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Amy rose； and came forward； but the colour had flushed into her cheeks
again； and the recollection occurred to Mary； that her fame as a
performer； in that way； arose from the very amusing manner in which she
and Sir Guy had conducted the game last year。 At the same moment her
mother met her； and whispered；
'Had you rather not； my dear？'
'I can do it； mamma； thank younever mind。'
'I should like to send you up to Charliehe has been so long alone。'
'Oh！ thank you； dear mamma；' with a look of relief。
'Here is Charlotte wild to be a musician；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Perhaps you will see how she can manage； for I think Charles must want
a visit from his little nurse。'
Amy moved quietly away； and entered Charles's room； full of warm
gratitude for the kindness which was always seeking how to spare her。
Charles was asleep； and throwing a shawl round her； she sat down in the
dim light of the lamp； relieved by the stillness； only broken by now
and then a louder note of the music down…stairs。 It was very
comfortable； after all that buzz of talk； and the jokes that seemed so
nonsensical and tiresome。 There were but two people who could manage
to make a party entertaining； and that was the reason it was so
different last year。 Then Amy wondered if she was the only person who
felt sick at heart and dreary； but she only wondered for a momentshe
murmured half aloud to herself； 'I said I never would think of him
except at my prayers！ Here I am doing it again； and on Christmas
night。 I won't hide my eyes and moan over my broken reed； for
Christmas is come； and the circles of song are widening round！ Glory！
good will； peace on earth！ How he sang it last year； the last thing；
when the people were gone； before we went up to bed。 But I am breaking
my resolution again。 I must do something。'
She took up a book of sacred poetry； and began to learn a piece which
she already nearly knew； but the light was bad； and it was dreamy work；
and probably she was half asleep； for her thoughts wandered off to
Sintram and the castle on the Mondenfelsen； which seemed to her like
what she had pictured the Redclyffe crags； and the castle itself was
connected in her imagination with the deep； echoing porch； while Guy's
own voice seemed to be chanting
Who lives forlorn；
On God's own word doth rest；
His path is bright
With heavenly light；
His lot among the blest。
'Are you there； Amy？' said Charles； waking。 'What are you staying here
for？ Don't they want you？'
'Mamma was so kind as to send me up。'
'I am glad you are come； for I have something to tell you。 Mr。 Ross
has been up to see me； you know； and he has a letter from Guy。'
Amy's heart beat fast； and； with eyes fixed on the ground； she listened
as Charles continued to give an account of Guy's letter about Coombe
Prior。 'Mr。 Ross is quite satisfied about him； Amy；' he concluded。 'I
wish you could have heard the decided way in which he said； 〃He will
_live_ it down。〃'
Amy's answer was to stoop down and kiss her brother's forehead。
Another week brought Guy's renewal of the correspondence。
'Amy； here is something for you to read；' said Charles； holding up the
letter as she came into the room。
She knew the writing。 'Wait one moment； Charlie； dear；' and she ran
out of the room； found her mother fortunately alone； and said； averting
her face；'Mamma； dear； do you think I ought to let Charlie show me
that letter？'
Mrs。 Edmonstone took hold of her hand； and drew her round so as to look
into the face through its veiling curls。 The hand shook； and the face
was in a glow of eagerness。 'Yes； dearest！' said she； for she could
not help it； and then； as Amy ran back again； she asked herself whether
it was foolish； and bad for her sweet little daughter； then declared to
herself that it mustit shouldit would come right。
There was not a word of Amy in the letter； but it； or something else；
made her more bright and cheerful than she had been for some time past。
It seemed as if the lengthening days of January were bringing renewed
comfort with them； when Charles； who ever since October had been
confined to bed； was able to wear the Chinese dressing…gown； be lifted
to a couch； and wheeled into the dressing…room； still prostrate； but
much enjoying the change of scene； which he called coming into the
world。
These were the events at quiet Hollywell； while Redclyffe was still
engrossed with the shipwreck； which seemed to have come on purpose to
enliven and occupy this solitary winter。 It perplexed the Ashfords
about their baronet more than ever。 Mr。 Ashford said that no one whose
conscience was not clear could have confronted danger as he had done；
and yet the certainty that he was under a cloud； and the sadness； so
inconsistent with his age and temperament still puzzled them。 Mrs。
Ashford thought she had made a discovery。 The second day after the
wreck； the whole crew； except the little cabin…boy； were going to set
off to the nearest sea…port； and the evening preceding their departure；
they were to meet their rescuers； the fishermen； at a supper in the
great servants' hall at the park。 Edward and Robert were in great
glory； bringing in huge branches of evergreens to embellish the clean；
cold place； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Ashford and Grace were to come to see the
entertainment； after having some coffee in the library。
Guy prepared it for his company by tumbling his books headlong from the
sofa to a more remote ottoman； sticking a bit of holly on the mantel…
shelf； putting out his beloved old friend； Strutt's 'Sports and
Pastimes；' to amuse Grace； and making up an immense fire； and then；
looking round； thought the room was uncommonly comfortable； but the
first thing that struck Mrs； Ashford； when； with face beaming welcome；
he ushered her in from the great hall； was how forlorn rooms looked
that had not a woman to inhabit them。
The supper went off with great eclat。 Arnaud at the head of the table
carved with foreign courtesies； contrasted with the downright bluff way
of the sailors。 As soon as Sir Guy brought Mrs。 Ashford to look in on
them； old James Robinson proposed his health； with hopes he would soon
come and live among them for good； and Jonas Ledbury added another
wish； that 'Lady Morville' might soon be there too。 At these words； an
expression of pain came upon Guy's face； his lips were rigidly pressed
together； he turned hastily away； and paced up and down before he could
command his countenance。 All were so busy cheering； that no one heeded
his change of demeanour save Mrs。 Ashford； and though； when he returned
to the place where he had been standing； his complexion was deepened；
his lip quivered； and his voice trembled in returning thanks； Mr。
Ashford only saw the emotion naturally excited by his people's
attachment。
The lady understood it better； and when she talked it over with her
husband in the evening； they were convinced the cause of his trouble
must be some unfortunate attachment； which he might think it his duty
to overcome； and having settled this； they became very fond of him； and
anxious to make Redclyffe agreeable to him。
Captain and crew departed； the little boy was better； and his hosts；
Charity and Jem Ledbury； only wished to keep him for ever； the
sensation at Redclyffe was subsiding； when one morning Markham came； in
a state of extreme satisfaction and importance； to exhibit the county
paper； with a full account of the gallant conduct of the youthful
baronet。 Two or three days after； on coming home from a ride to Coombe
Prior； Guy found Lord Thorndale's card； and heard from Arnaud that 'my
lord had made particular inquiries how long he would be in the country；
and had been to the cliff to see where the wreck was。'
Markham likewise attached great importance to this visit； and went off
into a long story about his influence； and the representation of
Moorworth； or even of the county。 As soon as Guy knew what he was
talking about； he exclaimed； 'Oh； I hope all that is not coming on me
yet！ Till I can manage Todd and Coombe Prior； I am sure I am not fit
to manage the country！'
A few mornings after； he found on the table an envelope； which he
studied； as if playing with his eagerness。 It had an East…hill post…
mark； and a general air of Hollywell writing； but it was not in the
hand of either of the gentlemen； nor was the tail of the y such as Mrs。
Edmonstone was wont to make。 It had even a resemblance to Amabel's own
writing that startled him。 He opened it at last； and within found the
hand he could not doubtCharles's； namelymuch more crooked than
usual； and the words shortened and blotted：
'DEAR G。；I ought not to do this； but I must；