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like to come down？'
'I'll come； thank you；' said he； thus secured from a tete…a…tete。
'Had you better come？ Is not your head too bad？'
'It will not be better for staying here； I'll come。'
She went down； telling her visitors that； since his illness； her
brother always suffered so much from excitement that he was too unwell
to have derived much pleasure from the tidings： and when he appeared
his air corresponded with her account； for his looks were of the
gravest and sternest。 He received the congratulations of the gentlemen
without the shadow of a smile； and made them think him the haughtiest
and most dignified landed proprietor in England。
Mrs。 Henley advised strongly against his going to church； but without
effect； and losing him in the crowd coming out； saw him no more till
just before dinner…time。 He had steeled himself to endure all that she
and the Doctor could inflict on him that evening； and he had a hope of
persuading Amabel that it would be only doing justice to her child to
let him restore her father's inheritance； which had come to him through
circumstances that could not have been foreseen。 He was determined to
do nothing like an act of possession of Redclyffe till he had implored
her to accept the offer； and it was a great relief thus to keep it in
doubt a little longer； and not absolutely feel himself profiting by
Guy's death and sitting in his seat。 Not a word； however； must be said
to let his sister guess at his resolution； and he must let her torture
him in the meantime。 He was vexed at having been startled into
betraying his suffering； and was humiliated at the thought of the
change from that iron imperturbability； compounded of strength； pride；
and coldness in which he had once gloried。
Dr。 Henley met him with a shake of the hand； and hearty exclamation：
'I congratulate you； Sir Philip Morville。'
'No； that is spared me；' was his answer。
'Hem！ The baronetcy？'
'Yes；' said Margaret； 'I thought you knew that only goes to the direct
heir of old Sir Hugh。 But you must drop the 〃captain〃 at least。 You
will sell out at once？'
He patiently endured the conversation on the extent and beauty of
Redclyffe； wearing all the time a stern； resolute aspect； that his
sister knew to betoken great unhappiness。 She earnestly wished to
understand him； but at last； seeing how much her conversation increased
his headache； she desisted； and left him to all the repose his thoughts
could give him。 He was very much concerned at the tone of the note
from his uncle； as if it was intended to show that all connection with
the family was to be broken off。 He supposed it had been concerted
with some one； with Charles； most likely；Charles； who had judged him
too truly； and with his attachment to Guy； and aversion to himself； was
doubtless strengthening his father's displeasure； all the more for this
hateful wealth。 And Laura？ What did she feel？
Monday morning brought another letter。 At first； he was struck with
the dread of evil tidings of Amabel or her babe； especially when he
recognized Charles's straggling handwriting； and； resolved not to be
again betrayed； he carried it up to read in his own room before his
sister had noticed it。 He could hardly resolve to open it； for surely
Charles would not write to him without necessity； and what； save
sorrow； could cause that necessity？ He saw that his wretchedness might
be even more complete！ At length he read it； and could hardly believe
his own eyes as he saw cheering words； in a friendly style of interest
and kindliness such as he would never have expected from Charles； more
especially now。
'Hollywell； March 6th。
'MY DEAR PHILIP；I believe my father wrote to you in haste yesterday；
but I am sure you will be anxious for further accounts； and when there
is good news there is satisfaction in conveying it。 I know you will be
glad to hear our affairs are very prosperous； and Amy； whom I have just
been visiting； is said by the authorities to be going on as well as
possible。 She begs me to tell you of her welfare； and to assure you
that she is particularly pleased to have a daughter； or； perhaps； it
will be more satisfactory to have her own words。 〃You must tell him
how well I am； Charlie； and how very glad。 And tell him that he must
not vex himself about her being a girl； for that is my great pleasure；
and I do believe； the very thing I should have chosen if I had set to
work to wish。〃 You know Amy never said a word but in all sincerity； so
you must trust her； and I add my testimony that she is in placid
spirits； and may well be glad to escape the cares of Redclyffe。 My
father says he desired Markham to write to you on the business matters。
I hope the sea…breezes may do you good。 All the party here are well；
but I see little of them now； all the interest of the house is
upstairs。
Your affectionate；
'C。 M； EDMONSTONE。
P。 S。 The baby is very small； but so plump and healthy； that no one
attempts to be uneasy about her。'
Never did letter come in better time to raise a desponding heart。 Of
Amabel's forgiveness he was already certain； but that she should have
made Charles his friend was a wonder beyond all others。 It gave him
more hope for the future than he had yet been able to entertain； and
showed him that the former note was no studied renunciation of him； but
only an ebullition of Mr。 Edmonstone's disappointment。
It gave him spirit enough to undertake what he had long been
meditating； but without energy to set about itan expedition to
Stylehurst。 Hitherto it had been his first walk on coming to St。
Mildred's； but now the distance across the moor was far beyond his
powers； and even that length of ride was a great enterprise。 It was
much further by the carriage road； and his sister never liked going
there。 He had never failed to visit his old home till last year； and
he felt almost glad that he had not carried his thoughts； at that time；
to his father's grave。 It was strange that； with so many more
important burdens on his mind； it had been this apparent trivial
omission； this slight to Stylehurst； that； in both his illnesses； had
been the most frequently recurring idea that had tormented him in his
delirium。 So deeply； securely fixed is the love of the home of
childhood in men of his mould； in whom it is perhaps the most deeply
rooted of all affections。
Without telling his sister his intention； he hired a horse； and pursued
the familiar moorland tracks。 He passed South Moor Farm； it gave him
too great a pang to look at it； he rode on across the hills where he
used to walk with his sisters； and looked down into narrow valleys
where he had often wandered with his fishing…rod； lost in musings on
plans for attaining distinction； and seeing himself the greatest man of
his day。 Little had he then guessed the misery which would place him
in the way to the coveted elevation； or how he would loathe it when it
lay within his grasp。
There were the trees round the vicarage； the church spire； the
cottages； whose old rough aspect； he knew so well； the whole scene；
once 'redolent of joy and youth：' but how unable to breathe on him a
second spring！ He put up his horse at the village inn； and went to
make his first call on Susan； the old clerk's wife； and one of the
persons in all the world who loved him best。 He knocked； opened the
door； and saw her； startled from her tea…drinking； looking at him as a
stranger。
'Bless us！ It beant never Master Philip！' she exclaimed； her head
shaking very fast； as she recognized his voice。 'Why； sir； what a turn
you give me！ How bad you be looking； to be sure！'
He sat down and talked with her； with feelings of comfort。 Tidings of
Sir Guy's death had reached the old woman； and she was much grieved for
the nice； cheerful…spoken young gentleman； whom she well remembered；
for she； like almost every one who had ever had any intercourse with
him； had an impression left of him； as of something winning； engaging；
brightening； like a sunbeam。 It was a refreshment to meet with one who
would lament him for his own sake； and had no congratulations for
Philip himself； and the 'Sure； sure； it must have been very bad for
you；' with which old Susan heard of the circumstances； carried more of
the comfort of genuine sympathy than all his sister's attempts at
condolence。
She told him how often Sir Guy had been at Stylehurst； how he had
talked to her about the archdeacon； and especially she remembered his
helping her husband one day when he found him trimming the ash over the
archdeacon's grave。 He used to come very often to church there； more
in the latter part of his stay； there was one Sundayit was the one
before Michaelmashe was there