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A silence followed； only broken by the notes of the birds； and
presently by the strokes of the great clock。 Guy looked at his watch。
'Eleven； Amy！ I must go to my reading； or you will have to be very
much ashamed of me。'
For； after the first few days； Guy had returned to study regularly
every day。 He said it was a matter of necessity； not at all of merit；
for though he did not mean to try for honours； Amy must not marry a
plucked man。 His whole career at Oxford had been such a struggle with
the disadvantages of his education； that all his diligence had； he
thought； hardly raised him to a level with his contemporaries。
Moreover； courtship was not the best preparation for the schools； so
that though he knew he had done his best； he expected no more than to
pass respectably； and told Amy it was very good of her to be contented
with a dunce； whereat she laughed merrily。 But she knew him too well
to try to keep him lingering in the April sunshine； and in they went；
Guy to his Greek； and Amy to her mother。 Charlotte's lessons had been
in abeyance； or turned over to Laura of late； and Mrs。 Edmonstone and
her dressing…room were always ready for the confidences of the family；
who sought her there in turnall but one； and that the one whose need
was the sorest。
Amy and her mother comforted themselves with a good quiet cry； that was
not exactly sorrowful； and came to the conclusion that Guy was the most
considerate person in the world； and they would do whatever best suited
him and papa。 So； when Mr。 Edmonstone came home； he was rewarded for
putting off the letter by finding every one willing to let the marriage
take place whenever he pleased。 There were various conferences in the
dressing…room； and Guy and Amy both had burning faces when they came
down to dinner。 Laura beheld them with a throbbing heart； while she
mechanically talked to Dr。 Mayerne； as if nothing was going on。 She
was glad there was no singing that evening； for she felt incapable of
joining； and when at night Charles and his father talked of sitting up
to write to Philip； the misery was such that she had no relief till she
had shut herself in her room； to bear or to crush the suffering as best
she might。
She was still sitting helpless in her wretchedness when Amy knocked at
the door； and came in glowing with blushes and smiles； though her
eyelashes were dewy with tears。
'Laura； dearest！ if you would not be so very unhappy！ I wish I knew
what to do for you。'
Laura laid her head on her shoulder； and cried。 It was a great
comfort； little as Amy could understand her trouble。 Amy kissed her；
soothed her caressingly； cried too； and said； in broken sentences； how
often they would be together； and how comfortable it was that Charlie
was so much better； and Charlotte quite a companion。
'Then you have fixed the day？' whispered Laura； at last。
'The Tuesday in Whitsun…week；' returned Amy； resting her forehead on
Laura's shoulder。 'They all thought it right。'
Laura flung her arms round her； and wept too much to speak。
'Dear； dear Laura！' said Amy； after a time； 'it is very kind of you；
but'
'Oh； Amy！ you don't know。 You must not think so much better of me than
I deserve。 It is not onlyNo； I would not be so selfish； if butbut…
…' Never had her self…command so given way。
'Ah！ you are unhappy about Philip；' said Amy； and Laura； alarmed lest
she might have betrayed him； started； and tried to recover herself； but
she saw Amy was quite unsuspicious； and the relief from this fright
helped her through what her sister was saying； 'Yes； you； who were so
fond of him； must be vexed at this unkindness on his part。'
'I am sure it is his real wish for your good；' murmured Laura。
'I dare say！' said Amy； with displeasure。 Then changing her tone； 'I
beg your pardon； dear Laura； but I don't think I can quite bear to hear
any one but Guy defend him。'
'It is very generous。'
'Oh； is not it； Laura？ and he says he is so grieved to see us turned
against Philip； after being so fond of him； he says it makes him feel
as if he had supplanted him； and that he is quite thankful to you for
taking his part still。'
'How shall I bear it？' sighed Laura； to herself。
'I wonder whether he will come？' said Amy； thoughtfully。
'He will；' said Laura。
'You think so？' said Amy。 'Well； Guy would be glad。 Yes。 0 Laura； if
Philip would learn to do Guy justice； I don't think there would be any
more to wish！'
'He will in time；' said Laura。 'He is too generous not to be won by
such generosity as Guy's； and when all this is forgotten； and all these
accusations have been lived down； he will be the warmest of friends。'
'Yes；' said Amy； as if she wished to be convinced； 'but if he would
only leave off saying his opinion has never altered； I think I could
bring myself to look on him as Guy wants me to do。 Good night！ dear
Laura； and don't be unhappy。 Oh！ one thing I must tell you； Guy made
Charles promise to do all he could not to let it be a hasty letter。
Now； good night！'
Poor Laura； she knew not whether gratitude to Guy was not one of her
most painful sensations。 She wished much to know what had been said in
the letter； but only one sentence transpired； and that was； that Mr。
Edmonstone had never heard it was necessary to apply to a nephew for
consent to a daughter's marriage。 It seemed as if it must have been as
cutting as Charles could make it； but Laura trusted to Philip's
knowledge of the family； and desire for their good； to make him forgive
it； and the expectation of seeing him again at the wedding； cheered
her。 Indeed； a hope of still greater consequences began to rise in her
mind； after Charles one day said to her； 'I think you ought to be much
obliged to Guy。 This morning； he suddenly exclaimed； 〃I say； Charlie；
I wish you would take care Amy's fortune is not settled on her so that
it can't be got rid of。〃 I asked how he meant to make ducks and drakes
of it； and he explained； that if either of you two did not happen to
marry for money； like Amy； it might do you no harm。'
'We are very much obliged to him；' said Laura； more earnestly than
Charles had expected。 'Do you know what it is； Charlie？'
'Oh！ you want to calculate the amount of your obligation！ Somewhere
about five thousand pounds； I believe。'
Charles watched Laura； and the former idea recurred； as he wondered
whether there was any particular meaning in her inquiry。
Meaning； indeed； there was。 Laura knew nothing about the value of
money； she did not know what Philip had of his own； how far five； or
even ten； thousand would go in enabling them to marry； or whether it
was available in her father's lifetime； but she thought this prospect
might smooth the way to the avowal of their attachment； as effectually
as his promotion； she reckoned on relief from the weary oppression of
secrecy； and fully expected that it would all be told in the favourable
juncture； when her parents were full of satisfaction in Amy's marriage。
Gratitude to Guy would put an end to all doubt； dislike； and prejudice；
and Philip would receive him as a brother。
These hopes supported Laura； and enabled her to take part with more
appearance of interest in the consultations and arrangements for the
marriage； which were carried on speedily； as the time was short； and
Mr。 Edmonstone's ideas were on a grand scale。 It seemed as if he meant
to invite all the world； and there were no limits to his views of
breakfast； carriages； and splendours。 His wife let him run on without
contradiction； leaving the plans either to evaporate or condense； as
time might prove best。 Guy took Amy out walking； and asked what she
thought of it。
'Do you dislike it very much？' she said。
'I can hardly tell。 Of course； as a general rule； the less parade and
nonsense the better； but if your father wishes it； and if people do
find enjoyment in that way； it seems hard they should not have all they
can out of it。'
'Oh； yes； the school children and poor people；' said Amy。
'How happy the Ashford children will be； feasting the poor people at
Redclyffe！ Old Jonas Ledbury will be in high glory。'
'To be sure it does not seem like merit to feast one's poor neighbours
rather than the rich。 It is so much pleasanter。'
'However； since the poor will be feasted； I don't think the rich ones
will do us much harm。'
'I am sure I shall know very little about them；' said Amy。
'The realities are so great to us； that they will swallow up the
accessories。 There must be the church； and all that； and for the rest；
Amy； I don't think I shall find out whether you wear lace or grogram。'
'There's encouragement for me！' said Amy； laughing。 'However； what I
mean is； that I don't c