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herself diligently； and gazed at him inquiringly； as if to see whether
he intended anything。
'For my part；' he added； 'I certainly thought he meant to carry off the
hands of some of the family。'
'I suppose we shall soon hear it explained；' said Laura； quietly。
'Soon！ If I had an many available 1egs as you； would I wait for other
people's soon？'
'I should think she had rather be left to mamma；' said Laura； going on
with her work。
'Then you do think there is something in it？' said Charles； peering up
in her face； but he saw he was teasing her； recollected that she had
long seemed out of spirits； and forbore to say any more。 He was；
however； too impatient to remain longer quiet； and presently Laura saw
him adjusting his crutches。
'O Charlie！ I am sure it will only be troublesome。'
'I am going to my own room；' said Charles； hopping off。 'I presume you
don't wish to forbid that。'
His room had a door into the dressing…room； so that it was an excellent
place for discovering all from which they did not wish to exclude him；
and he did not believe he should be unwelcome； for though he might
pretend it was all fun and curiosity； he heartily loved his little Amy。
The tap of his crutches； and the slow motion with which he raised
himself from step to step； was heard； and Amy； who was leaning against
her mother； started up； exclaiming
'0 mamma； here comes Charlie！ May I tell him？ I am sure I can't meet
him without。'
'I suspect he has guessed it already；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； going to
open the door； just as he reached the head of the stairs； and then
leaving them。
'Well； Amy；' said he； looking full at her carnation cheeks； 'are you
prepared to see me turn lead…coloured； and fall into convulsions； like
the sister with the spine complaint？'
'0 Charlie！ You know it。 But how？'
Amy was helping him to the sofa； laid him down； and sat by him on the
old footstool； he put his arm round her neck； and she rested her head
on his shoulder。
'Well； Amy；' I give you joy； my small woman；' said he； talking the more
nonsense because of the fullness in his throat； 'and I hope you give me
credit for amazing self…denial in so doing。'
'0 Charliedear Charlie！' and she kissed him； she could not blush
more； poor little thing； for she had already reached her utmost
capability of redness'it is no such thing。'
'No such thing？ What has turned you into a turkey…cock all at once or
what made him nearly squeeze off my unfortunate fingers？ No such
thing； indeed！'
'I meanI mean； it is not _that_。 We are so very young； and I am so
silly。'
'Is that his reason？'
'You must make me so much better and wiser。 Oh； if I could but be good
enough！'
For that matter； I don't think any one else would be good enough to
take care of such a silly little thing。 But what is the that； that it
is； or is not？'
'Nothing now； only when we are older。 At least； you know papa has not
heard it。'
'Provided my father gives his consent； as the Irish young lady added to
all her responses through the marriage service。 But tell me allall
you like； I meanfor you will have lovers' secrets now； Amy。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone had； meantime； gone down to Laura。 Poor Laura； as soon
as her brother had left the room； she allowed the fixed composure of
her face to relax into a restless； harassed； almost miserable
expression； and walked up and down with agitated steps。
'0 wealth； wealth！'her lips formed the words； without uttering them
'what cruel differences it makes！ All smooth here！ Young； not to be
trusted； with strange reserves； discreditable connections；that
family；that fearful temper； showing itself even to her！ All will be
overlooked！ Papa will be delighted； I know he will！ And how is it
with us？ Proved； noble； superior； owned as such by all； as Philip is；
yet； for that want of hateful money； he would be spurned。 And。 for
thisfor thisthe love that has grown up with our lives must be
crushed down and hiddenour life is wearing out in wearying self…
watching！'
The lock of the door turned； and Laura had resumed her ordinary
expression before it opened； and her mother came in： but there was
anything but calmness beneath； for the pang of self…reproach had come
'Was it thus that she prepared to hear these tidings of her sister？'
'Well； Laura；' began Mrs。 Edmonstone； with the eager smile of one
bringing delightful news； and sure of sympathy。
'It is so； then？' said Laura。 'Dear； dear； little Amy！ I hope' and
her eyes filled with tears； but she had learnt to dread any outbreak of
feeling； conquered it in a minute； and said
'What has happened？ How does it stand？'
'It stands； at least as far as I can say without papa； as the dear Guy
very rightly and wisely wished it to stand。 There is no positive
engagement； they are both too young； but he thought it was not right to
remain here without letting us know his sentiments towards her。'
A pang shot through Laura； but it was but for a moment。 Guy might
doubt where Philip need never do so。 Her mother went on；
'Their frankness and confidence are most beautiful。 We know dear
little Amy could not help it； but there was something very sweet； very
noble； in his way of telling all。'
Another pang for Laura。 But no！ it was only poverty that was to blame。
Philip would speak as plainly if his prospects were as fair。
'Oh； I hope it will do well；' said she。
'It must；it will！' cried Mrs。 Edmonstone； giving way to her joyful
enthusiasm of affection。 'It is nonsense to doubt； knowing him as we
do。 There is not a man in the world with whom I could be so happy to
trust her。'
Laura could not hear Guy set above all men in the world； and she
remembered Philip's warning to her； two years ago。
'There is much that is very good and very delightful about him；' she
said； hesitatingly。
'You are thinking of the Morville temper；' said her mother； 'but I am
not afraid of it。 A naturally hot temper； controlled like his by
strong religious principle； is far safer than a cool easy one； without
the principle。'
Laura thought this going too far； but she felt some compensation due to
Guy； and acknowledged how strongly he was actuated by principle。
Howeverand it was well for herthey could not talk long； for Eveleen
and Charlotte were approaching； and she hastily asked what was to be
done about telling Eva； who could not fail to guess something。
'We must tell her； and make her promise absolute secrecy；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone。 'I will speak to her myself； but I must wait till I have
seen papa。 There is no doubt of what he will say； but we have been
taking quite liberties enough in his absence。'
Laura did not see her sister till luncheon； when Amy came down； with a
glow on her cheeks that made her so much prettier than usua