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'Don't you remember our resolution against mere pleasure…hunting？ That
adventure at Interlachen seemed to be meant to bring us up short just
as we were getting into that line。'
'You think we were？'
'I was； at least； for I know it was a satisfaction not to find a
letter； to say Redclyffe was ready for us。'
'I had rather it was Redclyffe than Philip。'
'To be sure； I would not change my own dancing leaping waves for this
clear blue looking…glass of a lake； or even those white peaks。 I want
you to make friends with those waves； Amy。 But it is a more real
matter to make friends with Philip； the one wish of my life。 Not that
I exactly expect to clear matters up； but if some move is not made now；
when it may； we shall stand aloof for life； and there will be the feud
where it was before。'
'It is quite right；' said Amy； 'I dare say that； meeting so far from
home； he will be glad to see us； and to hear the Hollywell news。 I
little thought last autumn where I should meet him again。'
On the second evening from that time； Philip Morville was walking； hot
and dusty； between the high stone walls bordering the road； and
shutting out the beautiful view of the lake； at the entrance of
Ballagio； meditating on the note he bad received from Guy； and
intending to be magnanimous； and overlook former offences for Amabel's
sake。 He would show that he considered the marriage to have cleared
off old scores； and that as long as she was happy； poor little thing；
her husband should be borne with； though not to the extent of the
spoiling the Edmonstones gave him。
Thus reflecting； he entered the town； and walked on in search of the
hotel。 He presently found himself on a terrace； looking out on the
deep blue lake； there divided by the promontory of Bellagio； into two
branches； the magnificent mountain forms rising opposite to him。 A
little boat was crossing； and as it neared the landing…place； he saw
that it contained a gentleman and lady； Englishprobably his cousins
themselves。 They looked up； and in another moment had waved their
recognition。 Gestures and faces were strangely familiar； like a bit of
Hollywell transplanted into that Italian scene。 He hastened to the
landing…place； and was met by a hearty greeting from Guy； who seemed
full of eagerness to claim their closer relationship； and ready to be
congratulated。
'How d'ye do； Philip？ I am glad we have caught you at last。 Here she
is。'
If he had wished to annoy Philip； he could hardly have done so more
effectually than by behaving as if nothing was amiss； and disconcerting
his preparations for a reconciliation。 But the captain's ordinary
manner was calculated to cover all such feelings； and as he shook
hands； he felt much kindness for Amabel； as an unconscious victim；
whose very smiles were melancholy； and plenty of them there were； for
she rejoiced sincerely in the meeting； as Guy was pleased； and a home
face was a welcome sight。
'I have your letters in my knapsack； I will unpack them as soon as we
get to the hotel。 I thought it safer not to send them in search of you
again； as we were to meet so soon。'
'Certainly。 Are there many？'
'One for each of you； both from Hollywell。 I was very sorry to have
engrossed them； but not knowing you were so near； I only gave my
surname。'
'It was lucky for us；' said Guy； 'otherwise we could not have traced
you。 We saw your name at Altdorf； and have been trying to come up with
you ever since。'
'I am glad we have met。 What accounts have you from home？'
'Excellent；' said Amy； 'Charlie is uncommonly well； he has been out of
doors a great deal； and has even dined out several times。'
'I am very glad。'
'You know he has been improving ever since his great illness。'
'You would be surprised to see how much better he moves；' said Guy； 'he
helps himself so much more。'
'Can he set his foot to the ground？'
'No；' said Amy； 'there is no hope of that； but he is more active；
because his general health is improved； he can sleep and eat more。'
'I always thought exertion would do more for him than anything else。'
Amabel was vexed； for she thought exertion depended more on health；
than health on exertion； besides； she thought Philip ought to take some
blame to himself for the disaster on the stairs。 She made no answer；
and Guy asked what Philip had been doing to…day。
'Walking over the hills from Como。 Do you always travel in this
fashion； 〃impedimentis relictis〃？'
'Not exactly；' said Guy； 'the 〃impedimenta〃 are； some at Varenna； some
at the inn with Arnaud。'
'So you have Arnaud with you？'
'Yes； and Anne Trower；' said Amy； for her maid was a Stylehurst person；
who had lived at Hollywell ever since she had been fit for service。
'She was greatly pleased to hear we were going to meet the captain。'
'We amuse ourselves with thinking how she gets on with Arnaud；' said
Guy。 'Their introduction took place only two days before we were
married； since which； they have had one continued tete…a…tete； which
must have been droll at first。'
'More so at last；' said Amy。 'At first Anne thought Mr。 Arnaud so fine
a gentleman； that she hardly dared to speak to him。 I believe nothing
awed her so much as his extreme courtesy； but lately he has been quite
fatherly to her； and took her to dine at his sister's chalet； where I
would have given something to see her。 She tells me he wants her to
admire the country； but she does not like the snow； and misses our
beautiful clover…fields very much。'
'Stylehurst ought to have been better training for mountains；' said
Philip。
They were fast losing the stiffness of first meeting。 Philip could not
but acknowledge to himself that Amy was looking very well； and so happy
that Guy must be fulfilling the condition on which he was to be borne
with。 However； these were early days； and of course Guy must be kind
to her at least in the honeymoon； before the wear and tear of life
began。 They both looked so young； that having advised them to wait
four years； he was ready to charge them with youthfulness； if not as a
fault； at least as a folly； indeed； the state of his own affairs made
him inclined to think it a foible； almost a want of patience； in any
one to marry before thirty。 It was a conflict of feeling。 Guy was so
cordial and good…humoured； that he could not help being almost gained；
but； on the other hand； he had always thought Guy's manners eminently
agreeable； and as happiness always made people good…humoured； this was
no reason for relying on him。 Besides； the present ease and openness
of manner might only result from security。
Other circumstances combined； more than the captain imagined； in what
is popularly called putting him out。 He had always been hitherto on
equal terms with Guy； indeed； had rather the superiority at Hollywell；
from his age and assumption of character； but here Sir Guy was
somebody； the captain nobody； and even the advantage of age was lost；
now that Guy was married and head of a family； while Philip was a stray
young man and his guest。 Far above such considerations as he thought
himself； and deeming them only the tokens of the mammon worship of the
time； Philip； nevertheless； did not like to be secondary to one to whom
he had always been preferred； and this； and perhaps the being half
ashamed of it； made him something more approaching to cross than ever
before； but now and then； the persevering amiability of both would
soften him； and restore him to his most gracious mood。
He gave them their letters when they reached the inn； feeling as if he
had a better right than they； to one which was in Laura's writing； and
when left in solitary possession of the sitting…rooma very pleasant
one； with windows opening on the terrace just above the waterpaced up
and down； chafing at his own perplexity of feeling。
Presently they came back； Guy sat down to continue their joint journal…
like letter to Charles； while Amabel made an orderly arrangement of
their properties； making the most of their few books； and taking out
her work as if she had been at home。 Philip looked at the books。
'Have you a 〃Childe Harold〃 here？' said he。 'I want to look at
something in it。'
'No； we have not。'
'Guy； you never forget poetry； I dare say you can help me out with
those stanzas about the mists in the valley。'
'I have never read it；' said Guy。 'Don't you remember warning me
against Byron？'
'You did not think that was for life！ Besides；' he continued； feeling
this reply inconsistent with his contempt for Guy's youth； 'that
applied to his perversions of human passions； not to his descriptions
of scenery。'
'I think；' said Guy； looking up from his letter； 'I should be more
unwilling to ta