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The Heir of Redclyffe



by Charlotte M。 Younge










CHAPTER 1







In such pursuits if wisdom lies; 

Who; Laura; can thy taste despise?GAY





The drawing…room of Hollywell House was one of the favoured apartments; 

where a peculiar air of home seems to reside; whether seen in the 

middle of summer; all its large windows open to the garden; or; as when 

our story commences; its bright fire and stands of fragrant green…house 

plants contrasted with the wintry fog and leafless trees of November。 

There were two persons in the rooma young lady; who sat drawing at 

the round table; and a youth; lying on a couch near the fire; 

surrounded with books and newspapers; and a pair of crutches near him。  

Both looked up with a smile of welcome at the entrance of a tall; fine…

looking young man; whom each greeted with 'Good morning; Philip。'



'Good morning; Laura。  Good morning; Charles; I am glad you are 

downstairs again!  How are you to…day?'



'No way remarkable; thank you;' was the answer; somewhat wearily given 

by Charles。 



'You walked?' said Laura。



'Yes。  Where's my uncle?  I called at the post…office; and brought a 

letter for him。  It has the Moorworth post…mark;' he added; producing 

it。 



'Where's that?' said Charles。



'The post…town to Redclyffe; Sir Guy Morville's place。' 



'That old Sir Guy!  What can he have to do with my father?'



'Did you not know;' said Philip; 'that my uncle is to be guardian to 

the boyhis grandson?' 



'Eh? No; I did not。'



'Yes;' said Philip; 'when old Sir Guy made it an especial point that my 

father should take the guardianship; he only consented on condition 

that my uncle should be joined with him; so now my uncle is alone in 

the trust; and I cannot help thinking something must have happened at 

Redclyffe。  It is certainly not Sir Guy's writing。'



'It must wait; unless your curiosity will carry you out in search of 

papa;' said Charles; 'he is somewhere about; zealously supplying the 

place of Jenkins。'



'Really; Philip;' said Laura; 'there is no telling how much good you 

have done him by convincing him of Jenkins' dishonesty。  To say nothing 

of the benefit of being no longer cheated; the pleasure of having to 

overlook the farming is untold。'



Philip smiled; and came to the table where she was drawing。  'Do you 

know this place?' said she; looking up in his face。



'Stylehurst itself!  What is it taken from?'



'From this pencil sketch of your sister's; which I found in mamma's 

scrap book。'



'You are making it very like; only the spire is too slender; and that 

treecan't you alter the foliage?it is an ash。'



'Is it?  I took it for an elm。'



'And surely those trees in the foreground should be greener; to throw 

back the middle distance。  That is the peak of South Moor exactly; if 

it looked further off。'



She began the alterations; while Philip stood watching her progress; a 

shade of melancholy gathering on his face。  Suddenly; a voice called 

'Laura!  Are you there?  Open the door; and you will see。'



On Philip's opening it; in came a tall camellia; the laughing face; and 

light; shining curls of the bearer peeping through the dark green 

leaves。



'Thank you!  Oh; is it you; Philip?  Oh; don't take it。  I must bring 

my own camellia to show Charlie。' 



'You make the most of that one flower;' said Charles。 



'Only see how many buds!' and she placed it by his sofa。  Is it not a 

perfect blossom; so pure a white; and so regular!  And I am so proud of 

having beaten mamma and all the gardeners; for not another will be out 

this fortnight; and this is to go to the horticultural show。  Sam would 

hardly trust me to bring it in; though it was my nursing; not his。'



'Now; Amy;' said Philip; when the flower had been duly admired; 'you 

must let me put it into the window; for you。  It is too heavy for you。'



'Oh; take care;' cried Amabel; but too late; for; as he took it from 

her; the solitary flower struck against Charles's little table; and was 

broken off。



'0 Amy; I am very sorry。  What a pity! How did it happen?'  



'Never mind;' she answered; 'it will last a long time in water。' 



'It was very unluckyI am very sorryespecially because of the 

horticultural show。'               



'Make all your apologies to Sam;' said Amy; 'his feelings will be more 

hurt than mine。  I dare say my poor flower would have caught cold at 

the show; and never held up its head again。'



Her tone was gay; but Charles; who saw her face in the glass; betrayed 

her by saying; 'Winking away a tear; 0 Amy!'



'I never nursed a dear gazelle!' quoted Amy; with a merry laugh; and 

before any more could be said; there entered a middle…aged gentleman; 

short and slight; with a fresh; weather…beaten; good…natured face; gray 

whiskers; quick eyes; and a hasty; undecided air in look and movement。  

He greeted Philip heartily; and the letter was given to him。



'Ha! Eh?  Let us look。  Not old Sir Guy's hand。  Eh?  What can be the 

matter?  What?  Dead!  This is a sudden thing。' 



'Dead!  Who?  Sir Guy Morville?'



'Yes; quite suddenlypoor old man。'  Then stepping to the door; he 

opened it; and called; 'Mamma; just step here a minute; will you; 

mamma?'



The summons was obeyed by a tall; handsome lady; and behind her crept; 

with doubtful steps; as if she knew not how far to venture; a little 

girl of eleven; her turned…up nose and shrewd face full of curiosity。  

She darted up to Amabel; who; though she shook her head; and held up 

her finger; smiled; and took the little girl's hand; listening 

meanwhile to the announcement; 'Do you hear this; mamma?  Here's a 

shocking thing!  Sir Guy Morville dead; quite suddenly。'



'Indeed!  Well; poor man; I suppose no one ever repented or suffered 

more than he。  Who writes?'



'His grandsonpoor boy!  I can hardly make out his letter。'  Holding 

it half a yard from his eyes; so that all could see a few lines of 

hasty; irregular writing; in a forcible hand; bearing marks of having 

been penned under great distress and agitation; he read aloud:…





'〃DEAR MR。 EDMONSTONE;



My dear grandfather died at six this morning。  He had an attack of 

apoplexy yesterday evening; and never spoke again; though for a short 

time he knew me。  We hope he suffered little。  Markham will make all 

arrangements。  We propose that the funeral should take place on 

Tuesday; I hope you will be able to come。  I would write to my cousin; 

Philip Morville; if I knew his address; but I depend on you for saying 

all that ought to be said。  Excuse this illegible letter;I hardly 

know what I write。



                                 '〃Yours; very sincerely; 

                                      '〃Guy Morville。'〃





'Poor fellow!' said Philip; 'he writes with a great deal of proper 

feeling。'



'How very sad for him to be left alone there!' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。



'Very sadvery;' said her husband。  'I must start off to him at once

yes; at once。  Should you not say soeh; Philip?'



'Certainly。  I think I had better go with you。  It would be the correct 

thing; and I should not like to fail in any token of respect for poor 

old Sir Guy。'



'Of courseof course;' said Mr。 Edmonstone; 'it would be the correct 

thing。  I am sure he was always very civil to us; and you are next heir 

after this boy。'



Little Charlotte made a sort of jump; lifted her eyebrows; and stared 

at Amabel。



Philip answered。  'That is not worth a thought; but since he and I are 

now the only representatives of the two branches of the house of 

Morville; it shall not be my fault if the enmity is not forgotten。'  



'Buried in oblivion would sound more magnanimous;' said Charles; at 

which Amabel laughed so uncontrollably; that she was forced to hide her 

head on her little sister's shoulder。  Charlotte laughed too; an 

imprudent proceeding; as it attracted attention。  Her father smiled; 

saying; half…reprovingly'So you are there; inquisitive pussy…cat?'  

And at her mother's question;'Charlotte; what business have you 

here?'  She stole back to her lessons; looking very small; without the 

satisfaction of hearing her mother's compassionate words'Poor child!'



'How old is he?' asked Mr。 Edmonstone; returning to the former subject。



'He is of the same age as Lauraseventeen and a half;' answered Mrs。 

Edmonstone。  'Don't you remember my brother saying what a satisfaction 

it was to see such a noble baby as she was; after such a poor little 

miserable thing as the one at Redclyffe?'



'He is grown into a fine spirited fellow;' said Philip。 



'I suppose we must have him here;' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 Should you not 

say soeh; Philip?'



'Certainly; I should think it very good for him。  Indeed; his 

grandfather's death has happened at a most favourable time for him

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