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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
Charlotte was less to be shaken than on any point。 〃I did not think
them worthy to hear their names；〃 she said to me； 〃but I told them；
that I had seen that the truest and deepest of love had a horror of all
that was like wrong； and as to Philip and Laura； they little knew what
they had suffered； besides； theirs was not half so bad。〃 I verily
believe these were the very words she used to them。 At last Eva threw
herself on her mercy； and begged so vehemently that she would only wait
another day； that she suspected； and； with sharpness very like
Charlie's； forced from Eva that they were to marry the next morning。
Then she said it would be a great deal better that they should abuse
her and call her a spy than do what they would repent of all their
lives； she begged Eva's pardon； and cried so much that Eva was in hopes
she would relent； and then came straight to me； very unhappy； and not
in the least triumphant in her discovery。 You can guess what a
dreadful afternoon we had； I don't think any one was more miserable
than poor Charlotte； who stayed shut up in my room all day； dreading
the sight of any one； and expecting to be universally called a traitor。
The end was； that after much storming； Lord Kilcoran； finding Eveleen
determined； and anxious to save her the discredit of an elopement； has
agreed to receive Mr。 Fielder； and they are to be married from this
house on the 6th of December； though what they are to live upon no one
can guess。 The Kilcorans are very anxious to put the best face on the
matter possible； and have persuaded us； for the sake of the family； to
stay for the wedding； indeed； poor Lady Kilcoran is so completely
overcome； that I hardly like to leave her till this is over。 How
unpleasant the state of things in the house is no one can imagine； and
very； very glad shall I be to get back to Hollywell and my Amy and
Charlie。 Dearest Amy；
'Your most affectionate。
'L。 EDMONSTONE。'
The news was at length told； and Philip was indeed thunder…struck at
this fresh consequence of his interference。 It threatened at first to
overthrow his scarcely recovered spirits； and but for the presence of
his guests； it seemed as if it might have brought on a renewal of the
state from which they had restored him。
'Yes；' said Charles to Amy； when they talked it over alone； 'It seems
as if good people could do wrong with less impunity than others。 It is
rather like the saying about fools and angels。 Light…minded people see
the sin； but not the repentance； so they imitate the one without being
capable of the other。 Here are Philip and Laura finishing off like the
end of a novel； fortune and all； and setting a very bad example to the
world in general。'
'As the world cannot see below the surface；' said Amy； 'how distressed
Laura； must be！ You see； mamma does not say one word about her。'
Philip had not much peace till he had written to Mr。 Thorndale； who was
going at once to Germany； not liking to return home to meet the
condolences。 Mrs。 Edmonstone had nearly the whole correspondence of
the family on her hands； for neither of her daughters liked to write；
and she gave the description of the various uncomfortable scenes that
took place。 Lord de Courcy's stern and enduring displeasure； and his
father's fast subsiding violence； Lady Kilcoran's distress； and the
younger girls' excitement and amusement； but she said she thought the
very proper and serious way in which Charlotte viewed it； would keep it
from doing them much harm； provided； as was much to be feared； Lord
Kilcoran did not end by keeping the pair always at home； living upon
him till Mr。 Fielder could get a situation。 In fact； it was difficult
to know what other means there were of providing for them。
At last the wedding took place； and Mrs。 Edmonstone wrote a letter；
divided between indignation at the foolish display that had attended
it； and satisfaction at being able at length to fix the day for the
meeting at Hollywell。 No one could guess how she longed to be at home
again； and to be once more with Charlie。
Nor were Charles and Amabel less ready to go home； though they could
both truly say that they had much enjoyed their stay at Redclyffe。
Philip was to come with them； and it was privately agreed that he
should return to Redclyffe no more till he could bring Laura with him。
Amabel had talked of her sister to Mrs。 Ashford； and done much to
smooth the way； and even on the last day or two； held a few
consultations with Philip； as to the arrangements that Laura would
like。 One thing； however； she must ask for her own pleasure。
'Philip；' said she； 'you must let me have this piano。'
His answer was by look and gesture。
'And I want very much to ask a question； Philip。 Will you tell me
which is Sir Hugh's picture？'
'You have been sitting opposite to it every day at dinner。'
'That！' exclaimed Amy。 'From what I heard； I fully expected to have
known Sir Hugh's in a moment； and I often looked at that one； but I
never could see more likeness than there is in almost all the pictures
about the house。'
She went at once to study it again； and wondered more。
'I have seen him sometimes look like it； but it is not at all the
strong likeness I expected。'
Philip stood silently gazing； and certainly the countenance he
recalled； pleading with him to desist from his wilfulness； and bending
over him in his sickness； was far unlike in expression to the fiery
youth before him。 In a few moments more； Amabel had run up…stairs； and
brought down Mr。 Shene's portrait。 There was proved to be more
resemblance than either of them had at first sight credited。 The form
of the forehead； nose； and short upper lip were identical； so were the
sharply…defined black eyebrows； the colour of the eyes； and the way of
standing in both had a curious similarity； but the expression was so
entirely different； that strict comparison alone proved； that Guy's
animated； contemplative； and most winning countenance； was in its
original lineaments entirely the same with that of his ancestor。
Although Sir Hugh's was then far from unprepossessing； and bore as yet
no trace of his unholy passions； it bought to Amabel's mind the shudder
with which Guy had mentioned his likeness to that picture； and seemed
to show her the nature he had tamed。
Philip； meanwhile； after one glance at Mr。 Shene's portrait； which he
had not before seen； had turned away； and stood leaning against the
window…frame。 When Amy had finished her silent comparison； and was
going to take her treasure back； he looked up； and said； 'Do you
dislike leaving that with me for a few minutes？'
'Keep it as long as you like；' said she； going at once； and she saw him
no more till nearly an hour after； when； as she was coming out of her
own room； he met her； and gave it into her hands； saying nothing except
a smothered 'Thank you；' but his eyelids were so swollen and heavy；
that Charles feared his head was bad again； while Amy was glad to
perceive that he had had the comfort of tears。
Every one was sorry to wish Lady Morville and her brother good…bye；
only consoling themselves with hoping that their sister might be like
them； and as to little Mary； the attention paid to her was so devoted
and universal； that her mamma thought it very well she should receive
the first ardour of it while she was too young to have her head turned。
They again slept a night in London； and in the morning Philip took
Charles for a drive through the places he had heard of； and was much
edified by actually beholding。 They were safely at home the same
evening； and on the following； the Hollywell party was once more
complete； gathered round Charles's sofa in a confusion of welcomes and
greetings。
Mrs。 Edmonstone could hardly believe her eyes； so much had Charles's
countenance lost its invalid look； and his movements were so much more
active； Amabel； too； though still white and thin； had a life in her eye
and an air of health most unlike her languor and depression。
Every one looked well and happy but Laura； and she had a worn； faded；
harassed aspect； which was not cheered even by Philip's presence；
indeed； she seemed almost to shrink from speaking to him。 She was the
only silent one of the party that evening； as they gathered round the
dinner or tea…table； or sat divided into threes or pairs； talking over
the subjects that would not do to be discussed in public。 Charlotte
generally niched into Amy's old corner by Charles； hearing about
Redclyffe； or telling about Ireland。 Mrs。 Edmonstone and Amy on the
opposite sides of the ottoman； their heads