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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 perfect peace
and thankfulness that had been breathed upon her during those last
hours with her husband； and she liked to tell the circumstances of his
illness and his precious sayings； to one who would treasure them almost
like herself。 She spoke with her face turned away； so as not to see
her mother's tears； but her mild voice unwavering； as if secure in the
happiness of these recollections。 This was the only comfort of Mrs。
Edmonstone's day； but when she heard her husband's boots creaking in
the corridor； it was a sure sign that he was in some perplexity； and
that she must go and help him to write a letter； or make some
arrangement。 Philip； too； needed attention； but excellent nurse as
Mrs。 Edmonstone was； she only made him worse。 The more he felt she was
his kind aunt still； the more he saw how he had wounded her； and that
her pardon was an effort。 The fond； spontaneous； unreserved affection…
…almost pettingwhich he had well…nigh dared to contemn； was gone； her
manner was only that of a considerate nurse。 Much as he longed for a
word of Laura； he did not dare to lead to it；indeed； he was so far
from speaking to her of any subject which touched him； that he did not
presume even to inquire for Amabel； he only heard of her through
Arnaud。
At night sheer exhaustion worked its own cure； he slept soundly； and
awoke in the morning revived。 He heard from Arnaud that Lady Morville
was pretty well； but had not slept； and presently Mrs。 Edmonstone came
in and took pains to make him comfortable； but with an involuntary
dryness of manner。 She told him his uncle would come to see him as
soon as he was up； if he felt equal to talking over some business。
Philip's brain reeled with dismay and consternation； for it flashed on
him that he was heir of Redclyffe。 He must profit by the death he had
caused； he had slain； and he must take possession of the lands which；
with loathing and horror； he remembered that he had almost coveted。
Nothing more was wanting。 There was little consolation in remembering
that the inheritance would clear away all difficulties in the way of
his marriage。 He had sinned； wealth did not alter his fault； and his
spirit could not brook that if spurned in poverty； he should be
received for his riches。 He honoured his aunt for being cold and
reserved； and could not bear the idea of seeing his uncle ready to meet
him half…way。
After the first shock he became anxious to have the meeting over； know
the worst； and hear on what ground he stood with Laura。 As soon as he
was dressed； he sent a message to announce that he was ready； and lay
on the sofa awaiting his uncle's arrival； as patiently as he could。
Mr。 Edmonstone； meantime； was screwing up his couragenot that he
meant to say a word of Laura；Philip was too unwell to be told his
opinion of him； but now he had ceased to rely on his nephew； he began
to dread him and his overbearing ways； and besides he had a perfect
horror of witnessing agitation。
At last he came； and Philip rose to meet him with a feeling of shame
and inferiority most new to him。
'Don't； don't； I beg；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； with what was meant for
dignity。 'Lie still； you had much better。 My stars！ how ill you
look！' he exclaimed； startled by Philip's altered face and figure。
'You have had a sharpish touch； but you are better； eh？'
'Yes； thank you。'
'Well； I thought I had better come and speak to you； if you felt up to
it。 Here ishere isI hope it is all right and legal； but that you
can tell better than I； and you are concerned in it anyhow。 Here is
poor Guy's will； which we thought you had better look over； if you
liked； and felt equal； eh？'
'Thank you；' said Philip； holding out his hand； but Mr。 Edmonstone
withheld it； trying his patience by an endless quantity of discursive
half…sentences； apparently without connection with each other； about
disappointment； and hopes； and being sorry； and prospects； and its
'being an unpleasant thing；' and 'best not raise his expectations：'
during all which time Philip； expecting to hear of Laura； and his heart
beating so fast as to renew the sensation of faintness； waited in vain；
and strove to gather the meaning； and find out whether he was forgiven；
almost doubting whether the confusion was in his own mind or in his
uncle's words。 However； at last the meaning bolted out in one
comprehensive sentence； when Mr。 Edmonstone thought he had sufficiently
prepared him for his disappointment；'Poor Amy is to be confined in
the spring。'
There Mr。 Edmonstone stopped short； very much afraid of the effect； but
Philip raised himself； his face brightened； as if he was greatly
relieved； and from his heart he exclaimed； 'Thank Heaven！'
'That's right！ that is very well said！' answered Mr。 Edmonstone； very
much pleased。 'It would be a pity it should go out of the old line
after all； and it's a very generous thing in you to say so。'
'Oh no！' said Philip； shrinking into himself at even such praise as
this。
'Well； well；' said his uncle； 'you will see he has thought of you； be
it how it may。 There！ I only hope it is right； though it does seem
rather queer； appointing poor little Amy executor rather than me。 If I
had but been here in time！ But 'twas Heaven's will； and so It does
not signify； after all； if it is not quite formal。 We understand each
other。'
The will was on a sheet of letter…paper； in Arnaud's stiff French
handwriting； it was witnessed by the two Mr。 Morrises； and signed on
the 27th of September； in very frail and feeble characters。 Amabel and
Markham were the executors； and Amabel was to be sole guardian； in case
of the birth of a child。 If it was a son； ￡10；000 was left to Philip
himself； if not； he was to have all the plate； furniture； &c。； of
Redclyffe； with the exception of whatever Lady Morville might choose
for herself。
Philip scarcely regarded the legacy （though it smoothed away his chief
difficulties） as more than another of those ill…requited benefits which
were weighing him to the earth。 He read on to a sentence which
reproached him so acutely； that he would willingly have hidden from it；
as he had done from Guy's countenance。 It was the bequest of ￡5000 to
Elizabeth Wellwood。 Sebastian Dixon's debts were to be paid off； ￡1000
was left to Marianne Dixon； and the rest of the personal property was
to be Amabel's。
He gave back the paper； with only the words 'Thank you。' He did not
feel as if it was for him to speak； and Mr。 Edmonstone hesitated； made
an attempt at congratulating him； broke down； and asked if it was
properly drawn up。 He glanced at the beginning and end； said it was
quite correct； and laid his head down； as if the examination had been a
great deal of trouble。
'And what do you think of Amy's being under age？' fidgeted on Mr。
Edmonstone。 'How is she to act； poor dear！ Shall I act for her？'
'She will soon be of age；' said Philip； wearily。
'In January； poor darling。 Who would have thought how it would have
been with her？ I little thought； last Maybut； holloa！ what have I
been at？' cried he； jumping up in a great fright； as Philip； so weak as
to be overcome by the least agitation； changed countenance； covered his
face with his hands； and turned away with a suppressed sob。 'I didn't
mean it； I am sure！ Here！ mamma！'
'No； no；' said Philip； recovering； and sitting up； 'don't call her； I
beg。 There is nothing the matter。'
Mr。 Edmonstone obeyed； but he was too much afraid of causing a renewal
of agitation to continue the conversation； and after walking about the
room a little while； and shaking it more than Philip could well bear；
he went away to write his letters。
In the meantime； Amabel had been spending her morning in the same quiet
way as the former day。 She wrote part of a letter to Laura； and walked
to the graveyard； rather against her mother's wish； but she was so good
and obedient； it was impossible to thwart her； though Mrs。 Edmonstone
was surprised at her proposal to join her father and Philip at tea。
'Do you like it； my dear？'
'He told me to take care of him；' said Amabel。
'I cannot feel that he deserves you should worry yourself about him；'
said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'If you knew all'
'I do know all； mamma；if you mean about Laura。 Surely you must
forgive。 Think how he repents。 What； have you not had his letter？
Then how did you know？'
'I learned it from Laura herself。 Her trouble at his illness revealed
it。 Do you say he has written？'
'Yes； mamma； he told Guy all about it； and was very sorry； and wrote as
soon as he was able。 Guy sent you a long message。 He was so anxious