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disobedience and concealment； of which I could not have believed a
child of mine could be capable。 0 Laura； how you have abused our
confidence！'
Laura was touched by the sorrow of her tone； and； throwing her arms
round her neck； sobbed out； 'You will forgive me； only forgive him！'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was softened in a moment。 'Forgive you； my poor child！
You have been very unhappy！' and she kissed her； with many tears。
'Must you tell papa？' whispered Laura。
'Judge for yourself； Laura。 Could I know such a thing； and hide it
from him？'
Laura ceased； seeing her determined； and yielded to her pity； allowing
herself to be nursed as she required； so exhausted was she。 She was
laid on the sofa； and made comfortable with pillows； in her mother's
gentlest way。 When Mrs。 Edmonstone was called away； Laura held her
dress； saying； 'You are kind to me； but you must forgive him。 Say you
have forgiven him； mamma； dearest！'
'My dear； in the grave all things are forgiven。'
She could not help saying so； but； feeling as if she had been cruel；
she added； 'I mean； while he is so ill； we cannot enter on such a
matter。 I am very sorry for you；' proceeded she； still arranging for
Laura's ease； then kissing her； hoped she would sleep； and left her。
Sympathy was a matter of necessity to Mrs。 Edmonstone； and as her
husband was out； she went at once to Charles； with a countenance so
disturbed； that he feared some worse tidings had come from Italy。
'No； no； nothing of that sort； it is poor Laura。'
'Eh？' said Charles； with a significant though anxious look； that caused
her to exclaim；
'Surely you had no suspicion！'
Charlotte； who was reading in the window； trembled lest she should be
seen； and sent away。
'I suspected poor Laura had parted with her heart。 But what do you
mean？ What has happened？'
'Could you have guessed？ but first remember how ill he is； don't be
violent； Charlie。 Could you have guessed that they have been engaged；
ever since the summer we first remarked them？'
She had expected a great storm； but Charles only observed； very coolly；
'Oh！ it is come out at last！'
'You don't mean that you knew it？'
'No； indeed； you don't think they would choose me for their confidant！'
'Not exactly；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； with the odd sort of laugh with
which even the most sensitive people； in the height of their troubles；
reply to anything ludicrous； 'but really；' she continued； 'every idea
of mine is so turned upside…down； that I don't know what to think of
anybody。'
'We always knew Laura to be his slave and automaton。 He is so
infallible in her eyes； that no doubt she thought her silence an act of
praiseworthy resolution。'
'She was a mere child； poor dear；' said her mother； 'only eighteen！
Yet Amy was but a year older last summer。 How unlike！ She must have
known what she was doing。'
'Not with her senses surrendered to him； without volition of her own。
I wonder by what magnetism he allowed her to tell？'
'She has gone through a great deal； poor child； and I am afraid there
is much more for her to suffer； whether he recovers or not。'
'He will recover' said Charles； with the decided manner in which people
prophesy the restoration of those they dislike； probably from a feeling
that they must not die； till there is more charity in their opinion of
them。
'Your father will be so grieved。'
'Well； I suppose we must begin to make the best of it；' said Charles。
'She has been as good as married to him these four years； for any use
she has been to us； it has been only the name of the thing； so he had
better'
'My dear Charlie； what are you talking of？ You don't imagine they can
marry？'
'They will some time or other； for assuredly neither will marry any one
else。 You will see if Guy does not take up the cause； and return
Philip's meddlingwhich； by the bye； is now shown to have been more
preposterous stillby setting their affairs in order for them。'
'Dear Guy； it is a comfort not to have been deceived in him！'
'Except when you believed Philip；' said Charles。
'Could anything have been more different？' proceeded Mrs。 Edmonstone；
'yet the two girls had the same training。'
'With an important exception；' said Charles； 'Laura is Philip's pupil；
Amy mine； and I think her little ladyship is the best turned out of
hand。'
'How shocked Amy will be！ If she was but here； it would be much
better； for she always had more of Laura's confidence than I。 Oh；
Charlie； there has been the error！' and Mrs。 Edmonstone's eyes were
full of tears。 'What fearful mistake have I made to miss my daughter's
confidence！'
'You must not ask me； mother；' said Charles； face and voice full of
affectionate emotion。 'I know too well that I have been exacting and
selfish； taking too much advantage of your anxieties for me； and that
if you were not enough with my sisters when they were young girls； it
was my fault as much as my misfortune。 But； after all； it has not hurt
Amy in the least； nor do I think it will hurt Charlotte。'
Charlotte did not venture to give way to her desire to kiss her mother；
and thank Charles； lest she should be exiled as an intruder。
'And；' proceeded Charles； serious； though somewhat roguish； 'I suspect
that no attention would have made much difference。 You were always too
young； and Laura too much addicted to the physical sciences to get on
together。'
'A weak； silly mother； sighed Mrs。 Edmonstone。
This was too much for Charlotte； who sprang forward； and flung her arms
round her neck； sobbing out；
'Mamma！ dear mamma！ don't say such horrid things！ No one is half so
wise or so good；I am sure Guy thinks so too！'
At the same time Bustle； perceiving a commotion； made a leap； planted
his fore…feet on Mrs。 Edmonstone's lap； wagging his tail vehemently；
and trying to lick her face。 It was not in human nature not to laugh；
and Mrs。 Edmonstone did so as heartily as either of the young ones；
indeed； Charlotte was the first to resume her gravity； not being sure
of her ground； and being hurt at her impulse of affection being thus
reduced to the absurd。 She began to apologize；
'Dear mamma； I could not help it。 I thought you knew I wad in the
room。'
'My dear child；' and her mother kissed her warmly； 'I don't want to
hide anything from you。 You are my only home…daughter now。' Then
recollecting her prudence； she proceeded；'You are old enough to
understand the distress this insincerity of poor Laura's has
occasioned；and now that Amy is gone； we must look to you to comfort
us。'
Did ever maiden of fourteen feel more honoured； and obliged to be very
good and wise than Charlotte； as she knelt by her mother's side？
Happily tact was coming with advancing years； and she did not attempt
to mingle in the conversat