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too much for him。'
'Over…worked； I suppose；' said Charles。 'I thought he was coming it
pretty strong these last few weeks。'
'Not even writing to Laura！ How very bad he must be！ I will write at
once to ask Mr。 Markham for more particulars。'
She did so； and on the third day they drove again to fetch the answer。
It was a much worse account。 Mr。 Morville was； said Markham； suffering
dreadfully from headache； and lay on the sofa all day； almost unable to
speak or move； but resolved against having medical advice； though his
own treatment of himself did not at all succeed in relieving him。
There was extreme depression of spirits； and an unwillingness to see
any one。 He had positively refused to admit either Lord Thorndale or
Mr。 Ashford； and would hardly bear to see Markham himself； who； indeed；
only forced his presence on him from thinking it unfit to leave him
entirely to the servants； and would be much relieved if some of Mr。
Morville's friends were present to free him from the responsibility。
'Hem！' said Charles。 'I can't say it sounds comfortable。'
'It is just as I feared！' said Amy。 'Great excitability of brain and
nerve； Dr。 Mayerne said。 All the danger of a brain fever again！ Poor
Laura！ What is to be done？'
Charles was silent。
'It is for want of some one to talk to him；' said Amabel。 'I know how
he broods over his sad recollections； and Redclyffe must make it so
much worse。 If mamma and Laura were but at home to go to him； it might
save him； and it would be fearful for him to have another illness；
reduced as he is。 How I wish he was here！'
'He cannot come； I suppose；' said Charles； 'or he would be in Ireland。'
'Yes。 How well Guy knew when he said it would be worse for him than
for me！ How I wish I could do something now to make up for running
away from him in Italy。 If I was but at Redclyffe！'
'Do you really wish it？' said Charles； surprised。
'Yes； if I could do him any good。'
'Would you go there？'
'If I had but papa or mamma to go with me。'
'Do you think I should do as well？'
'Charlie！'
'If you think there would be any use in it； and choose to take the
trouble of lugging me about the country； I don't see why you should
not。'
'Oh！ Charlie； how very； kind！ How thankful poor Laura will be to you！
I do believe it will save him！' cried Amabel； eagerly。
'But； Amy；'he paused'shall you like to see Redclyffe？'
'Oh！ that is no matter；' said she； quickly。 'I had rather see after
Philip than anything。 I told you how he was made my charge； you know。
And Laura！ Only will it not be too tiring for you？'
'I can't see how it should hurt me。 But I forget； what is to be done
about your daughter？'
'I don't know what harm it could do her；' said Amy； considering。 'Mrs。
Gresham brought a baby of only three months old from Scotland the other
day； and she is six。 It surely cannot hurt her； but we will ask Dr。
Mayerne。'
'Mamma will never forgive us if we don't take the doctor into our
councils。'
'Arnaud can manage for us。 We would sleep in London； and go on by an
early train； and we can take ourI mean mycarriage； for the journey
after the railroad。 It would not be too much for you。 How soon could
we go？'
'The sooner the better；' said Charles。 'If we are to do him any good；
it must be speedily； or it will be a case of shutting the stable…door。
Why not to…morrow？'
The project was thoroughly discussed that evening； but still with the
feeling as if it could not be real； and when they parted at night they
said；'We will see how the scheme looks in the morning。'
Charles was still wondering whether it was a dream； when the first
thing he heard in the court below his window was
'Here； William； here's a note from my lady for you to take to Dr。
Mayerne。'
'They be none of them ill？' answered William's voice。
'0 no； my lady has been up this hour； and Mr。 Charles has rung his
bell。 Stop； William； my lady said you were to call at Harris's and
bring home a 〃Bradshaw〃。'
Reality； indeed； thought Charles； marvelling at his sister； and his
elastic spirits throwing him into the project with a sort of enjoyment；
partaking of the pleasure of being of use； the spirit of enterprise；
and the 'fun' of starting independently on an expedition unknown to all
the family。
He met Amabel with a smile that showed both were determined。 He
undertook to announce the plan to his mother； and she said she would
write to tell Mr。 Markham that as far as could be reckoned on two such
frail people； they would be at Redclyffe the next evening； and he must
use his own discretion about giving Mr。 Morville the note which she
enclosed。
Dr。 Mayerne came in time for breakfast； and the letter from Markham was
at once given to him。
'A baddish state of things； eh； doctor！' said Charles。 'Well； what do
you think this lady proposes？ To set off forthwith； both of us； to
take charge of him。 What do you think of that； Dr。 Mayerne？'
'I should say it was the only chance for him；' said the doctor； looking
only at the latter。 'Spirits and health reacting on each other； I see
it plain enough。 Over…worked in parliament； doing nothing in
moderation； going down to that gloomy old place； dreaming away by
himself； going just the right way to work himself into another attack
on the brain； and then he is done for。 I don't know that you could do
a wiser thing than go to him； for he is no more fit to tell what is
good for him than a child。' So spoke the doctor； thinking only of the
patient till looking up at the pair he was dismissing to such a charge；
the helpless； crippled Charles； unable to cross the room without
crutches； and Amabel； her delicate face and fragile figure in her
widow's mourning； looking like a thing to be pitied and nursed with the
tenderest care； with that young child； too； he broke off and said'But
you don't mean you are in earnest？'
'Never more so in our lives；' said Charles； on which Dr。 Mayerne looked
so wonderingly and inquiringly at Amabel； that she answered；
'Yes that we are； if you think it safe for Charles and baby。'
'Is there no one else to go？ What's become of his sister？'
'That would never do；' said Charles； 'that is not the question；' and he
detailed their plan。
'Well； I don't see why it should not succeed；' said the doctor； 'or how
you can any of you damage yourselves。'
'And baby？' said Amy。
'What should happen to her； do you think？' said the doctor with his
kind； reassuring roughness。 'Unless you leave her behind in the
carriage； I don't see what harm she could come to； and even then； if
you direct her properly； she will come safe to hand。'
Amabel smiled； and saying she would fetch her to be inspected； ran up…
stairs with the light nimble step of former days。
'There goes one of the smallest editions of the wonders of the world！'
said Charles； covering a sigh with a smile。 'You don't think it will
do her any harm？'
'Not if she wishes it。 I have long thought a change； a break； would be
the best thing for herpoor child！I should have sent her to the sea…
side if you had been more movable； and if I had not seen every fuss
about her made it worse。'
'That's what I call being a reasonable and valuable doctor；' said
Charles。 'If you had routed the poor little thing out to the sea； she
would have only pined the more。 But suppose the captain turns out too
bad for her management； for old Markham seems in a proper taking？'
'Hem！ No； I don't expect it is come to that。'
'Be that as it may； I have a head； if nothing else； and some one is
wanted。 I'll write to you according as we find Philip。'
The doctor was wanted for another private interview； in which to assure
Amabel that there was no danger for Charles； and then； after promising
to come to Redclyffe if there was occasion； and engaging to write and
tell Mrs。 Edmonstone they had his consent； he departed to meet them by
and by at the station； and put Charles into the carriage。
A very busy morning followed； Amabel arranged household affairs as
befitted the vice…queen； took care that Charles's comforts were
provided for； wrote many a note； herself took down Guy's picture； and
laid it in her box； before Anne commenced her packing； and lastly；
walked down to the village to take leave of Alice Lamsden。
Just as the last hues of sunset were fading； on the following evening；
Lady Morville and Charles Edmonstone were passing from the moor into
the wooded valley of Redclyffe。 Since leaving Moorworth not a word had
passed。 Charles sat earnestly watching his sister； though there was
too much crape in the way for him to see her face； and she was
perfectly still； so that all he could judge by was the close； r