!  The child told Markham of it; and Markham brought 

the father to tell me。  It puts me in a rage to think of the monstrous 

stories Philip has made me believe!'



'I was sure of it!' cried Charles。  'I knew it would come out that he 

had only been so much better than other people that nobody could 

believe it。  Cleared! cleared!  Why; Charlotte; Mr。 Ready…to…halt will 

be for footing it cleverly enough!' as she was wildly curvetting round 

him。



'I was always sure;' said Mr。 Edmonstone。  'I knew it was not in him to 

go wrong。  It was only Philip; who would persuade me black was white。'



'I never believed one word of it;' said Charles; 'still less after I 

saw Philip's animosity。'



'〃Les absens ont toujours tort;〃' interrupted Laura; then; afraid of 

saying too much; she added;'Come; Charlotte; it is very late。'



'And I shall be the first to tell Amy!' cried Charlotte。  'Good night; 

papa!good night; Charlie!'



She rushed up…stairs; afraid of being forestalled。  Laura lingered; 

putting some books away in the ante…room; trying to overcome the weary 

pain at her heart。  She did not know how to be confident。  Her father's 

judgment was worthless in her eyes; and Philip had predicted that Amy 

would be sacrificed after all。  To see them happy made her sigh at the 

distance of her own hopes; and worse than all was self…reproach for 

unkindness in not rejoicing with the rest; in spite of her real 

affection for Guy himself。  When she thought of him; she could not 

believe him guilty; when she thought of Philip's belief; she could not 

suppose him innocent; and she pitied her sister for enjoying a delusive 

happiness。  With effort; however; she went to her room; and; finding 

her a little overpowered by Charlotte's tumultuous joy; saw that peace 

and solitude were best for her till she could have more certain 

intelligence; and; after very tender good…nights; carried off 

Charlotte。



It would be hard to describe Mrs。 Edmonstone's emotion; as she preceded 

Guy to the dressing…room; and sat down; looking up to him as he stood 

in his old place by the fire。  She thought he did not look well; though 

it might be only that the sun…burnt colour had given place to his 

natural fairness; his eyes; though bright as ever; did not dance and 

sparkle; a graver expression sat on his brow; and although he still 

looked very young; a change there certainly was; which made him man 

instead of boya look of having suffered; and conquered suffering。  

She felt even more motherly affection for him now than when he last 

stood there in the full tide of his first outburst of his love for her 

daughter; and her heart was almost too full for speech; but he seemed 

to be waiting for her; and at last she said;'I am very glad to have 

you here again。'



He smiled a little; then said; 'May I tell you all about it?'



'Sit down here。  I want very much to hear it。  I am sure you have gone 

through a good deal。'



 I have; indeed;' said he; simply and gravely; and there was a silence; 

while she was certain that; whatever he might have endured; he did not 

feel it to have been in vain。



' But it is at an end;' said she。 'I have scarcely seen Mr。 Edmonstone; 

but he tells me he is perfectly satisfied。'



'He is so kind as to be satisfied; though you know I still cannot 

explain about the large sum I asked him for。'



'We will trust you;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone; smiling; 'but I am very 

anxious to hear how you came to an understanding。'



Guy went over the story in detail; and very much affected she was to 

hear how entirely unfounded had been the suspicion; and how thankful he 

was for Mr。 Edmonstone's forgiveness。



'You had rather to forgive us!' said she。



'You forget how ill I behaved;' said Guy; colouring。  'If you knew the 

madness of those first moments of provocation; you would think that the 

penance of a lifetime; instead of only one winter; would scarce have 

been sufficient。'



'You would not say; as Charles does; that the suspicion justified your 

anger?'



'No; indeed!'  He paused; and spoke again。  'Thank Heaven; it did not 

last long; but the insight it gave me into the unsubdued evil about me 

was a fearful thing。'



'But you conquered it。  They were the unguarded exclamations of the 

first shock。  Your whole conduct since; especially the interview with 

Philip; has shown that your anger has not been abiding; and that you 

have learnt to subdue it。'



'It could not abide; for there was no just cause of offence。  Of course 

such a dreadful outburst warned me to be on my guard; and you know the 

very sight of Philip is a warning that there is danger in that way!  I 

mean;' said Guy; becoming conscious that he had been very severe; 'I 

mean that I know of old that I am apt to be worried by his manner; and 

that ought to make me doubly cautious。'



Mrs。 Edmonstone was struck by the soberer manner in which he spoke of 

his faults。  He was as ready to take full blame; but without the 

vehemence which he used to expend in raving at himself instead of at 

the offender。  It seemed as if he had brought himself to the tone he 

used to desire so earnestly。



'I am very glad to be able to explain all to Philip;' he said。



'I will write as soon as possible。  Oh; Mrs。 Edmonstone! if you knew 

what it is to be brought back to such unhoped…for happiness; to sit 

here once more; with you;'his voice trembled; and the tears were in 

her eyes;'to have seen _her_; to have all overlooked; and return to 

all I hoped last year。  I want to look at you all; to believe that it 

is true;' he finished; smiling。



'You both behaved very well this evening;' said she; laughing; because 

she could do so better than anything else at that moment。



'You both!' murmured Guy to himself。



'Ah! little Amy has been very good this winter。'



He answered her with a beautiful expression of his eyes; was silent a 

little while; and suddenly exclaimed; in a candid; expostulating tone; 

'But now; seriously; don't you think it a very bad thing for her?'



'My dear Guy;' said she; scarcely repressing a disposition to laugh; 'I 

told you last summer what I thought of it; and you must settle the rest 

with Amy to…morrow。  I hear the drawing…room bell; which is a sign I 

must send you to bed。  Good night!'



'Good night!' repeated Guy; as he held her hand。  'It is so long since 

I have had any one to wish me good night!  Good night; mamma!'



She pressed his hand; then as he ran down to lend a helping hand in 

carrying Charles; she; the tears in her eyes; crossed the passage to 

see how it was with her little Amy; and to set her at rest for the 

night。  Amy's candle was out; and she was in bed; lying full in the 

light of the Easter moon; which poured in glorious whiteness through 

her window。  She started up as the door opened。  'Oh; mamma! how kind 

of you to come!'



'I can only stay a moment; my dear; your papa is coming up; but I must 

just tell you that I have been having such a nice talk with dear Guy。  

He has behaved beautifully; and papa is quite satisfied。  Now; darling; 

I hope you will not lie awake all night; or you won't be fit to talk to 

him to…morrow。'



Amy sat up in bed; and put her arms round her mother's neck。  'Then he 

is happy again;' she whispered。  'I should like to hear all。'



'He shall tell you himself to…morrow; my dear。   Now; good night! you 

have been a very good child。  Now; go to sleep; my dear one。'



Amy lay down obediently。  'Thank you for coming to tell me; dear 

mamma;' she said。  'I am very glad; good night。'



She shut her eyes; and there was somet

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