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aged； and the change to a new scene； where she could not be distressing
herself at every failure in cheerfulness of poor Amy's； was just the
thing to do her good。
Amabel was not afraid of the sole charge of Charles or of the baby； for
she had been taught but too well to manage for herself； she understood
Charles very well； and had too much quiet good sense to be fanciful
about her very healthy baby。 Though she was inexperienced； with old
nurse hard by； and Dr。 Mayerne at Broadstone； there was no fear of her
not having good counsel enough。 She was glad to be of some use； by
enabling her mother to leave Charles； and her only fear was of being
dull company for him； but as he was so kind as to bear it； she would do
her best； and perhaps their neighbours would come and enliven him
sometimes。
Charles threw his influence into the same scale。 His affectionate
observation had shown him that it oppressed Amabel's spirits to be the
object of such constant solicitude； and be was convinced it would be
better for her； both to have some necessary occupation and to be free
from that perpetual mournful watching of her mother's that caused her
to make the efforts to be cheerful which did her more harm than
anything else。
To let her alone to look and speak as she pleased without the fear of
paining and disappointing those she loved； keep the house quiet； and
give her the employment of household cares and attending on himself；
was； he thought； the best thing for her； and he was full of eagerness
and pleasure at the very notion of being of service to her； if only by
being good for nothing but to be waited on。 He thought privately that
the spring of his mother's mind had been so much injured by the grief
she had herself suffered for 'her son Guy；' her cruel disappointment in
Laura； and the way in which she threw herself into all Amy's
affliction； that there was a general depression in her way of observing
and attending Amy； which did further harm； and that to change the
current of her thoughts； and bring her home refreshed and inspirited；
would be the beginning of improvement in all。 Or； as he expressed it
to Dr。 Mayerne； 'We shall set off on a new tack。'
His counsel and Mr。 Edmonstone's wishes at length decided mamma； on
condition that Mary Ross and Dr。 Mayerne would promise to write on
alternate weeks a full report； moral and physical； as Charles called
it。 So in due time the goods were packed； Mrs。 Edmonstone cried
heartily over the baby； advised Amabel endlessly about her； and finally
looked back through her tears； as she drove away； to see Charles
nodding and waving his hand at the bay…window； and Amabel standing with
her parting smile and good…bye on the steps。
The reports； moral and physical； proved that Charles had judged wisely。
Amabel was less languid as she had more cause for exertion； and seemed
relieved by the absence of noise and hurry； spending more time down…
stairs； and appearing less weary in the evening。 She still avoided the
garden； but she began to like short drives with her brother in the
pony…carriage； when he drove on in silence； and let her lean back and
gaze up into the sky； or into the far distance； undisturbed。 Now and
then he would be rejoiced by a bright； genuine smile； perfectly
refreshing； at some of the pretty ways of the babe； a small but plump
and lively creature； beginning to grasp with her hands； laugh and gaze
about with eyes that gave promise of the peculiar colour and brilliancy
of her father's。 Amabel was afraid she might be tempted into giving
Charles too much of the little lady's society； but he was very fond of
her； regarding her with an odd mixture of curiosity and amusement； much
entertained with watching what he called her unaccountable manners； and
greatly flattered when he could succeed in attracting her notice。
Indeed； the first time she looked full at him with a smile on the verge
of a laugh； it completely overcame him； by the indescribably forcible
manner in which it suddenly recalled the face which had always shone on
him like a sunbeam。 Above all； it was worth anything to see the looks
she awoke in her mother； for which he must have loved her； even had she
not been Guy's child。
In the evening； especially on Sunday； Amabel would sometimes talk to
him as she had never yet been able to do； about her last summer's
journey； and her stay at Recoara； and his way of listening and
answering had in it something that gave her great pleasure； while； on
his side； he deemed each fresh word of Guy's a sort of treasure for
which to be grateful to her。 The brother and sister were a great help
and happiness to each other； Amabel found herself restored to Charles；
as Guy had liked to think of her； and Charles felt as if the old
childish fancies were fulfilled； in which he and Amy were always to
keep house together。 He was not in the least dull； and though his
good…natured visitors in the morning were welcome； and received with
plenty of his gay lively talk； he did not by any means stand in need of
the compassion they felt for him； and could have done very well without
them； while the evenings alone with Amy had in them something so
pleasant that they were almost better than those when Mr。 Ross and Mary
came to tea。 He wrote word to his mother that she might be quite at
ease about them； and he thought Amy would get through the anniversaries
of September better while the house was quiet； so that she need not
think of trying to hurry home。
He was glad to have done so； for the letters； which scarcely missed a
day in being written by his mother and Charlotte； seemed to show that
their stay was likely to be long。 Lady Mabel was more broken than they
had expected； and claimed a long visit； as she was sure it would be
their last； while the Kilcoran party had taken possession of Laura and
Charlotte； as if they never meant to let them go。 Charlotte wrote her
brother very full and very droll accounts of the Iricisms around her
which she enjoyed thoroughly； and Charles； declaring he never expected
to see little Charlotte come out in the character of the facetious
correspondent； used to send Mary Ross into fits of laughing by what he
read to her。 Mr。 Fielder； the tutor； wrote Charlotte； was very nearly
equal to Eveleen's description of him； but very particularly agreeable；
in fact； the only man who had any conversation； whom she had seen since
she had been at Kilcoran。
'Imagine；' said Charles； 'the impertinent little puss setting up for
intellectual conversation； forsooth！'
'That's what comes of living with good company；' said Mary。
The brother and sister used sometimes to drive to Broadstone to fetch
their letters by the second post。
'Charlotte； of course；' said Charles； as he opened one。 'My Lady
Morville； what's yours？'
'Only Mr。 Markham；' said Amabel； 'about the winding up of our business
together； I suppose。 What does Charlotte say？'
'Charlotte is in a fit of impudence； for which she deserves
chastisement；' said Charles； unable to help laughing； as he read；
'Our last event was a call from the fidus Achates； who； it seems； can
no longer wander up and down the Mediterranean without his pius Aeneas；
and so has left the army； and got a diplomatic appointment somewhere in
Germany。 Lord Kilcoran has asked him to come and stay here； and Mabel
and I are quite sure he comes for a purpose。 Of course he has chosen
this time； in order that he may be able to have his companion before
his eyes； as a model for courtship； and I wish I had you to help me
look on whenever Philip comes； as that laugh I must enjoy alone with
Bustle。 However； when Philip will come we cannot think； for we have
heard nothing of him this age； not even Laura； and she is beginning to
look very anxious about him。 Do tell us if you know anything about
him。 The last letter was when parliament was prorogued； and he was
going to Redclyffe； at least three weeks ago。'
'I wonder if Mr。 Markham mentions him；' said Amabel； hastily unfolding
her letter； which was； as she expected； about the executors' business；
but glancing on to the end； she exclaimed；
'Ah！ here it is。 Listen； Charlie。 〃Mr。 Morville has been here for the
last few weeks； and is； I fear； very unwell。 He has been entirely
confined to the house； almost ever since his arrival； by violent
headache； which has completely disabled him from attending to business；
but he will not call in any advice。 I make a point of going to see him
every day； though I believe my presence is anything but acceptable； as
in his present state of health and spirits； I cannot think it right
that he should be left to servants。〃 Poor fellow！ Redclyffe has been
too much for him。'
'Over…worked； I suppose；' said Charles。 'I thought he was coming it