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the heir of redclyffe-第22节

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historical。  He listened good…naturedly to a fit of rapture; and threw 

in a few; not too many; discreet words of guidance to the true 

principles of taste; and next told her about an island; in a pond at 

Stylehurst; which had been by turns Ellen's isle and Robinson Crusoe's。  

It was at this point in the conversation that Guy came in sight; riding 

slowly; his reins on his horse's neck; whistling a slow; melancholy 

tune; his eyes fixed on the sky; and so lost in musings; that he did 

not perceive them till Philip arrested him by calling out; 'That is a 

very bad plan。  No horse is to be trusted in that way; especially such 

a spirited one。'



Guy started; and gathered up his reins; owning it was foolish。



'You look only half disenchanted yet;' said Philip。  'Has Lascelles put 

you into what my father's old gardener used to call a stud?'



'Nothing so worthy of a stud;' said Guy; smiling and colouring a 

little。  'I was only dreaming over a picture of ruin





                 'The steed is vanish'd from the stall;

                  No serf is seen in Hassan's hall;

                  The lonely spider's thin grey pall

                  Waves; slowly widening o'er the wall。'





'Byron!' exclaimed Philip。  'I hope you are not dwelling on him?'



'Only a volume I found in my room。'



'Oh; the 〃Giaour〃!' said Philip。  'Well; there is no great damage done; 

but it is bad food for excitable minds。  Don't let it get hold of you。'



'Very well;' and there was a cloud; but it cleared in a moment; and; 

with a few gay words to both; he rode off at a quick pace。



'Foolish fellow!' muttered Philip; looking after him。



After some space of silence; Charlotte began in a very grave tone



'Philip。'



'Well?'



'Philip。'



Another 'Well!' and another long pause。



'Philip; I don't know whether you'll be angry with me。'



'Certainly not;' said Philip; marvelling at what was coming。



'Guy says he does not want to keep up the feud; and I wish you would 

not。'



'What do you mean?'



'The deadly feud!' said Charlotte。



'What nonsense is this?' said Philip。



'SurelyOh Philip; there always was a deadly feud between our 

ancestors; and the Redclyffe Morvilles; and it was very wrong; and 

ought not to be kept up now。'



'It is not I that keep it up。'



'Is it not?' said Charlotte。  'But I am sure you don't like Guy。  And I 

can't think why not; unless it is the deadly feud; for we are all so 

fond of him。  Laura says it is a different house since he came。'



'Hum!' said Philip。  'Charlotte; you did well to make me promise not to 

be angry with you; by which; I presume; you mean displeased。  I should 

like to know what put this notion into your head。'



'Charlie told me;' almost whispered Charlotte; hanging down her head。  

'Andand'



'And what?  I can't hear。'



Charlotte was a good deal frightened; but either from firmness; or from 

the female propensity to have the last word; or it might be the spirit 

of mischief; she got out'You have made me quite sure of it yourself。'



She was so alarmed at having said this; that had it not been 

undignified; she would have run quite away; and never stopped till she 

came to East…hill。  Matters were not mended when Philip said 

authoritatively; and as if he was not in the least bit annoyed (which 

was the more vexatious); 'What do you mean; Charlotte?'



She had a great mind to cry; by way of getting out of the scrape; but 

having begun as a counsellor and peacemaker; it would never do to be 

babyish; and on his repeating the question; she said; in a tone which 

she could not prevent from being lachrymose; 'You make Guy almost 

angry; you tease him; and when people praise him; you answer as if it 

would not last!  And it is very unfair of you;' concluded she; with 

almost a sob。



'Charlotte;' replied Philip; much more kindly than she thought she 

deserved; after the reproach that seemed to her so dreadfully naughty; 

'you may dismiss all fear of deadly feud; whatever you may mean by it。  

Charles has been playing tricks on you。  You know; my little cousin; 

that I am a Christian; and we live in the nineteenth century。'



Charlotte felt as if annihilated at the aspect of her own folly。  He 

resumed'You misunderstood me。  I do think Guy very agreeable。  He is 

very attentive to Charles; very kind to you; and so attractive; that I 

don't wonder you like him。  But those who are older than you see that 

he has faults; and we wish to set him on his guard against them。  It 

may be painful to ourselves; and irritating to him; but depend upon it; 

it is the proof of friendship。  Are you satisfied; my little cousin?'



She could only say humbly; 'I beg your pardon。'



'You need not ask pardon。  Since you had the notion; it was right to 

speak; as it was to me; one of your own family。  When you are older; 

you need never fear to speak out in the right place。  I am glad you 

have so much of the right sort of feminine courage; though in this case 

you might have ventured to trust to me。'



So ended Charlotte's anxieties respecting the deadly feud; and she had 

now to make up her mind to the loss of her playfellow; who was to go to 

Oxford at Easter; when he would be just eighteen; his birthday being 

the 28th of March。  Both her playmates were going; Bustle as well as 

Guy; and it was at first proposed that Deloraine should go too; but Guy 

bethought himself that Oxford would be a place of temptation for 

William; and not choosing to trust the horse to any one else; resolved 

to leave both at Hollywell。



His grandfather had left an allowance for Guy; until his coming of age; 

such as might leave no room for extravagance; and which even Philip 

pronounced to be hardly sufficient for a young man in his position。  

'You know;' said  Mr。 Edmonstone; in his hesitating; good…natured way; 

'if ever you have occasion sometimes for a littlea little moreyou 

need only apply to me。  Don't be afraid; anything rather than run into 

debt。  You know me; and 'tis your own。'



'This shall do;' said Guy; in the same tone as he had fixed his hours 

of study。



Each of the family made Guy a birthday present; as an outfit for 

Oxford; Mr。 Edmonstone gave him a set of studs; Mrs。 Edmonstone a 

Christian Year; Amabel copied some of his favourite songs; Laura made a 

drawing of Sintram; Charlotte worked a kettle…holder; with what was 

called by courtesy a likeness of Bustle。  Charles gave nothing; 

professing that he would do nothing to encourage his departure。



'You don't know what a bore it is to lose the one bit of quicksilver in 

the house!' said he; yawning。  'I shall only drag on my existence till 

you come back。'



'You; Charles; the maker of fun!' said Guy; amazed。



'It is a case of flint and steel;' said Charles; 'but be it owing to 

who it will; we have been alive since you came here。  You have taken 

care to be remembered。  We have been studying you; or laughing at you; 

or wondering what absurdity was to come next。'



'I am very sorrythat is; if you are serious。  I hoped at least I 

appeared like other people。'



'I'll tell you what you appear like。  Just what I would be if I was a 

free man。'



'Never say that; Charlie!'



'Nay; wait a bit。  I would never be so foolish。  I would never give my 

sunny mornings to Euripides; I would not let the best hunter in the 

county go when I had wherewithal to pay for him。'



'You would not have such an ill…conditioned self to keep in rule。'



'After all;' continued Charles; yawning; 'it is no great compliment to 

say I am sorry you are going。  If you were an Ethiopian serenader; you 

would be a loss to me。  It is something to see anything beyond this old 

drawing…room; and the same faces doing the same things every day。  

Laura poking over her drawing; and meditating upon the last entry in 

Philip's memorandum…book; and Amy at her flowers or some nonsense or 

other; and Charlotte and the elders all the same; and a lot of stupid 

people dropping in and a lot of stupid books to read; all just alike。  

I can tell what they are like without looking in!'  Charles yawned 

again; sighed; and moved wearily。  'Now; there came some life and 

freshness with you。  You talk of Redclyffe; and your brute creation 

there; not like a book; and still less like a commonplace man; you are 

innocent and unsophisticated; and take new points of view; you are 

something to interest oneself about; your coming in is something to 

look forward to; you make the singing not such mere milk…and…water; 

your reading the Praelectiones is an additional landmark to time; 

besides the mutton of to…day succeeding the beef of yesterday。  Heigh…

ho!  I'll tell you what; Guy。  Though I may carry it off with a high 

hand; 'tis no joke to be a helpless log all the best years of a man's 

life;nay; for my whole life;for at 

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