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！
hand； 'tis no joke to be a helpless log all the best years of a man's
life；nay； for my whole life；for at the very best of the
contingencies the doctors are always flattering me with； I should make
but a wretched crippling affair of it。 And if that is the best hope
they give me； you may guess it is likely to be a pretty deal worse。
Hope？ I've been hoping these ten years； and much good has it done me。
I say； Guy；' he proceeded； in a tone of extreme bitterness； though with
a sort of smile； 'the only wonder is that I don't hate the very sight
of you！ There are times when I feel as if I could bite some men；that
Tomfool Maurice de Courcy； for instance； when I hear him rattling on；
and think'
'I know I have often talked thoughtlessly； I have feared afterwards I
might have given you pain。'
'No； no； you never have； you have carried me along with you。 I like
nothing better than to hear of your ridings； and shootings； and
boatings。 It is a sort of life。'
Charles had never till now alluded seriously to his infirmity before
Guy； and the changing countenance of his auditor showed him to be much
affected； as he stood leaning over the end of the sofa； with his
speaking eyes earnestly fixed on Charles； who went on：
'And now you are going to Oxford。 You will take your place among the
men of your day。 You will hear and be heard of。 You will be somebody。
And I！I know I have what they call talentI could be something。
They think me an idle dog； but where's the good of doing anything？ I
only know if I was notnot condemned toto thisthis life；' （had it
not been for a sort of involuntary respect to the gentle compassion of
the softened hazel eyes regarding him so kindly； he would have used the
violent expletive that trembled on his lip；） 'if I was not chained down
here； Master Philip should not stand alone as the paragon of the
family。 I've as much mother wit as he。'
'That you have；' said Guy。 'How fast you see the sense of a passage。
You could excel very much if you only tried。'
'Tried？' And what am I to gain by it？'
'I don't know that one ought to let talents rust；' said Guy；
thoughtfully； 'I suppose it is one's duty not； and surely it is a pity
to give up those readings。'
'I shall not get such another fellow dunce as you；' said Charles； 'as I
told you when we began； and it would be a mere farce to do it alone。 I
could not make myself； if I would。'
'Can't you make yourself do what you please？' said Guy； as if it was
the simplest thing in the world。
'Not a bit； if the other half of me does not like it。 I forget it； or
put it off； and it comes to nothing。 I do declare； though； I would get
something to break my mind on； merely as a medical precaution； just to
freshen myself up； if I could find any one to do it with。 No； nothing
in the shape of a tutor； against that I protest。'
'Your sisters；' suggested Guy。
'Hum'！ Laura is too intellectual already； and I don't mean to poach on
Philip's manor； and if I made little Amy cease to be silly； I should do
away with all the comfort I have left me in life。 I don't know；
though； if she swallowed learning after Mary Ross's pattern； that it
need do her much harm。'
Amy came into the room at the moment。 'Amy； here is Guy advising me to
take you to read something awfully wise every day； something that will
make you as dry as a stick； and as blue'
'As a gentianella；' said Guy。
'I should not mind being like a gentianella；' said Amy。 'But what
dreadful thing were you setting him to do？'
'To make you read all the folios in my uncle's old library；' said
Charles。 'All that Margaret has in keeping against Philip has a house
of his own。'
'Sancho somebody； and all you talked of when first you came？' said Amy。
'We were talking of the hour's reading that Charlie and I have had
together lately；' said Guy。
'I was thinking how Charlie would miss that hour；' said Amy； 'and we
shall be very sorry not to have you to listen to。'
'Well； then； Amy； suppose you read with me？'
'Oh； Charlie； thank you！ Should you really like it？' cried Amy；
colouring with delight。 'I have always thought it would be so very
delightful if you would read with me； as James Ross used with Mary；
only I was afraid of tiring you with my stupidity。 Oh； thank you！'
So it was settled； and Charles declared that he put himself on honour
to give a good account of their doings to Guy； that being the only way
of making himself steady to his resolution； but he was perfectly
determined not to let Philip know anything about the practice he had
adopted； since he would by no means allow him to guess that he was
following his advice。
Charles had certainly grown very fond of Guy； in spite of his
propensity to admire Philip； satisfying himself by maintaining that；
after all； Guy only tried to esteem his cousin because he thought it a
point of duty； just as children think it right to admire the good boy
in a story book； but that he was secretly fretted and chafed by his
perfection。 No one could deny that there were often occasions when
little misunderstandings would arise； and that； but for Philip's
coolness and Guy's readiness to apologise they might often have gone
further； but at the same time no one could regret these things more
than Guy himself； and he was willing and desirous to seek Philip's
advice and assistance when needed。 In especial； he listened earnestly
to the counsel which was bestowed on him about Oxford： and Mrs。
Edmonstone was convinced that no one could have more anxiety to do
right and avoid temptation。 She had many talks with him in her
dressing…room； promising to write to him； as did also Charles； and he
left Hollywell with universal regrets； most loudly expressed by
Charlotte； who would not be comforted without a lock of Bustle's hair；
which she would have worn round her neck if she had not been afraid
that Laura would tell Philip。
'He goes with excellent intentions；' said Philip； as they watched him
from the door。
'I do hope he will do well；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'I wish he may；' said Philip； 'the agreeableness of his whole character
makes one more anxious。 It is very dangerous。 His name； his wealth；
his sociable； gay disposition； that very attractive manner； all are so
many perils； and he has not that natural pleasure in study that would
be of itself a preservative from temptation。 However； he is honestly
anxious to do right； and has excellent principles。 I only fear his
temper and his want of steadiness。 Poor boy； I hope he may do well！'
CHAPTER 7
Pray； good shepherd； what
Fair swain is this that dances with your daughter？
* * * * *
He sings several times faster than you'll tell money；
he utters them as he had eaten ballads； and all men's
ears grow to his tunes。WINTER'S TALE
It was a glorious day in June； the sky of pure deep dazzling blue； the
sunshine glowing with brightness； but with cheerful freshness in the
air that took away all sultriness； the sun tending westward in his long
day's career； and casting welcome shadows from the tall firs and horse…
chestnuts that shaded the lawn。 A long rank of haymakersmen and
womenproceeded with their rakes； the white shirt…sleeves； straw
bonnets； and ruddy faces； radiant in the bath of sunshine； while in the
shady end of the field were idler haymakers among the fragrant piles；
Charles half lying on the grass； with his back against a tall haycock；
Mrs。 Edmonstone sitting on another； book in hand； Laura sketching the
busy scene； the sun glancing through the chequered shade on her glossy
curls； Philip stretched out at full length； hat and neck…tie off；
luxuriating in the cool repose after a dusty walk from Broadstone； and
a little way off； Amabel and Charlotte pretending to make hay； but
really building nests with it； throwing it at each other； and playing
as heartily as the heat would allow。
They talked and laughed； the rest were too hot； too busy； or too sleepy
for conversation； even Philip being tired into enjoying the 〃dolce far
niente〃； and they basked in the fresh breezy heat and perfumy hay with
only now and then a word； till a cold； black； damp nose was suddenly
thrust into Charles's face； a red tongue began licking him； and at the
same moment Charlotte； screaming 'There he is！' raced headlong across
the swarths of hay； to meet Guy； who had just ridden into the field。
He threw Deloraine's rein to one of the haymakers； and came bounding to
meet her； just in time to pick her up as she put her foot into a hidden
hole； and fell prostrate。
In another moment he was in the midst of the whole party； who crowded
round and welcomed him as if he had been a boy returning