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away。 'Don't come here to reproach me！' he muttered。
'No； no； don't speak so。 I want you to hear me； I have something for
you from him。 If you would only listen； I want to tell you how happy
and comfortable it was。' She took a chair and sat down by him；
relieved on perceiving that the sobs grew a little less violent。
'It was very peaceful； very happy；' repeated she。 'We ought to be very
glad。'
He turned round； and glanced at her for a moment； but he could not bear
to see her quiet face。 'You don't know what you say；' he gasped。 'No；
take care of yourself； don't trouble yourself for such as me！'
'I must； he desired me；' said Amabel。 'You will be happier； indeed；
Philip； if you would only think what glory it is； and that he is all
safe； and has won the victory； and will have no more of those hard；
hard struggles； and bitter repentance。 It has been such a night； that
it seems wrong to be sorry。'
'Did you say he spoke of me again？'
'Yes； here is his Prayer…book。 Your father gave it to him； and he
meant to have told you about it himself； only he could not talk
yesterday evening； and could not part with it till'
Amy broke off by opening the worn purple cover； and showing the name；
in the Archdeacon's writing。 'He's very fond of it；' she said； 'it is
the one he always uses。' （Alas！ she had not learnt to speak of him in
the past tense。）
Philip held out his hand； but the agony of grief returned the next
moment。 'My father； my father！ He would have done him justice。 If he
had lived； this would never have been！'
'That is over； you do him justice now；' said Amy。 'You did； indeed you
did； make him quite happy。 He said so； again and again。 I never saw
him so happy as when you began to get better。 I don't think any one
ever had so much happiness and it never ceased； it was all quiet； and
peace； and joy； till it brightened quite into perfect dayand the
angel's song！ Don't you remember yesterday； how clear and sweet his
voice came out in that？ and it was the last thing almost he said。 I
believe'she lowered her voice'I believe he finished it among them。'
The earnest placid voice； speaking thus； in calmness and simplicity；
could not fail in soothing him； but he was so shaken and exhausted；
that she had great difficulty in restoring him。 After a time； he lay
perfectly still on the sofa； and she was sitting by； relieved by the
tranquillity； when there was a knock at the door； and Arnaud came in；
and stood hesitating； as if he hardly knew how to begin。 The present
fear of agitating her charge helped her now； when obliged to turn her
thoughts to the subjects on which she knew Arnaud was come。 She went
to the door； and spoke low； hoping her cousin might not hear or
understand。
'How soon must it be？'
'My lady； to…morrow；' said Arnaud； looking down。 'They say that so it
must be； and the priest consents to have it in the churchyard here。
The brother of the clergyman is here； and would know if your ladyship
would wish'
'I will speak to him；' said Amabel； reluctant to send such messages
through servants。
'Let me；' said Philip； who understood what was going on； and was of
course impelled to spare her as much as possible。
'Thank you' said she； 'if you are able！'
'Oh； yes； I'll go at once！'
'Stop；' said she； as he was setting forth； 'you don't know what you are
going to say。'
He put his hand to his head in confusion。
'He wished to be buried here；' said Amabel； 'and'
But this renewal of the assurance of the death was too much； and
covering his face with his hands； he sank back in another paroxysm of
violent sobs。 Amabel could not leave him。
'Ask Mr。 Morris to be so good as to wait； and I will come directly；'
said she； then returned to her task of comfort till she again saw
Philip lying； with suspended faculties； in the repose of complete
exhaustion。
She then went to Mr。 Morris； with a look and tone of composure that
almost startled him； thanking him for his assistance in the
arrangements。 The funeral was to be at sunrise the next day； before
the villagers began to keep the feast of St。 Michael； and the rest was
to be settled by Arnaud and Mr。 Morris。 He then said； somewhat
reluctantly； that his brother had desired to know whether Lady Morville
wished to see him to…day； and begged to be sent for； but Amy plainly
perceived that he thought it very undesirable for his brother to have
any duties to perform to…day。 She questioned herself whether she might
not ask him to read to her； and whether it might be better for Philip；
but she thought she ought not to ask what might injure him merely for
her own comfort； and； besides； Philip was entirely incapable of self…
command； and it would not be acting fairly to expose him to the chance
of discovering to a stranger； feelings that he would ordinarily guard
so scrupulously。
She therefore gratefully refused the offer； and Mr。 Morris very nearly
thanked her for doing so。 He took his leave； and she knew she must
return to her post； but first she indulged herself with one brief visit
to the room where all her cares and duties had lately centred。 A look…
…a thoughta prayer。 The beauteous expression there fixed was a help；
as it had ever been in life and she went back again cheered and
sustained。
Throughout that day she attended on her cousin； whose bodily
indisposition required as much care as his mind needed soothing。 She
talked to him； read to him； tried to set him the example of taking
food； took thought for him as if he was the chief sufferer； as if it
was the natural thing for her to do； working in the strength her
husband had left her； and for him who had been his chief object of
care。 She had no time to herself； except the few moments that she
allowed herself now and then to spend in gazing at the dear face that
was still her comfort and joy； until； at last； late in the evening； she
succeeded in reading Philip to sleep。 Then； as she sat in the dim
candle…light； with everything in silence； a sense of desolation came
upon her； and she knew that she was alone。
At that moment a carriage thundered at the door； and she remembered for
the first time that she was expecting her father and mother。 She
softly left the room and closed the door； and finding Anne in the nest
room； sent her down。
'Meet mamma； Anne；' said she； 'tell her I am quite well。 Bring them
here。'
They entered； and there stood Amabel； her face a little flushed； just
like； only calmer； the daughter they had parted with on her bridal day；
four months ago。 She held up her hand as a sign of silence； and said；…
…
'Hush！ don't wake Philip。'
Mr。 Edmonstone was almost angry； and actually began an impatient
exclamation； but broke it off with a sob； caught her in his arms；
kissed her； and then buried his face in his handkerchief。 Mrs。
Edmonstone； still aghast at the tidings they had met at Vicenza； and
alarmed at her unnatural composure； embraced her； held her for some
moments； then looked anxiously to see her weep。 But there was not a
tear； and her voice was itself； though low and weak； as； while her
father began pacing up and down； she repeated；
'Pray don't； papa； Philip has been so ill all day。'
'Philippshaw！' said Mr。 Edmonstone； hastily。 'How are you； yourself；
my poor darling？'
'Quite well； thank you；' said Amy。 'There is a room ready for you。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was extremely alarmed； sure that this was a grief too
deep for outward tokens； and had no peace till she had made Amabel
consent to come up with her； and go at once to bed。 To this she
agreed； after she had rung for Arnaud； and stood with him in the
corridor； to desire him to go at once to Captain Morville； as softly as
he could； and when he waked； to say Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone were come；
but she thought he had better not see them to…night； to tell him from
her that she wished him good night； and hoped he would； sleep quietly。
'And； Arnaud； take care you do not let him know the hour tomorrow。
Perhaps； as he is so tired； he may sleep till afterwards。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was very impatient of this colloquy； and glad when
Amabel ended it； and led the way up…stairs。 She entered her little
room； then quietly opened another door； and Mrs。 Edmonstone found
herself standing by the bed； where that which was mortal lay； with its
face bright with the impress of immortality。
The shock was great； for he was indeed as a son to her； but her fears
for Amabel would not leave room for any other thought。
'Is not he beautiful？' said Amy； with a smile like his own。
'My dear； my dear； you ought not to be here；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
trying to lead her away。
'If you would let me say my prayers here！' said she； submissively。