The Heir of Redclyffe

bliss more b

by sober t

G

to himself, as he studied Sir Guy Morville, w

g greyhound. He had no pretension to be called handsome; his eyes were his best feature; they were very peculiar, of a light hazel, darker towards the outside of the iris, very brilliant, the whites tinted with blue, and the lashes uncommonly thick and black; the eyebrows were also very dark, and of a sharply-defined angula

hilip himself read on a week-day; he has been puritanized till he is good for nothing; I'll trouble myself no more about him!' He tried to read, but presently looked up again. 'Plague

to its coming right in time. Charles was a capital chess-player, and seldom found any one who could play well enough to afford him much real sport, but he found Sir Guy more nearly a match than often fell to his lot; it was a bold dashing game, that obliged him to be on his guard, and he was

xpected it, the girls would find his quick eyes following them with an air of amused curiosity, as Amabel waited on Charles and her flowers, or Laura drew, wrote letters, and strove to keep

, his look of delighted attention struck everyone. He ventured nearer, stood by the piano when they practised, and at last joined in

n,' he said, 'I could not help

Laura, smilin

ven know t

e a very good ear.

red to brighten, and Laura and her mother agreed that it would do him good to have plenty of music, and to try to train that fine voice. He was beginning to interest them all greatly by his

-past five, found him sitting alone by the fire, his dog lying at his feet. As

nd irrepressible, and as she stirred the fire, the flame revealed

ight is a quiet t

w few Sundays ago-'

so little p

e business with Markham, and had ne

l?' asked Mrs. Edmonstone, perceiving t

poke, but it was getting dark, and I did not see his face. I don't think I was ten minutes dressing, but when I came down, he had sunk

over his co

move, but he looked at me-or-I don't know what I should have done.' The last words were almost inaudible from the gush of tears

attached to him!' said she

he first hour I can recollect. He never let me miss my parents. How he attended to all my pl

moved by such affection in one said to have been treated with an excess of stric

s passed,' said she, 'you will like to rememb

reckless, disregarding his comfort, rebelling against-O,

. 'There is always much to wish otherwise; but I am sure you

t I ought t

and affectionate than his conduct, and tried to

t trust what they say of me. They would be sure t

as trying to think of some consolation. S

ittle I can trust myself. Will you take me in hand-let me talk to you-and tell me if I am wrong, as freely

r hand; and wit

l, if I see a

too vehement? above all, when you see my temper fail

ll yourself alone. Y

aw the full beauty of his smile-a sort of sweetness and radiance of which eye a

hew,' she added, kindly. 'I used to

hdeacon Morville was always so kin

-tête-à-tête 'it is not right to wish such

giment is so near. I w

edclyffe, when he

then, and a very foolish, headstrong one. I am glad t

one, smiling. 'I don't think there has been a

crutches slowly crossing the hall. Guy sprang to help him

with the silent one!

l I think of him,' said

mpt for heroes and hero-worship. It's a treat to have Philip out of the way, and if it was but possible to get out of hearing of his perfection, I should have some peac

around. Laura was much amused by a little conversation she held with him one day when a party of their younger neighbours were laughing

ce of inquiry-'Don't mind saying so. Philip and I often agree that it

s non

don't, it i

,' said Guy thoughtfully. 'Look at them; they are like-not a pic

er see anyth

d I used to be to get on horseback again! But to see these-why, it is like the shepherd's glimpse at the pixies!-as one re

's parl

ettle on some bare, wide common, and sit there as if they were consulting, no

said Laura, 'as you know that rooks

and the clear merry sound of his hearty laugh surprised Charles,

oyish eagerness, all that interested him, carrying her the passages in books that pleased him, telling her about Redclyffe's affairs, and giving her his letters from Markham, the steward. His head was fu

ressing-room window. There was Guy leaping, bounding, racing, rolling the dog over, tripping him up, twitching his ears, tickling his feet, catching at his tail, laughing at Bustle's springs, contortions, and harmless open-mouthed attacks, while the dog did little less than laugh too, with his intelligent amber eyes, and bl

u read a

m very ignorant

the ancient one

nothing el

oks!' exclaimed Amabel, with a

Berosus, and Ocellus Lu

as the Vicar of Wakefield among his

on the old standard books, instead of his time bei

his attention on Sir Charl

How could any one have any sympathy wi

Eh, Laura?'

,' said Laura, s

n of perfect heroes?

rother, blushing at her piece of naughti

whom he had been visiting, Laura told him what they had

nt people are, even of Shakspeare; and I believe the blame chiefly r

ing of every month? I suppose to act as pioneer, though whethe

d?' asked Phili

would go on-the part about little Paul-and I declare, I shall think the worse of her ever af

'for I found Amy in a state that alarmed me, crying in the green-hous

,' said Amy; and looking shyly

rles. 'In the very face of

really think it

ht, and as their principles are negative, they are n

Guy and Laura have your graci

has a cold o

,' sai

d be a pity to begin with Dickens, when there is so much of a highe

uptly, and his dark

ranslation of "I promessi Sponsi," one of the most beautiful

if he was putting a force upon himself, when Philip more quickly took the first volume,

harles's attempts to interrupt and criticise. Soon Guy, who had at first lent only reluctant attention, was entirely absorbed, his eyebrows relaxed, a look of earnest int

read was very unlike what it had been to Laura and Amy, when they puzzled it out as an Italian lesson, or to Charles, when he carelessly t

two at Hollywell, and he accepted the invitation for the next week

, 'we shall be delighted. We were talking o

pecial treat to him,' laying a particular stress o

saying, 'Sir Guy's servant is com

cried Guy, sprin

e door

wever, Guy put his head into the room again. 'Mrs. Edmonstone, w

turned to claim his friend's admiration for the beautiful chestnut, his grandfather's birthday present. The ladies admired with earnestness that compensated for want of knowledge, the gentlemen with greater science and discrimination; indeed, Philip, as a connoisseur, could not but, for the sake of his own reputation, discover somet

dropped the title alread

ain by reminding him of his loss, and he was so strange and forlorn just at firs

et on prett

orus with variation

ertaining,' s

beautifully,'

-minded,' said

l informed,'

all bega

hess so wel

h a dear dog,'

' said Mrs. Edmonstone, going i

p for the faults of all h

h, his music!

earnestly, 'you really s

uss?' said Philip, smiling,

ld try,' said Charl

t, oh, Philip! you could no

and powerful, and yet so wonderfully sweet in the low soft

r fellow,' said Phi

im for it?' sa

dvise you to make much of this talent in pub

iving us a lesson, she asked Guy just to sing up and down the scale. I never saw anything so funny as old Mr Radford's surprise, it was almost like th

dee

mother had been a musician's daughter, and you had i

uessing what I should do if my mother had been anything but what she

heir walk, as she intended to go to East-hill, and they migh

dvance of the others. Laura was very anxious to arrive

is much to like i

say there is much to like? People are not s

do yo

's ans

lion's whe

ith foste

gentle thin

t to co

nk him a li

at I can hardly deem satisfactory. I do not speak from prejudice, for I think highly of his candour, warmth of heart, and desire to do ri

ndfather, in spite of his severity. He is b

well at Redclyffe, the other day; boyish of course, and without much self-command, but very amiably. It is very well for h

great pity if

ard that any of his family, except perhaps that unhappy old Hugh, were deficient in frankness and generosity, and therefore these do not s

th his confidence. She thought how cool and prudent he was, and how grieved she should be if Guy justified his doubts; and so they walked on in such silence as is per

affectation in that, Laura, there is scarcely p

! I thought you w

t the one bri

t while you were at St. Mildred'

ed with her book-club, and her soirées, a

get on with

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 o

d Laura.' Surely

s worse than gossip in a prima

ehurst to go to. How wa

about on her patten

go into t

e acacia is so tall and spreading, that I longed to have the

r look of regret and censure had faded from his brow