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'Yes； so Charlie told me； and that is the reason I wanted you to know。'
'Then； Amy； something of this had begun last summer？'
'Yes； but not as it is now。 I did not half know what it was then。'
'Poor dear little Amy；' said Mary； 'what a very sad winter it must have
been for you！'
'Oh； very！' said Amy； 'but it was worse for him； because he was quite
alone； and here every one was so kind to me。 Mamma and Laura； and poor
Charlie； through all his illness and pain； he was so very kind。 And do
you know； Mary； now it is all over； I am very glad of this dismal time；
for I think that it has taught me how to bear things better。'
She looked very happy。 Yet it struck Mary that it was strange to hear
that the first thought of a newly…betrothed maiden was how to brace
herself in endurance。 She wondered； however； whether it was not a more
truly happy and safe frame than that of most girls； looking forward to
a life of unclouded happiness； such as could never be realized。 At
least； so it struck Mary； though she owned to herself that her
experience of lovers was limited。
Mary walked with Amy almost to the borders of Hollywell garden； and
when the rest came up with them； though no word passed； there was a
great deal of congratulation in her warm shake of Guy's hand； and no
lack of reply in his proud smile and reddening cheek。 Charlotte could
not help turning and going back with her a little way； to say； 'Are not
you delighted； Mary？ Is not Amy the dearest thing in the world？ And
you don't know； for it is a secret； and I know it； how very noble Guy
has been； while they would suspect him。'
'I am very； very glad； indeed！ It is everything delightful。'
'I never was so happy in my life；' said Charlotte； 'nor Charlie；
either。 Only think of having Guy for our brother； and he is going to
send for Bustle to…morrow。'
Mary laughed； and parted with Charlotte； speculating on the cause of
Laura's graver looks。 Were they caused by the fear of losing her
sister； or by a want of confidence in Guy？
That evening； how happy was the party at Hollywell； when Charles put
Guy through a cross…examination on the shipwreck； from the first puff
of wind to the last drop of rain； and Guy submitted very patiently；
since he was allowed the solace of praising his Redclyffe fishermen。
Indeed； this time was full of tranquil； serene happiness。 It was like
the lovely weather only to be met with in the spring； and then but
rarely； when the sky is cloudless； and intensely blue；the sunshine
one glow of clearness without burning；not a breath of wind checks the
silent growth of the expanding buds of light exquisite green。 Such
days as these shone on Guy and Amabel； looking little to the future； or
if they did so at all； with a grave； peaceful awe； reposing in the
present； and resuming old habits；singing； reading； gardening； walking
as of old； and that intercourse with each other that was so much more
than ever before。
It was more； but it was not quite the same； for Guy was a very
chivalrous lover； the polish and courtesy that sat so well on his
frank； truthful manners； were even more remarkable in his courtship。
His ways with Amy had less of easy familiarity than in the time of
their brother…and…sister…like intimacy； so that a stranger might have
imagined her wooed； not won。 It was as if he hardly dared to believe
that she could really be his own； and treated her with a sort of
reverential love and gentleness； while she looked up to him with ever…
increasing honour。 She was better able to understand him now than in
her more childish days last summer； and she did not merely see； as
before； that she was looking at the upper surface of a mystery。 He
had； at the same time； grown in character； his excitability and over…
sensitiveness seemed to have been smoothed away； and to have given
place to a calmness of tone； that was by no means impassibility。
When alone with Amy； he was generally very grave； often silent and
meditative； or else their talk was deep and serious； and even with the
family he was less merry and more thoughtful than of old； though very
bright and animated； and showing full； free affection to them all； as
entirely accepted and owned as one of them。
So； indeed； he was。 Mr。 Edmonstone； with his intense delight in
lovers； patronized them； and made commonplace jokes； which they soon
learnt to bear without much discomposure。 Mrs。 Edmonstone was all that
her constant appellation of 'mamma' betokened； delighting in Guy's
having learnt to call her so。 Charles enjoyed the restoration of his
friend； the sight of Amy's happiness； and the victory over Philip； and
was growing better every day。 Charlotte was supremely happy； watching
the first love affair ever conducted in her sight； and little less so
in the return of Bustle； who resumed his old habits as regularly as if
he had only left Hollywell yesterday。
Laura alone was unhappy。 She did not understand her own feelings； but
sad at heart she was； with only one who could sympathize with her； and
he far away； and the current of feeling setting against him。 She could
not conceal her depression； and was obliged to allow it to be
attributed to the grief that one sister must feel in parting with
another； and as her compassion for her little Amy； coupled with her
dread of her latent jealousy； made her particularly tender and
affectionate； it gave even more probability to the supposition。 This
made Guy； who felt as if he was committing a robbery on them all；
particularly kind to her； as if he wished to atone for the injury of
taking away her sister； and his kindness gave her additional pain at
entertaining such hard thoughts of him。
How false she felt when she was pitied！ and how she hated the
congratulations； of which she had the full share！ She thought；
however； that she should be able to rejoice when she had heard Philip's
opinion； and how delightful it would be for him to declare himself
satisfied with Guy's exculpation。
CHAPTER 27
I forgave thee all the blame；
I could not forgive the praise。TENNYSON
'If ever there was a meddlesome coxcomb on this earth！' Such was the
exclamation that greeted the ears of Guy as he supported Charles into
the breakfast…room； and； at the same time； Mr。 Edmonstone tossed a
letter into Guy's plate； saying；
'There's something for you to read。'
Guy began； his lips were tightly pressed together； his brows made one
black line across his forehead； and his eye sparkled even through his
bent…down eyelashes； but this lasted only a few moments； the forehead
smoothed； again； and there was a kind of deliberate restraint and force
upon himself； which had so much power； that no one spoke till he had
finished； folded it up with a sort of extra care； and returned it； only
saying；
'You should not show one such letters； Mr。 Edmonstone。'
'Does not it beat everything？' cried Mr。 Edmonstone。 'If that is not
impertinence； I should like to know what is！ But he has played my Lord
Paramount rather too long； as I can tell him！ I ask his consent；
forsooth！ Probation； indeed！ You might marry her to…morrow； and
welcome。 There； give it to mamma。 See if she does not say the same。
Mere spite and malice all along。'
Poor Laura！ would no one refute such cruel injustice？ Yes； Guy spoke；
eagerly；
'No no； that it never was。 He was quite right under his belief。'
'Don't tell me！ Not a word in his favour will I hear！' stormed on Mr。
Edmonstone。 'Mere envy and ill…will。'
'I always told him so；' said Charles。 'Pure malignity！'
'Nonsense； Charlie！' said Guy； sharply； 'there is no such thing about
him。'
'Come； Guy； I can't stand this；' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'I won't have
him defended； I never thought to be so deceived； but you all worshipped
the boy as if every word that came out of his mouth was Gospel truth；
and you've set him up till he would not condescend to take an advice of
his own father； who little thought what an upstart sprig he was
rearing； but I tell him he has come to the wrong shop for domineering
eh； mamma？'
'Well！' cried Mrs。 Edmonstone； who had read till near the end with
tolerable equanimity； this really is too bad！'
'Mamma and all！' thought poor Laura； while her mother continued；'It
is wilful prejudice； to say the least；I never could have believed him
capable of it！'
Charles next had the letter； and was commenting on it in a style of
mingled sarcasm and fury； while Laura longed to see it justify itself；
as she was sure it would。
'Read it； all of youevery bit；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'that you may
see this paragon of yours！'
'I had rather not；' said Amy； shrinking as it came towards her。
'I should like you to do so； if you don't dislik