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however。 A fine pair of young housekeepers； and a pretty example of
early marriages for the parish！'
Guy laughed。 'You must come and see the example； Markham。 I have a
message from Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone； to ask you to come to Hollywell
at Whitsuntide。'
Grunt！ 'You are making a fool of me； Sir Guy。 What's a plain old man
like me to do among all your lords and ladies； and finery and flummery？
I'll do no such thing。'
'Not to oblige me？'
'Oblige you？ Nonsense！ Much you'll care for me！'
'Nay； Markham； you must not stay away。 You； my oldest and best
friend；my only home friend。 I owe all my present happiness to you；
and it would really be a great disappointment to me if you did not
come。 She wishes it； too。'
'Well； Sir Guy；' and the grunt was of softer tone； 'if you do choose to
make a fool of me； I can't help it。 You must have your own way； though
you might have found a friend that would do you more credit。'
'Then I may say that you will come？'
'Say I am very much obliged to Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone for their
invitation。 It is very handsome of them。'
'Then you will have the settlements ready by that time。 You must；
Markham。'
'I'll see about it。'
'And the house must be ready to come home to at once。'
'You don't know what you are talking of； Sir Guy！' exclaimed Markham；
at once aghast and angry。
'Yes； I do。 We don't intend to turn the house upside down with new
furniture。'
'You may talk as you please； Sir Guy； but I know what's what； and it is
mere nonsense to talk of bringing a lady to a house in this condition。
A pretty notion you have of what is fit for your bride！ I hope she
knows what sort of care you mean to take of her！'
'She will be satisfied；' said Guy。 'She particularly wishes not to
have everything disarranged； I only must have two rooms furnished for
her。'
'But the place wants painting from head to foot； and the roof is in
such a state'
'The roof？ That's serious！'
'Serious； I believe so。 You'll have it about your ears in no time； if
you don't look sharp。'
'I'll look this minute；' said Guy； jumping up。 'Will you come with
me？'
Up he went； climbing about in the forest of ancient timbers； where he
could not but be convinced that there was more reason than he could
wish in what Markham said； and that his roof was in no condition to
bring his bride to。 Indeed it was probable that it had never been
thoroughly repaired since the time of old Sir Hugh； for the Morvilles
had not been wont to lay out money on what did not make a display。 Guy
was in dismay； he sent for the builder from Moorworth； calculated times
and costs； but； do what he would； he could not persuade himself that
when once the workmen were in Redclyffe； they would be out again before
the autumn。
Guy was very busy during the fortnight he spent at home。 There were
the builder and his plans； and Markham and the marriage settlements；
and there were orders to be given about the furniture。 He came to Mrs。
Ashford about this； conducted her to the park； and begged her to be so
kind as to be his counsellor； and to superintend the arrangement。 He
showed her what was to be Amy's morning…roomnow bare and empty； but
with the advantages of a window looking south； upon the green wooded
slope of the park； with a view of the church tower； and of the moors；
which were of very fine form。 He owned himself to be profoundly
ignorant about upholstery matters； and his ideas of furniture seemed to
consist in prints for the walls； a piano； a bookcase； and a couch for
Charles。
'You have heard about Charles？' said he； raising his bright face from
the list of needful articles which he was writing； using the window…
seat as a table。
'Not much；' said Mrs。 Ashford。 'Is he entirely confined to the sofa？'
'He cannot move without crutches； but no one could guess what he is
without seeing him。 He is so patient； his spirits never flag； and it
is beautiful to see how considerate he is； and what interest he takes
in all the things he never can share； poor fellow。 I don't know what
Hollywell would be without Charlie！ I wonder how soon he will be able
to come here！ Hardly this year； I am afraid； for things must be
comfortable for him； and I shall never get them so without Amy； and
then it will be autumn。 Well； what next？ Oh； you said window…
curtains。 Some blue sort of stuff； I suppose； like the drawing…room
ones at Hollywell。 What's the name of it？'
In fact； Mrs。 Ashford was much of his opinion； that he never would make
things comfortable without Amy； though he gave his best attention to
the inquiries that were continually made of him； and where he had an
idea； carried it out to the utmost。 He knew much better what he was
about in the arrangements for Coombe Prior； where he had installed his
friend； Mr。 Wellwood； and set on foot many plans for improvements；
giving them as much attention as if he had nothing else to occupy his
mind。 Both the curate and Markham were surprised that he did not leave
these details till his return home； but he answered；
'Better do things while we may。 The thought of this unhappy place is
enough to poison everything； and I don't think I could rest without
knowing that the utmost was being done for it。'
He was very happy making arrangements for a village feast on the
wedding…day。 The Ashfords asked if he would not put it off till his
return； and preside himself。
'It won't hurt them to have one first。 Let them make sure of all the
fun they can；' he answered； and the sentiment was greatly applauded by
Edward and Robert； who followed him about more than ever； and grew so
fond of him； that it made them very angry to be reminded of the spirit
of defiance in which their acquaintance had begun。 Nevertheless they
seemed to be preparing the same spirit for his wife； for when their
mother told them they must not expect to monopolize him thus when he
was married； they declared； that they did not want a Lady Morville at
all； and could not think why he was so stupid as to want a wife。
Their father predicted that he would never have time to fulfil his old
engagement of taking them out to the Shag Rock； but the prediction was
not verified； for he rowed both them and Mr。 Ashford thither one fine
May afternoon； showed them all they wanted to see； and let them
scramble to their heart's content。 He laughed at their hoard of scraps
of the wood of the wreck； which they said their mamma had desired them
to fetch for her。
So many avocations came upon Guy at once；so many of the neighbours
came to call on him；such varieties of people wanted to speak to him；…
…the boys followed him so constantly；and he had so many invitations
from Mr。 Wellwood and the Ashfords； that he never had any time for
himself； except what must be spent in writing to Amabel。 There was a
feeling upon him； that he must have time to commune with himself； and
rest from this turmoil of occupation； in the solitude of which
Redclyffe had hitherto been so full。 He wanted to be alone with his
old home； and take leave of it； and of the feelings of his boyhood；
before beginning on this new era of his life； but whenever he set out
for a solitary walk； before he could even get to the top of the crag；
either Markham marched up to talk over some important question；a
farmer waylaid him to make some request；some cottager met him； to
tell of a grievance；Mr。 Wellwood rode over；or the Ashford boys
rushed up； and followed like his shadow。
At length； on Ascension day； the last before he was to leave Redclyffe；
with a determination that he would escape for once from his pursuers；
he walked to the Cove as soon as he returned from morning service；
launched his little boat and pushed off into the rippling whispering
waters。 It was a resumption of the ways of his boyhood； it seemed like
a holiday to have left all these cares behind him； just as it used to
be when all his lessons were prepared； and he had leave to disport
himself； by land or water； the whole afternoon； provided he did not go
out beyond the Shag Rock。 He took up his sculls and rowed merrily；
singing and whistling to keep time with their dash； the return to the
old pleasure quite enough at first； the salt breeze； the dashing waves；
the motion of the boat。 So he went on till he had come as far as his
former boundary； then he turned and gazed back on the precipitous
rocks； cleft with deep fissures； marbled with veins of different shades
of red； and tufted here and therewith clumps of samphire； grass； and a
little brushwood； bright with the early green of spring。 The white
foam and spray were leaping against their base； and roaring in their
hollows； the tract of wavelets between glittered in light； or heaved
green