the heir of redclyffe-第32章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In the drawing…room； cool and comfortable in the green shade of the
Venetian blinds of the bay window； stood Laura； leaning on the piano；
close to Guy； who sat on the music…stool； looking thoroughly at home in
his brown shooting…coat； and loosely…tied handkerchief。
Any one but Philip would have been out of temper； but he shook hands as
cordially as usual； and would not even be the first to remark on the
heat。
Laura told him he looked hot and tired； and invited him to come out to
the others； and cool himself on the lawn。 She went for her parasol；
Guy ran for her camp stool； and Philip； going to the piano； read what
they had been singing。 The lines were in Laura's writing； corrected；
here and there； in Guy's hand。
BE STEADFAST。
Two loving hearts may sever；
Yet love shall fail them never。
Love brightest beams in sorrow's night；
Love is of life the light。
Two loving hearts may sever；
Yet hope shall fail them never。
Hope is a star in sorrow's night；
Forget…me…not of light。
Two loving hearts may sever；
Yet faith may fail them never。
Trust on through sorrow's night；
Faith is of love and hope the light。
Two loving hearts may sever；
For sorrow fails them never。
Who knows not love in sorrow's night；
He knows not love in light。
Philip was by no means pleased。 However； it was in anything but a
sentimental manner that Guy； looking over him； said； 'For sever； read；
be separated； but 〃a〃 wouldn't rhyme。'
'I translated it into prose； and Guy made it verse；' said Laura； 'I
hope you approve of our performance。'
'It is that thing of Helmine von Chezy； 〃Beharre〃； is it not？' said
Philip； particularly civil； because he was so much annoyed。 'You have
rendered the spirit very well'； but you have sacrificed a good deal to
your double rhymes。'
'Yes； those last lines are not troubled with any equality of feet；'
said Guy； 'but the repetition is half the beauty。 It put me in mind of
those lines of Burns
〃Had we never loved so kindly；
Had we never loved so blindly；
Never met and never parted；
We had ne'er been broken hearted；〃
but there is a trust in these that is more touching than that despair。'
'Yes； the despair is ready； to wish the love had never been；' said
Laura。 'It does not see the star of trust。 Why did you use that word
〃trust〃 only once； Guy？'
'I did not want to lose the threefaith； hope； love；faith keeping
the other two alive。'
'My doubt was whether it was right to have that analogy。'
'Surely；' said Guy； eagerly； 'that analogy must be the best part of
earthly love。'
Here Charlotte came to see if Guy and Laura meant to sing all the
afternoon； and they went out。 They found the others in the arbour； and
Charlotte's histories of its construction； gave Philip little
satisfaction。 They next proceeded to talk over the ball。
'Ah！' said Philip； 'balls are the fashion just now。 What do you say；
Amy； ＇he was more inclined to patronize her than any one else＇ to the
gaieties we are going to provide for you？'
'You！ Are you going to have your new colours？ Oh！ you are not going
to give us a ball？'
'Well！ that is fun！' cried Guy。 'What glory Maurice de Courcy must be
in！'
'He is gone to Allonby；' said Philip； 'to announce it； saying； he must
persuade his father to put off their going to Brighton。 Do you think
he will succeed？'
'Hardly；' said Laura； 'poor Lady Kilcoran was so knocked up by their
ball； that she is the more in want of sea air。 Oh； mamma； Eva must
come and stay here。'
'That she must；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'that will make it easy。 She is
the only one who will care about the ball。'
Philip was obliged to conceal his vexation； and to answer the many
eager questions about the arrangements。 He stayed to dinner； and as
the others went in…doors to dress； he lingered near Charlotte；
assuming； with some difficulty； an air of indifference； and said
'Well； Charlotte； did you tease Guy into showing you those verses？'
'Oh yes；' said Charlotte； with what the French call 〃un air capable〃。'
'Well； what were they？'
'That I mustn't tell。 They were very pretty； but I've promised。'
'Promised what？'
'Never to say anything about them。 He made it a condition with me； and
I assure you； I am to be trusted。'
'Right；' said Philip； 'I'll ask no more。'
'It would be of no use；' said Charlotte； shaking her head； as if she
wished he would prove her further。
Philip was in hopes of being able to speak to Laura after dinner； but
his uncle wanted him to come and look over the plans of an estate
adjoining Redclyffe； which there was some idea of purchasing。 Such an
employment would in general have been congenial； but on this occasion；
it was only by a strong force that he could chain his attention； for
Guy was pacing the terrace with Laura and Amabel； and as they passed
and repassed the window； he now and then caught sounds of repeating
poetry。
In this Guy excelled。 He did not read aloud well； he was too rapid；
and eyes and thoughts were apt to travel still faster than the lips；
thus producing a confusion； but no one could recite better when a
passage had taken strong hold of his imagination； and he gave it the
full effect of the modulations of his fine voice； conveying in its
inflections the impressions which stirred him profoundly。 He was just
now enchanted with his first reading of 'Thalaba；' where he found all
manner of deep meanings； to which the sisters listened with wonder and
delight。 He repeated； in a low； awful； thrilling tone； that made Amy
shudder； the lines in the seventh book； ending with
〃Who comes from the bridal chamber！
It is Azrael； angel of death。〃'
'You have not been so taken up with any book since Sintram。' said
Laura。
'It is like Sintram；' he replied。
'Like it？'
'So it seems to me。 A strife with the powers of darkness； the victory；
forgiveness； resignation； death。
〃Thou know'st the secret wishes of my heart；
Do with me as thou wilt； thy will is best。〃'
'I wish you would not speak as if you were Thalaba yourself；' said Amy；
'you bring the whole Domdaniel round us。'
'I am afraid he is going to believe himself Thalaba as well as
Sintram；' said Laura。 'But you know Southey did not see all this
himself； and did not understand it when it was pointed out。'
'Don't tell us that；' said Amy。
'Nay； I think there is something striking in it；' said Guy then； with a
sudden transition； 'but is not this ball famous？'
And their talk was of balls and reviews till nine o'clock； when they
were summoned to tea。
On the whole； Philip returned to Broadstone by no means comforted。
Never had he known so much difficulty in attending with patience to his
duties as in the course of the next fortnight。 They became a greater
durance； as he at length looked his feelings full in the face； and
became aware of their true nature。
He perceived that the loss of Laura would darken his whole existence；
yet he thought that； were he only secure of her happiness； he could
have resigned her in silence。 Guy was； however； one of the last men in
the world whom he could bear to see in possession of her； and probably
she was allowing herself to be entangled； if not in heart； at least in
manner。 If so； she should not be unwarned。 He had been her guide from
childhood； and he would not fail her now。
Three days before the review； he succeeded in finding time for a walk
to Hollywell； not fully decided on the part he should act； though
resolved on
