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the adventure of Charles at the review； was at present at least a
matter of far more prominence with Guy than anything relating to
herself。
All but Laura and her mother were wild about the weather； especially on
Wednesday； when there was an attempt at a thunder storm。 Nothing was
studied but the sky； and the conversation consisted of
prognostications； reports of rises and falls of the glass； of the way
weather…cocks were turning； or about to turn； of swallows flying high
or low； red sunsets； and halos round the moon； until at last Guy；
bursting into a merry laugh； begged Mrs。 Edmonstone's pardon for being
such a nuisance； and made a vow； and kept it； that be the weather what
it might； he would say not another word about it that evening； it
deserved to be neglected； for he had not been able to settle to
anything all day。
He might have said for many days before； for since the last ball； and
still more since Lady Eveleen had been at Hollywell； it had been one
round of merriment and amusement。 Scrambling walks； tea…drinkings out
of doors； dances among themselves； or with the addition of the Harpers；
were the order of the day。 Amy； Eveleen； and Guy； could hardly come
into the room without dancing； and the piano was said to acknowledge
nothing but waltzes； polkas； and now and then an Irish jig； for the
special benefit of Mr。 Edmonstone's ears。 The morning was almost as
much spent in mirth as the afternoon； for the dawdlings after
breakfast； and before luncheon； had a great tendency to spread out and
meet； there was new music and singing to be practised； or preparations
made for evening's diversion； or councils to be held； which Laura's
absence could not break up； though it often made Amy feel how much less
idle and frivolous Laura was than herself。 Eveleen said the same； but
she was visiting； and it was a time to be idle； and Mr。 Lascelles
seemed to be of the same opinion with regard to his pupil； for； when
Guy was vexed at not having done as much work as usual； he only laughed
at him for expecting to be able to go to balls； and spend a summer of
gaiety； while he studied as much as at Oxford。
Thursday morning was all that heart could wish； the air cooled by the
thunder； and the clouds looking as if raining was foreign to their
nature。 Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone； their daughters； and Lady Eveleen；
were packed inside and outside the great carriage； while Guy； carefully
settling Charles in the low phaeton； putting in all that any one
recommended； from an air…cushion to an umbrella； flourished his whip；
and drove off with an air of exultation and delight。
Everything went off to admiration。 No one was more amused than
Charles。 The scene was so perfectly new and delightful to one
accustomed to such a monotonous life； that the very sight of people was
a novelty。 Nowhere was there so much laughing and talking as in that
little carriage； and whenever Mrs。 Edmonstone's anxious eye fell upon
it； she always saw Charles sitting upright； with a face so full of
eager interest as to banish all thought of fatigue。 Happy； indeed； he
was。 He enjoyed the surprise of his acquaintance at meeting him； he
enjoyed Dr。 Mayerne's laugh and congratulation； he enjoyed seeing how
foolish Philip thought him； nodding to his mother and sisters； laughing
at the dreadful faces Guy could not help making at any particularly
discordant note of the offensive bugle； and his capabilities rising
with his spirits； he did all that the others did； walked further than
he had done for years； was lifted up steps without knowing how； sat out
the whole breakfast； talked to all the world； and well earned the being
thoroughly tired； as he certainly was when Guy put him into the
carriage and drove him home； and still more so when Guy all but carried
him up stairs； and laid him on the sofa in the dressing…room。
However； his mother announced that it would have been so unnatural if
he had not been fatigued； that she should have been more anxious； and
leaving him to repose； they all； except Mr。 Edmonstone； who had stayed
to dine at the mess； sat down to dinner。
Amy came down dressed just as the carriage had been announced； and
found Laura and Eveleen standing by the table； arranging their
bouquets； while Guy； in the dark； behind the piano； was playingnot；
as usual； in such cases； the Harmonious Blacksmith； but a chant。
'Is mamma ready？' asked Laura。
'Nearly；' said Amy； 'but I wish she was not obliged to go！ I am sure
she cannot bear to leave Charlie。'
'I hope she is not going on my account；' said Eveleen。
'No； said Laura； 'we must go； it would so frighten papa if we did not
come。 Besides； there is nothing to be uneasy about with Charles。'
'O no；' said Amy； 'she says so； only she is always anxious； and she is
afraid he is too restless to go to sleep。'
'We must get home as fast as we can； if you don't mind； Eva；' said
Laura； remembering how her last dance with Guy had delayed them。
'Can I do any good to Charlie？' said Guy； ceasing his music。 I don't
mean to go。'
'Not go！' cried the girls in consternation。
'He is joking！' said Eveleen。 'But； I declare！' added she； advancing
towards him； 'he is not dressed！ Come； nonsense； this is carrying it
too far； you'll make us all too late； and then I'll set Maurice at
you。'
'I am afraid it is no joke；' said Guy； smiling。
'You must go。 It will never do for you to stay away；' said Laura；
decidedly。
'Are you tired？ Aren't you well？' asked Amy。
'Quite well； thank you； but I am sure I had better not。'
Laura thought she had better not seem anxious to take him； so she left
the task of persuasion； to the others； and Amy went on。
'Neither Mamma nor Charlie could bear to think you stayed because of
him。'
'I don't； I assure you； Amy。 I meant it before。 I have been gradually
finding out that it must come to this。'
'Oh； you think it a matter of right and wrong！ But you don't think
balls wrong？'
'Oh no； only they won't do for such an absurd person as I am。 The last
turned my head for a week； and I am much too unsteady for this。'
'Well； if you think it a matter of duty； it can't be helped；' said Amy
sorrowfully； 'but I am very sorry。'
'Thank you；' said Guy； thinking it compassion； not regret； 'but I shall
do very well。 I shall be all the happier to…morrow for a quiet hour at
my Greek； and you'll tell me all the fun。'
'You liked it so much！' said Amy； 'but you have made up your mind and I
ought not to tease you。'
'That's right Amy； he does it on purpose to be teased；' said Eveleen；
'and I never knew anybody so provoking。 Mind； Sir Guy； if you make us
all too late； you shan't have the ghost of a quadrille with me。'
'I shall console myself by quadrilling with Andromache；' said Guy。
'Come； no nonsenseoff to dress directly！ How can you h