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interfering with his anger； and abused the 'romantic folly' that had
carried Guy to nurse him at Recoara。 He was not so much displeased
with Laura； in fact he thought all young ladies always ready to be
fallen in love with； and hardly accountable for what their lovers might
make them do； and he pitied her heartily； when he heard of her sitting
up all night。 Anything of extravagance in love met with sympathy from
him； and there was no effort in his hearty forgiveness of her。 He
vowed that she should give the fellow up； and had she been present；
would have tried to make her do so at a moment's warning； but in
process of time he was convinced that he must not persecute her while
Philip was in extremity； and though； like Charles； he scorned the
notion of his death； and； as if it was an additional crime； pronounced
him to be as strong as a horse； he was quite ready to put off all
proceedings till his recovery； being glad to defer the evil day of
making her cry。
So when Laura ventured out； she met with nothing harsh； indeed； but for
the sorrowful kindness of her family towards her； she could hardly have
guessed that they knew her secret。
Her heart leapt when Amabel's letter was silently handed to her； and
she saw the news of Philip's amendment； but a sickening feeling
succeeded； that soon all forbearance would be at an end； and he must
hear that her weakness had betrayed his secret。 For the present；
however； nothing was said； and she continued in silent dread of what
each day might bring forth； till one afternoon； when the letters had
been fetched from Broadstone； Mrs。 Edmonstone； with an exclamation of
dismay； read aloud：
'Recoara； September 8th。
'DEAREST MAMMA；Don't be very much frightened when I tell you that Guy
has caught the fever。 He has been ailing since Sunday； and yesterday
became quite ill； but we hope it will not be so severe an illness as
Philip's was。 He sleeps a great deal； and is in no pain； quite
sensible when he is awake。 Arnaud is very useful； and so is Anne； and
he is so quiet at night； that he wants no one but Arnaud； and will not
let me sit up with him。 Philip is better。
'Your most affectionate；
'A。F。M。'
The reading was followed by a dead silence； then Mr。 Edmonstone said he
had always known how it would be； and what would poor Amy do？
Mrs。 Edmonstone was too unhappy to answer； for she could see no means
of helping them。 Mr。 Edmonstone was of no use in a sick…room； and she
had never thought it possible to leave Charles。 It did not even occur
to her that she could do so till Charles himself suggested that she
must go to Amy。
'Can you spare me？' said she； as if it was a new light。
'Why not？ Who can be thought of but Amy？ She ought not to be a day
longer without you。'
'Dr。 Mayerne would look in on you；' said she； considering； 'and Laura
can manage for you。'
'Oh； I shall do very well。 Do you think I could bear to keep you from
her？'
'Some one must go；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'and even if I could think of
letting Laura run the risk； this unhappy affair about Philip puts her
going out of the question。'
'No one but you can go； said Charles； 'it is of no use to talk of
anything else。'
It was settled that if the next account was not more favourable； Mr。
and Mrs。 Edmonstone should set off for Recoara。 Laura heard； in
consternation at the thought of her father's meeting Philip； still weak
and unwell； without her； and perhaps with Guy too ill to be consulted。
And oh！ what would Philip think of her？ Her weakness had disclosed his
secret； and sunk her beneath him； and he must hear it from others。 She
felt as if she could have thrown herself at her mother's feet as she
implored her to forbear； to spare him； to spare her。 Her mother pitied
her incoherent distress； but it did not make her feel more in charity
with Philip。 She would not promise that the subject should； not be
discussed； but she tried to reassure Laura by saying that nothing
should be done that could retard his recovery。
With this Laura was obliged to content herself； and early the second
morning； after the letter arrived； she watched the departure of her
father and mother。
She had expected to find the care of Charles very anxious work； but she
prospered beyond her hopes。 He was very kind and considerate； and both
he and Charlotte were so sobered by anxiety； that there was no fear of
their spirits overpowering her。
Mary Ross used to come almost every afternoon to inquire。 One day she
found Charles alone； crutching himself slowly along the terrace； and
she thought nothing showed the forlorn state of the family so much as
to see him out of doors with no one for a prop。
'Mary！ Just as I wanted you！'
'What account？' said she； taking the place of one of the crutches。
'Excellent； the fever and drowsiness seem to be going off。 It must
have been a light attack； and the elders will hardly come in time for
mamma to have any nursing。 So there's Guy pretty well off one's mind。'
'And Amy？'
'This was such a long letter； and so cheerful； that she must be all
right。 What I wanted to speak to you about was Laura。 You know the
state of things。 Well； the captainI wish he was not so sorry； it
deprives one of the satisfaction of abusing himthe captain； it seems；
was brought to his senses by his illness； confessed all to Guy； and now
has written to tell the whole truth to my father。'
'Has he？ That is a great relief！'
'Not that I have seen his letter； Laura ran away with it； and has not
said a word of it。 I know it from one to papa from Amy； trying to make
the best of it； and telling how thoroughly he is cut up。 She says he
all but fainted after writing。 Fancy that poor little thing with a
great man； six foot one； fainting away on her hands！'
'I thought he was pretty well again。'
'He must be to have written at all； and a pretty tolerably bitter pill
it must have been to set about it。 What a thing for him to have had to
tell Guy； of all peopleI do enjoy that！ So； of course； Guy takes up
his cause； and sends a message； that is worth anything； as showing he
is himself better； though in any one else it would be a proof of
delirium。 My two brothers…in…law might sit for a picture of the
contrast。'
'Then you think Mr。 Edmonstone will consent？'
'To be sure； we shall have him coming home； saying
It is a fine thing to be father in…law
To a very magnificent three…tailed bashaw。
He will never hold out against Guy and Amy； and Philip will soon set up
a patent revolver； to be turned by the little god of love on the newest
scientific principles。'
'Where is Laura？' said Mary； smiling。
'I turned her out to walk with Charlotte； and I want some counsel； as
mamma says I know nothing of lovers。'
'Because I know so much？'
'You know feminine nature I want to know what is the best thing to do
for Laura。 Poor thing！ I can't bear to see her look so wretched；
worrying herself with care of me。 I have done the best I could by
taking Charlotte's lessons； and sending her out to mope alone； as she
likes best； but I wish you would tell me how to manage her。'
'I know nothing better for her than waiting on you。'
'That's hard；' said Charles； 'that having made the world dance
attendance on me for my pleasure； I must now do it for theirs。 But
what do you think about telling her of this letter； or showing it；
remembering that not a word about her troubles has passed between us？'
'By all means tell her。 You must judge about showing it； but I should
think the opening for talking to her on the subject a great gain。'
'Should you？ What； thinking as I do of the man？ Should I not be
between the horns of a dilemma if I had to speak the honest truth； yet
not hurt her feelings？'
'She has been so long shut up from sympathy； that any proof of kindness
must be a comfort。'
'Well； I should like to do her some good； but it will be a mercy； if
she does not make me fall foul of Philip！ I can get up a little
Christian charity； when my father or Charlotte rave at him； but I can't
stand hearing him praised。 I take the opportunity of saying so while I
can； for I expect he will come home as her betrothed； and then we shall
not be able to say one word。'
'No； I dare say he will be so altered and subdued that you will not be
so disposed to rail。 This confession is a grand thing。 Good…bye I
must get back to church。 Poor Laura！ how busy she has been about her
sketch there lately。'
'Yes； she has been eager about finishing it ever since Guy began to be
ill。 Good…bye。 Wish me well through my part of confidant to…night。
It is much against the grain； though I would