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like indifferent people to ask the reason of it。'
Philip lapsed into thought； and presently said； abruptly； 'When last
we parted you told me I was malignant。 You were right。'
'Shake hands！' was all Charles's reply； and no more was said till
Charles rose； saying it was time to dress。 Philip was about to help
him； but he answered； 'No； thank you； I am above trusting to anything
but my own crutches now； I am proud to show you what feats I can
perform。'
Charles certainly did get on with less difficulty than heretofore； but
it was more because he wanted to spare Philip fatigue than because he
disdained assistance； that he chose to go alone。 Moreover； he did what
he had never done for any one beforehe actually hopped the whole
length of the passage； beyond his own door to do the honours of
Philip's room； and took a degree of pains for his comfort that seemed
too marvellous to be true in one who had hitherto only lived to be
attended on。
By the time he had settled Philip； the rest of the party had come home；
and he found himself wanted in the dressing…room； to help his mother to
encourage his father to enter on the conversation with Philip in the
evening； for poor Mr。 Edmonstone was in such a worry and perplexity；
that the whole space till the dinner…bell rang was insufficient to
console him in。 Laura； meanwhile； was with Amabel； who was trying to
cheer her fluttering spirits and nerves； which； after having been so
long harassed； gave way entirely at the moment of meeting Philip again。
How would he regard her after her weakness in betraying him for want of
self…command？ Might he not be wishing to be free of one who had so
disappointed him； and only persisting in the engagement from a sense of
honour！ The confidence in his affection； which had hitherto sustained
her； was failing； and not all Amabel could say would reassure her。 No
one could judge of him but herself； his words were so cautious； and he
had so much command over himself； that nobody could guess。 Of course
he felt bound to her； but if she saw one trace of his being only
influenced by honour and pity； she would release him； and he should
never see the struggle。
She had worked herself up into almost a certainty that so it would be；
and Amabel was afraid she would not be fit to go down to dinner； but
the sound of the bell； and the necessity of moving； seemed to restore
the habit of external composure in a moment。 She settled her
countenance； and left the room。
Charlotte； meantime； had been dressing alone； and raging against
Philip； declaring she could never bear to speak to him； and that if she
was Amy she would never have chosen him for a godfather。 And to think
of his marrying just like a good hero in a book； and living very happy
ever after！ To be sure she was sorry for poor Laura； but it was all
very wrong； and now they would be rewarded！ How could Charlie be so
provoking as to talk about his sorrow！ She hoped he was sorry； and as
to his illness； it served him right。
All this Charlotte communicated to Bustle； but Bustle had heard some
mysterious noise； and insisted on going to investigate the cause； and
Charlotte； finding her own domain dark and cold； and private
conferences going on in Amabel's apartment and the dressing…room； was
fain to follow him down…stairs； as soon as her toilet was complete；
only hoping Philip would keep out of the way。
But； behold； there he was； and even Bustle was propitiated； for she
found him； his nose on Philip's knee； looking up in his face； and
wagging his tail； while Philip stroked and patted him； and could hardly
bear the appealing expression of the eyes； that； always wistful； now
seemed to every one to be looking for his master。
To see this attention to Bustle won Charlotte over in a moment。 'How
are you； Philip？ Good dog； dear old Bustle！' came in a breath； and
they were both making much of the dog； when she amicably asked if he
had seen the baby； and became eager in telling about the christening。
The dinner…bell brought every one down but Amabel。 The trembling hands
of Philip and Laura met for a moment； and they were in the dining…room。
Diligently and dutifully did Charles and Mrs。 Edmonstone keep up the
conversation； the latter about her shopping； the former about the
acquaintances who had come to speak to him as he sat in the carriage。
As soon as possible； Mrs。 Edmonstone left the dining…room； then Laura
flew up again to the dressing…room； sank down on a footstool by
Amabel's side； and exclaiming； '0 Amy； he is looking so ill！' burst
into a flood of tears。
The change had been a shock for which Laura had not been prepared。
Amy； who had seen him look so much worse； had not thought of it； and it
overcame Laura more than all her anxieties； lest his love should be
forfeited。 She sobbed inconsolably over the alteration； and it was
long before Amabel could get her to hear that his face was much less
thin now； and that he was altogether much stronger； it was fatigue and
anxiety to…night； and to…morrow he would be better。 Laura proceeded to
brood over her belief that his altered demeanour； his settled
melancholy； his not seeking her eye； his cold shake of the hand； all
arose from the diminution of his love； and his dislike to be encumbered
with a weak； foolish wife； with whom he had entangled himself when he
deemed her worthy of him。 She dwelt on all this in silence； as she sat
at her sister's feet； and Amy left her to think； only now and then
giving some caress to her hair or cheek； and at each touch the desolate
waste of life that poor Laura was unfolding before herself was rendered
less dreary by the thought； 'I have my sister still； and she knows
sorrow too。' Then she half envied Amy； who had lost her dearest by
death； and held his heart fast to the last； not； like herself； doomed
to see the love decay for which she had endured so longdecay at the
very moment when the suspense was over。
Laura might justly have envied Amabel； though for another reason； it
was because in her cup there was no poison of her own infusing。
There she stayed till Charlotte came to summon her to tea； saying the
gentlemen； except Charles； were still in the dining…room。
They had remained sitting over the fire for a considerable space；
waiting for each other to begin； Mr。 Edmonstone irresolute； Philip
striving to master his feelings； and to prevent increasing pain and
confusion from making him forget what he intended； to say。 At last；
Mr。 Edmonstone started up； pulled out his keys； took a candle； and
said； 'Come to the studyI'll give you the Redclyffe papers。'
'Thank you；' said Philip； also rising； but only because he could not
sit while his uncle stood。 'Not to…night； if you please。 I could not
attend to them。'
'What； your head？ Eh？'
'Partly。 Besides； there is another subject on which I hope you will
set me at rest before I can enter on any other。'
'YesyesI know；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； moving uneasily。
'I am perfectly conscious how deeply I have offended。'
Mr。 Edmonstone could not endure the apology。
'Well； well；' he broke in nervously； 'I know all that； and it can't be
helped。 Say no more about it。 Young people will be foolish； and I
have been young and in love myself。'
That Captain Morville should live to be thankful for being forgiven in
consideration of Mr。 Edmonstone's having been young！
'May I then consider myself as pardoned； and as having obtained your
sanction？'
'Yes； yes； yes； and I hope it will cheer poor Laura up again a little。
Four years has it gone on？ Constancy； indeed！ and it is time it should
be rewarded。 We little thought what you were up to； so grave and
demure as you both were。 So you won't have the papers to…night？ I
can't say you do look fit for business。 Perhaps Laura may suit you
bettereh； Philip？'
Love…making was such a charming sight to Mr。 Edmonstone； that having
once begun to look on Philip and Laura as a pair of lovers； he could
not help being delighted； and forgetting； as well as forgiving； all
that had been wrong。
They did not； however； exactly answer his ideas； Laura did not once
look up； and Philip； instead of going boldly to take the place next
her； sat down； holding his hand to his forehead； as if too much
overpowered by indisposition to think of anything else。 Such was in
great measure the case； he was very much fatigued with the journey； and
these different agitating scenes had increased the pain in his head to
a violent degree； besides which； feeling that his aunt still regarded
him as she did at Recoara； he could not bear to make any demonstration
towards Laura before her； lest she might think it a sort of triumphant
disregard of her just displeasure。
Poor Laura saw in it both sev