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doubts; and so they walked on in such silence as is perhaps the
strongest proof of intimacy。 She was the first to speak; led to do so
by an expression of sadness about her cousin's mouth。 'What are you
thinking of; Philip?'
'Of Locksley Hall。 There is nonsense; there is affectation in that;
Laura; there is scarcely poetry; but there is power; for there is
truth。'
'Of Locksley Hall! I thought you were at Stylehurst。'
'So I was; but the one brings the other。'
'I suppose you went to Stylehurst while you were at St。 Mildred's? Did
Margaret take you there?'
'Margaret? Not she; she is too much engaged with her book…club; and
her soirées; and her societies of every sort and kind。'
'How did you get on with the Doctor?'
'I saw as little of him as I could; and was still more convinced that
he does not know what conversation is。 Hem!' Philip gave a deep sigh。
'No; the only thing to be done at St。 Mildred's is to walk across the
moors to Stylehurst。 It is a strange thing to leave that tumult of
gossip; and novelty; and hardness; and to enter on that quiet autumnal
old world; with the yellow leaves floating silently down; just as they
used to do; and the atmosphere of stillness round the green
churchyard。'
'Gossip!' repeated Laura。' Surely not with Margaret?'
'Literary; scientific gossip is worse than gossip in a primary sense;
without pretension。'
'I am glad you had Stylehurst to go to。 How was the old sexton's
wife?'
'Very well; trotting about on her pattens as merrily as ever。'
'Did you go into the garden?'
'Yes; Fanny's ivy has entirely covered the south wall; and the acacia
is so tall and spreading; that I longed to have the pruning of it。 Old
Will keeps everything in its former state。'
They talked on of the old home; till the stern bitter look of regret
and censure had faded from his brow; and given way to a softened
melancholy expression。
CHAPTER 4
A fig for all dactyls; a fig for all spondees;
A fig for all dunces and dominie grandees。SCOTT
'How glad I am!' exclaimed Guy; entering the drawing…room。
'Wherefore?' inquired Charles。
'I thought I was too late; and I am very glad to find no one arrived;
and Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone not come down。'
'But where have you been?'
'I lost my way on the top of the down; I fancied some one told me there
was a view of the sea to be had there。'
'And can't you exist without a view of the sea?'
Guy laughed。 'Everything looks so dullit is as if the view was dead
or imprisonedwalled up by wood and hill; and wanting that living
ripple; heaving and struggling。'
'And your fine rocks?' said Laura。
'I wish you could see the Shag stone;a great island mass; sloping on
one side; precipitous on the other; with the spray dashing on it。 If
you see it from ever so far off; there is still that white foam coming
and goinga glancing speck; like the light in an eye。'
'Hark! a carriage。'
'The young man and the young man's companion;' said Charles。
'How can you?' said Laura。 'What would any one suppose Mr。 Thorndale
to be?'
'Not Philip's valet;' said Charles; 'if it is true that no man is a
hero to his 〃valley…de…sham〃; whereas; what is not Philip to the
Honourable James Thorndale?'
'Philip; Alexander; and Bucephalus into the bargain;' suggested Amy; in
her demure; frightened whisper; sending all but Laura into a fit of
laughter; the harder to check because the steps of the parties
concerned were heard approaching。
Mr。 Thorndale was a quiet individual; one of those of whom there is
least to be said; so complete a gentleman that it would have been an
insult; to call him gentleman…like; agreeable and clever rather than
otherwise; good…looking; with a high…bred air about him; so that it
always seemed strange that he did not make more impression。
A ring at the front…door almost immediately followed their arrival。
'Encore?' asked Philip; looking at Laura with a sort of displeased
surprise。
'Unfortunately; yes;' said Laura; drawing aside。
'One of my uncle's family parties;' said Philip。 'I wish I had not
brought Thorndale。 Laura; what is to be done to prevent the tittering
that always takes place when Amy and those Harpers are together?'
'Some game?' said Laura。 He signed approval; but she had time to say
no more; for her father and mother came down; and some more guests
entered。
It was just such a party that continually grew up at Hollywell; for Mr。
Edmonstone was so fond of inviting; that his wife never knew in the
morning how many would assemble at her table in the evening。 But she
was used to it; and too good a manager even to be called so。 She liked
to see her husband enjoy himself in his good…natured; open…hearted way。
The change was good for Charles; and thus it did very well; and there
were few houses in the neighbourhood more popular than Hollywell。
The guests this evening were Maurice de Courcy; a wild young Irishman;
all noise and nonsense; a great favourite with his cousin; Mr。
Edmonstone; two Miss Harpers; daughters of the late clergyman; good…
natured; second…rate girls; Dr。 Mayerne; Charles's kind old physician;
the friend and much…loved counsellor at Hollywell; and the present
vicar; Mr。 Ross with his daughter Mary。
Mary Ross was the greatest friend that the Miss Edmonstones possessed;
though; she being five…and…twenty; they had not arrived at perceiving
that they were on the equal terms of youngladyhood。
She had lost her mother early; and had owed a great deal to the
kindness of Mrs。 Edmonstone; as she grew up among her numerous elder
brothers。 She had no girlhood; she was a boy till fourteen; and then a
woman; and she was scarcely altered since the epoch of that transition;
the same in likings; tastes; and duties。 'Papa' was all the world to
her; and pleasing him had much the same meaning now as then; her
brothers were like playfellows; her delights were still a lesson in
Greek from papa; a school…children's feast; a game at play; a new book。
It was only a pity other people did not stand still too。 'Papa;'
indeed; had never grown sensibly older since the year of her mother's
death: but her brothers were whiskered men; with all the cares of the
world; and no holidays; the school…girls went out to service; and were
as a last year's brood to an old hen; the very children she had fondled
were young ladies; as old; to all intents and purposes; as herself; and
here were even Laura and Amy Edmonstone fallen into that bad habit of
growing up! though little Amy had still much of the kitten in her
composition; and could play as well as Charlotte or Mary herself; when
they had the garden to themselves。
Mary took great pains to amuse Charles; always walking to see him in
the worst weather; when she thought other visitors likely to fall; and
chatting with him as if she was the idlest person in the world; though
the quantity she did at home and in the parish would be too amazing to
be recorded。 Spirited and decided; without superfluous fears and
fineries; she had a firm; robust figure; and a rosy; good…natured face;
with a manner that; though perfectly feminine; had in it an air of
strength and determination。
Hollywell was a hamlet; two miles from the parish church of East…hill;
and Mary had thus seen very little of the Edmonstone's guest; having
only been introduced to him after church on Sunday。 The pleasure on
which Charles chiefly reckoned for that evening was the talking him
over with her when the ladies came in from the dining…room。 The Miss
Harpers; with his sisters; gathered round the piano; and Mrs。
Edmonstone sat at Charles's feet; while Mary knitted and talked。
'So you get on well with him?'
'He is one of those people who are never in the way; and yet you never
can forgot their presence;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'His manners are quite the pink of courtesy;' said Mary。
'Like his grandfather's;' said Mrs。 Edmonstone; 'that old…school
deference and attention is very chivalrous; and sits prettily and
quaintly on his high spirits and animation; I hope it will not wear
off。'
'A vain hope;' said Charles。 'At present he is like that German myth;
Kaspar Hauser; who lived till twenty in a cellar。 It is lucky for
mamma that; in his green state; he is courtly instead of bearish。'
'Lucky for you; too; Charlie; he spoils you finely。'
'He has the rare perfection of letting me know my own mind。 I never
knew what it was to have my own way before。'
'Is that your complaint; Charlie? What next?' said Mary。
'So you think I have my way; do you; Mary? That is all envy; you see;
and very much misplaced。 Could you guess what a conflict it is every
time I am helped up t