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stop the compliment； considering how edified he had been by his wife's
unexpected ingenuity； and what a comical account he had written of it
to her mother； such； as Amy told him； deserved to be published in a
book of good advice to young ladies； to show what they might come to if
they behaved well。 However； she was glad to have ocular demonstration
of the success of the cookery； which she had feared might turn out
uneatable； and her gentle feelings towards Philip were touched； by
seeing one wont to be full of independence and self…assertion； now meek
and helpless； requiring to be lifted； and propped up with pillows； and
depending entirely and thankfully upon Guy。
When he had been settled and made comfortable； they read the service；
and she thought her husband's tones had never been so sweet as now；
modulated to the pitch best suited to the sickroom； and with the
peculiarly beautiful expression he always gave such reading。 It was
the lesson from Jeremiah； on the different destiny of Josiah and his
sons； and he read that verse； 'Weep ye not for the dead； neither bemoan
him； but weep sore for him that goeth away； for he shall return no
more； nor see his native country；' with so remarkable a melancholy and
beauty in his voice； that she could hardly refrain from tears； and it
also greatly struck Philip； who had been so near 'returning no more；
neither seeing his native country。'
When the reading was over； and they were leaving him to rest； while
they went to dinner； he said； as he wished Amy good…bye； 'Till now I
never discovered the practical advantage of such a voice as Guy's。
There never was such a one for a sick…room。 Last week； I could not
bear any one else to speak at all； and even now； no one else could have
read so that I could like it。'
'Your voice； yes；' said Amy； after they had returned to their own
sitting…room。 'I want to hear it very much。 I wonder when you will
sing to me again。'
'Not till he has recovered strength to bear the infliction with
firmness；' said Guy； 'but； Amy； I'll tell you what we will do； if you
are sure it is good for you。 He will have a good long sleep； and we
will have a walk on the green hillocks。'
Accordingly they wandered in the cool of the evening on the grassy
slopes under the chestnut…trees； making it a Sunday walk； calm； bright
and meditative； without many words； but those deep and grave； 'such as
their walks had been before they were married；' as Amabel said。
'Better；' he answered。
A silence； broken by her asking； 'Do you recollect your melancholy
definition of happiness； years ago？'
'What was it？'
'Gleams from another world； too soon eclipsed or forfeited。 It made me
sad then。 Do you hold to it now？'
'Don't you？'
'I want to know what you would say now？'
'Gleams from another world； brightening as it gets nearer。'
Amabel repeated
Ever the richest； tenderest glow；
Sets round the autumnal sun；
But their sight fails； no heart may know
The bliss when life is done。
'Old age；' she added； 'that seems very far off。'
'Each day is a step；' he answered； and then came a silence while both
were thinking deeply。
They sat down to rest under a tree； the mountains before them with
heavy dark clouds hanging on their sides； and the white crowns clear
against the blue sky； a perfect stillness on all around； and the red
glow of an Italian sunset just fading away。
'There is only one thing wanting；' said Amy。 'You may sing now。 You
are far from Philip's hearing。 Suppose we chant this afternoon's
psalms。'
It was the fifth day of the month； and the psalms seemed especially
suitable to their thoughts。 Before the 29th was finished； it was
beginning to grow dark。 There were a few pale flashes of lightning in
the mountains； and at the words 'The voice of the Lord shaketh the
wilderness；' a low but solemn peal of thunder came as an accompaniment。
'The Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace。'
The full sweet melody died away； but the echo caught it up and answered
like the chant of a spirit in the distance'The blessing of peace。'
The effect was too solemn and mysterious to be disturbed by word or
remark。 Guy drew her arm into his； and they turned homewards。
They had some distance to walk； and night had closed in before they
reached the village； but was only more lovely。 The thunder rolled
solemnly among the hills； but the young moon shone in marvellous
whiteness on the snowy crowns； casting fantastic shadows from the
crags； while whole showers of fire…flies were falling on them from the
trees； floating and glancing in the shade。
'It is a pity to go in；' said Amy。 But Arnaud did not seem to be of
the same opinion： he came out to meet them very anxiously；
expostulating on the dangers of the autumnal dew； and Guy owned that
though it had been the most wonderful and delightful evening he had
ever known； he was rather fatigued。
CHAPTER 33
From darkness here and dreariness；
We ask not full repose。CHRISTIAN YEAR
It seemed as if the fatigue which Guy had undergone was going to make
itself felt at last； for he had a slight headache the next morning； and
seemed dull and weary。 Both he and Amabel sat for some time with
Philip； and when she went away to write her letters； Philip began
discussing a plan which had occurred to him of offering himself as
chief of the constabulary force in the county where Redclyffe was
situated。 It was an office which would suit him very well； and opened
a new hope of his marriage； and he proceeded to reckon on Lord
Thorndale's interest； counting up all the magistrates he knew； and
talking them over with Guy； who； however； did not know enough of his
own neighbourhood to be of much use； and when he came up…stairs a
little after； said he was vexed at having been so stupid。 He was
afraid he had seemed unkind and indifferent。 But the truth was that he
was so heavy and drowsy； that he had actually fallen twice into a doze
while Philip was talking。
'Of course；' said Amy； 'gentle sleep will take her revenge at last for
your calling her a popular delusion。 Lie down； let her have her own
way； and you will be good for something by and by。'
He took her advice； slept for a couple of hours； and awoke a good deal
refreshed； so that though his head still ached； he was able to attend
as usual to Philip in the evening。
He did not waken the next morning till so late； that he sprung up in
consternation； and began to dress in haste to go to Philip； but
presently he came back from his dressing…room with a hasty uncertain
step； and threw himself down on the bed。 Amabel came to his side in an
instant； much frightened at his paleness； but he spoke directly。 'Only
a fit of giddinessit is going off；' and he raised himself； but was
obliged to lie down again directly。
'You had better keep quiet' said she。 'Is it your headache？'
'It is aching；' said Guy； and she put her hand over it。
'How hot and throbbing！' said she。 ' You must have caught cold in that
walk。 No； don't try to move； it is only making it worse。'
'I must go to Philip；' he answered； starting up； but this
brought on such a sensation of dizziness and faintness； that he sunk
back on the pillow。
'No； it is of no use to fight against it；' said Amy； as soon as he was
a little better。 'Never mind Philip； I'll go to him。 You must keep
quiet； and I will get you a cup of hot tea。'
As he lay still； she had the comfort of seeing him somewhat revived；
but he listened to her persuasions not to attempt to move。 It was
later than she had expected； and she found that breakfast was laid out
in the next room。 She brought him some tea； but he did not seem
inclined to lift his head to drink it； and begged her to go at once to
Philip； fearing he must be thinking himself strangely forgotten； and
giving her many directions about the way he liked to be waited on at
breakfast。
Very much surprised was Philip to see her instead； of her husband； and
greatly concerned to hear that Guy was not well。
'Over…fatigue；' said he。 'He could not but feel the effects of such
long…continued exertion。' Then； after an interval； during which he had
begun breakfast； with many apologies for letting her wait on him； he
said； with some breaks； 'Never was there such a nurse as he； Amy； I
have felt much more than I can express； especially now。 You will never
have to complain of my harsh judgment again！'
'It is too much for you to talk of these things；' said Amabel； moved by
the trembling of his feeble voice； but too anxious to return to her
husband to like to wait even to hear that Philip's opinion _had_
altered。 It required much self…command not to hurry