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Edmonstone alone collected； though much flushed and somewhat trembling；
while the only person apparently free from excitement was the little
bride； as there she knelt； her hand clasped in his； her head bent down；
her modest； steadfast face looking as if she was only conscious of the
vow she exchanged； the blessing she received； and was； as it were；
lifted out of herself。
It was over now。 The feast； in its fullest sense； was held； and the
richest of blessings had been called down on them。
The procession came out of the vestry in full order； and very pretty it
was； the bride and bridegroom in the fresh bright graciousness of their
extreme youth； and the six bridesmaids following； Laura and Lady
Eveleen； two strikingly handsome and elegant girls； Charlotte； with the
pretty little fair Marianne； Mary Ross； and Grace Harper。 The village
people who stood round might well say that such a sight as that was
worth coming twenty miles to see。
The first care； after the bridal pair had driven off； was to put
Charles into his pony…carriage。 Charlotte； who had just pinned on his
favour； begged to drive him； for she meant to make him her especial
charge； and to succeed to all Amy's rights。 Mrs。 Edmonstone asked
whether Laura would not prefer going with him； but she hastily
answered；
'No； thank you； let Charlotte；' for with her troubled feelings； she
could better answer talking girls than parry the remarks of her shrewd；
observant brother。
Some one said it would rain； but Charlotte still pleaded earnestly。
'Come； then； puss；' said Charles； rallying his spirits； 'only don't
upset me； or it will spoil their tour。'
Charlotte drove off with elaborate care；then came a deep sigh； and
she exclaimed； 'Well！ he is our brother； and all is safe。'
'Yes；' said Charles； 'no more fears for them。'
'Had you any？ I am very glad if you had。'
'Why？'
'Because it was so like a book。 I had a sort of feeling； all the time；
that Philip would come in quite grand and terrible。'
'As if he must act Ogre。 I am not sure that I had not something of the
same notion；that he might appear suddenly； and forbid the banns；
entirely for Amy's sake； and as the greatest kindness to her。'
'Oh！'
'However； he can't separate them now； let him do his worst； and while
Amy is Guy's wife； I don't think we shall easily be made to quarrel。 I
am glad the knot is tied； for I had a fatality notion that the feud was
so strong； that it was nearly a case of the mountains bending and the
streams ascending； ere she was to be our foeman's bride。'
'No；' said Charlotte； 'it ought to be like that story of Rosaura and
her kindred； don't you remember？ The fate would not be appeased by the
marriage； till Count Julius had saved the life of one of the hostile
race。 That would be _it_；perhaps they will meet abroad； and Guy will
_do_ _it_。'
'That won't do。 Philip will never endanger his precious life； nor ever
forgive Guy the obligation。 Well； I suppose there never was a prettier
weddinghow silly of me to say so； I shall be sick of hearing it
before night。'
'I do wish all these people were gone； I did not know it would be so
horrid。 I should like to shut myself up and cry； and think what I
could ever do to wait on you。 Indeed； Charlie； I know I never can be
like Amy but if you'
'Be anything but sentimental； I don't want to make a fool of myself'
said Charles； with a smile and tone as if he was keeping sorrow at bay。
'Depend upon it if we were left to ourselves this evening； we should be
so desperately savage that we should quarrel furiously； and there would
be no Amy to set us to rights。'
'How Aunt Charlotte did cry！ What a funny little woman she is。'
'Yes； I see now who you take after； puss。 You'll be just like her when
you are her age。'
'So I mean to be；I mean to stay and take care of you all my life； as
she does of grandmamma。'
'You do； do you？'
'Yes。 I never mean to marry； it is so disagreeable。 0 dear！ But how
lovely dear Amy did look。'
'Here's the rain！' exclaimed Charles； as some large drops began to fall
in good time to prevent them from being either savage or sentimental；
though at the expense of Charlotte's pink and white； for they had no
umbrella； and she would not accept a share of Charles's carriage…cloak。
She laughed； and drove on fast through the short cut； and arrived at
the house…door； just as the pelting hail was over； having battered her
thin sleeves； and made her white bonnet look very deplorable。 The
first thing they saw was Guy； with Bustle close to him； for Bustle had
found out that something was going on that concerned his master； and
followed him about more assiduously than ever； as if sensible of the
decree； that he was to be left behind to Charlotte's care。
'Charlotte； how wet you are。'
'Never mind； Charlie is not。' She sprung out； holding his hand； and
felt as if she could never forget that moment when her new brother
first kissed her brow。
'Where's Amy？'
'Here！' and while Guy lifted Charles out； Charlotte was clasped in her
sister's arms。
'Are you wet； Charlie？'
'No； Charlotte would not be wise； and made me keep the cloak to
myself。'
'You are wet through； poor child； come up at once； and change；' said
Amy； flying nimbly up the stairs；up even to Charlotte's own room； the
old nursery； and there she was unfastening the drenched finery。
'0 Amy； don't do all this。 Let me ring。'
'No； the servants are either not come home or are too busy。 Charles
won't want me； he has Guy。 Can I find your white frock？'
'Oh； but Amylet me see！' Charlotte made prisoner the left hand； and
looked up with an arch smile at the face where she had called up a
blush。 'Lady Morville must not begin by being lady's…maid。'
'Let melet me； Charlotte； dear； I sha'n't be able to do anything for
you this long time。' Amy's voice trembled； and Charlotte held her fast
to kiss her again。
'We must make haste；' said Amy； recovering herself。 'There are the
carriages。'
While the frock was being fastened； Charlotte looked into the Prayer…
book Amy had laid down。 There was the name； Amabel Frances Morville；
and the date。
'Has he just written it？' said Charlotte。
'Yes； when we came home。'
'0 Amy！ dear； dear Amy； I don't know whether I am glad or sorry！'
'I believe I am both；' said Amy。
At that moment Mrs。 Edmonstone and Laura hastened in。 Then was the
time for broken words； tears and smiles； as Amy leant against her
mother； who locked her in a close embrace； and gazed on her in a sort
of trance； at once of maternal pride and of pain； at giving up her
cherished nestling。 Poor Laura！ how bitter were her tears； and how
forced her smiles；far unlike the rest！
No one would care to hear the details of the breakfast； and the
splendours of the cake； how Charlotte recovered her spirits while
distributing the favours： and Lady Eveleen set up a flirtation with
Markham； and forced him into wearing one； though he protested； with
many a grunt； that she was making a queer fool of him； how often
Charles was obliged to hear it had been a pretty wedding； and how well
Lord Kilcoran made his speech proposing the health of Sir Guy and Lady
Morville。 All the time； Laura was active and useful；feeling as if
she was acting a play； sustaining the character of Miss Edmonstone； the
bridesmaid at her sister's happy marriage； while the true Laura；
Philip's Laura； was lonely； dejected； wretched； half fearing for her
sister； half jealous of her happiness； forced into pageantry with an
aching heart；with only one wish； that it was over； and that she might
be again alone with her burden。
She was glad when her mother rose； and the ladies moved into the
drawing…room；glad to escape from Eveleen's quick eye； and to avoid
Mary's clear sense；glad to talk to comparative strangers；glad of
the occupation of going to prepare Amabel for her journey。 This lasted
a long time；there was so much to be said； and hearts were so full；
and Amy over again explained to Charlotte how to perform all the little
services to Charles which she relinquished； while her mother had so
many affectionate last words； and every now and then stopped short to
look at her little daughter； saying； she did not know if it was not a
dream。
At length Amabel was dressed in her purple and white shot silk； her
muslin mantle； and white bonnet。 Mrs。 Edmonstone left her and Laura to
have a few words together； and went to the dressing…room。 There she
found Guy； leaning on the mantelshelf； as he used to do when he brought
his troubles to her。 He started as she entered。
'Ought I not to be here？ he said。 'I could not help coming once more。
This room has always been the kernel of my h