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she was obliged to go and play a duet with Laura。 She did not dislike
this； but there followed a persecution for some singing。 Laura would
have spared her； but could not； and while she was turning over the book
to try to find something that was not impossible to begin； and Laura
whispering encouragingly； 'Thistry thisyour part is almost nothing；
or can't you do this？' another hand turned over the leaves； as if
perfectly at home in them； and； without speaking； as if it was natural
for him to spare Amy； found a song which they had often sung together；
where she might join as much or as little as she chose； under cover of
his voice。 She had not a thought or sensation beyond the joy of
hearing it again； and she stood； motionless； as if in a trance。 When
it was over； he said to Laura； 'I beg your pardon for making such bad
work。 I am so much out of practice。'
Mrs。 Brownlow was seen advancing on them； Amy retreated； leaving Guy
and Laura to fulfil all that was required of them； which they did with
a very good grace； and Laura's old familiar feeling began to revive； so
much that she whispered while he was finding the place； 'Don't you
dislike all this excessively？'
'It does as well as anything else； thank you；' was the answer。 'I can
do it better than talking。'
At last they were released； and the world was going away。 Mary could
not help whispering to Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'How glad you must be to get
rid of us！' and； as Mrs。 Edmonstone answered with a smile； she ventured
further to say；'How beautifully Amy has behaved！'
Little Amy； as soon as she had heard the last carriage roll off； wished
every one good night； shook hands with Guy； holding up the lighted
candle between him and her face as a veil； and ran away to her own
room。 The others remained in a sort of embarrassed silence； Mr。
Edmonstone rubbing his hands； Laura lighted the candles； Charlotte
asked after Bustle； and was answered that he was at Oxford； and
Charles； laying hold of the side of the sofa； pulled himself by it into
a sitting posture。
'Shall I help you？' said Guy。
'Thank you； but I am not ready yet； besides； I am an actual log now；
and am carried as such； so it is of no use to wait for me。 Mamma shall
have the first turn； and I won't even leave my door open。'
'Yes； yes； yes； go and have it out with mamma； next best to Amy
herself； as she is run awayeh； Guy？' said Mr。 Edmonstone。
Guy and Mrs。 Edmonstone had not hitherto trusted themselves to speak to
each other； but they looked and smiled； then； wishing the rest good
night； they disappeared。 Then there was a simultaneous outbreak of
'Well？'
'All right！' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'Every word was untrue。 He is the
noblest fellow in the world； as I knew all the time； and I was an old
fool for listening to a pack of stories against him。'
'Hurrah！' cried Charles； drumming on the back of his sofa。 'Let us
hear how the truth came out； and what it was。'
'It was that Dixon。 There has he been helping that man for ever；
sending his child to school； giving him sums upon sums； paying his
gaming debts with that cheque！'
'Oh； oh！' cried Charles。
'Yes that was it！ The child told Markham of it； and Markham brought
the father to tell me。 It puts me in a rage to think of the monstrous
stories Philip has made me believe！'
'I was sure of it！' cried Charles。 'I knew it would come out that he
had only been so much better than other people that nobody could
believe it。 Cleared！ cleared！ Why； Charlotte； Mr。 Ready…to…halt will
be for footing it cleverly enough！' as she was wildly curvetting round
him。
'I was always sure；' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'I knew it was not in him to
go wrong。 It was only Philip； who would persuade me black was white。'
'I never believed one word of it；' said Charles； 'still less after I
saw Philip's animosity。'
'〃Les absens ont toujours tort；〃' interrupted Laura； then； afraid of
saying too much； she added；'Come； Charlotte； it is very late。'
'And I shall be the first to tell Amy！' cried Charlotte。 'Good night；
papa！good night； Charlie！'
She rushed up…stairs； afraid of being forestalled。 Laura lingered；
putting some books away in the ante…room； trying to overcome the weary
pain at her heart。 She did not know how to be confident。 Her father's
judgment was worthless in her eyes； and Philip had predicted that Amy
would be sacrificed after all。 To see them happy made her sigh at the
distance of her own hopes； and worse than all was self…reproach for
unkindness in not rejoicing with the rest； in spite of her real
affection for Guy himself。 When she thought of him； she could not
believe him guilty； when she thought of Philip's belief； she could not
suppose him innocent； and she pitied her sister for enjoying a delusive
happiness。 With effort； however； she went to her room； and； finding
her a little overpowered by Charlotte's tumultuous joy； saw that peace
and solitude were best for her till she could have more certain
intelligence； and； after very tender good…nights； carried off
Charlotte。
It would be hard to describe Mrs。 Edmonstone's emotion； as she preceded
Guy to the dressing…room； and sat down； looking up to him as he stood
in his old place by the fire。 She thought he did not look well； though
it might be only that the sun…burnt colour had given place to his
natural fairness； his eyes； though bright as ever； did not dance and
sparkle； a graver expression sat on his brow； and although he still
looked very young； a change there certainly was； which made him man
instead of boya look of having suffered； and conquered suffering。
She felt even more motherly affection for him now than when he last
stood there in the full tide of his first outburst of his love for her
daughter； and her heart was almost too full for speech； but he seemed
to be waiting for her； and at last she said；'I am very glad to have
you here again。'
He smiled a little； then said； 'May I tell you all about it？'
'Sit down here。 I want very much to hear it。 I am sure you have gone
through a good deal。'
I have； indeed；' said he； simply and gravely； and there was a silence；
while she was certain that； whatever he might have endured； he did not
feel it to have been in vain。
' But it is at an end；' said she。 'I have scarcely seen Mr。 Edmonstone；
but he tells me he is perfectly satisfied。'
'He is so kind as to be satisfied； though you know I still cannot
explain about the large sum I asked him for。'
'We will trust you；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； smiling； 'but I am very
anxious to hear how you came to an understanding。'
Guy went over the story in detail； and very much affected she was to
hear how entirely unfounded had been the suspicion； and how thankful he
was for Mr。 Edmonstone's forgiveness。
'You had rather to forgive us！' said she。