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should think quite worthy of him； he was too like one of her own
children for that）； and on the other hand； how delighted Lord and Lady
Kilcoran would be。 It was a very pretty castle in the air； but in the
midst of it； the notion suddenly darted into Mrs。 Edmonstone's head；
that while she was thinking of it； it was Amy； not Eveleen； who was
constantly with Guy。 Reading and music； roses； botany； and walks on
the terrace！ She looked back； and it was still the same。 Last Easter
vacation； how they used to study the stars in the evening； to linger in
the greenhouse in the morning nursing the geraniums； and to practise
singing over the school…room piano； how； in a long walk； they always
paired together； and how they seemed to share every pursuit or
pleasure。
Now Mrs。 Edmonstone was extremely fond of Guy； and trusted him
entirely； but she thought she ought to consider how far this should be
allowed。 Feeling that he ought to see more of the world； she had sent
him as much as she could into society； but it had only made him cling
closer to home。 Still he was but twenty； it was only a country
neighbourhood； and there was much more for him to see before he could
fairly be supposed to know his own mind。 She knew he would act
honourably； but she had a horror of letting him entangle himself with
her daughter before he was fairly able to judge of his own feelings。
Or； if this was only behaving with a brother's freedom and confidence；
Mrs。 Edmonstone felt it was not safe for her poor little Amy； who might
learn so to depend on him as to miss him grievously when this intimacy
ceased； as it must when he settled at his own home。 It would be right；
while it was still time； to make her remember that they were not
brother and sister； and by checking their present happy； careless；
confidential intercourse； to save her from the chill which seemed to
have been cast on Laura。 Mrs。 Edmonstone was the more anxious； because
she deeply regretted not having been sufficiently watchful in Laura's
case； and perhaps she felt an unacknowledged conviction that if there
was real love on Guy's part； it would not be hurt by a little reserve
on Amy's。 Yet to have to speak to her little innocent daughter on such
a matter disturbed her so much； that she could hardly have set about
it； if Amy had not； at that very moment； knocked at her door。
'My dear； what has kept you up so late？'
'We have been sitting in Eveleen's room； mamma； hearing about her
London life； and then we began to settle our plans for to…morrow； and I
came to ask what you think of them。 You know Guy has promised to go
and hear the East…hill singing； and we were proposing； if you did not
mind it； to take the pony…carriage and the donkey； and go in the
morning to East…hill； have luncheon； and get Mary to go with us to the
top of the great down； where we have never been。 Guy has been wanting
us； for a long time past； to go and see the view； and saying there is a
track quite smooth enough to drive Charlie to the top。'
Amy wondered at her mother's look of hesitation。 In fact； the scheme
was so accordant with their usual habits that it was impossible to find
any objection； yet it all hinged on Guy； and the appointment at East…
hill might lead to a great many more。
'Do you wish us to do anything else； mamma？ We don't care about it。'
'No； my dear；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'I see no reason against it。 But…
…' and she felt as if she was making a desperate plunge； 'there is
something I want to say to you。'
Amy stood ready to hear； but Mrs。 Edmonstone paused。 Another effort；
and she spoke：…
'Amy； my dear； I don't wish to find fault； but I thought of advising
you to take care。 About Guy'
The very brilliant pink which instantly overspread Amy's face made her
mother think her warning more expedient。
'You have been spending a great deal of time with him of late； very
sensibly and pleasantly； I know； I don't blame you at all； my dear； so
you need not look distressed。 I only want you to be careful。 You
know； though we call him cousin； he is scarcely a relation at all。'
'0 mamma； don't go on；' said poor little Amy； hurriedly； 'indeed I am
very sorry！'
For Amy understood that it was imputed to her that she had been forward
and unmaidenly。 Mrs。 Edmonstone saw her extreme distress； and； grieved
at the pain she had inflicted； tried to reassure her as much as might
be safe。
'Indeed； my dear； you have done nothing amiss。 I only intended to tell
you to be cautious for fear you should get into a way of going on which
might not look well。 Don't make any great difference； I only meant
that there should not be quite so much singing and gardening alone with
him； or walking in the garden in the evening。 You can manage to draw
back a little； so as to keep more with me or with Laura； and I think
that will be the best way。'
Every word； no matter what； increased the burning of poor Amy's cheeks。
A broad accusation of flirting would have been less distressing to many
girls than this mild and delicate warning was to one of such shrinking
modesty and maidenly feeling。 She had a sort of consciousness that she
enjoyed partaking in his pursuits； and this made her sense of confusion
and shame overwhelming。 What had she been thoughtlessly doing？ She
could not speak； she could not look。 Her mother put her arm round her；
and Amy hid her head on her shoulder； and held her fast。 Mrs。
Edmonstone kissed and caressed the little fluttering bird； then saying；
'Good night； my own dear child；' unloosed her embrace。
'Good night； dear mamma；' whispered Amy。 'I am very sorry。'
'You need not be sorry； my dear； only be careful。 Good night。' And it
would be hard to say whether the mother or the daughter had the hottest
cheeks。
Poor little Amy！ what was her dismay as she asked herself； again and
again； what she had been doing and what she was to do？ The last was
plain；she knew what was right； and do it she must。 There would be an
end of much that was pleasant； and a fresh glow came over her as she
owned how very； very pleasant； but if it was not quite the thing；if
mamma did not approve； so it must be。 True； all her doings received
their zest from Guy；her heart bounded at the very sound of his
whistle； she always heard his words through all the din of a whole
party；nothing was complete without him； nothing good without his
without his approval；but so much the more shame for her。 It was a
kind of seeking him which was of all things the most shocking。 So
there should be an end of it；never mind the rest！ Amy knelt down；
and prayed that she might keep her resolution。
She did not know how much of her severity towards herself was learned
from the example that had been two years before her。 Nor did she think
whether the seeking had been mutual； she imagined it all her own doing；
and did not guess that she would give pain to Guy by withdrawing
herself from him。
The morning gave vigour to her resolution； and when Laura came to ask
what mamma thought of their project； Amy looked confusedsaid she did
not knowshe believed it would not do。 But just then in came her
mother； to say she had been considering of the expedition； and meant to
join it herself。 Amy understood； blushed； and was silently grateful。
When Laura wanted to alter her demeanour towards Guy； being perfectly
cool； and not in the least conscious； she had acted with great
judgment； seen exactly what to do； and what to leave undone； so as to
keep up appearances。 But it was not so with Amy。 She was afraid of
herself； and was in extremes。 She would not come down till the last
moment； that there might be no talking in the window。 She hardly spoke
at breakfast…time； and adhered closely to Laura and Eveleen when they
wandered in the garden。 Presently Charles looked out from the
dressing…room window； calling；
'Amy； Guy is ready to read。'
'I can't come。 Read without me；' she answered； hoping Charlie would
not be vexed； and feeling her face light up again。
The hour for the expedition came； and Amy set off walking with Laura；
because Guy was with Mrs。 Edmonstone； but presently； after holding open
a gate for Charlotte； who was on the donkey； he came up to the sisters；
and joined in the conversation。 Amy saw something in the hedgea
foxglove； she believedit would have done as well if it had been a
nettleshe stopped to gather it； hoping to fall behind them； but they
waited for her。 She grew silent； but Guy appealed to her。 She ran on
to Charlotte and her donkey； but at the next gate Guy had joined
company again。 At last she put herself under her mother's wing； and by
keeping with her did pretty well all the time she was at East…hill。
But when they went on； she was riding the donkey； and it； as d