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was in the grounds； Philip went out to look for him； leaving Charles on
the sofa； under her ladyship's care。 Charles； with a little
exaggeration； professed that he had never been so flattered in his
whole life； as he was by the compliments that reflected on him as the
future brother…in…law of Philip； and that he had really begun to think
even Laura not half sensible enough of her own happiness。 Lady
Thorndale afterwards proceeded to inquiries about the De Courcy family；
especially Lady Eveleen； and Charles； enlightened by Charlotte； took
delight in giving a brilliant description of his cousin's charms； for
which he was rewarded by very plain intimations of the purpose for
which her son James was gone to Kilcoran。
On talking the visit over； as they drove home； Charles asked Philip if
he had guessed at his friend's intentions。 'Yes；' he answered。
'Then you never took the credit of it。 Why did you not tell us？'
'I knew it from himself； in confidence。'
'Oh！' said Charles； amusing himself with the notion of the young man's
dutifully asking the permission of his companion； unshaken in
allegiance though the staff might be broken； and the book drowned
deeper than did ever plummet sound。 Philip spoke no more； and Charles
would ask no more； for Philip's own affairs of the kind were not such
as to encourage talking of other people's。 No explanation was needed
why he should now promote an attachment which he had strongly
disapproved while James Thorndale was still in the army。
A day or two after； however； came a letter from Charlotte； bringing
further news； at which Charles was so amazed； that he could not help
communicating it at once to his companions。
'So！ Eveleen won't have him！'
'What？' exclaimed both。
'You don't mean that she has refused Thorndale？' said Philip。
'Even so！' said Charles。 'Charlotte says he is gone。 〃Poor Mr。
Thorndale left us this morning； after a day of private conferences； in
which he seems to have had no satisfaction； for his resolute dignity
and determination to be agreeable all the evening were〃ahem〃were
great。 Mabel cannot get at any of the real reasons from Eveleen；
though I think I could help her； but I can't tell you。〃'
'Charlotte means mischief。' said Charles； as he concluded。
'I am very sorry！' said Philip。 'I did think Lady Eveleen would have
been able to estimate Thorndale。 It will be a great disappointment
the inclination has been of long standing。 Poor Thorndale！'
'It would have been a very good thing for Eva；' said Amabel。 'Mr。
Thorndale is such a sensible man。'
'And I thought his steady sense just what was wanting to bring out all
her good qualities that are running to waste in that irregular home；'
said Philip。 'What can have possessed her？'
'Ay！ something must have possessed her；' said Charles。 'Eva was always
ready to be fallen in love with on the shortest notice； and if there
was not something prior in her imagination； Thorndale would not have
had much difficulty。 By the bye； depend upon it； 'tis the tutor。'
Philip looked a little startled； but instantly reassuring himself；
said；
'George Fielder！ Impossible！ You have never seen him！'
'Ah！ don't you remember her description！' said Amy； in a low voice；
rather sadly。
The very reason； Amy；' said Charles； 'it showed that he had attracted
her fancy。'
Philip smiled a little incredulously。
'Ay！' said Charles； 'you may smile； but you handsome men can little
appreciate the attractiveness of an interesting ugliness。 It is the
way to be looked at in the end。 Mark my words； it is the tutor。'
'I hope not！' said Philip； as if shaken in his confidence。 'Any way it
is a bad affair。 I am very much concerned for Thorndale。'
So sincerely concerned； that his head began to ache in the midst of
some writing。 He was obliged to leave it to Charles to finish； and go
out to walk with Amy。
Amabel came in before him； and began to talk to Charles about his great
vexation at his friend's disappointment。
'I am almost sorry you threw out that hint about Mr。 Fielder；' said
she。 'Don't you remember how he was recommended？'
'Ah！ I had forgotten it was Philip's doing； a bit of his spirit of
opposition；' said Charles。 'Were not the boys to have gone to Coombe
Prior？'
'Yes' said Amabel； 'that is the thing that seems to have made him so
unhappy about it。 I am sure I hope it is not true；' she added；
considering； 'for； Charlie； you must know that Guy had an impression
against him。'
'Had he？' said Charles； anxiously。
'It was only an impression； nothing he could accuse him of； or mention
to Lord Kilcoran。 He would have told no one but me； but he had seen
something of him at Oxford； and thought him full of conversation； very
clever； only not the sort of talk he liked。'
'I don't like that。 Charlotte concurs in testifying to his
agreeableness； and in the dearth of intellect； I should not wonder at
Eva's taking up with him。 He would be a straw to the drowning。 It
looks dangerous。'
They were very anxious for further intelligence； but received none；
except that Philip had a letter from his friend； on which his only
comment was a deep sigh； and 'Poor Thorndale！ She little knows what
she has thrown away！' Letters from Kilcoran became rare； Laura
scarcely wrote at all to Philip； and though Mrs。 Edmonstone wrote as
usual； she did not notice the subject； while Charlotte's gravity and
constraint； when she did achieve a letter to Charles； were in such
contrast to her usual free and would…be satirical style； that such eyes
as her brother's could hardly fail to see that something was on her
mind。
So it went on week after week； Charles and Amabel wondering when they
should ever have any notice to go home； and what their family could be
doing in Ireland。 October had given place to November； and more than a
week of November had passed； and here they still were； without anything
like real tidings。
At last came a letter from Mrs。 Edmonstone； which Amabel could not read
without one little cry of surprise and dismay； and then had some
difficulty in announcing its contents to Philip。
'Kilcoran； Nov。 8th。
'My Dearest Amy；You will be extremely surprised at what I have to
tell you； and no less grieved。 It has been a most unpleasant；
disgraceful business from beginning to end； and the only comfort in it
to us is the great discretion and firmness that Charlotte has shown。 I
had better； however； begin at the beginning； and tell you the history
as far as I understand it myself。 You know that Mr。 James Thorndale
has been here； and perhaps you know it was for the purpose of making an
offer to Eveleen。 Every one was much surprised at her refusing him；
and still more when； after much prevarication； it came out that the
true motive was her attachment to Mr。 Fielder； the tutor。 It appeared
that they had been secretly engaged for some weeks； ever since they had
perceived Mr。 Thorndale's intentions； and not； as it was in poor
Laura's case； an unavowed attachment； but an absolute engagement。 And
fancy Eva justifying it by Laura's example！ There was of course great
anger and confusion。 Lord Kilcoran was furious； poor Lady Kilcoran had
nervous attacks； the gentleman was dismissed from the house； and
supposed to be gone to England； Eva shed abundance of tears； but after
a great deal of vehemence she appeared subdued and submissive。 We were
all very sorry for her； as there is much that is very agreeable and
likely to attract her in Mr。 Fielder； and she always had too much mind
to be wasted in such a life as she leads here。 It seemed as if Laura
was a comfort to her； and Lady Kilcoran was very anxious we should stay
as long as possible。 This was all about three weeks or a month ago；
Eva was recovering her spirits； and I was just beginning a letter to
tell you we hoped to be at home in another week； when Charlotte came
into my room in great distress to tell me that Eveleen and Mr。 Fielder
were on the verge of a run…away marriage。 Charlotte had been coming
back alone from a visit to grandmamma； and going down a path out of the
direct way to recall Bustle； who had run on； she said； as if he scented
mischief； came； to her great astonishment； on Eveleen walking arm…in…
arm with Mr。 Fielder！ Charlie will fancy how Charlotte looked at them！
They shuffled； and tried to explain it away； but Charlotte was too
acute for them； or rather； she held steadily to 〃be that as it may；
Lord Kilcoran ought to know it。〃 They tried to frighten her with the
horrors of betraying secrets； but she said none had been confided to
her； and mamma would judge。 They tried to persuade her it was the way
of all lovers； and appealed to Laura s example； but there little
Ch