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the heir of redclyffe-第102节

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person; or one who gave so entirely the impression of genius。  The next 

day he took us through the gallery; and showed us all that was worth 

admiring。'



'And in what character is he to make you appear?'



'That is the strange part of it;' said Amabel。  'Don't you remember how 

Guy once puzzled us by choosing Sir Galahad for his favourite hero?  It 

is that very Sir Galahad; when he kneels to adore the Saint Greal。'



'Mr。 Shene said he had long been dreaming over it; and at last; as he 

saw Guy's face looking upwards; it struck him that it was just what he 

wanted: it would be worth anything to him to catch the expression。'



'I wonder what I was looking like!' ejaculated Guy。



'Did he take you as yourself; or as Sir Galahad?'



'As myself; happily。'



'How did he succeed?'



'Amy likes it; but decidedly I should never have known myself。'



'Ah;' said his wife





         'Could some fay the giftie gie us;

         To see ourselves as others see us。'





'As far as the sun…burnt visage is concerned; the glass does that every 

morning。'



'Yes; but you don't look at yourself exactly as you do at a painted 

window;' said Amy; in her demure way。



'I cannot think how you found time for sitting;' said Philip。



'0; it is quite a little thing; a mere sketch; done in two evenings and 

half an hour in the morning。  He promises it to me when he has done 

with Sir Galahad;'  said Amy。



'Twothree evenings。  You must have been a long time at Munich。'



'A fortnight;' said Guy; 'there is a great deal to see there。'



Philip did not quite understand this; nor did he think it very 

satisfactory that they should thus have lingered in a gay town; but he 

meant to make the best of them to…day; and returned to his usual 

fashion of patronizing and laying down the law。  They were so used to 

this that they did not care about it; indeed; they had reckoned on it 

as the most amiable conduct to be expected on his part。



The day was chiefly spent in an excursion on the lake; landing at the 

most beautiful spots; walking a little way and admiring; or while in 

the boat; smoothly moving over the deep blue waters; gaining lovely 

views of the banks; and talking over the book with which their 

acquaintance had begun; 〃I Promessi Sposi〃。  Never did tourists spend a 

more serene and pleasant day。



On comparing notes as to their plans; it appeared that each party had 

about a week or ten days to spare; the captain before he must embark 

for Corfu; and Sir Guy and Lady Morville before the time they had fixed 

for returning home。  Guy proposed to go together somewhere; spare the 

post…office further blunders; and get the Signor Capitano to be their 

interpreter。  Philip thought it would be an excellent thing for his 

young cousins for him to take charge of them; and show them how people 

ought to travel; so out came his little pocket map; marked with his 

route; before he left Ireland; whereas they seemed to have no fixed 

object; but to be always going 'somewhere。'  It appeared that they had 

thought of Venice; but were easily diverted from it by his design of 

coasting the eastern bank of the Lago di Como; and so across the 

Stelvio into the Tyrol; all together as far as Botzen; whence Philip 

would turn southward by the mountain paths; while they would proceed to 

Innsbruck on their return home。



Amabel was especially pleased to stay a little longer on the banks of 

the lake; and to trace out more of Lucia's haunts; and if she secretly 

thought it would have been pleasanter without a third person; she was 

gratified to see how much Guy's manner had softened Philip's injustice 

and distrust; making everything so smooth and satisfactory; that at the 

end of the day; she told her husband that she thought his experiment 

had not failed。



She was making the breakfast the next morning; when the captain came 

into the room; and she told him Guy was gone to settle their plans with 

Arnaud。  After lingering a little by the window; Philip turned; and 

with more abruptness than was usual with him; said



'You don't think there is any cause of anxiety about Laura?'



'No; certainly not!' said Amy; surprised。  'She has not been looking 

well lately; but Dr。 Mayerne says it is nothing; and you know'she 

blushed and looked down'there were many things to make this a trying 

time。'



'Is she quite strong?  Can she do as much as usual?'



'She does more than ever: mamma is only afraid of her overworking 

herself; but she never allows that she is tired。  She goes to school 

three days in the week; besides walking to East…hill on Thursday; to 

help in the singing; and she is getting dreadfully learned。  Guy gave 

her his old mathematical books; and Charlie always calls her Miss 

Parabola。'



Philip was silent; knowing too well why she sought to stifle care in 

employment; and feeling embittered against the whole world; against her 

father; against his own circumstances; against the happiness of others; 

nay; perhaps; against the Providence which had made him what he was。



Presently Guy came in; and the first thing he said was; 'I am afraid we 

must give up our plan。'



'How?' exclaimed both Philip and Amy。



'I have just heard that there is a fever at Sondrio; and all that 

neighbourhood; and every one says it would be very foolish to expose 

ourselves to it。'



'What shall we do instead?' said Amy。



'I told Arnaud we would let him know in an hour's time; I thought of 

Venice。'



'Venice; oh; yes; delightful。'



'What do you say; Philip?' said Guy。



'I say that I cannot see any occasion for our being frightened out of 

our original determination。  If a fever prevails among the half…starved 

peasantry; it need not affect well…fed healthy persons; merely passing 

through the country。'



'You see we could hardly manage without sleeping there;' said Guy: 'we 

must sleep either at Colico; or at Madonna。  Now Colico; they say; is a 

most unhealthy place at this time of year; and Madonna is the very 

heart of the feverSondrio not much better。  I don't see how it is to 

be safely done; and though very likely we might not catch the fever; I 

don't see any use in trying。'



'That is making yourself a slave to the fear of infection。'



'I don't know what purpose would be answered by running the risk;' said 

Guy。



'If you chose to give it so dignified a name as a risk;' said Philip。



'I don't; then;' said Guy; smiling。  'I should not care if there was 

any reason for going there; but; as there is not; I shall face Mr。 

Edmonstone better if I don't run Amy into any more chances of 

mischief。'



'Is Amy grateful for the care;' said Philip; 'after all her wishes for 

the eastern bank?'



'Amy is a good wife;' said Guy。  'For Venice; then。  I'll ring for 

Arnaud。  You will come with us; won't you; Philip?'



'No; I thank you; I always intended to see the Valtelline; and an 

epidemic among the peasantry does not seem to me to be sufficient to 

deter。'



'0 Philip; you surely will not?' said Amy。



'My mind is made up; Amy; thank you。'



'I wish you would be persuaded;' said Guy。  'I should like particularly 

to have you to lionize us there; and I don't fancy your running into 

danger。'



The argument lasted long。  Philip by no means approved of Venice; 

especially after the long loitering at Munich; thinking that in both 

places there was danger of Guy's being led into mischief by his musical 

connections。  Therefore he did his best; for Amabel's sake; to turn 

them from their purpose; persuaded in his own mind that the fever was a 

mere bugbear; raised up by Arnaud; and; perhaps; in his full health and 

strength; almost regarding illness itself as a foible; far more the 

dread of it。  He argued; therefore; in his most provoking strain; 

becoming more vexatious as the former annoyance was revived at finding 

the impossibility of making Guy swerve from his purpose; while 

additional mists of suspicion arose before him; making him imagine that 

the whole objection was caused by Guy's dislike to submit to him; and a 

fit of impatience of which Amy was the victim; nay; that his cousin 

wanted to escape from his surveillance; and follow the beat of his 

inclinations; and the whole heap of prejudices and half…refuted 

accusations resumed their full ascendancy。  Never had his manner been 

more vexatious; though without departing from the coolness which always 

characterized it; but all the time; Guy; while firm and unmoved in 

purpose; kept his temper perfectly; and apparently without effort。  

Even Amabel glowed with indignation; at the assumption with which he 

was striving to put her husband down; though she rejoiced to see its 

entire failure: for some sensible argument; or some gay; lively; good…

humoured reply; was the utmost he could elicit。  Guy did not seem to be 

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