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'I did not say they would。'
'What； not to write to each other when papa had forbidden it； and do it
in secret； too？'
'My dear； don't look so innocently irate。 Goodness has nothing to do
with it； it would be only a moderate constancy。 You know nothing at
all of lovers。'
'If I know nothing of lovers； I know a great deal of Amy and Guy； and I
am quite sure that nothing on earth would tempt them to do anything in
secret that they were forbidden。'
'Wait till you are in love； and you'll change your mind。'
'I never mean to be in love；' said Charlotte indignantly。 Eveleen
laughed the more； Charlotte grew more angry and uncomfortable at the
tone of the conversation； and was heartily glad that it was broken off
by the entrance of the gentlemen。 Guy helped Charles to the sofa； and
then turned away to continue his endless talk on Redclyffe business
with Markham。 Charlotte flew up to the sofa； seized an interval when
no one was in hearing； and kneeling down to bring her face on a level
with her brother's whispered'Charlie； Eva won't believe but that Guy
and Amy kept up some intercourse last winter。'
'I can't help it； Charlotte。'
'When I tell her they did not； she only laughs at me。 Do tell her they
did not。'
'I have too much self…respect to lay myself open to ridicule。'
'Charlie； you don't think it possible yourself？' exclaimed Charlotte；
in consternation。
'Possibleno indeed。'
'She _will_ say it is not wrong； and that I know nothing of lovers。'
'You should have told her that ours are not commonplace lovers； but far
beyond her small experience。'
'I wish I had！ Tell her so； Charlie； she will believe you。'
'I sha'n't say one word about it。'
'Why not？'
'Because she is not worthy。 If she can't appreciate them； I would let
her alone。 I once thought better of Eva； but it is very bad company
she keeps when she is not here。'
Charles； however； was not sorry when Eveleen came to sit by him； for a
bantering conversation with her was the occupation of which he was moat
capable。 Amy； returning； came and sat in her old place beside him；
with her hand in his； and her quiet eyes fixed on the ground。
The last evening for many weeks that she would thus sit with him；the
last that she would ever be a part of his home。 She had already ceased
to belong entirely to him； she who had always been the most precious to
him； except his mother。
Only his mother could have been a greater loss；he could not dwell on
the anticipation； and still holding her hand； he roused himself to
listen； and answer gaily to Eveleen's description of the tutor； Mr。
Fielder； 'a thorough gentleman； very clever and agreeable； who had read
all the books in the world； the ugliest； yes； without exaggeration； the
most quaintly ugly man living；little； and looking just as if he was
made of gutta percha； Eveleen said； 'always moving by jerks；so
Maurice advised the boys not to put him near the fire； lest he should
melt。'
'Only when he gives them some formidable lesson； and they want to melt
his heart；' said Charles； talking at random； in hopes of saying
something laughable。
'Then his eyes'tis not exactly a squint； but a cast there is； and one
set of eyelashes are black and the other light； and that gives him just
the air of a little frightful terrier of Maurice's named Venus； with a
black spot over one eye。 The boys never call him anything but Venus。'
'And you encourage them in respect for their tutor？'
'Oh； he holds his own at lessons； I trow； but he pretends to have such
a horror of us wild Irish； and to wonder not to find us eating potatoes
with our fingers； and that I don't wear a petticoat over my head
instead of a bonnet； in what he calls the classical Carthaginian Celto…
Hibernian fashion。'
'Dear me；' said Charlotte； 'no wonder Philip recommended him。'
'0； I assure you he has the gift； no one else but Captain Morville
talks near as well。'
So talked on Eveleen； and Charles answered her as much in her own
fashion as he could； and when at last the evening came to an end； every
one felt relieved。
Laura lingered long in Amy's room； perceiving that hitherto she had
known only half the value of her sister her sweet sister。 It would be
worse than ever now； when left with the others； all so much less
sympathizing； all saying sharp things of Philip； none to cling to her
with those winsome ways that had been unnoted till the time when they
were no more to console her； and she felt them to have been the only
charm that had softened her late dreary desolation。
So full was her heart； that she must have told Amy all her grief but
for the part that Philip had acted towards Guy； and her doubts of Guy
would not allow her the consolation of dwelling on Amy's happiness；
which cheered the rest。 She could only hang about her in speechless
grief； and caress her fondly； while Amy cried； and tried to comfort
her； till her mother came to wish her good night。
Mrs。 Edmonstone did not stay long； because she wished Amy； if possible
to rest。
'Mamma' said Amy； as she received her last kiss； 'I can't think why I
am not more unhappy。'
'It is all as it should be；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
Amabel slept； and awakened to the knowledge that it was her wedding…
day。 She was not to appear at the first breakfast； but she came to
meet Charles in the dressing…room； and as they sat together on the
sofa； where she had watched and amused so many of his hours of
helplessness； he clasped round her arm his gift；a bracelet of his
mother's hair。 His fingers trembled and his eyes were hazy； but he
would not let her help him。 Her thanks were obliged to be all kisses；
no words would come but 'Charlie； Charlie！ how could I ever have
promised to leave you？'
'Nonsense！ who ever dreamt that my sisters were to be three monkeys
tied to a dog？'
It was impossible not to smile； though it was but for a moment；
Charles's mirth was melancholy。
'And； dear Charlie； you will not miss me so very much； do pray let
Charlotte wait upon you。'
'After the first； perhaps； I may not hate her。 Oh； Amy； I little knew
what I was doing when I tried to get him back again for you。 I was
sawing off the bough I was sitting on。 But there！ I will not flatter
you； you've had enough to turn that head of yours。 Stand up； and let
me take a survey。 Very pretty； I declare；you do my education credit。
There； if it will be for your peace； I'll do my best to wear on without
you。 I've wanted a brother all my life； and you are giving me the very
one I would have picked out of a thousandthe only one I could forgive
for presuming to steal you； Amy。 Here he is。 Come in；' he added； as
Guy knocked at his door； to offer to help him down…stairs。
Guy hardly spoke； and Amy could not look in his face。 It was late； and
h