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the heir of redclyffe-第11节

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it to him; telling him to take it to Arnaud; who I knew would 

understand it as a signal of distress。'



'Did he?  How long had you to wait?'



'I don't knowit seemed long enough before a most welcome boat 

appeared; with some men in it; and Triton in an agony。  They would 

never 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 

saying; 'Well; sir; if you do wish to throw away your life; let it be 

for something better worth saving than Farmer Holt's vicious old ram!'



'In the language of the great Mr。 Toots;' said Charles   'I am afraid 

you got very wet。'



'Were you the worse for it?' said Amy。



'Not in the least。  I was so glad to hear it was Holt's! for you must 

know that I had behaved very ill to Farmer Holt。  I had been very angry 

at his beating our old hound; for; as he thought; worrying his sheep; 

not that Dart ever did; though。



'And was the ram saved?'



'Yes; and next time I saw it; it nearly knocked me down。'



'Would you do it again?' said Philip。



'I don't know。'



'I hope you had a medal from the Humane Society;' said Charles。



'That would have been more proper for Triton。'



'Yours should have been an ovation;' said Charles; cutting the o 

absurdly short; and looking at Philip。



Laura saw that the spirit of teasing was strong in Charles this morning 

and suspected that he wanted to stir up what he called the deadly feud; 

and she hastened to change the conversation by saying; 'You quite 

impressed Guy with your translation of Fra Cristoforo。'



'Indeed I must thank you for recommending the book;' said Guy; 'how 

beautiful it is!'



'I am glad you entered into it;' said Philip; 'it has every quality 

that a fiction ought to have。'



'I never read anything equal to the repentance of the nameless man。'



'Is he your favourite character?' said Philip; looking at him 

attentively。



'Oh noof course notthough he is so grand that one thinks most about 

him; but no one can be cared about as much as Lucia。'



'Lucia!  She never struck me as more than a well…painted peasant girl;' 

said Philip。



'Oh!' cried Guy; indignantly; then; controlling himself; he continued: 

'She pretends to no more than she is; but she shows the beauty of 

goodness in itself in aawonderful way。  And think of the power of 

those words of hers over that gloomy; desperate man。'



'Your sympathy with the Innominato again;' said Philip。  Every subject 

seemed to excite Guy to a dangerous extent; as Laura thought; and she 

turned to Philip to ask if he would not read to them again。



'I brought this book on purpose;' said Philip。  'I wished to read you a 

description of that print from Raffaelleyou know itthe Madonna di 

San Sisto?'



'The one you brought to show us?' said Amy; 'with the two little 

angels?'



'Yes; here is the description;' and he began to read



'Dwell on the form of the Child; more than human in grandeur; seated on 

the arms of the Blessed Virgin as on an august throne。  Note the tokens 

of divine grace; His ardent eyes; what a spirit; what a countenance is 

His; yet His very resemblance to His mother 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 reverence。  Between; are two winged boys; 

evidently presenting a wonderful pattern of childlike piety。  Their 

eyes; indeed; are not turned towards the Virgin; but both in face and 

gesture; they show how careless of themselves they are in the presence 

of God。'



All were struck by the description。  Guy did not speak at first; but 

the solemn expression of his face showed how he felt its power and 

reverence。  Philip asked if they would like to hear more; and Charles 

assented: Amy worked; Laura went on with 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 when 

some interesting discussion arose。  All were surprised when luncheon 

time arrived; Charles held out his hand for the book; it was given with 

a slight smile; and he exclaimed' Latin! I thought you were 

translating。  Is it your own property?'



'Yes。'



'Is it very tough?  I would read it; if any one would read it with me。'



'Do you mean me?' said Guy; 'I should like it very much; but you have 

seen how little Latin I know。'



'That is the very thing;' said Charles; 'that Ovis of yours was music; 

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

Tutors I could get by shoals; but a fellow…dunce is inestimable。'



'It is a bargain; then;' said Guy; 'if Philip has done with the book 

and will lend it to us。'



The luncheon bell rang; and they all adjourned to the dining…room。  Mr。 

Edmonstone came in when luncheon was nearly over; rejoicing that his 

letters were done; but then he 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; but for 

his part he found there was no getting through a wet day without them。  

Philip must beat him as usual; and Guy might have one of the young 

ladies to make a fourth。'



'Thank you;' said Guy; 'but I don't play。'



'Not playeh?'  Well; we will teach you in the spinning of a ball; and 

I'll have my little Amy to help me against you and Philip。'



'No; thank you;' repeated Guy; colouring; 'I am under a promise。'



'Ha!  Eh?  What?  Your grandfather?  He could see no harm in such play 

as this。  For nothing; you understand。  You did not suppose I meant 

anything else?'



'0 no; of course not;' eagerly replied Guy; 'but it is impossible for 

me to play; thank you。  I have promised never even to look on at a game 

at billiards。'



'Ah; poor man; he had too much reason。' uttered Mr。 Edmonstone to 

himself; but catching a warning look from his wife; he became suddenly 

silent。  Guy; meanwhile; sat looking lost in sad thoughts; till; 

rousing himself; he exclaimed; 'Don't let me prevent you。'



Mr。 Edmonstone needed but little persuasion; and carried Philip off to 

the billiard…table in the front hall。



'0; I am so glad!' cried Charlotte; who had; within the last week; 

learnt Guy's value as a playfellow。  'Now you will never go to those 

stupid billiards; but I shall have you always; every rainy day。  Come 

and have a real good game at ball on the stairs。'



She already had hold of his hand; and would have dragged him off at 

once; had he not waited to help Charles back to his sofa; and in the 

mean time she tried in vain to persuade 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; 

sighing more than once at having turned into a grown…up young lady; 

while Philip observed to Laura; who was officiating as billiard…marker; 

that Guy was still a mere boy。



The fates favoured Amy at last for about half after three; the 

billiards were interrupted; and Philip; pronouncing the rain to be 

almost over; invited Guy to take a walk; and they set out in a very 

gray wet mist; while Charlotte and Amy commenced a vigorous game at 

battledore and shuttle…cock。



The gray mist had faded into twilight; and twilight into something like 

night; when Charles was crossing the hall; with the aid of Amy's arm; 

Charlotte carrying the crutch behind him; and 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 off his great coat; ran at once up…stairs; and 

the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook 

the house; and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation。



'Redclyffe temper;' said he; coolly; with a half…smile curling his 

short upper lip。



'What have you been doing to him?' said Charles。'



'Nothing。  At least nothing worthy of such ire。  I only entered on the 

subject of his Oxford life; and advised him to prepare for it; for his 

education has as yet been a mere farce。  He used to go two or three 

days in the week to one Potts; a self…educated geniusa sort of 

superior writing…master at the Moorworth commercial school。  Of course; 

though it is no fault of his; poor fellow; he is hardly up to the fifth 

form; and he must make the most of his time; if he is not to be 

plucked。  I set all this before him as gently as I could; for I knew 

with whom I had to deal; yet you see how it is。'



'What did 

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