The Heir of Redclyffe

actyls, a fig f

dunces and dom

CO

claimed Guy, enteri

?' inquire

ery glad to find no one arrived, and

re have

; I fancied some one told me there wa

xist without a v

view was dead or imprisoned-walled up by wood and hill,

ine rocks?'

ous on the other, with the spray dashing on it. If you see it from ever so far off, ther

a car

he young man's compa

. 'What would any one sup

at no man is a hero to his "valley-de-sham"; whereas,

mure, frightened whisper, sending all but Laura into a fit of laughter, the ha

hat it would have been an insult, to call him gentleman-like; agreeable and clever rather than otherwise, good-

or almost immediately

ooking at Laura with a so

yes,' said Laura

brought Thorndale. Laura, what is to be done to prevent the titteri

she had time to say no more, for her father and

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

in, Mr. Edmonstone; two Miss Harpers, daughters of the late clergyman, good-natured, second-rate girls; Dr. Mayerne, Charles's

essed, though, she being five-and-twenty, they had not arrived a

n; 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 t

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

ced 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

t on well

in the way, and yet you never can forgo

uite the pink of c

erence and attention is very chivalrous, and sits prettily and quain

h, Kaspar Hauser, who lived till twenty in a cellar. It is lucky fo

oo, Charlie; he s

g me know my own mind. I never knew w

laint, Charlie? Wh

or the slope of my sofa is altered? Last time Philip stayed here, every step cost an argument, till at last, through sheer exhaustion, I left myself a dead weight on his hands, to be carr

s. Edmonstone. 'It seems as if we had brought h

said Charles. 'Never had man suc

tone. 'The chief of his time was spent in wandering in t

es: 'a swamp half frozen on a winter's night, full of wild duck

badger, and the jay, and the monkey, that he bought because it was dying, and cur

ll do, C

my Puss. We held them up to each other, and Puss hissed horribly, but Bustle did not mind it a b

hand, with a provoking mock politeness, '

of definitions. 'You know it. Ph

your sisters, Thor

t be charming!' exclaimed Miss

contemptuously. 'Dr. Johnso

standing specimen is adversity, which may be differently explained according to you

,' said Guy, looking

gh I can't say it sounds to me promisi

d thought of the word "happiness". We are each to wri

spectator, but an active contributor to the sport. When the break-up came, Mary and Amabel were standing over the table together, collecting the scattere

'if it is not treason, I should like to ma

hilip's, but it is Sir Guy's writing. How very sad! I should not like to think so. And he was so merry all the

uld not have wondered at any of us, penniless people, philosoph

he theory of wisdom come early,' said P

for disparagement?

se and right feeling,' was Philip's sedate answer; and

mented that it was in vain to offer the carriage; and Mary laughed, and thanked, and

go out to dinner in a carriage

d Charlotte, 'ho

deed. It was v

to the fairy ring,'

ot turn to tinsel. Would it if I saw more

iment to ourselves to

ly; 'there are some lumps of solid gold among those papers, I am sur

tle

ttle

le souls

with him, and laughing at some of the most amusing; while, in the mean time,

has thought, mind, and so

help seeing his supe

t all talk. I don't like such excess of openness about

ever been at school; so his thoughts come out in security of sympathy

nts streamed against the window, seeming to have a kind

e mountain streams, eddying fiercely along, bearing with them tree and rock, while the valleys became lakes, and the little mounds isle

e heard a legend of your bein

, 'I had a tole

s about it!

sonal experience of drowning,' said C

m. It was very foolish, for the stream was too strong-I was two years younger then. Moreover, the beast was very heavy, and not at all grateful for any kind intentions, and I found myself sailing off to the sea, with the prospect of a good

Proteus pec

e mon

ed P

mma, genus h

ed

ror. 'Don't you know that O in Ovis is short?

Charles, 'for at present your history

her; so I had nothing for it but to halloo as loud as I could. No one heard but Triton, the old Newfoundland dog, who presently came swimming up, so eager to help, poor fellow, that I thought he

w long had

have found me but for him, for my voice was gone; indeed the next thing I remember was lying on the grass in the park, and Markham sayi

t Mr. Toots,' said Charles '

e worse for

had behaved very ill to Farmer Holt. I had been very angry at his beating our o

the ram

I saw it, it nearl

o it again?'

n't k

al from the Humane So

e been more pro

,' said Charles, cutting the o abs

at he wanted to stir up what he called the deadly feud, and she hastened to change the c

recommending the book,' sai

said Philip; 'it has every qual

equal to the repentan

aracter?' said Philip, l

d that one thinks most about him, but no

as more than a well-painte

to no more than she is, but she shows the beauty of goodness in itself in a-a-wonderf

ect seemed to excite Guy to a dangerous extent, as Laura thought,

wished to read you a description of that print fro

show us?' said Amy, 'wit

description,' an

r denotes sufficiently that He is of us and takes care for us. Beneath are two figures adoring, each in their own manner. On one side is a pontiff, on the other a virgin each a most sweet and solemn example, the one of aged, the other of maidenly piety and

ith her perspective, and Guy sat by her side, making concentric circles with her compasses, or when she wanted them he tormented her parallel ruler, or cut the pencils, never letting his fingers rest except at some high or deep passage, or w

es

uld read it, if any one

ould like it very much, but you h

ic; I would have made you a Knight of the Golden Fleece on the spot

uy; 'if Philip has done with th

looked disconsolately from the window, and pitied the weather. 'Nothing for it but billiards. People might say it was nonsense to have a billiard-table in such a house,

aid Guy, 'but

he spinning of a ball, and I'll have my lit

ated Guy, colouring,

harm in such play as this. For nothing, you under

is impossible for me to play, thank you. I have pr

g a warning look from his wife, he became suddenly silent. Guy, meanwhile, sat looking

suasion, and carried Philip off to t

e as a playfellow. 'Now you will never go to those stupid billiards, but I shall hav

rsuade her more constant playmate, Amabel, to join the game. Poor little Amy regretted the being obliged to refuse, as she listened to the merry sounds and bouncing balls

lip, pronouncing the rain to be almost over, invited Guy to take a walk, and they set out in a ver

nd Mrs. Edmonstone helping Laura with her perspective apparatus, all on their way to dress for dinner; the door opened and in came the two Morvilles. Guy, without, even stopping to take

, coolly, with a half-smile

een doing to him

or three days in the week to one Potts, a self-educated genius-a sort of superior writing-master at the Moorworth commercial school. Of course, though it is no fault of his, poor fellow, he is hardl

e say?' ask

ast half mile, and this explosion is the finale. I am very sorry for him, poor b

wered Charles, with

said Philip, making a move as if to take possessi

resolved to keep Philip a prisoner below him as long as he could, and enjoying the notion of chafing him by the delay. Certainly teasing Phi

g-room door. 'Come in,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking up from her

just now. I was so foolish as to be irritated at Philip's mann

ned to your lip

of mine to bite my lip when I am vexed. It seems to help to keep dow

than the actual offence required. 'You have only failed

d Guy; 'besides, I showed it pl

ng, then changing in a moment to a sorrowful, resolute tone, 'Yes, but I will, and then I shall make myself thoroughly ashamed. It was his veiled assumption of superiority, his contempt for all I have been taught. Just as if he had not every right to despise me, w

athy. 'You must remember,' she said, 'that in the eyes of a man brought up at public school, nothing

l that has passed-all I felt-I thought it impossible. Is there no hope for-' He covered his face with his hands, then recovering and

own children. And, indeed, I do not see why you need grieve in this despairing way, for you almost over

s-nay, by implication-my grandfather should be set at nought in that cool-But here I am again!' said he, check

t if you always treat your failings in

nd resolving, and fai

me slighter and less freque

, in a musing tone, as he stood

prised her, for it was almost as if the hope came home to him as something new. At that moment, however, she was called away, and directly aft

of the fearful evil of interfering with the influence for good which it was to be hoped that Philip might exert over Guy, he spoke thus: 'I begin to think the world must be more doci

is advice should be followed,'

n that bell! I meant to have broken through your formaliti

d hardly have given you a can

tom, and would have shrunk with horror had it been set before him how dangerous might be the effect of destroying the chance of a friendship between Guy and the only person whose guidance was likely to be beneficial to him; but his idle, unoccupied life, and habit of only thinking of things as they concerned his im

extent of their opportunities for doing good. He tried to get Guy's attention, by speaking of Redclyffe, of the large circle influenced by the head of the Morville family, and of the hopes entertained by Lord Thorndale that this power would prove a valuable suppor

n that he was afraid he was very deficient in classical knowledge; that he found he must work hard bef

h to propose it voluntarily, as he would have suggested it to his uncle as soon as there was an opportunity of doing so in private. As soon as Mr. Edmonstone had recollected himself, and pronounced it to be exceedingly proper, &c., they e

; she shut her mouth as if she was forming some great resolve, then coloured, and looked confused, rushing into the conversation with something more mal-apropos than usual, as if on purpose to appear at her ease. At last, just before her bed-time, when the tea was coming in, Mrs. Edmonstone engaged with that, Laura reading, Amy clearing Charles

ound of his voice made her speak, but

eg your pardon,

t?' said h

e not angry with Philip. You don't

in earnest to be diverted with her le

her head a little on one side. 'I

lip's calm, argumentative way of advising

u are too nearly grown up for that, but t

t,' answered Guy; 'but I hope I have though

the midst of her amazement Mrs. Edmonstone calle

d drive her there in the pony phaeton, and Guy accompany them and drive back, thus having an opportunity of seeing Philip's print of the 'Madonna di San Sisto,' returning some calls, and being introdu

Deane, a kind, open-hearted, elderly lady was very fond of Mr. Morville, and proud of him as a credit to the regiment; and she told several traits of his excellent judgment, kindness of he

hey set out on their homeward drive, w

gin to morrow, and go to him

is p

something unpleasant to keep me in order. Something famously horrid,' repeated he, smacking

rs. Edmonstone, hardly able, with all her respect for

your kindness makes me. Was it not a proof, that

tainly not such as is usually said to lead to thoughtlessnes

uy, gravely, though smiling; 'your own home party is

s do not necess

such as the night before last, I find that I have enjoyed it too much; I am all abroad! I can hardly fix my thou

'there are duties of society which y

If it was not for that, I could learn nothing but good,'

u complain of is chiefly the effect of novelty. You have led so very retired a life, that a lively family party is to you what dissipation would be to other people: and, as you mu

d resistance should be from within. Yet, on the other hand, there is the

temptations, they must be met and battled from within. In the same way, your position in society, with all its duties, could not be laid aside because it is full of trial. Those who do such things are fainthearted, and fa

the pleasant things from getting a full hold of me. I ought to have thought of it sooner, instead of d

eat love for La

here are in these old fellows! But, I never liked the drudgery part of the affair; and now if I am to be set to wo

d not been congratulating himsel

tutor?' asked

very clever, I assure you, and very patient of the hard, wearing life he must have of it there; and oh! so enjoying a new book, or an afternoon to himself. When I was about eight or nine, I began with him, riding into Moorworth three times in a week; and I have gone on ever since. I am sure he has

s, that a person without a university education cannot tell what

scussing some new Lexicon, digging down for roots of words, and quoting passages of obscure Greek poets at such a rate, t

element.' said Mrs.

of Philip, the more I wonder. What a choice collection of books

s love of books, I believe he would not buy one unless he had a reasonab

e lecture. Oh I forgot, you have not heard it. You must let me read it to you by and by. Those two little

e what you are like in one of your looks, not by any

ng a most painful fact, he added, 'My real likeness is old Sir Hugh's portrait at home.

very fon

irely his own doing; and well it may! Every time one hears of him, something comes out to make him seem more admira

ephew praised; I was only smil

is plain good sense that drives away that sort of feeling, for he is as

re. Ah! Guy, you are brightening and looking like one of my young ladies

or whom he ga

quite easy to him, to know it was for her sake, that she would live on at Stylehurst, and the change be softened to her. Then came Fanny's illness, and that lead to the marriage with Dr. Henley. It was just what no one could object to; he is a respectable man in full practice

brother d

power of his remonstrance must have made it leave a sting. Poor fellow, I believe he suffered terribly-just as he had lost Fanny, too, wh

been staying wi

er; but he owns to disliking the Doctor, and I don't think he has much comfort in Margaret herself, for he always comes back more grave and stern than

t be to have you

s shut himself up within himself more than ever. It has, at least I think it is this that has given him a severity, an un

look up to him more. Oh! it is a cruel thing to find that what one loves

Guy's sincere desire to become attached to his cousin, one of the mos