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！
concert where he was employed； and grew so ardent in his description of
it； that Guy could have wished to go； but his companions were in haste
to say there was far too much to do。 And the next moment Guy told
himself； that Mr。 Edmonstone's good…natured face and joyous 'eh； Guy？'
were more to him than any music he could hear nearer than Hollywell。
He went down…stairs with his uncle； who all the way raved about the
music； satisfied to find ears that could comprehend； and was too full
of it even to attend or respond to the parting thanks； for his last
words were something about a magnificent counter…tenor。
Guy walked up slowly； trying to gather his thoughts： but when it came
back to him that Amy was his again； his brain seemed to reel with
ecstasy； and it would have taken far more time than he could spare to
recall his sober senses； so he opened the door； to convince himself at
least of Mr。 Edmonstone's presence； and was received with another shake
of the hand。
'So here you are again。 I was afraid he was carrying you off to his
concert after all！ I believe you have half a mind for it。 Do you
like to stay in London for the next？ Eh； Guy？' and it was good to hear
Mr。 Edmonstone's hearty laugh； as he patted his ward on the shoulder；
saw his blushing； smiling shake of the head； and gave a knowing look；
which let in a fresh light on Markham； and luckily was unseen by Guy。
'Well；' continued Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the man is more gentlemanlike than I
expected。 A good sort of fellow at the bottom； I dare say。 He was
pretty considerably shocked to find he had brought you into such a
scrape。'
'He is very generous；' said Guy。 'Oh； there is much of a noble
character in him。'
'Noble！ humph！' put in Markham。 'He has gone down…hill fast enough；
since I used to see him in your father's time； but I am glad he had the
decency not to be the undoing of you。'
'His feeling is his great point；' said Guy； 'when you can once get at
it。 I wish' But breaking off short； 'I can't make it out。 What did
little Marianne tell you？ Or was it Miss Wellwood？'
'It was first the youngest sister；' said Markham。 'I sat there talking
to her some little time； she said you had been very kind to the family；
and the child was very grateful to youwas always talking of some
morning when you and your dog came； and helped her mother。 Her father
had been out all night； and her mother was crying； she said； and
declaring he would be sent to prison； till you came and helped them。'
'Yes； that's it；' said Guy。
'Well； I remembered what you had told me of the mystery of the draft；
and guessed that this might be the clue to it。 I begged to see the
child； and in she came； the very image of your mother； and a sharp
little thing that knew what she meant； but had not much idea of the
shame； poor child； about her father。 She told me the story of his
coming home in the morning； and her mother being in great distress； and
saying they were ruined； till you came and talked to her mother； and
gave her something。 I asked if it was money； and she said it was
paper。 I showed her a draft； and she knew it was like that。 So then I
made her tell me where to find her father； whom I used to know in old
times； and had to write to； now and then。 I hunted him up； and a
creditable figure he was； to be sure； but I got the truth out of him at
last； and when he heard you had got into disgrace on his account； he
raved like a tragedy hero； and swore he would come and tell your
guardian the whole story。 I put him into a cab for fear he should
repent； and he had just got to the end of it when you came in。'
'It is of no use to thank you again； Markham！'
'Why； I have been getting your family out of scrapes these forty years
or thereabouts；' said Markham； ''tis all I am good for； and if they had
been no worse than this one it would be better for all of us。 But time
is getting on； and there is enough to do。'
To the accounts they went at once。 There was a good deal to be
settled； and though Guy had as yet no legal power； according to his
grandfather's will； he was of course consulted about everything。 He
was glad that； since he could not be alone to bring himself to the
realization of his newly…recovered happiness； he should have this
sobering and engrossing occupation。 There he sat； coolly discussing
leases and repairs； and only now and then allowing himself a sort of
glimpse at the treasury of joy awaiting him whenever he had time to
dwell on it。 The Coombe Prior matters were set in a better train； the
preliminary arrangements about the curacy were made； and Guy had hopes
it would be his friend Mr。 Wellwood's title for Orders。
There was no time to write to Hollywell； or rather Mr。 Edmonstone
forgot to do so till it was too late； and then consoled himself by
observing that it did not signify if his family were taken by surprise；
since joy killed no one。
His family were by no means of opinion that it did not signify when the
next morning's post brought them no letter。 Mrs Edmonstone and Charles
had hoped much； and Amy did not know how much she hoped until the
melancholy words； 'no letter；' passed from one to the other。
To make it worse； by some of those mismanagements of Mr。 Edmonstone's
which used to run counter to his wife's arrangements； a dinner…party
had been fixed for this identical Wednesday； and the prospect was
agreeable to no one； especially when the four o'clock train did not
bring Mr。 Edmonstone； who； therefore； was not to be expected till
seven； when all the world would be arrived。
Laura helped Amy to dress； put the flowers in her hair； kissed her； and
told her it was a trying day； and Amy sighed wearily； thanked her； and
went down with arms twined in hers； whispering； 'If I could help being
so foolish as to let myself have a little hope！'
Laura thought the case so hopeless； that she was sorry Amy could not
cease from the foolishness； and did not answer。 Amy sat down at the
foot of the sofa； whither Charles was now carried down every day； and
without venturing to look at him； worked at her netting。 A carriage
her colour came and went； but it was only some of the guests； another
the Brownlows。 Amy was speaking to Miss Brownlow when she heard more
greetings； she looked up； caught by the arm of the sofa； and looked
again。 Her father was pouring out apologies and welcomes； and her
mother was shaking hands with Guy。
Was it a dream？ She shut her eyes； then looked again。 He was close to
her by this time； she felt his fingers close on her white glove for one
moment； but she only heard his voice in the earnest 'How are you；
Charlie？' Her father came to her； gave her first his usual kiss of
greeting； then； not letting her go； looked at her for a moment； and； as
if he could not help it； kissed her on both cheeks； and said； 'How d'ye
do； my little Amy？' in a voice that meant unutterable things。 All the
room was swimming round； there was nothing for it but to run away； and
she ran； but from the ante…room she heard the call outside； 'Sir Guy's
bag to his room；' and she could not rush out among the servants。 At
that moment； however； she spied Mary Ross and her father； she darted up
to them； said something incoherent about Mary's bonnet； and took her up
to her own room。
'Amy； my dear； you look wild。 What has come to you？'
'Papa is come home； and' the rest failed； and Amy was as red as the
camellia in her hair。
'And？' repeated Mary； 'and the mystery is explained？'
'Oh！ I don't know； they are only just come； and I was so silly； I ran
away；I did not know what to do。'
'_They_ are come； are they？' thought Mary。 'My little Amy； I see it
all。'
She made the taking off her bonnet and the settling her lace as
elaborate an operation as she could； and Amy flitted about as if she
did not by any means know what she was doing。 A springy； running step
was heard on the stairs and in the passage； and Mary； though she could
not see her little friend's face； perceived her neck turn red for a
moment； after which Amy took her arm； pressed it affectionately； and
they went down。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was very glad to see Amabel looking tolerably natural。
'Mamma' was of course burning to hear all； but she was so confident
that the essentials were safe； that her present care was to see how her
two young lovers would be able to comport themselves； and to be on her
guard against attending to them more than to her guests。
Amy； after passing by Charles； and getting a squeeze from his ever…
sympathizing hand； put herself away behind Mary； while Laura talked to
every one； hoping to show that there was some self…possession in the
family。 Guy reappeared； but； after one glance to see if Amy was
present； he did not look at her