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But when they went on； she was riding the donkey； and it； as donkeys
always are； was resolved on keeping a…head of the walkers； so that as
Guy kept by her side； it was a more absolute tete…a…tete than ever。
At the top of the hill they found a fine view； rich and extensive；
broad woods； fields waving with silvery barley； trim meadows； fair hazy
blue distance； and a dim line of sea beyond。 This； as Amy knew； was
Guy's delight； and further； what she would not tell herself； was that
he chiefly cared for showing it to her。 It was so natural to call him
to admire everything beautiful； and ask if it was equal to Redclyffe；
that she found herself already turning to him to participate in his
pleasure； as he pointed out all that was to be seen； but she
recollected； blushed； and left her mother to speak。 He had much to
show。 There was a hanging wood on one side of the hill； whence he had
brought her more than one botanical prize； and she must now visit their
native haunts。 It was too great a scramble for Mrs。 Edmonstone； with
all her good will； Eveleen was to be kept still； and not to tire
herself； Laura did not care for botany； nor love brambles； and Amy was
obliged to stand and look into the wood； saying； 'No； thank you； I
don't think I can；' and then run back to Mary and Charles； while
Charlotte was loudly calling out that it was delightful fun； and that
she was very stupid。 In another minute Guy had overtaken her； and in
his gentle； persuasive voice； was telling her it was very easy； and she
must come and see the bird's…nest orchises。 She would have liked it
above all things； but she thought it very kind of Guy not to seem angry
when she said； 'No； thank you。'
Mary； after what she had seen yesterday； could not guess at the real
reason； or she would have come with her； but she thought Amy was tired；
and would rather not。 Poor Amy was tired； very tired； before the walk
was over； but her weary looks made it worse； for Guy offered her his
arm。 'No thank you；' she said； 'I am getting on very well；' and she
trudged on resolutely； for her mother was in the carriage； and to lag
behind the others would surely make him keep with her。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was very sorry for her fatigue； but Amy found it a good
excuse for not wandering in the garden； or joining in the music。 It
had been a very uncomfortable day； she hoped she had done right； at any
rate； she had the peaceful conviction of having tried to do so。
The next day； Amy was steady to her resolution。 No reading with the
two youths； though Charles scolded her； sitting in her room till Guy
was gone out； going indoors as soon as she heard him return； and in the
evening staying with Charles when her sisters and cousins went out； but
this did not answer； for Guy came and sat by them。 She moved away as
soon as possible； but the more inclined she was to linger； the more she
thought she ought to go； so murmuring something about looking for
Laura； she threw on her scarf； and sprung to the window。 Her muslin
caught on the bolt； she turned； Guy was already disentangling it； and
she met his eye。 It was full of anxious； pleading inquiry； which to
her seemed upbraiding； and； not knowing what to do； she exclaimed；
hurriedly； 'Thank you； no harm done！' and darted into the garden；
frightened to feel her face glowing and her heart throbbing。 She could
not help looking back to see if he was following。 No； he was not
attempting it； he was leaning against the window； and on she hastened；
the perception dawning on her that she was hurting him； he might think
her rude； unkind； capricious； he who had always been so kind to her；
and when he was going away so soon。 'But it is right； it must be
done；' said little Amy to herself； standing still； now that she was out
of sight。 'If I was wrong before； I must bear it now； and he will see
the rights of it sooner or later。 The worst of all would be my not
doing the very _most_ _right_ to please any body。 Besides he can't
really care for missing silly little Amy when he has mamma and Charlie。
And he is going away； so it will be easier to begin right when he comes
back。 Be that as it may； it must be done。 I'll get Charlie to tell me
what he was saying about the painted glass。'
CHAPTER 13
Oh； thou child of many prayers！
Life hath quicksandslife hath snares
Care and age come unawares。
Like the swell of some sweet tune；
Morning rises into noon；
May glides onward into June。Longfellow
'What is the matter with Amy？ What makes her so odd？' asked Charles；
as his mother came to wish him good night。
'Poor little dear！ don't take any notice；' was all the answer he
received； and seeing that he was to be told no more； he held his peace。
Laura understood without being told。 She； too； had thought Guy and Amy
were a great deal together； and combining various observations； she
perceived that her mother must have given Amy a caution。 She therefore
set herself； like a good sister； to shelter Amy as much as she could；
save her from awkward situations； and； above all； to prevent her
altered manner from being remarked。 This was the less difficult； as
Eveleen was subdued and languid； and more inclined to lie on the sofa
and read than to look out for mirth。
As to poor little Amy； her task was in one way become less hard； for
Guy had ceased to haunt her； and seemed to make it his business to
avoid all that could cause her embarrassment； but in another way it
hurt her much more； for she now saw the pain she was causing。 If
obliged to do anything for her； he would give a look as if to ask
pardon； and then her rebellious heart would so throb with joy as to
cause her dismay at having let herself fall into so hateful a habit as
wishing to attract attention。 What a struggle it was not to obey the
impulse of turning to him for the smile with which he would greet
anything in conversation that interested them both； and how wrong she
thought it not to be more consoled when she saw him talking to Eveleen；
or to any of the others； as if he was doing very well without her。
This did not often happen； he was evidently out of spirits； and
thoughtful； and Amy was afraid some storm might be gathering respecting
Mr。 Sebastian Dixon； about whom there always seemed to be some
uncomfortable mystery。
Mrs。 Edmonstone saw everything； and said nothing。 She was very sorry
for them both； but she could not interfere； and could only hope she had
done right； and protected Amy as far as she was able。 She was vexed
now and then to see Eveleen give knowing smiles and significant
glances； feared that she guessed what was going on； and wondered
whether to give her a hint not to add to Amy's confusion； but her great
dislike to enter on such a subject prevailed； and she left things to
take their course； thinking that； for once； Guy's departure would be a
relief。
The approach of anything in the shape of a party of pleasure was one of
the best cures for Eveleen's ailments； and the evening before Mary's
tea…drinking； she was in high spirits； laughing and talking a great
deal； and addressing herself chiefly to Guy。 He exerted himself to
answer； but it did not come with life and spirit； his countenance did
not light up； and at last Eveleen said； 'Ah！ I see I am a dreadful
bore。 I'll go away； and leave you to repose。'
'Lady Eveleen！' he exclaimed； in consternation； 'what have I been
doingwhat have I been thinking of？'
'Nay； that is best known to yourself； though I think perhaps I could
divine；' said she； with that archness and grace that always seemed to
remove the unfavourable impression that her proceedings might have
given。 'Shall I？'
'No； no；' he answered； colouring crimson； and then trying to laugh off
his confusion； and find some answer； but without success； and Eveleen；
perceiving her aunt's eyes were upon her； suddenly recollected that she
had gone quite as far as decorum allowed； and made as masterly a
retreat as the circumstances permitted。
'Well； I have always thought a 〃penny for your thoughts〃 the boldest
offer in the world； and now it is proved。'
This scene made Mrs。 Edmonstone doubly annoyed； the next morning； at
waking with a disabling headache； which made it quite impossible for
her to attempt going to Mary Ross's fete。 With great sincerity； Amy
entreated to be allowed to remain at home； but she thought it would
only be making the change more remarkable； she did not wish Mary to be
disappointed； among so many ladies； Amy could easily avoid getting into
difficulties； while Laura would； she trusted； be able to keep Eveleen
in order。
The day was sunny； and all went off to admiration。 The gentlemen
presided over the cricket； and the ladies over 'blind man's buff' and
'thread my needle；' but perha