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ever he had made for himself； and the walk ended with extensive castle
building on Philip's account； in the course of which Amy was obliged to
become much less displeased。 Guy told her； in the evening； that she
would have been still more softened if she could have heard him talk
about Stylehurst and his father。 Guy had always wished to hear him
speak of the Archdeacon； though they had never been on terms to enter
on such a subject。 And now Philip had been much pleased by Guy's
account of his walks to Stylehurst； and taken pleasure in telling which
were his old haunts； making out where Guy had been； and describing his
father's ways。
The next day was Sunday； and Amabel was to pay her cousin a visit。 Guy
was very eager about it； saying it was like a stage in his recovery；
and though the thought of her mother and Laura could not be laid aside；
she would not say a word to damp her husband's pleasure in the
anticipation。 It seemed as if Guy； wanting to bestow all he could upon
his cousin in gratitude for his newly…accorded friendship； thought the
sight of his little wife the very best thing he had to give。
It was a beautiful day； early in September； with a little autumnal
freshness in the mountain breezes that they enjoyed exceedingly。
Philip's convalescence； and their own escape； might be considered as so
far decided； that they might look back on the peril as past。 Amabel
felt how much cause there was for thankfulness； and； after all； Philip
was not half as bad now as when he was maintaining his system of
concealment； he had made a great effort； and was about to do his best
by way of reparation； but it was so new to her to pity him； that she
did not know how to begin。
She tried to make the day seem as Sunday…like as she could； by putting
on her white muslin dress and white ribbons； with Charles's hair
bracelet； and a brooch of beautiful silver workmanship； which Guy had
bought for her at Milan； the only ornament he had ever given to her。
She sat at her window； watching the groups of Italians in their holiday
costume； and dwelling on the strange thoughts that had passed through
her mind often before in her lonely Sundays in this foreign land；
thinking much of her old home and East…hill Church； wondering whether
the letter had yet arrived which was to free them from anxiety； and
losing herself in a maze of uncomfortable marvels about Laura。
'Now； then；' at length said Guy； entering； 'I only hope he has not
knocked himself up with his preparations； for he would make such a
setting to rights； that I told him I could almost fancy he expected the
queen instead of only Dame Amabel Morville。'
He led her down； opened the door； and playfully announced； 'Lady
Morville！ I have done it right this time。 Here she is'！
She had of course expected to see Philip much altered； but she was
startled by the extent of the change； for being naturally fair and
high…coloured； he was a person on whom the traces of illness were
particularly visible。 The colour was totally gone； even from his lips；
his cheeks were sunken； his brow looked broader and more massive from
the thinness of his face and the loss of his hair； and his eyes
themselves appeared unlike what they used to be in the hollows round
them。 He seemed tranquil； and comfortable； but so wan； weak； and
subdued； and so different from himself； that she was very much shocked；
as smiling and holding out a hand； where the white skin seemed hardly
to cover the bone and blue vein； he said； in a tone； slow； feeble； and
languid； though cheerful；
'Good morning； Amy。 You see Guy was right； after all。 I am sorry to
have made your wedding tour end so unpleasantly。'
'Nay； most pleasantly； since you are better；' said Amabel； laughing；
because she was almost ready to cry； and her displeasure went straight
out of her head。
'Are you doing the honours of my room； Guy？' said Philip； raising his
head from the pillow； with a becoming shade of his ceremonious
courtesy。 'Give her a chair。'
Amy smiled and thanked him； while he lay gazing at her as a sick person
is apt to do at a flower； or the first pretty enlivening object from
which he is able to derive enjoyment； and as if he could not help
expressing the feeling； he said
'Is that your wedding…dress； Amy？'
'Oh； no； that was all lace and finery。'
'You look so nice and bridal'
'There's a compliment that such an old wife ought to make the most of；
Amy；' said Guy； looking at her with a certain proud satisfaction in
Philip's admiration。 'It is high time to leave off calling you a
bride； after your splendid appearance at the party at Munich； in all
your whiteness and orange…flowers。'
'That was quite enough of it；' said Amy； smiling。
'Not at all；' said Philip； 'you have all your troubles in the visiting
line to come； when you go home。'
'Ah！ you know the people； and will be a great help to us；' said Amy；
and Guy was much pleased to hear her taking a voluntary share in the
invitation； knowing as he did that she only half liked it。
'Thank you； we shall see；' replied Philip。
'Yes； we shall see when you are fit for the journey； and it will not be
long before we can begin； by short stages。 You have got on wonderfully
in the last few days。 How do you think he is looking； Amy？' finished
Guy； with an air of triumph； that was rather amusing； considering what
a pale skeleton face he was regarding with so much satisfaction。
'I dare say he is looking much mended；' said Amy； 'but you must not
expect me to see it。'
'You can't get a compliment for me； Guy；' said Philip。 'I was a good
deal surprised when Arnaud brought me the glass this morning。'
'It is a pity you did not see yourself a week ago；' said Guy； shaking
his head drolly。
'It is certain； as the French doctor says； that monsieur has a very
vigorous constitution。'
'Charles says； having a good constitution is only another name for
undergoing every possible malady；' said Amy。
'Rather good' said Guy； 'for I certainly find it answer very well to
have none at all。'
'Haven't you？' said Amy； rather startled。
'Or how do you know？' said Philip； 'especially as you never were ill。'
'It is a dictum of old Walters； the Moorworth doctor； the last time I
had anything to do with him； when I was a small child。 I suppose I
remembered it for its oracular sound； and because I was not intended to
listen。 He was talking over with Markham some illness I had just got
through； and wound up with； 〃He may be healthy and active now； but he
has no constitution； there is a tendency to low fever； and if he meets
with any severe illness； it will go hard with him。〃'
'How glad I am I did not know that before' cried Amy。
'Did you remember it when you came here？' said Philip。
'Yes；' said Guy； not in the least conscious of the impression his words
made on the others。 'By the bye； Philip； I wish you would tell us how
you fared after we parted； and how you came here。'
'I went on according to my former plan；' said Philip； 'walking through
the Valtelline； and coming down by a mountain path。 I was not well at
Bolzano； but I thought it only fatigue； which a Sunday's rest would
remove； so on I went for the next two days； in spite of pain in head
and limbs。'
'Not walking！' said Amy。
'Yes； walking。 I thought it was stiffness from mountain climbing； and
that I could walk it off； but I never wish to go through anything like
what I did the last day； between the up and downs of that mountain
path； and the dazzle of the snow and heat of the sun。 I meant to have
reached Vicenza； but I must have been quite knocked up when I arrived
here； though I cannot tell。 My head grew so confused； that my dread；
all the way； was that I should forget my Italian； I can just remember
conning a phrase over and over again； lest I should lose it。 I suppose
I was able to speak when I came here； but the last thing I remember was
feeling very ill in some room； different from this； quite alone； and
with a horror of dying deserted。 The next is a confused recollection
of the relief of hearing English again； and seeing my excellent nurse
here。'
There was a little more talk； but a little was enough for Philip's
feeble voice； and Guy soon told him he was tired； and ordered in his
broth。 He begged that Amy would stay； and it was permitted on
condition that he would not talk； Guy even cutting short a quotation
of；'As Juno had been sick and he her dieter；'appropriate to the
excellence of the broths； which Amabel and her maid； thanks to their
experience of Charles's fastidious tastes； managed to devise and
execute； in spite of bad materials。 It was no small merit in Guy to
stop the compliment； considering how edified he had been by his wife's
unexpec