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The Heir of Redclyffe
by Charlotte M。 Younge
CHAPTER 1
In such pursuits if wisdom lies；
Who； Laura； can thy taste despise？GAY
The drawing…room of Hollywell House was one of the favoured apartments；
where a peculiar air of home seems to reside； whether seen in the
middle of summer； all its large windows open to the garden； or； as when
our story commences； its bright fire and stands of fragrant green…house
plants contrasted with the wintry fog and leafless trees of November。
There were two persons in the rooma young lady； who sat drawing at
the round table； and a youth； lying on a couch near the fire；
surrounded with books and newspapers； and a pair of crutches near him。
Both looked up with a smile of welcome at the entrance of a tall； fine…
looking young man； whom each greeted with 'Good morning； Philip。'
'Good morning； Laura。 Good morning； Charles； I am glad you are
downstairs again！ How are you to…day？'
'No way remarkable； thank you；' was the answer； somewhat wearily given
by Charles。
'You walked？' said Laura。
'Yes。 Where's my uncle？ I called at the post…office； and brought a
letter for him。 It has the Moorworth post…mark；' he added； producing
it。
'Where's that？' said Charles。
'The post…town to Redclyffe； Sir Guy Morville's place。'
'That old Sir Guy！ What can he have to do with my father？'
'Did you not know；' said Philip； 'that my uncle is to be guardian to
the boyhis grandson？'
'Eh？ No； I did not。'
'Yes；' said Philip； 'when old Sir Guy made it an especial point that my
father should take the guardianship； he only consented on condition
that my uncle should be joined with him； so now my uncle is alone in
the trust； and I cannot help thinking something must have happened at
Redclyffe。 It is certainly not Sir Guy's writing。'
'It must wait； unless your curiosity will carry you out in search of
papa；' said Charles； 'he is somewhere about； zealously supplying the
place of Jenkins。'
'Really； Philip；' said Laura； 'there is no telling how much good you
have done him by convincing him of Jenkins' dishonesty。 To say nothing
of the benefit of being no longer cheated； the pleasure of having to
overlook the farming is untold。'
Philip smiled； and came to the table where she was drawing。 'Do you
know this place？' said she； looking up in his face。
'Stylehurst itself！ What is it taken from？'
'From this pencil sketch of your sister's； which I found in mamma's
scrap book。'
'You are making it very like； only the spire is too slender； and that
treecan't you alter the foliage？it is an ash。'
'Is it？ I took it for an elm。'
'And surely those trees in the foreground should be greener； to throw
back the middle distance。 That is the peak of South Moor exactly； if
it looked further off。'
She began the alterations； while Philip stood watching her progress； a
shade of melancholy gathering on his face。 Suddenly； a voice called
'Laura！ Are you there？ Open the door； and you will see。'
On Philip's opening it； in came a tall camellia； the laughing face； and
light； shining curls of the bearer peeping through the dark green
leaves。
'Thank you！ Oh； is it you； Philip？ Oh； don't take it。 I must bring
my own camellia to show Charlie。'
'You make the most of that one flower；' said Charles。
'Only see how many buds！' and she placed it by his sofa。 Is it not a
perfect blossom； so pure a white； and so regular！ And I am so proud of
having beaten mamma and all the gardeners； for not another will be out
this fortnight； and this is to go to the horticultural show。 Sam would
hardly trust me to bring it in； though it was my nursing； not his。'
'Now； Amy；' said Philip； when the flower had been duly admired； 'you
must let me put it into the window； for you。 It is too heavy for you。'
'Oh； take care；' cried Amabel； but too late； for； as he took it from
her； the solitary flower struck against Charles's little table； and was
broken off。
'0 Amy； I am very sorry。 What a pity！ How did it happen？'
'Never mind；' she answered； 'it will last a long time in water。'
'It was very unluckyI am very sorryespecially because of the
horticultural show。'
'Make all your apologies to Sam；' said Amy； 'his feelings will be more
hurt than mine。 I dare say my poor flower would have caught cold at
the show； and never held up its head again。'
Her tone was gay； but Charles； who saw her face in the glass； betrayed
her by saying； 'Winking away a tear； 0 Amy！'
'I never nursed a dear gazelle！' quoted Amy； with a merry laugh； and
before any more could be said； there entered a middle…aged gentleman；
short and slight； with a fresh； weather…beaten； good…natured face； gray
whiskers； quick eyes； and a hasty； undecided air in look and movement。
He greeted Philip heartily； and the letter was given to him。
'Ha！ Eh？ Let us look。 Not old Sir Guy's hand。 Eh？ What can be the
matter？ What？ Dead！ This is a sudden thing。'
'Dead！ Who？ Sir Guy Morville？'
'Yes； quite suddenlypoor old man。' Then stepping to the door； he
opened it； and called； 'Mamma； just step here a minute； will you；
mamma？'
The summons was obeyed by a tall； handsome lady； and behind her crept；
with doubtful steps； as if she knew not how far to venture； a little
girl of eleven； her turned…up nose and shrewd face full of curiosity。
She darted up to Amabel； who； though she shook her head； and held up
her finger； smiled； and took the little girl's hand； listening
meanwhile to the announcement； 'Do you hear this； mamma？ Here's a
shocking thing！ Sir Guy Morville dead； quite suddenly。'
'Indeed！ Well； poor man； I suppose no one ever repented or suffered
more than he。 Who writes？'
'His grandsonpoor boy！ I can hardly make out his letter。' Holding
it half a yard from his eyes； so that all could see a few lines of
hasty； irregular writing； in a forcible hand； bearing marks of having
been penned under great distress and agitation； he read aloud：…
'〃DEAR MR。 EDMONSTONE；
My dear grandfather died at six this morning。 He had an attack of
apoplexy yesterday evening； and never spoke again； though for a short
time he knew me。 We hope he suffered little。 Markham will make all
arrangements。 We propose that the funeral should take place on
Tuesday； I hope you will be able to come。 I would write to my cousin；
Philip Morville； if I knew his address； but I depend on you for saying
all that ought to be said。 Excuse this illegible letter；I hardly
know what I write。
'〃Yours； very sincerely；
'〃Guy Morville。'〃
'Poor fellow！' said Philip； 'he writes with a great deal of proper
feeling。'
'How very sad for him to be left alone there！' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Very sadvery；' said her husband。 'I must start off to him at once
yes； at once。 Should you not say soeh； Philip？'
'Certainly。 I think I had better go with you。 It would be the correct
thing； and I should not like to fail in any token of respect for poor
old Sir Guy。'
'Of courseof course；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'it would be the correct
thing。 I am sure he was always very civil to us； and you are next heir
after this boy。'
Little Charlotte made a sort of jump； lifted her eyebrows； and stared
at Amabel。
Philip answered。 'That is not worth a thought； but since he and I are
now the only representatives of the two branches of the house of
Morville； it shall not be my fault if the enmity is not forgotten。'
'Buried in oblivion would sound more magnanimous；' said Charles； at
which Amabel laughed so uncontrollably； that she was forced to hide her
head on her little sister's shoulder。 Charlotte laughed too； an
imprudent proceeding； as it attracted attention。 Her father smiled；
saying； half…reprovingly'So you are there； inquisitive pussy…cat？'
And at her mother's question；'Charlotte； what business have you
here？' She stole back to her lessons； looking very small； without the
satisfaction of hearing her mother's compassionate words'Poor child！'
'How old is he？' asked Mr。 Edmonstone； returning to the former subject。
'He is of the same age as Lauraseventeen and a half；' answered Mrs。
Edmonstone。 'Don't you remember my brother saying what a satisfaction
it was to see such a noble baby as she was； after such a poor little
miserable thing as the one at Redclyffe？'
'He is grown into a fine spirited fellow；' said Philip。
'I suppose we must have him here；' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 Should you not
say soeh； Philip？'
'Certainly； I should think it very good for him。 Indeed； his
grandfather's death has happened at a most favourable time for him