The Heir of Redclyffe

o'er my chil

in sol

how-I kno

my soul al

s a sile

TS IN P

, and mathematics had been greatly neglected. He had been encouraged to think his work done when he had gathered the general meaning of a passage, or translated it into English verse, spirited and flowing, but often further from the original

fer, and he only asked how many hours a day he ought to read. 'Three,' said Mr. Lascelles, with a due regard to a probable want

be,' said Guy;

he morning till the last hour before luncheon, when he came to read the lectures on poetry with Charles. Here, for the first

ugh and tedious as he could wish or fear, and by the end of the morning was thoroughly fagged. Then would have been the refreshing time for recreation in that pleasant idling-place, the Hollywell drawing-room. Any other time of day would have suited Charles as well for the reading, but he liked to take the hour at no

ited to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Brownlow. Mr. Edmonstone was delighted as usual with any opportunity of seeing his neighbours; Guy looked as if he did not know whether he liked the notion or not; Laura to

ion was, of course, 'How

er was caught up in the midst, as Laura rep

. Who handed who in to dinner?

ura; we had both

Phi

fidus Achetes was wit

said Charles, en

ching Thorndale's manner; it is such an imitation of Philip; looking droller, I

' said Mrs. Edmonstone; becau

and mind, to suit with that grand, sed

ilip's intellect,' said Char

ther people's twice

neighbour, Lau

hunting friends of Mr. Brownlow, who never ask anything

. Brownlow behav

quiet way; and Guy with an expression between drollery

,' said Mrs

really

never got over her one night classing him with his "young man" a

urice,' said Laura, as

g lady by saying he was the eld

my, 'could she h

to which she answered, in her quick way, 'O ay, I forgo

ch other!' said Guy. 'He was playing her off, I believe; for whatever sh

t is only her high spirits and smal

said Laura. 'What was al

d "You may do as you like my dear, but I won't have my son's neck broken, whatever you do with your own." So Maurice answered by declaring he knew a lady who

had heard that

her saying she

out with horr

had a cigar case hanging at her chatelaine, a

ouncement of his horse, and ro

awing-room, where Mrs. Edmonstone was re

ne cigar.' Then perceiving that he was interrupti

the younger party in the drawing-room, Charles entertaining the

ou it was

t on. She was preparing

I repeated the conve

s, vexed at the interference with his sport of amazing t

one of them. 'I could believ

ted incorrectly what had better have been forgotten, an

ul; and Laura and Amabel could not easily sustain

umbled Charles, as so

r story,' said Guy; but it was my f

s whether she smoked one or twe

what was truth

at gnats,'

said Guy, glan

owing his head back; 'they must be little

with vexation, but Laura loo

all honour you for doing

im favourably to Phil

pleasure, he refused, and remained nursing his ill-humour, till he forgot how slight the offence had been, and work

as intended to rub on some sore place in Guy's mind. His mother and Laura's signs made him worse, for he had the pleasure of teasing them, also; but Guy endured it

tried hard to poke up the lion

harles to himself, by saving a confession that he had been out of temper, and enabling h

attempt it. He wanted to see some evidence of the fiery temper, and it was a new sport to try t

ts. Guy could not understand at first, and was quite confounded at some of the views he espoused, till Laura came to his help, greatly irritating

ardly mean it: but wh

it is very disagreeable of him-I wish he would not; but he always does what he

per in arguing with Charles, except once, when the lion was fairly

eye gleamed with light like an eag

not mea

coolly, startled, but satisfied t

eproach him with what he so bitterly repented. Could not his penitence, could not his own blood'

coming next; but I believe he has got himself pretty well in hand. It is playing with edge tools; and now I have been favoured with one

me back: 'I am sorry that I

d such personal feelin

, 'you would just say you did not mean it. I k

it to see I have too much

from your earnest another time. Only if you would obli

ugh making no answer, could not do otherwise than feel compliance unavoidable. Charles had

his room, he paused and said-'You

t forgotten that y

ourse

so much malice,' sa

Guy. 'It was my own part I was r

to betray that he did

were rankling. I only spoke as

tender, his repentance too deep for his friends to add one word even in jest to the heap of reproach. How one would have loved him!' proceeded Guy, wrapped up in his own thoughts,-'loved him fo

and just, co

nd thy too

world in su

ld deluge

sudden vehemence, 'how one

ke to see you and Deloraine charging at

ieve I forgot where I was, and have treated you to one of my old dreams in my

Fancy that! He did it so naturally; in fact, it was all from the bottom of his heart, and I could not quiz him-no,

that he was beforehand with the world, for he had read one extra hour yesterday, and had got through the others before breakfast. Laura thought it very true that, as Philip said, he was only a boy, and moralized to Charlotte on his being the same age as herself-very nearly eighteen. Mrs. Edmonstone told Charles it

elight to every one, with animation and power of description giving all he said a charm. The pleasure did not lose by repetition; he was more engrossed by it every time; and no one could be more p

the week, and ride him to Broadstone two more. Guy then walked to Broadstone; but William was no better pleased, for he thought the credit of Redclyffe compromised, and punished him by reporting Deloraine not fit to be used next hunting day. Mr. Edmonstone p

and Mr. Edmonstone talked so long about horses, that they sent Charles to sleep; his mother began to read, and the two elder girls fell i

banshee story in Eveleen

to people who don't believe in them,

m?' asked Philip, l

most dislikes,' interposed Laura; 'I had rather ask if you

ainly

d hardly be kept up withou

as well to fairi

unexplained ghos

ny one whose ghost story did not rest on the testimony of

n who has seen a ghost could

a story of pixies at

y. Jonas Ledbury heard them laughing one night

authority for gho

'I wonder we never asked yo

u had seen it your

exclaimed Amy, a

? or was it the murderer of Becket? Come, the ladies are both ready to scream at the right moment. Never mind a

e bit his lip; and at last his eyes seemed to grow dark in the middle, and to sparkle with fire, as with a low, deep tone, like distant th

rom his nap; and his wife looked up anxiously, but re

you Philip?

as seen it!' said Amy,

my-the Morville sp

hat to it,' said Laura; 'he must have suspected us

it now?' said her sister

orandum-book-the sight of which Charles dreaded-and read the following extract: 'Do not think of one falsity as harmless, and another as slight, and another as unintended. Cast them all aside. They may be lig

s should be coupled with such vehemence of character and that unhappy temper. Amy was gla

d of the necessity of exercising forbearance with this poor boy; but

e to all around, as his ear is to every note. A bright day, a fine view, is such real happiness to him; he dwells on every beauty of Redclyffe with su

ng them over,' said Amy, 'and he does not alw

so excitable a mind to dwell much o

expressions began to flit over his face, and at last he fairly cried over it so much, that he was obliged to fly out of the room. How often he has read it I c

eat mystery

because you have not had much experience, and also because most of the men you have seen have been

d Laura, thus setting on foot a discussion on public scho

and her terror was excited lest he might actually have seen his ancestor's ghost, which, in spite of her desire to believe in ghosts, in general, she did not by any means wish to have authenticated. He wa

er the wall,' replied Gu

in th

now, perha

allusion to Sintram's wild locks and evening wanderings, but ever since the

hed back the damp hair that had fallen across his forehead, saying, 'I am sor

t of vague 'eerie' fright, that it was not till she had knelt down, and with her face hidden in her hands, s

Her heart throbb

o return to its place, Guy, who had been with his tutor, came in from the stable-yard, reduced the trailing bough to obedience, and then jo

e seen the ghost,' said

ll of compunction. 'No, no. I never saw it. I nev

silly,' said

of the origin of the ghost story, I

have always done, as a sort of romantic appendage to Redc

o groan and turn the lock of Dark Hugh's chamber. I hunted among old papers, and a horrible story I found. That wretched Sir Hugh

quarrel abou

a poor lady to marry him, though she was in love with another man; then he was jealous; he waylaid his rival, shut him up in the turret chamber, committed him to prison, and bribed Judge Jeffries to sentence him-nay it is even said he carried his wife to see the execution! He was so execrated that he fled the country; he went to Holland, curried favour

vigorous ju

pause 'twixt

osing twi

re yet they m

e silence

al shadow

y actions of mad violence, he ended by hanging himself

o not see why, when it is all pa

visited on the children? You wonder to see me so foolish about Sintram. Well, it is my firm belief

e fearful reality with which he pronounced the words. A

e an imagination. You have dwelt on it and fostered it till you believe it, b

nd bloodshed have been the portion of each-each has added weight and darkness to the doom w

e found a better argument. 'The doom of sin and death is on us all, but y

ing at having understood his countenance, where, in the midst of the gloomy shades, there rested

last Laura exclaimed, 'Are you really like

a sign

cherous revenge could never have existed beneath so open a countenance, with so much of highmindedness, pure

arden for one of the men. 'O Guy! are you there?' cried he, as soon as he sa

un, whistling to Bustle. Mr. Edmonstone foun

llow!' s

ll all this to P

he was hurt, and it

ave a feeling against it. Well, I

ound, they saw Philip walking fast and determinedly up the approach, and as

ts with papa. Wh

ere is

rles and Charlotte.

aning of this which I found on my

in pencil, 'Dear P., I find hunting and reading don't agree, so take

ot understand him. He could not bear it last night, because, as he has been explaining to us, that old Sir Hugh's story was more shockin

telling you his o

' she said, 'you would have been convinced. Why will you

hought of that be

leave it on the man's hands. I had a dozen times rather take it myself, if I could afford i

hould have known his own mind. I don't

oceeding. No, no, Laura, this is not simple fickleness, it would be too absurd. It

felt too strongly to be willing to speak. It seemed too absurd for one feeling himself under such a doom to wrangle about a h

reconceived idea of his character, and his own knowledge of mankind, was persuaded that he had imputed the true motive, and was displeased at Laura's

unfair!' e

though he is mistaken in imputing such motive

p the steps, their father and Guy came in sight. While Guy went to shut up Bustle, who was too wet for the drawing-room, Mr. Ed

he. 'Here is Guy telling

. Edmonstone and Char

what has vexed him. So keen as he was about it last night, and I vow, one of the best riders in the whole field. Giving up that

here about it. Guy left a card, saying

be that Gordon, could it, with his hail-fellow-well-met manner? I thought Guy did not half like it the other

o believe his own accou

ieve it; but he-he make a book-worm! He hates it, like poison, at the bottom of his heart, I'll answer for it; and the worst of it i

said Mrs. Edmon

if it is only that Gordon, explain it rightly to him, show him 'tis only the man's w

said Charles, as Amy led

eading is the only

'absurd' was pronounced in a way that made its mean

-stairs after Mrs. Edmonstone, found her opening th

'I am quite ready for on

Mr. Edmonstone,' began G

red to vex you, which you might not like to mention

can but just keep awake and that's all; the Greek letters all seem to be hunting each other, the simplest things grow difficult, and at last all I can think of, is how near the minute hand of my watch is near to the hour I have set myself. So, for the last fortnight, every construing with Mr. Lascelle

eased,' said his friend, smiling. You say you stopped the purchase of the

he checked himself sorrowfully. 'I have made my mind before that I don't deserve it. If it was here, it would always have to be tried: if I heard the hounds I don't know I should keep from riding after them; whereas, now I can't, for William w

him with affectionate anxiety, which seemed suddenly to change the current of his though

ow we had so little intercourse with your fa

ver thought much about her till I knew you, but lately I have fan

half what she felt, and she went on-'Poo

en when she d

ter searching in them by the fire-light, said-'Ah! here's a little about her; it is in

and mother?' c

hey had been there

losures for which he was unprepared, he added, hastily-'I do know the main facts of the story; I was told them last autumn;' and an expression

e got into an inextricable confusion-all the worse because the fierce twisting of a penwiper in Guy's fingers denoted that he was suffering a great trial of patience. She avoided the difficulty thus: 'It is hard to speak of such things when there is so much to be regretted on both sides; but the fact was, my brother thought your father was h

h was after her first game of play with Fanny and Little Philip. She made them very fond of her, as indeed she would make every one who spent a day or two in the same house with her. I could almost defy Sir Guy not to be reconciled after one sight of her sweet sunny face. She is all affection and gentleness, and with tolerable training anything might be made of her; but she is so young in mind and manners, that one cannot even think of blaming her for her elopement, for she had no mother, no

shed away a tear, and after a lo

f your father as a very fine young man, with most generous impulses,'-but here again she was obliged to stop, for the next sentence spoke of 'a noble character ruined by mismanagement.' 'She never saw them again,' con

ather.' After another silence he said, 'Will you read that again?' and when he had heard it, he sat shading his brow with his hand, as if to bring the fair, girlish picture fully befo

f his parents till within the last few months. He had, of course, known the manner

eading an active, enterprising life, though so lonely as to occasion greater dreaminess and thoughtfulness than usual at such an early age. He was devotedly attached to his grandfather, looking on him as th

influences which had proved so baneful to others of his family, his g

d; the idleness and insubordination at first, then the reckless pursuit of pleasure, the craving for

he lost the natural generosity of his character, that his remorse had been comparatively slight for the last, which was the worst of all, since he had forced the quarrel on his victim, Captain Wellwood, whose death had left a wife and children almost destitute. His first awakening to a sense of

spared, he had been devoted to him, but still mournfully, envy

inward to subdue the passions themselves, but this was only the beginning-the trial was not yet come. He could hope his grandson might repent, but this was the best that he dared to think possible. He could not believe that a Morvill

, lofty day-dreams. The boy sat the whole time without a word, his face bent down and hidden by his clasped hands, only now and then unable to repress a start or shudder at some fresh disclosure; and when it was ended, he stood up, gazed round, and walked

as he knew full well, with the tendency to the family character strong within him, the germs of these hateful passions ready to take root downwards a

could subdue the fire, the earthquake, and the whirlwind, was slow in coming to him; and when it c

ch hope to his grandson. Grief for the only parent he had ever known, and the sensation of being completely alone in the world, were joined to a vague impression of ho

around were walking 'in a world of light,' where he could scarcely hope to tread a few uncertain steps. In this despondency was Guy's chief danger, as it was lik

ut such as is common to man. She had given him a clue to discover when and how to trust himself to enjoy; the story of Sintram had stirred him d

g down not merely evil, but the first token of coming evil, regardless of

the eye cannot penetrate from its depth. The surface would be sometimes obscured by cloud or shade, and reveal the sombre wells beneath; but more of