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trying to lead her away。
'If you would let me say my prayers here！' said she； submissively。
'I think not。 I don't know how to refuse； if it would be a comfort；'
said Mrs。 Edmonstone； much distressed； 'but I can't think it right。
The danger is greater after。 And surely； my poor dear child； you have
a reason for not risking yourself！'
'Go； mamma； I ought not to have brought you here； I forgot about
infection；' said Amabel； with the tranquillity which her mother had
hoped to shake by her allusion。 'I am coming。'
She took up Guy's watch and a book from the table by the bed…side； and
came back to her sleeping…room。 She wound up the watch； and then
allowed her mother to undress her； answering all her inquiries about
her health in a gentle； indifferent； matter…of…fact way。 She said
little of Guy； but that little was without agitation； and in due time
she lay down in bed。 Still； whenever Mrs。 Edmonstone looked at her；
there was no sleep in her eyes； and at last she persuaded her to leave
her； on the plea that being watched made her more wakeful； as she did
not like to see mamma sitting up。
Almost as soon as it was light； Mrs。 Edmonstone returned； and was
positively frightened； for there stood Amabel； dressed in her white
muslin； her white bonnet； and her deep lace wedding…veil。 All her
glossy hair was hidden away； and her face was placid as ever； though
there was a red spot on each cheek。 She saw her mother's alarm； and
reassured her by speaking calmly。
'You know I have nothing else but colours； I should like to wear this；
if you will let me。'
'But； dearest； you must notcannot go。'
'It is very near。 We often walked there together。 I would not if I
thought it would hurt me； but I wish it very much indeed。 At home by
Michaelmas！'
Mrs。 Edmonstone yielded； though her mind misgave her； comforted by
hoping for the much…desired tears。 But Amabel； who used to cry so
easily for a trifle； had now not a tear。 Her grief was as yet too
deep； or perhaps more truly sorrow and mourning had not begun while the
influence of her husband's spirit was about her still。
It was time to set forth； and the small party of mourners met in the
long corridor。 Mr。 Edmonstone would have given his daughter his arm；
but she said
'I beg your pardon； dear papa； I don't think I can；' and she walked
alone and firmly。
It was a strange sight that English funeral； so far from England。 The
bearers were Italian peasants。 There was a sheet thrown over the
coffin instead of a pall； and this； with the white dress of the young
widow； gave the effect of the emblematic whiteness of a child's
funeral； and the impression was heightened by the floating curling
white clouds of vapour rising in strange shrouded shadowy forms； like
spirit mourners； from the narrow ravines round the grave…yard； and the
snowy mountains shining in the morning light against the sky。
Gliding almost like one of those white wreaths of mist； Amabel walked
alone； tearless and calm； her head bent down； and her long veil falling
round her in full light folds； as when it had caught the purple light
on her wedding…day。 Her parents were close behind； weeping more for
the living than the dead； though Guy had a fast hold of their hearts；
and his own mother could scarce have loved him better than Mrs。
Edmonstone did。 Lastly； were Anne and Arnaud； sincere mourners；
especially Arnaud； who had loved and cherished his young master from
childhood。
They went to the strangers' corner of the grave…yard； for； of course
the church did not open to a member of another communion of the visible
church； but around them were the hills in which he had read many a
meaning； and which had echoed a response to his last chant with the
promise of the blessing of peace。
The blessing of peace came in the precious English burial…service； as
they laid him to rest in the earth； beneath the spreading chestnut…
tree； rendered a home by those words of his Mother Churchthe mother
who had guided each of his steps in his orphaned life。 It was a
distant grave； far from his home and kindred； but in a hallowed spot；
and a most fair one； and there might his mortal frame meetly rest till
the day when he should rise； while from their ancestral tombs should
likewise awaken the forefathers whose sins were indeed visited on him
in his early death； but； thanks to Him who giveth the victory； in death
without the sting。
Amabel； in obedience to a sign from her mother； sat on a root of the
tree while the Lesson was read； and afterwards she moved forward and
stood at the edge of the grave； her hands tightly clasped； and her head
somewhat raised； as if her spirit was following her husband to his
repose above； rather than to his earthly resting…place。
The service was ended； and she was taking a last long gaze； while her
mother； in the utmost anxiety； was striving to make up her mind to draw
her away； when suddenly a tall gaunt figure was among themhis face
ghastly pale； and full of despair and bewildermenthis step uncertain…
…his dress disordered。
Amabel turned； went up to him； laid her hand on his arm； and said；
softly； and quietly looking up in his face； 'It is over now； Philip；
you had better come home。'
Not attempting to withstand her； he obeyed as if it was his only
instinct。 It was like some vision of a guiding； succouring spirit； as
she moved on； slowly gliding in her white draperies。 Mrs。 Edmonstone
watched her in unspeakable awe and amazement； almost overpowering her
anxieties。 It seemed as impossible that the one should be Amy as that
the other should be Philip； her gentle little clinging daughter； or her
proud； imperturbable； self…reliant nephew。
But it was Amy's own face； when they entered the corridor and she
turned back her veil； showing her flushed and heated cheeks； at the
same time opening Philip's door and saying； 'Now you must rest； for you
ought not to have come out。 Lie down； and let mamma read to you。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was reluctant； but Amy looked up earnestly and said；
'Yes； dear mamma； I should like to be alone a little while。'
She then conducted her father to the sitting…room up…stairs。
'I will give you the papers；' she said； and leaving him； returned
immediately。
'This is his will；' she said。 'You will tell me if there is anything I
must do at once。 Here is a letter to Mr。 Markham； and another to Mr。
Dixon； if you will be so kind as to write and enclose them。 Thank you；
dear papa。'
She drew a blotting…book towards him； saw that there was ink and pen；
and left him too much appalled at her ways to say anything。
His task was less hard than the one she had set her mother。 Strong
excitement had carried Philip to the grave…yard as soon as he learnt
what was passing。 He could hardly return even with Arnaud's support；
and he had only just reached the sofa before he fell into a fainting…
fit。
It was long before he gave any sign of returning life； and when he
opened his eyes and saw Mrs。 Edmonstone； he closed them almost
immediately； as if unable to meet her look。 It was easier to treat him
in his swoon than afterwards。 She knew nothing of his repentance and
confession； she only knew he had abused her confidence； led Laura to
act insincerely； and been the cause of Guy's death。 She did not know
how bitterly he accused himself； and though she could not but see he
was miserable； she could by no means fathom his wretchedness； nor guess
that her very presence made him conscious how far he was fallen。 He
was so ill that she could not manifest her displeasure； nor show
anything but solicitude for his relief； but her kindness was entirely
to his condition； not to himself； and perceiving this； while he thought
his confession had been received； greatly aggravated his distress；
though he owned within himself that he well deserved it。
She found that he was in no state for being read to； he was completely
exhausted； and suffering from violent headache。 So when she could
conscientiously say that to be left quiet was the best thing for him；
she went to her daughter。
Amabel was lying on her bed； her Bible open by her； not exactly
reading； but as if she was now and then finding a verse and dwelling on
it。 Gentle and serene she looked； but would she never weep？ would
those quiet blue eyes be always sleepless and tearless？
She asked anxiously for Philip； and throughout the day he seemed to be
her care。 She did not try to get up and go to him； but she was
continually begging her mother to see about him。 It was a harassing
day for poor Mrs。 Edmonstone。 She would have been glad to have sat by
Amabel all the time； writing to Charles； or hearing her talk。 Amy had
much to say； for she wished to make her mother share the