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see death face to face； and a resolve made at such a moment must be
kept； let it bring what it may。'
'True。'
'She will be relieved； she wished it to be known； but I thought it best
to wait for my promotionthe only chance of our being able to marry。
However； it shall be put into her father's hands as soon as I can hold
a pen。 All I wish is； that she should not have to bear the brunt of
his anger。'
'He is too kind and good…natured to keep his displeasure long。'
'If it would only light on the right head； instead of on the head of
the nearest。 You say she was harassed and out of spirits。 I wish you
were at home； Amy would comfort her and soften them。'
'We hope to go back as soon as you are in travelling condition。 If you
will come home with us； you will be at hand when Mr。 Edmonstone is
ready to forgive； as I am sure he soon will be。 No one ever was so
glad to forget his displeasure。'
'Yes； it will be over by the time I meet him； for she will have borne
it all。 There is the worst！ But I will not put off the writing； as
soon as I have the power。 Every day the concealment continues is a
further offence。'
'And present suffering is an especial earnest and hope of forgiveness；'
said Guy。 'I have no doubt that much may be done to make Mr。
Edmonstone think well of it。'
'If any suffering of mine would spare hers！' sighed Philip。 'You
cannot estimate the difficulties in our way。 You know nothing of
poverty；the bar it is to everything； almost a positive offence in
itself ！'
'This is only tiring yourself with talking；' said Guy； perceiving how
Philip's bodily weakness was making him fall into a desponding strain。
'You must make haste to get well； and come home with us； and I think we
shall find it no such bad case after all。 There's Amy's fortune to
begin with； only waiting for such an occasion。 No； I can't have you
answer； you have talked； quite long enough。'
Philip was in a state of feebleness that made him willing to avoid the
trouble of thinking； by simply believing what he was told； 'that it was
no bad case。' He was relieved by having confessed； though to the
person whom； a few weeks back； he would have thought the last to whom
he could have made such a communication； over whom he had striven to
assume superiority； and therefore before whom he could have least borne
to humble himselfnay； whose own love he had lately traversed with an
arrogance that was rendered positively absurd by this conduct of his
own。 Nevertheless； he had not shrunk from the confession。 His had
been real repentance； so far as he perceived his faults； and he would
have scorned to avail himself of the certainty of Guy's silence on what
he had said at the time of his extreme danger。 He had resolved to
speak； and had found neither an accuser nor a judge； not even one
consciously returning good for evil； but a friend with honest； simple；
straightforward kindness； doing the best for him in his power； and
dreading nothing so much as hurting his feelings。 It was not the way
in which Philip himself could have received such a confidence。
As soon as Guy could leave him； he went up to his wife。 'Amy；' said
he； rather sadly； 'we have had it out。 It is too true。'
Her first exclamation surprised him： 'Then Charlie really is the
cleverest person in the world。'
'How？ Had he any suspicion？'
'Not that I know of； but； more than once； lately； I have been alarmed
by recollecting how he once said that poor Laura was so much too wise
for her age； that Nature would some day take her revenge； and make her
do something very foolish。 But has Philip told you all about it？'
'Yes； explained it all very kindly。 It must have cost him a great
deal； but he spoke openly and nobly。 It is the beginning of a full
confession to your father。'
'So； it is true！' exclaimed Amabel； as if she heard it for the first
time。 'How shocked mamma will be！ I don't know how to think it
possible！ And poor Laura！ Imagine what she must have gone through；
for you know I never spared the worst accounts。 Do tell me all。'
Guy told what he had just heard； and she was indignant。
'I can't be as angry with him as I should like；' said she； 'now that he
is sorry and ill； but it was a great deal too bad！ I can't think how
he could look any of us in the face； far less expect to rule us all；
and interfere with you！'
'I see I never appreciated the temptations of poverty；' said Guy；
thoughtfully。 'I have often thought of those of wealth； but never of
poverty。'
'I wish you would not excuse him。 I don't mind your doing it about
ourselves； because； though he made you unhappy； he could not make you
do wrong。 Ah！ I know what you mean； but that was over after the first
minute； and he only made you better for all his persecution； but I
don't know how to pardon his making poor Laura so miserable； and
leading her to do what was not right。 Poor； dear girl！ no wonder she
looked so worn and unhappy！ I cannot help being angry with him；
indeed； Guy！' said she； her eyes full of tears。
'The best pleading is his own repentance； Amy。 I don't think you can
be very unrelenting when you see how subdued and how altered he is。
You know you are to make him a visit to…morrow； now the doctor says all
fear of infection is over。'
'I shall be thinking of poor Laura the whole time。'
'And how she would like to see him in his present state？ What shall
you do if I bring him home to Redclyffe？ Shall you go to Hollywell； to
comfort Laura？'
'I shall wait till you send me。 Besides； how can you invite company
till we know whether we have a roof over our house or not？ What is he
doing now？'
'As usual； he has an unlimited capacity for sleep。'
'I wish you had。 I don't think you have slept two hours together since
you left off sitting up。'
'I am beginning to think it a popular delusion。 I do just as well
without it。'
'So you say； but Mr。 Shene would never have taken such a fancy to you；
if you always had such purple lines as those under your eyes。 Look！
Is that a face for Sir Galahad； or Sir Guy； or any of the Round Table？
Come； I wish you would lie down； and be read to sleep。'
'I should like a walk much better。 It is very cool and bright。 Will
you come？'
They walked for some time； talking over the conduct of Philip and
Laura。 Amabel seemed quite oppressed by the thought of such a burthen
of concealment。 She said she did not know what she should have done in
her own troubles without mamma and Charlie； and she could not imagine
Laura's keeping silence through the time of Philip's danger； more
especially as she recollected how appalling some of her bulletins had
been。 The only satisfaction was in casting as much of the blame on him
as possible。
'You know he never would let her read novels； and I do believe that was
the reason she did not understand what it meant。'
'I think there is a good deal in that；' said Guy； laughing； 'though
Charlie would say it is a very _novel_ excuse for a young lady falling
imprudently in love。'
'I do believe； if it was any one but Laura； Charlie would be very glad
of it。 He always fully saw through Philip's supercilious shell。'
'Amy！'
'No； let me go on； Guy； for you must allow that it was much worse in
such a grave； grand； unromantic person； who makes a point of thinking
before he speaks； than if it had been a hasty； hand…over…head man like
Maurice de Courcy； who might have got into a scrape without knowing it。
'That must have made the struggle to confess all the more painful； and
a most free； noble； open…hearted confession it was。'
They tried to recollect all that had passed during that summer； and to
guess against whom he had wished to warn her； but so far were they from
divining the truth； that they agreed it must either have been Maurice；
or some other wild Irishman。
Next； they considered what was to be done。 Philip must manage his
confession his own way； but they had it in their power greatly to
soften matters； and there was no fear that； after the first shock； Mr。
Edmonstone would insist on the engagement being broken off； Philip
should come to recover his health at Redclyffe； where he would be ready
to meet the first advance towards forgiveness；and Amabel thought it
would soon be made。 Papa's anger was sharp； but soon over； he was very
fond of Philip； and delighted in a love affair； but she was afraid
mamma would not get over it so soon； for she would be excessively hurt
and grieved。 'And when I was naughty；' said Amy； 'nothing ever made me
so sorry as mamma's kindness。'
Guy launched out into more schemes for facilitating their marriage than
ever he had made for himself； and the walk ended with extensive castle
building on