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him； and her voice was as steady as ever。 She breakfasted with the
family； and came up afterwards with Laura； to unpack her dressing…case；
and take out the little treasures that she and her husband had enjoyed
buying in the continental towns； as presents for the home party。
All this； for which she had previously prepared herself； she underwent
as quietly as possible； but something unexpected came on her。
Charlotte； trying to pet and comfort her in every possible way； brought
in all the best flowers still lingering in the garden； and among them a
last blossom of the Noisette rose； the same of which Guy had been
twisting a spray； while he first told her of his love。
It was too much。 It recalled his perfect health and vigour； his light
activity； and enjoyment of life； and something came on her of the
sensation we feel for an insect； one moment full of joyous vitality；
the next； crushed and still。 She had hitherto thought of his feverish
thirst and fainting weariness being at rest； and felt the relief； or
else followed his spirit to its repose； and rejoiced； but now the whole
scene brought back what he once was； his youthful； agile frame； his
eyes dancing in light； his bounding step； his gay whistle； the strong
hand that had upheld her on the precipice； the sure foot that had
carried aid to the drowning sailors； the arm that was to have been her
stay for life； all came on her in contrast withdeath！ The thought
swept over her； carrying away every other； and she burst into tears。
The tears would have their course； she could not restrain them when
once they began； and her struggles to check them only brought an
increase of them。 Her sobs grew so violent that Laura； much alarmed；
made a sign to Charlotte to fetch her mother； and Mrs。 Edmonstone；
coming in haste； found it was indeed the beginning of a frightful
hysterical attack。 The bodily frame had been overwrought to obey the
mental firmness and composure； and now nature asserted her rights； the
hysterics returned again and again； and when it seemed as if exhaustion
had at length produced quiet； the opening of a door； or a sound in the
distance； would renew all again。
It was not till night had closed in that Mrs。 Edmonstone was at all
satisfied about her； and had at length the comfort of seeing her fall
into a sound deep sleep； such an unbroken dreamless sleep as had
scarcely visited her since she first went to Recoara。 Even this sleep
did not restore her； she became very unwell； and both Dr。 Mayerne and
her mother insisted on her avoiding the least exertion or agitation。
She was quite submissive； only begging earnestly to be allowed to see
Mr。 Ross； saying she knew it would do her good rather than harm； and
promising to let him leave her the instant she found it too much for
her； and though Mrs。 Edmonstone was reluctant and afraid； they agreed
that as she was so reasonable and docile； she ought to be allowed to
judge for herself。
She begged that he might come after church on All Saints' day。 He
came； and after his first greeting of peace； Mrs。 Edmonstone signed to
him to read at once； instead of speaking to her。 The beautiful lesson
for the day overcame Mrs。 Edmonstone so much that she was obliged to go
out of Amabel's sight； but as the words were read； Amy's face recovered
once more the serenity that had been swept away by the sight of the
flowers。 Peace had returned； and when the calm every…day words of the
service were over； she held out her hand to Mr。 Ross； and said； 'Thank
you； that was very nice。 Now talk to me。'
It was a difficult request； but Mr。 Ross understood her； and talked to
her as she sought； in a gentle； deep； high strain of hope and faith；
very calm and soothing； and with a fatherly kindness that was very
pleasant from him who had baptized her； taught her； and whom she had
last seen blessing her and her husband。 It ended by her looking up to
him when it was time for him to go； and saying； 'Thank you。 You will
come again when you have time； I hope。 My love to dear Mary； I should
like to see her soon； but I knew you would do me more good than
anybody； and know better how it feels。'
Mr。 Ross knew she meant that he must better understand her loss；
because he was a widower； and was greatly touched； though he only
answered by a blessing； a farewell； and a promise to come very soon to
see her again。
Amabel was right； the peace which he had recalled； and the power of
resignation that had returned； had a better effect on her than all her
mother's precautions； she began to improve； and in a few days more was
able to leave her bed； and lie on the sofa in the dressing…room； though
she was still so weak and languid that this was as much as she could
attempt。 Any exertion was to be carefully guarded against； and her
tears now flowed so easily； that she was obliged to keep a check on
them lest they might again overpower her。 Mr。 Ross came again and
again； and she was able to tell him much of the grounds for her great
happiness in Guy； hear how entirely he had understood him； and be
assured that she had done right； and not taken an undue responsibility
on herself by the argument she had used to summon Philip； that last
evening。 She had begun to make herself uneasy about this； for she said
she believed she was thinking of nothing but Guy； and had acted on
impulse； and she was very glad Mr。 Ross did not think it wrong； while
Mr。 Ross meanwhile was thinking how fears and repentance mingle with
the purest sweetest； holiest deeds。
She was able now to take pleasure in seeing Mary Ross； she wrote to
Philip at Corfu； and sent for Markham to begin to settle the executor's
business。 Poor Markham！ the Edmonstones thought he looked ten years
older when he arrived； and after his inquiry for Lady Morville； his
grunt almost amounted to a sob。 The first thing he did was to give
Mrs。 Edmonstone a note； and a little box sent from Mrs。 Ashford。 The
note was to say that Mrs。 Ashford had intended for her wedding present；
a little cross made out of part of the wood of the wreck； which she now
thought it beat to send to Mrs。 Edmonstone； that she might judge
whether Lady Morville would like to see it。
Mrs。 Edmonstone's judgment was to carry it at once to Amabel； and she
was right； for the pleasure she took in it was indescribable。 She
fondled it； set it up by her on her little table； made Charlotte put it
in different places that she might see what point of view suited it
best； had it given back to her； held it in her hands caressingly； and
said she must write at once to Mrs。 Ashford to thank her for
understanding her so well。 There was scarcely one of the mourners to
be pitied more than Markham； for the love he had set on Sir Guy had
been intense； compounded of feudal affection； devoted admiration； and
paternal careand that he； the very flower of the whole race； should
thus have been cut down in the full blossom of his youth and hopes； was
almost more than the old man could bear or understand。 It was a great
sorrow； too； that he should be buried so far away from his forefathers；
and the hearing it was by his own desire； did not satisfy him； he
sighed over it still； and seemed to derive a shade of comfort only when
he was told there was to be a tablet in Redclyffe church to the memory
of Guy； sixth baronet。
In the evening Markham became very confidential with Charles； telling
him about the grievous mourning and lamentation at Redclyffe； when the
bells rung a knell instead of greeting the young master and his bride；
and how there was scarcely one in the parish that did not feel as if
they had lost a son or a brother。 He also told more and more of Sir
Guy's excellence； and talked of fears of his own； especially last
Christmas； that the boy was too unlike other people； too good to live；
and lastly； he indulged in a little abuse of Captain Morville； which
did Charles's heart good； at the same time as it amused him to think
how Markham would recollect it； when he came to hear of Laura's
engagement。
In the course of the next day； Markham had his conference with Lady
Morville in the dressing…room； and brought her two or three precious
parcels； which he would not； for the world； have given into any other
hands。 He could hardly bear to look at her in her widow's cap； and
behaved to her with a manner varying between his deference and respect
to the Lady of Redclyffe； and his fatherly fondness for the wife of
'his boy。' As to her legal powers； he would have thought them
foolishly bestowed； if they had been conferred by any one save his own
Sir Guy； and he began by not much liking to act with her； but he found
her so clear…headed； that he was much surprised to find a woman could
have so much good sense； and began to look forward with some
sati