按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
disregard of her just displeasure。
Poor Laura saw in it both severe suffering and dislike to her； and the
more she understood from her father's manner what had passed in the
other room； the more she honoured him for the sacrifice he was making
of himself。
Mrs。 Edmonstone waited on the headache with painful attention； but they
all felt that the only thing to be done for the two poor things was to
let them come to an explanation； so Charlotte was sent to bed； her
mother went up to Amy； Charles carried off his father to the study； and
they found themselves alone。
Laura held down her face； and struggled to make her palpitating heart
and dry tongue suffer her to begin the words to which she had wound
herself up。 Philip raised his hands from his eyes as the door shut；
then rose up； and fixed them on Laura。 She； too； looked up； as if to
begin； their eyes met； and they understood all。 He stepped towards
her； and held out his hands。 The next moment both hers were clasped in
hishe had bent down and kissed her brow。
No words of explanation passed between them。 Laura knew he was her
own； and needed no assurance that her misgivings had been vain。 There
was a start of extreme joy； such as she had known twice before； but it
could be only for a moment while he looked so wretchedly unwell。 It
did but give her the right to attend to him。 The first thing she said
was to beg him to lie down on the sofa； her only care was to make him
comfortable with cushions； and he was too entirely worn out to say
anything he had intended； capable only of giving himself up to the
repose of knowing her entirely his own； and of having her to take care
of him。 There he lay on the sofa； with his eyes shut； and Laura's hand
in his； while she sat beside him； neither of them speaking； and；
excepting that she withdrew her hand； neither moved when the others
returned。
Mrs。 Edmonstone compassionated him； and showed a great deal of
solicitude about him； trying hard to regard him as she used to do； yet
unable to bring back the feeling； and therefore； do what she would；
failing to wear its semblance。
Laura； sad； anxious； and restless； had no relief till she went to wish
her sister good night。 Amabel； who was already in bed； stretched out
her hand with a sweet look； beaming with affection and congratulation。
'You don't want to be convinced now that all is right！' said she。
'His head is so dreadfully bad！' said Laura。
'Ah！ it will get better now his mind is at rest。'
'If it will but do so！'
'And you know you must be happy to…morrow； because of baby。'
'My dear；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； coming in； 'I am sorry to prevent your
talk； but Amy must not be kept awake。 She must keep her strength for
to…morrow'
'Good night； then； dear； dear Laura。 I am so glad your trouble is
over； and you have him again！' whispered Amabel； with her parting kiss；
and Laura went away； better able to hope； to pray； and to rest； than
she could have thought possible when she left the drawing…room。
'Poor dear Laura；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； sighing； 'I hope he will soon
be better。'
'Has it been very uncomfortable？'
'I can't say much for it； my dear。 He was suffering terribly with his
head； so that I should have been quite alarmed if he had not said it
was apt to get worse in the evening； and she； poor thing； was only
watching him。 However； it is a comfort to have matters settled； and
papa and Charlie are well pleased with him。 But I must not keep you
awake after driving Laura away。 You are not over…tired to…night I
hope； my dear？'
'Oh； no； only sleepy。 Good night； dearest mamma。'
'Good night； my own Amy；' then； as Amy put back the coverings to show
the little face nestled to sleep on her bosom； 'good night； you little
darling！ don't disturb your mamma。 How comfortable you look！ Good
night； my dearest！'
Mrs。 Edmonstone looked for a moment； while trying to check the tears
that came at the thought of the night； one brief year ago； when she
left Amy sleeping in the light of the Easter moon。 Yet the sense of
peace and serenity that had then given especial loveliness to the
maiden's chamber on that night； was there still with the young widow。
It was dim lamplight now that beamed on the portrait of her husband；
casting on it the shade of the little wooden cross in front； while she
was shaded by the white curtains drawn from her bed round the infant's
little cot； so as to shut them both into the quiet twilight； where she
lay with an expression of countenance that； though it was not sorrow；
made Mrs。 Edmonstone more ready to weep than if it had been； so with
her last good night she left her。
And Amabel always liked to be shut in by herself； dearly as she loved
them all； and mamma especially； there was always something pleasant in
being able to return to her own world； to rest in the thoughts of her
husband； and in the possession of the little unconscious creature that
had come to inhabit that inner world of hers； the creature that was
only his and hers。
She had from the first always felt herself less lonely when quite
alone； before with his papers； and now with his child； and could Mrs。
Edmonstone have seen her face； she would have wept and wondered more；
as Amy fondled and hushed her babe； whispering to it fond words which
she could never have uttered in the presence of any one who could
understand them； and which had much of her extreme youthfulness in
them。 Not one was so often repeated or so endearing as 'Guy's baby！
Guy's own dear little girl！' It did not mean half so much when she
called it her baby； and she loved to tell the little one that her
father had been the best and the dearest； but he was gone away； and
would she be contented to be loving and good with only her mother to
take care of her； and tell her； as well as she could； what a father
hers was； when she was old enough to know about him？
To…night； Amy told her much in that soft； solemn； murmuring tone； about
what was to befall her to…morrow； and the great blessings to be given
to her； and how the poor little fatherless one would be embraced in the
arms of His mercy； and received by her great Father in heaven：'Ay；
and brought nearer to your own papa； and know him in some inner way；
and he will know his little child then； for you will be as good and
pure and bright as he； and you will belong to the great communion of
saints to…morrow； you precious little one； and be so much nearer to him
as you will be so much better than I。 Oh！ baby； if we can but both
endure to the end！'
With such half…uttered words； Amabel Morville slept the night before
her babe's christening。
CHAPTER 41
A stranger's roof to hold thy head；
A stranger's foot thy grave to tread；
Desert and rock； and Alp and sea；
Spreading between thy home and thee。SEWELL
Mary Ross was eager for the first report from Hollywell the next
morning； and had some difficulty in keeping her attention fixed on her
class at school。 Laura and Charlotte came in together in due time； and
satisfied her so far as to tell her that Amy was very well。
'Is Captain Morville come？' thought Mary。 'No； I cannot guess by
Laura's impressive face。 Never mind； Charles will tell me all between
services。'
The first thing she saw on coming out of school was the pony carriage；
with Charles and Captain Morville himself。 Charlotte； who was all
excitement； had time to say； while her sister was out of hearing；
'It is all made up now； Mary； and I really am very sorry for Philip。'
It was fortunate that Mary understood the amiable meaning this speech
was intended to convey； and she began to enter into its grounds in the
short conference after church； when she saw the alteration in the whole
expression of countenance。
'Yes；' said Charles； who as usual remained at the vicarage during the
two services； and who perceived what passed in her mind； 'if it is any
satisfaction to you to have a good opinion of your fellow…sponsor； I
assure you that I am converted to Amy's opinion。 I do believe the
black dog is off his back for good and all。'
'I never saw any one more changed；' said Mary。
'Regularly tamed；' said Charles。 He is something more like his old
self to…day than last night； and yet not much。 He was perfectly
overpowered thenso knocked up that there was no judging of him。 To…
day he has all his sedateness and scrupulous attention； but all like a
shadow of former timenot a morsel of sententiousness； and seeming
positively grateful to be treated in the old fashion。'
'He looks very thin and pale。 Do you think him recovered？'
'A good way from it；' said Charles。 'He is pretty well to…day；
comparatively； though that obstinate headache hangs about him