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entirely at liberty。'
'I dare say it may be right in you；' said Guy； grudgingly。 'However； I
must not complain。 It is too much that you should not reject me
altogether。'
To all three that space was as bright a gleam of sunshine as ever
embellished life； so short as to be free from a single care； a
perfectly serenely happy present； the more joyous from having been
preceded by vexations； each of the two young things learning that there
was love where it was most precious。 Guy especially； isolated and
lonely as he stood in life； with his fear and mistrust of himself； was
now not only allowed to love； and assured beyond his hopes that Amy
returned his affection； but found himself thus welcomed by the mother；
and gathered into the family where his warm feelings had taken up their
abode； while he believed himself regarded only as a guest and a
stranger。
They talked on； with happy silences between； Guy standing all the time
with his branch of roses in his hand； and Amy looking up to him； and
trying to realize it； and to understand why she was so very； very
happy。
No one thought of time till Charlotte rushed in like a whirlwind；
crying
'Oh； here you are！ We could not think what had become of you。 There
has Deloraine been at the door these ten minutes； and Charlie sent me
to find you； for he says if you are too late for Mrs。 Henley's dinner；
she will write such an account of you to Philip as you will never get
over。'
Very little of this was heard； there was only the instinctive
consternation of being too late。 They started up； Guy threw down his
roses； caught Amy's hand and pressed it； while she bent down her head；
hiding the renewed blush； he dashed out of the room； and up to his own；
while Mrs。 Edmonstone and Charlotte hurried down。 In another second；
he was back again； and once more Amy felt the pressure of his hand on
hers
'Good…bye！' he said； and she whispered another 'Good…bye！' the only
words she had spoken。
One moment more he lingered；
'My Verena！' said he； but the hurrying sounds in the hall warned him
he sprang down to the drawing…room。 Even Charles was on the alert；
standing； leaning against the table； and looking eager； but Guy had not
time to let him speak； he only shook hands； and wished good…bye； with a
sort of vehement agitated cordiality； concealed by his haste。
'Where's Amy？' cried Charlotte。 'Amy！ Is not she coming to wish him
good…bye？'
He said something； of which 'up…stairs' was the only audible word； held
Mrs。 Edmonstone's hand fast； while she said； in a low voice'You shall
hear from papa to…morrow；' then sprung on his horse； and looked up。
Amy was at the window； he saw her head bending forward； under its veil
of curls； in the midst of the roses round the lattice； their eyes met
once more； he gave one beamy smile； then rode off at full speed； with
Bustle racing after him； while Amy threw herself on her knees by her
bed； and with hands clasped over her face； prayed that she might be
thankful enough； and never be unworthy of him。
Every one wanted to get rid of every one else except Mrs。 Edmonstone；
for all but Charlotte guessed at the state of the case； and even she
perceived that something was going on。 Lady Eveleen was in a state of
great curiosity； but she had mercy； she knew that they must tell each
other before it came to her turn； and very good…naturedly she invited
Charlotte to come into the garden with her； and kept her out of the way
by a full account of her last fancy ball； given with so much spirit and
humour that Charlotte could not help attending。
Charles and Laura gained little by this kind manoeuvre； for their
mother was gone up again to Amy； and they could only make a few
conjectures。 Charles nursed his right hand； and asked Laura how hers
felt？ She looked up from her work； to which she had begun to apply
herself diligently； and gazed at him inquiringly； as if to see whether
he intended anything。
'For my part；' he added； 'I certainly thought he meant to carry off the
hands of some of the family。'
'I suppose we shall soon hear it explained；' said Laura； quietly。
'Soon！ If I had an many available 1egs as you； would I wait for other
people's soon？'
'I should think she had rather be left to mamma；' said Laura； going on
with her work。
'Then you do think there is something in it？' said Charles； peering up
in her face； but he saw he was teasing her； recollected that she had
long seemed out of spirits； and forbore to say any more。 He was；
however； too impatient to remain longer quiet； and presently Laura saw
him adjusting his crutches。
'O Charlie！ I am sure it will only be troublesome。'
'I am going to my own room；' said Charles； hopping off。 'I presume you
don't wish to forbid that。'
His room had a door into the dressing…room； so that it was an excellent
place for discovering all from which they did not wish to exclude him；
and he did not believe he should be unwelcome； for though he might
pretend it was all fun and curiosity； he heartily loved his little Amy。
The tap of his crutches； and the slow motion with which he raised
himself from step to step； was heard； and Amy； who was leaning against
her mother； started up； exclaiming
'0 mamma； here comes Charlie！ May I tell him？ I am sure I can't meet
him without。'
'I suspect he has guessed it already；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； going to
open the door； just as he reached the head of the stairs； and then
leaving them。
'Well； Amy；' said he； looking full at her carnation cheeks； 'are you
prepared to see me turn lead…coloured； and fall into convulsions； like
the sister with the spine complaint？'
'0 Charlie！ You know it。 But how？'
Amy was helping him to the sofa； laid him down； and sat by him on the
old footstool； he put his arm round her neck； and she rested her head
on his shoulder。
'Well； Amy；' I give you joy； my small woman；' said he； talking the more
nonsense because of the fullness in his throat； 'and I hope you give me
credit for amazing self…denial in so doing。'
'0 Charliedear Charlie！' and she kissed him； she could not blush
more； poor little thing； for she had already reached her utmost
capability of redness'it is no such thing。'
'No such thing？ What has turned you into a turkey…cock all at once or
what made him nearly squeeze off my unfortunate fingers？ No such
thing； indeed！'
'I meanI mean； it is not _that_。 We are so very young； and I am so
silly。'
'Is that his reason？'
'You must make me so much better and wiser。 Oh； if I could but be good
enough！'
For that matter； I don't think any one else would be good enough to
take care of such a silly little thing。 But what is the that； that it
is； or is not？'
'Nothing now； only when we are older。 At least； you know papa has not
heard it。'
'Provided my father gives his consent； as the Irish young lady added to
all her responses through the marriage service。 But tell me allall
you like； I meanfor you will have lovers' secrets now； Amy。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone had； meantime； gone down to Laura。 Poor Laura； as soon
as her brother had left the room； she allowed the fixed composure of
her face to relax into a restless； harassed； almost miserable
expression； and walked up and down with agitated steps。
'0 wealth； wealth！'her lips formed the words； without uttering them
'what cruel differences it makes！ All smooth here！ Young； not to be
trusted； with strange reserves； discreditable connections；that
family；that fearful temper； showing itself even to her！ All will be
overlooked！ Papa will be delighted； I know he will！ And how is it
with us？ Proved； noble； superior； owned as such by all； as Philip is；
yet； for that want of hateful money； he would be spurned。 And。 for
thisfor thisthe love that has grown up with our lives must be
crushed down and hiddenour life is wearing out in wearying self…
watching！'
The lock of the door turned； and Laura had resumed her ordinary
expression before it opened； and her mother came in： but there was
anything but calmness beneath； for the pang of self…reproach had come
'Was it thus that she prepared to hear these tidings of her sister？'
'Well； Laura；' began Mrs。 Edmonstone； with the eager smile of one
bringing delightful news； and sure of sympathy。
'It is so； then？' said Laura。 'Dear； dear； little Amy！ I hope' and
her eyes filled with tears； but she had learnt to dread any outbreak of
feeling； conquered it in a minute； and said
'What has happened？ How does it stand？'
'It stands； at least as far as I can say without papa； as the dear Guy
very rightly and wisely wished it to stand。 There is no positive
engagement； they are both too young； but he thought it was not right to