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the melancholy history of his parents than on anything else。 He had
hitherto only heard the brief narration of his grandfather； when he
could ask no questions； but he now obtained full particulars from
Markham； who； when he found him bent on hearing all； related
everything； perhaps intending it as a warning against the passions
which； when once called into force； he dreaded to find equally
ungovernable in his present master。
Mr。 Morville had been his great pride and glory； and； in fact； had been
so left to his care； as to have been regarded like a son of his own。
He had loved him； if possible； better than Guy； because he had been
more his own； he had chosen his school； and given him all the reproofs
which had ever been bestowed on him with his good in view； and how he
had grieved for him was never known to man。 It was the first time he
had ever talked it over； and he described； with strong； deep feeling；
the noble face and bearing of the dark…eyed； gallant…looking stripling；
his generosity and high spirit tainted and ruined by his wild temper
and impatience of restraint。 There seemed to have been a great
sweetness of disposition； excellent impulses； and so strong a love of
his father； in spite of early neglect and present resentment； as showed
what he might have been with only tolerable training； which gave Guy's
idea of him more individuality than it had ever had before； and made
him better understand what his unhappy grandfather's remorse had been。
Guy doubted for a moment whether it had not been selfish to make
Markham narrate the history of the time when be had suffered so much；
and Markham； when he had been led into telling it； and saw the
deepening sadness on his young master's countenance； wished it had not
been told； and ended by saying it was of no use to stir up what was
better forgotten。
He would have regretted the telling it still more if he had known how
Guy acted it all over in his solitude； picturing his father standing an
outcast at the door of his own home； yielding his pride and resentment
for the sake of his wife； ready to do anything； yearning for
reconciliation； longing to tread once more the friendly； familiar hall；
and meeting only the angry repulse and cruel taunt！ He imagined the
headlong passion； the despair； the dashing on his horse in whirlwind…
like swiftness； then the blowthe fallthe awful stillness of the
form carried back to his father's house； and laid on that table a dead
man！ Fierce wraththen another world！ Guy worked himself up in
imagining the horror of the scene； till it was almost as if he had been
an actor in it。
Yet he had never cared so much for the thought of his father as for his
mother。 His yearning for her which he had felt in early days at
Hollywell； had returned in double force； as he now fancied that she
would have been here to comfort him； and to share his grief； to be a
Mrs。 Edmonstone； whose love no fault and no offence could ever cancel。
He rode to Moorworth； and made Mrs。 Lavers tell him all she remembered。
She was nothing loath； and related how she had been surprised by Mr。
Morville arriving with his fair； shrinking young wife； and how she had
rejoiced in his coming home again。 She described Mrs。 Morville with
beautiful blue eyes and flaxen hair； looking pale and delicate； and
with clinging caressing ways like a little child afraid to be left。
'Poor thing！' said Mrs。 Lavers； wiping her eyes； 'when he was going；
she clung about him； and cried； and was so timid about being left； that
at last he called me； and begged me to stay with her； and take care of
her。 It was very pretty to see how gentle and soft he was to her；
sharp and hasty as he was with most； and she would not let him go；
coaxing him not to stay away long； till at last he put her on the sofa；
saying； 〃There； there； Marianne； that will do。 Only be a good child；
and I'll come for you。〃 I never forget those words； for they were the
last I ever heard him speak。'
'Well？'
'Poor dear！ she cried heartily at first； but after a time she cheered
up； and quite made friends with me。 I remember she told me which were
Mr。 Morville's favourite songs； and sang little scraps of them。'
'Can you remember what they were？' eagerly exclaimed Guy。
'Law； no； air； I never had no head for music。 And she laughed about
her journey to Scotland； and got into spirits； only she could not bear
I should go out of the room； and after a time she grew very anxious for
him to come back。 I made her some tea； and tried to get her to bed；
but she would not go； though she seemed very tired； for she said Mr。
Morville would come to take her to Redclyffe； and she wanted to hear
all about the great house； listening for him all the time； and I trying
to quiet her； and telling her the longer he stayed the better chance
there was。 Then came a call for me； and down…stairs I found everything
in confusion； the news had comeI never knew how。 I had not had time
to hear it rightly myself； when there was a terrible cry from up…
stairs。 Poor thing！ whether she thought he was come； or whether her
mind misgave her； she had come after me to the head of the stairs； and
heard what they were saying。 I don't believe she ever rightly knew
what had happened； for before I could get to her she had fainted； and
she was very ill from that moment。'
'And it was the next day she died！' said Guy； looking up； after a long
silence。 'Did shecould she take any notice of me？'
'No； sir； she lived but half an hour； or hardly that； after you were
born。' I told her it was a son； but she was not able to hear or mind
me； and sank away； fainting like。 I fancied I heard her say something
like 〃Mr。 Morville；〃 but I don't know； and her breath was very soon
gone。 Poor dear！' added Mrs。 Lavers； wiping away her tears。 'I
grieved for her as if she had been my own child； but then I thought of
her waking up to hear he was dead。 I little thought then； Sir Guy；
that I should ever see you stand there；strong and well grown。 I
almost thought you were dead already when I sent for Mr。 Harrison to
baptize you。'
'Was it you that did so？' said Guy； his face； mournful before； lighting
up in a sudden beam of gratitude。 'Then I have to thank you for more
than all the world besides。'
'Law； sir！' said Mrs。 Lavers。 smiling； and looking pleased； though as
if but half entering into his meaning。 'Yes； it was in that very
china bowl； I have kept it choice ever since； and never let it be used
for anything。 I thought it was making very bold； but the doctor and
all thought you could not live； and Mr。 Harrison might judge。 I was
very glad just before he came that Mr。 Markham came from Redclyffe。 He
had not been able to leave poor Sir Guy before。'
Guy soon after set out on his homeward ride。 His yearning to hear of
his mother had been satisfied； but though he could still love the fair；
sweet vision summoned up by her name； he was less disposed to feel that
it had been hard upon him that she died。 It was not Amy。 In spite of
his tender compassion and affection； he knew that he had not lost a
Verena in her。 None could occupy that place save Amy； and his mind；
from custom； reverted to Amy as still his own； thrilled like a freshly…
touched wound； and tried to realize the solace that even yet she might
be praying for him。
It was dreariness and despondency by day； and he struggled with it by
energy and occupation； but it was something even worse in the evening；
in the dark； solitary library； where the very size of the room gave an
additional sense of loneliness； and in the silence he could hear；
through the closed shutters； the distant plash and surge of the tide；
a sound； of which； in former years； he had never been sensible。 There；
evening after evening； he sat；his attention roaming from his
employment to feed on his sad reflections。
One evening he went to the large dark dining…room； unlocked the door；
which echoed far through the house； and found his way through the
packed…up furniture to a picture against the wall； to which he held up
his light。 It was a portrait by Lely； a half…length of a young man；
one hand on his sword； the other holding his plumed hat。 His dark
chestnut hair fell on each side of a bright youthful face； full of life
and health； and with eyes which； even in painting； showed what their
vividness must have been。 The countenance was full of spirit and joy；
but the mouth was more hard and stern than suited the rest； and there
was something in the strong； determined grasp of the sword； which made
it seem as if the hand might be a characteristic portrait。 In the
corner of the picture was the name'Hugo Morville。 AEt。 20； 1671。'
Guy stood holding up his light； and looking fixedly at it for a
considerable time。 Strange tho