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his sofa； she stooped over him and whispered； 'James and Ben Robinson
have taken me out to the Shag！'
She saw Mr。 Wellwood； and heard a good account of Coombe Prior。 She
made great friends with the Ashfords； especially little Lucy and the
baby。 She delighted in visits to the cottages； and Charles every day
wondered where was the drooping dejection that she could not shake off
at home。 She would have said that in Guy's own home； 'the joy' had
come to her； no longer in fitful gleams and held by an effort for a
moment； but steadily brightening。 She missed him indeed； but the power
of finding rest in looking forward to meeting him； the pleasure of
dwelling on the days he had been with her； and the satisfaction of
doing his work for the present； had made a happiness for her； and still
in him； quiet； grave； and subdued； but happiness likely to bloom more
and more brightly throughout her life。 The anniversary of his death
was indeed a day of tears； but the tears were blessed ones； and she was
more full of the feeling that had sustained her on that morning； than
she had been through all the year before。
Charles and Philip； meanwhile； proceeded excellently together； each
very anxious for the comfort of the other。 Philip was a good deal
overwhelmed at first by the quantity of business on his hands； and
setting about it while his head was still weak； would have seriously
hurt himself again； if Charles had not come to his help； worked with a
thorough good will； great clearness and acuteness； and surprised Philip
by his cleverness and perseverance。 He was elated at being of so much
use； and begged to be considered for the future as Philip's private
secretary； to which the only objection was； that his handwriting was as
bad as Philip's was good； but it was an arrangement so much to the
benefit of both parties； that it was gladly made。 Philip was very
grateful for such valuable assistance； and Charles amused himself with
triumphing in his importance； when he should sit in state on his sofa
at Hollywell； surrounded with blue…books； getting up the statistics for
some magnificent speech of the honourable member for Moorworth。
In the meantime； Charles and Amabel saw no immediate prospect of their
party returning from Ireland； and thought it best to remain at
Redclyffe； since Philip had so much to do there； and besides； events
were occurring at Kilcoran which would have prevented his visit； even
without his illness。
One of the first drives that Charles and Philip took； after the latter
was equal to any exertion； was to Thorndale。 There Charles was much
amused by the manner in which Philip was received； and he himself； for
his sake； and as he said to Amabel on his return； there was no question
now； that the blame of spoiling Philip did not solely rest at
Hollywell。
Finding only Lady Thorndale at home； and hearing that Lord Thorndale
was in the grounds； Philip went out to look for him； leaving Charles on
the sofa； under her ladyship's care。 Charles； with a little
exaggeration； professed that he had never been so flattered in his
whole life； as he was by the compliments that reflected on him as the
future brother…in…law of Philip； and that he had really begun to think
even Laura not half sensible enough of her own happiness。 Lady
Thorndale afterwards proceeded to inquiries about the De Courcy family；
especially Lady Eveleen； and Charles； enlightened by Charlotte； took
delight in giving a brilliant description of his cousin's charms； for
which he was rewarded by very plain intimations of the purpose for
which her son James was gone to Kilcoran。
On talking the visit over； as they drove home； Charles asked Philip if
he had guessed at his friend's intentions。 'Yes；' he answered。
'Then you never took the credit of it。 Why did you not tell us？'
'I knew it from himself； in confidence。'
'Oh！' said Charles； amusing himself with the notion of the young man's
dutifully asking the permission of his companion； unshaken in
allegiance though the staff might be broken； and the book drowned
deeper than did ever plummet sound。 Philip spoke no more； and Charles
would ask no more； for Philip's own affairs of the kind were not such
as to encourage talking of other people's。 No explanation was needed
why he should now promote an attachment which he had strongly
disapproved while James Thorndale was still in the army。
A day or two after； however； came a letter from Charlotte； bringing
further news； at which Charles was so amazed； that he could not help
communicating it at once to his companions。
'So！ Eveleen won't have him！'
'What？' exclaimed both。
'You don't mean that she has refused Thorndale？' said Philip。
'Even so！' said Charles。 'Charlotte says he is gone。 〃Poor Mr。
Thorndale left us this morning； after a day of private conferences； in
which he seems to have had no satisfaction； for his resolute dignity
and determination to be agreeable all the evening were〃ahem〃were
great。 Mabel cannot get at any of the real reasons from Eveleen；
though I think I could help her； but I can't tell you。〃'
'Charlotte means mischief。' said Charles； as he concluded。
'I am very sorry！' said Philip。 'I did think Lady Eveleen would have
been able to estimate Thorndale。 It will be a great disappointment
the inclination has been of long standing。 Poor Thorndale！'
'It would have been a very good thing for Eva；' said Amabel。 'Mr。
Thorndale is such a sensible man。'
'And I thought his steady sense just what was wanting to bring out all
her good qualities that are running to waste in that irregular home；'
said Philip。 'What can have possessed her？'
'Ay！ something must have possessed her；' said Charles。 'Eva was always
ready to be fallen in love with on the shortest notice； and if there
was not something prior in her imagination； Thorndale would not have
had much difficulty。 By the bye； depend upon it； 'tis the tutor。'
Philip looked a little startled； but instantly reassuring himself；
said；
'George Fielder！ Impossible！ You have never seen him！'
'Ah！ don't you remember her description！' said Amy； in a low voice；
rather sadly。
The very reason； Amy；' said Charles； 'it showed that he had attracted
her fancy。'
Philip smiled a little incredulously。
'Ay！' said Charles； 'you may smile； but you handsome men can little
appreciate the attractiveness of an interesting ugliness。 It is the
way to be looked at in the end。 Mark my words； it is the tutor。'
'I hope not！' said Philip； as if shaken in his confidence。 'Any way it
is a bad affair。 I am very much concerned for Thorndale。'
So sincerely concerned； that his head began to ache in the midst of
some writing。 He was obliged to leave it to Charles to finish； and go
out to walk with Amy。
Amabel came in before him； and began to t