her black veil fluttering
in the wind, and her hands pressed close together, till Philip, little
knowing what the sight was to her, shivered, saying it was very cold
and windy, and without hesitation she turned away, feeling that now
Redclyffe was precious indeed.

She brought her mind back to listen, while Philip was considering of
means of taking Charles out of doors; he supposed there might be some
vehicle about the place; but he thought there was no horse. Very unlike
was this to the exact Philip. The great range of stables was before
them, where the Morvilles had been wont to lodge their horses as
sumptuously as themselves, and Amabel proposed to go and see what they
could find; but nothing was there but emptiness, till they came to
a pony in one stall, a goat in another, and one wheelbarrow in the
coach-house.

On leaving it, under the long-sheltered sunny wall, they came in
sight of a meeting between the baby taking the air in Anne's arms,
and Markham, who had been hovering about all day, anxious to know
how matters were going on. His back was towards them, so that he was
unconscious of their approach, and they saw how he spoke to Anne, looked
fixedly at the child, made her laugh, and finally took her in his arms,
as he had so often carried her father, studying earnestly her little
face. As soon as he saw them coming, he hastily gave her back to Anne,
as if ashamed to be thus caught, but he was obliged to grunt and put
his hand up to his shaggy eyelashes, before he could answer Amabel's
greeting.

He could hardly believe his eyes, that here was Mr. Morville, who
yesterday was scarcely able to raise his head from the pillow, and could
attend to nothing. He could not think what Lady Morville had done to
him, when he heard him inquiring and making arrangements about sending
for a pony carriage, appearing thoroughly roused, and the dread of being
seen or spoken to entirely passed away, Markham was greatly rejoiced,
for Mr. Morville's illness, helplessness, and dependence upon himself,
had softened and won him to regard him kindly as nothing else would have
done; and his heart was entirely gained when, after they had wished him
good-bye, he saw Philip and Amabel walk on, overtake Anne, Amy take the
baby and hold her up to Philip, who looked at her with the same earnest
interest. From thenceforward Markham knew that Redclyffe was nothing but
a burden to Mr. Morville, and he could bear to see it in his possession
si