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through the very worst； yet I can hardly believe it now。'
'Guy；' said Amy； looking up； with the gentle resolution that had lately
grown on her； 'you must not take me for more than I am worth； and I
should like to tell you fairly。 I did not speak last time； because it
was all so strange and so delightful； and I had no time to think；
because I was so confused。 But that is a long time ago； and this has
been a very sad winter； and I have thought a great deal。 I know； and
you know； too； that I am a foolish little thing； I have been silly
little Amy always； you and Charlie have helped me to all the sense I
have； and I don't think I could ever be a clever； strong…minded woman；
such as one admires。'
'Heaven forbid！' ejaculated Guy； moved； perhaps； by a certain
remembrance of St。 Mildred's。
'But；' continued Amy； 'I believe I do really wish to be good； and I
know you have helped me to wish it much more； and I have been trying to
learn to bear things； and so'out came something； very like a sunny
smile； though some tears followed'so if you do like such a silly
little thing； it can't be helped； and we will try to make the best of
her。 Only don't say any more about my being happier without you； for
one thing I am very sure of； Guy； I had rather bear anything with you；
than know you were bearing it alone。 I am only afraid of being foolish
and weak； and making things worse for you。'
'So much worse！ But still；' he added； 'speak as you may； my Amy； I
cannot； must not； feel that I have a right to think of you as my own；
till you have heard all。 You ought to know what my temper is before
you risk yourself in its power。 Amy； my first thought towards Philip
was nothing short of murder。'
She raised her eyes； and saw how far entirely he meant what he said。
'The firstnot the second；' she murmured。
'Yes； the secondthe third。 There was a moment when I could have
given my soul for my revenge！'
'Only a moment！'
'Only a moment； thank Heaven！ and I have not done quite so badly since。
I hope I have not suffered quite in vain； but if that shock could
overthrow all my wonted guards； it might； though I pray Heaven it may
not； it might happen again。'
'I think you conquered yourself then； and that you will again；' said
Amy。
'And suppose I was ever to be mad enough to be angry with you？'
Amy smiled outright here。 'Of course； I should deserve it； but I think
the trouble would be the comforting you afterwards。 Mamma said'she
added； after a long silence； during which Guy's feeling would not let
him speak'mamma said； and I think； that you are much safer and better
with such a quick temper as yours； because you are always struggling
and fighting with it； on the real true religious ground； than a person
more even tempered by nature； but not so much in earnest in doing
right。'
'Yes； if I did not believe myself to be in earnest about that； I could
never dare to speak to you at all。'
'We will help each other；' said Amy； 'you have always helped me； long
before we knew we cared for each other！'
'And； Amy； if you knew how the thought of you helped me last winter；
even when I thought I had forfeited you for ever。'
Their talk only ceased when； at one o'clock； Mrs。 Edmonstone； who had
pronounced in the dressing…room that three hours was enough for them at
once； came in； and asked Guy to go and help to carry Charles down…
stairs。
He went； and Amy nestled up to her mother； raising her face to be
kissed。
'It is very nice！' she whispered； and then arranged her brother's sofa；
as she heard his progress down…stairs beginning。 He was so light and
thin as to be very easily carried； and was brought in between Guy and
one of the servants。 When he was settled on the sofa； he began thus；
'There was a grand opportunity lost last winter。 I was continually
rehearsing the scene； and thinking what waste it was to go through such
a variety of torture without the dignity of danger。 If I could but
have got up ever so small an alarm； I would have conjured my father to
send for Guy； entreated pathetically that the reconciliation might be
effected； and have drawn my last breath clasping their hands； thus！
The curtain falls！'
He made a feint of joining their hands； put his head back； and shut his
eyes with an air and a grace that put Charlotte into an ecstasy； and
made even Amy laugh； as she quitted the room； blushing。
'But if it had been your last breath；' said Charlotte； 'you would not
have been much the wiser。'
'I would have come to life again in time to enjoy the 〃coup de
theatre〃。 I had some thoughts of trying an overdose of opium； but I
thought Dr。 Mayerne would have found me out。 I tell you； because it is
fair I should have the credit； for； Guy； if you knew what she was to me
all the winter； you would perceive my superhuman generosity in not
receiving you as my greatest enemy。'
'I shall soon cease to be surprised at any superhuman generosity；' said
Guy。 'But how thin you are； Charlie； you are a very feather to carry；
I had no notion it had been such a severe business。'
'Most uncommon！' said Charles； shaking his head； with a mock solemnity。
'It was the worst of all；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'six weeks of constant
pain。'
'How very sorry Philip must have been！' exclaimed Guy。
'Philip？' said Charlotte。
'Why； was it not owing to him？ Surely； your father told me so。 Did
not he let you fall on the stairs？'
'My dear father！' exclaimed Charles； laughing； every disaster that
happens for the next twelvemonth will be imputed to Philip。'
'How was it； then？' said Guy。
'The fact was this；' said Charles； 'it was in the thick of the
persecution of you； and I was obliged to let Philip drag me upstairs；
because I was in a hurry。 He took the opportunity of giving me some
impertinent advice which I could not stand。 I let go his arm；
forgetting what a dependent mortal I am； and down I should assuredly
have gone； if he had not caught me； and carried me off； as a fox does a
goose； so it was his fault； as one may say； in a moral； though not in a
physical sense。'
'Then；' said his mother； 'you do think your illness was owing to that
accident？'
'I suppose the damage was brewing； and that the shake brought it into
an active state。 There's a medical opinion for you！'
'Well； I never knew what you thought of it before；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone。
'Why； when I had a condor to pick on Guy's account with Philip； I was
not going to pick a crow on my own；' said Charles。 'Oh！ is luncheon
ready； and you all going？ I never see anybody now。 I want the story
of the shipwreck； though； of course； Ben What's…his…name was the hero；
and Sir Guy Morville not a bit of it。'
Laura wanted to walk to East Hill； and the other young people agreed to
go thither； too。
'It will be nice to go to church there to…day' said Amy； in a half…
whisper； heard only by Guy； and answered by a look that showed how well
he understood and sympathized。
'Another thing；' said Amy； colouring a good deal； 'shall you mind my
telling Mary？ I behaved so oddly last night； and she was so kind to me
that I think I ought。'
Mary had seen enough last night to be very curious to…day； though
hardly expecting her curiosity to be gratified。 However； as she was
putting on her bonnet for church； she looked out of her window； and saw
the four coming across the fields from Hollywell。 Guy and Amy did not
walk into the village arm…in…arm； but； as they came under the church
porch； Guy； unseen by all held out his hand； sought hers； and； for one
moment； pressed it fervently。 Amy knew he felt this like their
betrothal。
After the service； they stood talking with Mr。 Ross and Mary； for some
little time。 Amy held apart； and Mary saw how it was。 As they were
about to turn homewards； Amy said quickly； 'Come and walk a little way
home with me。'
She went on with Mary before the rest； and when out of sight of them
all； said； 'Mary！' and then stopped short。
'I guess something； Amy；' said Mary。
'Don't tell any one but Mr。 Ross。'
'Then I have guessed right。 My dear little Amy； I am very glad！ So
that was the reason you flew out of the room last evening； and looked
so bright and glowing！'
'It was so good of you to ask no questions！'
'I don't think I need ask any now； Amy； for I see in your face how
right and happy it all is。'
'I can't tell you all； Mary； but I must one thing；that the whole
terrible story arose from his helping a person in distress。 I like you
to know that。'
'Papa was always sure that he had not been to blame；' said Mary。
'Yes； so Charlie told me； and that is the reason I wanted you to know。'
'Then； Amy； something of this had begun last summer？'