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judged of Amy； then listened with a kind of pleasure to the reports of
the homely but touching laments of all the village。
Laura did not； like her brother and sister； seek for consolation from
Mr。 Ross or Mary。 She went on her own way； saying little； fulfilling
her household cares； writing all the letters that nobody else would
write； providing for Charles's ease； and looking thoroughly cast down
and wretched； but saying nothing； conscious that her brother and sister
did not believe her affection for Guy equal to theirs； and Charles was
too much dejected； and too much displeased with Philip； to try to
console her。
It was a relief to hear； at length； that the travellers had landed； and
would be at home in the evening； not till late； wrote Mrs。 Edmonstone；
because she thought it best for Amabel to go at once to her room； her
own old room； for she particularly wished not to be moved from it。
The evening had long closed in； poor Bustle had been shut up in
Charlotte's room； and the three sat together round the fire； unable to
guess how they should meet her； and thinking how they had lately been
looking forward to greeting their bride； as they used proudly to call
her。 Charles dwelt on that talk on the green； and his 'when shall we
three meet again？' and spoke not a word； Laura tried to read； and
Charlotte heard false alarms of wheels； but all were so still； that
when the wheels really came； they were heard all down the turnpike
road； and along the lane； before they sounded on the gravel drive。
Laura and Charlotte ran into the hall； Charles reached his crutches；
but his hands shook so much that he could not adjust them； and was
obliged to sit down； rising the next minute as the black figures
entered together。 Amy's sweet face was pressed to his； but neither
spoke。 That agitated 'My dear； dear Charlie！' was his mother's； as she
threw her arms around him； with redoubled kisses and streaming tears；
and there was a trembling tone in his father's 'Well； Charlie boy； how
have you got on without us？'
They sat down； Charles with his sister beside him； and holding a hand
steadier than his own； but hot and feverish to the touch。 He leant
forward to look at her face； and； as if in answer； she turned it on
him。 It was the old face； paler and thinner； and the eyelids had a
hard reddened look； from want of sleep： but Charles； like his mother at
first； was almost awed by the melancholy serenity of the expression。
'Have you been quite well？' she asked； in a voice which sounded
strangely familiar； in its fond； low tones。
'Yes； quite。'
There was a pause； followed by an interchange of question and answer
between the others； on the journey； and on various little home
circumstances。 Presently Mrs。 Edmonstone said Amy had better come up…
stairs。
'I have not seen Bustle；' said Amy； looking at Charlotte。
'He is in my room；' faltered Charlotte。
'I should like to see him。'
Charlotte hastened away； glad to wipe her tears when outside the door。
Poor Bustle had been watching for his master ever since his departure；
and hearing the sounds of arrival； was wild to escape from his prison。
He rushed out the moment the door was open； and was scratching to be
let into the drawing…room before Charlotte could come up with him。 He
dashed in； laid his head on Amabel's knee； and wagged his tail for
welcome； gave the same greeting to Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone； but only
for a moment； for he ran restlessly seeking round the room； came to the
door； and by his wistful looks made Charlotte let him out。 She
followed him； and dropping on her knees as soon as she was outside；
pressed her forehead to his glossy black head； whispered that it was of
no use； he would never come back。 The dog burst from her； and the next
moment was smelling and wagging his tail at a portmanteau； which he
knew as well as she did； and she could hardly refrain from a great
outburst of sobbing as she thought what joy its arrival had hitherto
been。
Suddenly Bustle bounded away； and as Charlotte stood trying to compose
herself enough to return to the drawing…room； she heard the poor fellow
whining to be let in at Guy's bed…room door。 At the same time the
drawing…room door opened； and anxious that Amy should neither see nor
hear him； she ran after him； admitted him； and shut herself in with him
in the dark； where； with her hands in his long silky curls； and sitting
on the ground； she sobbed over him as long as he would submit to her
caresses。
Amabel meantime returned to her room； and looked round on its well…
known aspect with a sad smile； as she thought of the prayer with which
she had quitted it on her bridal day； and did not feel as if it had
been unanswered； for surely the hand of a Father had been with her to
support her through her great affliction。
Though she said she was very well； her mother made her go to bed at
once； and Laura attended on her with a sort of frightened； respectful
tenderness； hardly able to bear her looks of gratitude。 The first time
the two sisters were alone； Amabel said； 'Philip is much better。'
Laura； who was settling some things on the table； started back and
coloured； then； unable to resist the desire of hearing of him； looked
earnestly at her sister。
'He is gone to Corfu；' continued Amabel。 'He only kept Arnaud three
days after we were gone； and Arnaud overtook us at Geneva； saying his
strength had improved wonderfully。 Will you give me my basket？ I
should like to read you a piece of a note he sent me。'
Laura brought it； and Amabel； holding her hand； looked up at her face；
which she vainly tried to keep in order。 'Dearest； I have been very
sorry for you； and so has Guy。'
'Amy！' and Laura found herself giving way to her tears； in spite of all
her previous exhortations to Charlotte； about self…control； 'my own；
own sister！' To have Amy at home was an unspeakable comfort。
'Papa and mamma were both as kind as possible to Philip；' continued
Amabel； 'but they could not bear to enter on _that_。 So I told him you
had told all； and he was very glad。'
'He was not displeased at my betraying him？' exclaimed Laura。 'Oh； no！
he was glad； he said it was a great relief； for he was very anxious
about you； Laura。 He has been so kind to me；' said Amabel； so
earnestly； that Laura received another comfort； that of knowing that
her sister's indignation against him had all passed by。 'Now I will
read you what he says。 You see his writing is quite itself again。'
But Laura observed that Amabel only held towards her the 'Lady
Morville' on the outside； keeping the note to herself； and reading； 'I
have continued to gain strength since you went； so that there is no
further need of detaining Arnaud。 I have twice been out of doors； and
am convinced that I am equal to the journey； indeed； it is hardly
possible for me to endure remaining here any longer。' She read no
more； but folded it up； saying； 'I had rather no one saw the rest。 He
makes himself so unhappy about that unfortunate going to Sondrio； that
he says what is only painful to hear。 I am glad he is able to join his
regiment； for a change will be the best thing for him。'
She laid her head on the pillow as if she had done with the subject；
and Laura did not venture to pursue it； but went down to hear her
mother's account of her。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was feeling it a great comfort to have her son to talk
to again； and availed herself of it to tell him of Philip； while Laura
was absent； and then to return to speak of Amy on Laura's re…entrance。
She said； all through the journey； Amy had been as passive and tranquil
as possible； chiefly leaning back in the carriage in silence； excepting
that when they finally left the view of the snowy mountains； she gazed
after them as long as the least faint cloud…like summit was visible。
Still she could not sleep； except that now and then she dozed a little
in the carriage； but at night she heard every hour strike in turn； and
lay awake through all； nor had she shed one tear since her mother had
joined her。 Mrs。 Edmonstone's anxiety was very great； for she said she
knew Amy must pay for that unnatural calmness； and the longer it was
before it broke down； the worse it would be for her。 However； she was
at home； that was one thing to be thankful for； and happen what might；
it could not be as distressing as if it had been abroad。
Another night of 'calm unrest；' and Amabel rose in the morning； at her
usual hour； to put on the garments of her widowhood； where she had last
stood as a bride。 Charles was actually startled by her entering the
dressing…room； just as she used to do； before breakfast； to read with
him； and her voice was as steady as ever。 She breakfasted with the
family； and came up afterwards with