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'Laura； have yon been overdoing it？'
'It is not that；' said Laura； wishing she could keep from blushing。
'It is the only motive that could excuse his extraordinary behaviour。'
'Surely you know he says that he is growing unsettled。 It is part of
his rule of self discipline。'
'Absurd！exaggerated！incredible！ This is the same story as there
was about the horse。 It is either caprice or temper； and I am
convinced that some change in your mannernay； I say unconscious； and
am far from blaming youis the cause。 Why else did he devote himself
to Charles； and leave you all on my uncle's hands in the crowd？'
'We could shift for ourselves much better than Charlie。'
'This confirms my belief that my warning was not mistimed。 I wish it
could have been done without decidedly mortifying him and rousing his
temper； because I am sorry others should be slighted； but if he takes
your drawing back so much to heart； it shows that it was time you
should do so。'
'If I thought I had！'
'It was visible to othersto another； I should say。'
'0； that is only Eveleen's nonsense！ The only difference I am
conscious of having made； was keeping more up…stairs； and not trying to
persuade him to come here to…night。'
'I have no doubt it was this that turned the scale； He only waited for
persuasion； and you acted very wisely in not flattering his self…love。'
'Did I？I did not know it。'
'A woman's instinct is often better than reasoning； Laura； to do the
right thing without knowing why。 But come； I suppose we must play our
part in the pageant of the night。'
For that evening Laura； contrary to the evidence of her senses； was
persuaded by her own lover that Guy was falling in love with her； and
after musing all through the dance； she said； 'What do you think of the
scheme that has been started for my going to Ireland with papa？'
'Your going to Ireland？'
'Yes； you know none of us； except papa； have seen grandmamma since
Charles began to be ill； and there is some talk of his taking me with
him when he goes this summer。'
'I knew he was going； but I thought it was not to be till later in the
yearnot till after the long vacation。'
'So he intended； but he finds he must be at home before the end of
October； and it would suit him best to go in August。'
'Then what becomes of Guy？'
'He stays at Hollywell。 It will be much better for Charles to have him
there while papa is away。 I thought when the plan was first mentioned
I should be sorry； except that it is quite right to go to grandmamma；
but if it is so； about Guy； this absence would be a good thingit
would make a break； and I could begin again on different terms。'
'Wisely judged； Laura。 Yes； on that account it would be very
desirable； though it will be a great loss to me； and I can hardly hope
to be so near you on your return。'
'Ah！ yes； so I feared！' sighed Laura。
'But we must give up something； and for Guy's own sake； poor fellow； it
will be better to make a break； as you say。 It will save him pain by
and by。'
'I dare say papa will consult you about when his journey is to be。 His
only doubt was whether it would do to leave Guy so long alone； and if
you say it would be safe； it would decide him at once。'
'I see little chance of mischief。 Guy has few temptations here； and a
strong sense of honour； besides； I shall be at hand。 Taking all things
into consideration； Laura； I think that； whatever the sacrifice to
ourselves； it is expedient to recommend his going at once； and your
accompanying him。'
All the remainder of the evening Philip was occupied with attentions to
the rest of the world； but Laura's eyes followed him everywhere； and
though she neither expected nor desired him to bestow more time on her；
she underwent a strange restlessness and impatience of feeling。 Her
numerous partners teased her by hindering her from watching him moving
about the room； catching his tones； and guessing what he was talking
of；not that she wanted to meet his eye； for she did not like to
blush； nor did she think it pleased him to see her do so； for he either
looked away immediately or conveyed a glance which she understood as
monitory。 She kept better note of his countenance than of her own
partner's。
Mr。 Thorndale； meanwhile； kept aloof from Lady Eveleen de Courcy； but
Captain Morville perceived that his eyes were often turned towards her；
and well knew it was principle； and not inclination； that held him at a
distance。 He did indeed once ask her to dance； but she was engaged； and
he did not ask her to reserve a future dance for him； but contented
himself with little Amy。
Amy was doing her best to enjoy herself； because she thought it
ungrateful not to receive pleasure from those who wished to give it；
but to her it wanted the zest and animation of Lady Kilcoran's ball。
Besides； she knew she had been as idle as Guy； or still more so； and
she thought it wrong she should have pleasure while he was doing
penance。 It was on her mind； and damped her spirits； and though she
smiled； and talked； and admired； and danced lightly and gaily； there
was a sensation of weariness throughout； and no one but Eveleen was
sorry when Mrs。 Edmonstone sent Maurice to see for the carriage。
Philip was one of the gentlemen who came to shawl them。 As he put
Laura's cloak round her shoulders he was able to whisper； 'Take care；
you must be cautiousself…command。'
Laura； though blushing and shrinking the moment before was braced by
his words and tone to attempt all he wished。 She looked up in what she
meant to be an indifferent manner； and made some observation in a
careless toneanything rather than let Philip think her silly。 After
what he had said； was she not bound more than ever to exert herself to
the utmost； that he might not be disappointed in her？ She loved him
only the better for what others might have deemed a stern coldness of
manner； for it made the contrast of his real warmth of affection more
precious。 She mused over it； as much as her companions' conversation
would allow； on the road home。 They arrived； Mrs。 Edmonstone peeped
into Charles's room； announced that he was quietly asleep； and they all
bade each other good night； or good morning； and parted。
CHAPTER 10
Leonora。 Yet often with respect he speaks of thee。
Tasso。 Thou meanest with forbearance； prudent； subtle；
'Tis that annoys me； for he knows to use
Language so smooth and so conditional；
That seeming praise from him is actual blame。
GOETHE'S Tasso
When the Hollywell party met at breakfast； Charles showed himself by no
means the worse for his yesterday's experiment。 He said he had gone to
sleep in reasonable time； lulled by some poetry； he knew not what； of
which Guy's voice had made very pretty music； and he was now full of
talk about the amusement he had enjoyed yesterday； which seemed likely
to afford food for conversation for many a week to come。
After all the care Guy had taken of him； Mrs。 Edmonstone could not find
it in her heart to scold； and her husband； having spent his vexation
upon her； had none left to bestow on the real culprit。 So when Guy；
with his bright morning face； and his hair hanging shining and wet
round it； opened the dining…room door； on his return from bathing in
the river； Mr。 Edmonstone's salutation only conveyed that humorous
anger that no one cares for。
'Good morning to you； Sir Guy Morville！ I wonder what you have to say
for yourself。'
'Nothing；' said Guy； smiling； then； as he took his place by Mrs。
Edmonstone； 'I hope you are not tired after your hard day's work？'
'Not at all； thank you。'
'Amy； can you tell me the name of this flower？'
'Oh！ have you really found the arrow…head？ How beautiful！ Where did
you get it？ I didn't know it grew in our river。'
'There is plenty of it in that reedy place beyond the turn。 I thought
it looked like something out of the common way。'
'Yes！ What a purple eye it has！ I must draw it。 0； thank you。'
'And； Charlotte； Bustle has found you a moorhen's nest。'
'How delightful！ Is it where I can go and see the dear little things？'
'It is rather a swamp； but I have been putting down stepping…stones for
you； and I dare say I can jump you across。 It was that which made me
so late； for which I ought to have asked pardon；' said he to Mrs。
Edmonstone； with his look of courtesy。
Never did man look less like an offended lover； or like a morose self…
tormentor。
'There are others later；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； looking at Lady
Eveleen's empty chair。
'So you think that is all you have to ask pardon for；' said Mr。
Edmonstone。 'I advise you to study your