按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
'Yes；' he answered； 'I trust you to it and to mamma for comfort。 And
CharlieI shall not rob him any longer。 I only borrowed you for a
little while；' he added； smiling。 'In a little while we shall meet。
Years and months seem alike now。 I am sorry to cause you so much
grief； my Amy； but it is all as it should be； and we have been very
happy。'
Amy listened； her eyes intently fixed on him； unable to repress her
agitation； except by silence。 After some little time； he spoke again。
'My love to Charlieand Lauraand Charlotte； my brother and sisters。
How kindly they have made me one of them！ I need not ask Charlotte to
take care of Bustle； and your father will ride Deloraine。 My love to
him； and earnest thanks； for you above all； Amy。 And dear mamma！ I
must look now to meeting her in a brighter world； but tell her how I
have felt all her kindness since I first came in my strangeness and
grief。 How kind she was！ how she helped me and led me； and made me
know what a mother was。 Amy； it will not hurt you to hear it was your
likeness to her that first taught me to love you。 I have been so very
happy； I don't understand it。'
He was again silent； as in contemplation； and Amabel's overcoming
emotion had been calmed and chastened down again； now that it was no
longer herself that was spoken of。 Both were still； and he seemed to
sleep a little。 When next he spoke； it was to ask if she could repeat
their old favourite lines in 〃Sintram〃。 They came to her lips； and she
repeated them in a low； steady voice。
When death； is coming near；
And thy heart shrinks in fear；
And thy limbs fail；
Then raise thy hands and pray
To Him who smooths the way
Through the dark vale。
Seest thou the eastern dawn！
Hear'st thou； in the red morn；
The angel's song？
Oh！ lift thy drooping head；
Thou； who in gloom and dread
Hast lain so long。
Death comes to set thee free；
Oh！ meet him cheerily；
As thy true friend
And all thy fears shall cease；
And In eternal peace
Thy penance end。
'In eternal peace；' repeated Guy； 'I did not think it would have been
so soon。 I can't think where the battle has been。 I never thought my
life could be so bright。 It was a foolish longing； when first I was
ill； for the cool waves of Redclyffe bay and that shipwreck excitement；
if I was to die。 This is far better。 Read me a psalm； Amy； 〃Out of
the deep。〃'
There was something in his perfect happiness that would not let her
grieve； though a dull heavy sense of consternation was growing on her。
So it went on through the nightnot a long； nor a dreary onebut more
like a dream。 He dozed and woke； said a few tranquil words； and
listened to some prayer； psalm； or verse； then slept again； apparently
without suffering； except when he tried to take the cordials； and this
he did with such increasing difficulty； that she hardly knew how to
bear to cause him so much pain； though it was the last lingering hope。
He strove to swallow them； each time with the mechanical 'Thank you；'
so affecting when thus spoken； but at last he came to； 'It is of no
use； I cannot。'
Then she knew all hope was gone； and sat still； watching him。 The
darkness lessened； and twilight came。 He slept； but his breath grew
short； and unequal； and as she wiped the moisture on his brow； she knew
it was the death…damp。
Morning light came onthe church bell rang out matinsthe white hills
were tipped with rosy light。 His pulse was almost gonehis hand was
cold。 At last he opened his eyes。 'Amy！ he said； as if bewildered； or
in pain。
'Here； dearest！'
'I don't see。'
At that moment the sun was rising； and the light streamed in at the
open window； and over the bed； but it was 〃another dawn than ours〃 that
he beheld as his most beautiful of all smiles beamed over his face； and
he said； 'Glory in the Highest！peacegoodwill'A struggle for
breath gave an instant's look of pain； then he whispered so that she
could but just hear'The last prayer。' She read the Commendatory
Prayer。 She knew not the exact moment； but even as she said 'Amen' she
perceived it was over。 The soul was with Him with whom dwell the
spirits of just men made perfect； and there lay the earthly part with a
smile on the face。 She closed the dark fringed eyelidssaw him look
more beautiful than in sleepthen； laying her face down on the bed；
she knelt on。 She took no heed of time； no heed of aught that was
earthly。 How long she knelt she never knew； but she was roused by
Anne's voice in a frightened sob'My lady； my ladycome away！ Oh；
Miss Amabel； you should not be here。'
She lifted her head； and Anne afterwards told Mary Ross； 'she should
never forget how my lady looked。 It was not grief： it was as if she
had been a little way with her husband； and was just called back。'
She roselooked at his face againsaw Arnaud was at handlet Anne
lead her into the next room； and shut the door。
CHAPTER 36
The matron who alone has stood
When not a prop seemed left below；
The first lorn hour of widowhood；
Yet； cheered and cheering all the while；
With sad but unaffected； smile。CHRISTIAN YEAR
The four months' wife was a widow before she was twenty…one； and there
she sat in her loneliness； her maid weeping； seeking in vain for
something to say that might comfort her； and struck with fear at seeing
her thus composed。 It might be said that she had not yet realized her
situation； but the truth was； perhaps； that she was in the midst of the
true realities。 She felt that her Guy was perfectly happyhappy
beyond thought or comparisonand she was so accustomed to rejoice with
him； that her mind had not yet opened to understand that his joy left
her mourning and desolate。
Thus she remained motionless for some minutes； till she was startled by
a sound of weepingthose fearful overpowering sobs； so terrible in a
strong man forced to give way。
'Philip！' thought she； and withal Guy's words returned 'It will be
worse for him than for you。 Take care of him。'
'I must go to him；' said she at once。
She took up a purple prayer…book that she had unconsciously brought in
her hand from Guy's bed； and walked down…stairs； without pausing to
think what she should say or do； or remembering how she would naturally
have shrunk from the sight of violent grief。
Philip had retired to his own room the night before； overwhelmed by the
first full view of the extent of the injuries he had inflicted； the
first perception that pride and malevolence had been the true source of
his prejudice and misconceptions； and for the first time conscious of
the long…fostered conceit that had been his bane from boyhood。 All had
flashed on him with the discovery of the true purpose of the demand
which he thought had justified his persecution。 He saw the glory of
Guy's character and the part he had acted；the scales of self…
admiration fell from his eyes； and he knew both himself and his cousin。
His sole comfort was in hope for the future； and in devising how his
brotherly affection should for the rest of his life testify his altered
mind； and atone for past ill…will。 This alone kept him from being
completely crushed；for he by no means imagined how near the end was；
and the physician； willing to spare himself pain； left him in hopes；
though knowing how it would be。 He slept but little； and was very
languid in the morning； but he rose as soon as Arnaud came to him； in
order not to occupy Arnaud's time； as well as to be ready in case Guy
should send for him again； auguring well from hearing that there was
nothing stirring above； hoping this was a sign that Guy was asleep。 So
hoped the two servants for a long time； but at length； growing alarmed；
after many consultations； they resolved to knock at the door； and learn
what was the state of things。
Philip likewise was full of anxiety； and coming to his room door to
listen for intelligence； it was the 〃e morto〃 of the passing Italians
that first revealed to him the truth。 Guy dead； Amy widowed； himself
the causehe who had said he would never be answerable for the death
of this young man。
Truly had Guy's threat； that he would make him repent； been fulfilled。
He tottered back to his couch； and sank down； in a burst of anguish
that swept away all the self…control that had once been his pride。
There Amabel found him stretched； face downwards； quivering and
convulsed by frightful sobs。
'Don'tdon't； Philip；' said she； in her gentle voice。 'Don't cry so
terribly！'
Without looking up； he made a gesture with his hand； as if to drive her
away。 'Don't come here to reproa