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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 usual； that
Charles wished Guy could have seen her。 She said little； and ran up
again as soon as she could。 Laura followed her； and the two sisters
threw their arms fondly round each other； and kissed repeatedly。
'Mamma has told you？ said Amy。 'Oh； it has made me so very happy； and
every one is so kind。'
'Dear； dear Amy！'
'I'm only afraid'
'He has begun so well'
'Oh； nonsense！ You cannot think I could be so foolish as to be afraid
for him！ Oh no！ But if he should take me for more than I am worth。 0
Laura； Laura！ What shall I do to be as good and sensible as you！ I
must not be silly little Amy any more。'
'Perhaps he likes you best as you are？'
'I don't mean cleverness： I can't help that；and he knows how stupid I
am；but I am afraid he thinks there is more worth in me。 Don't you
know； he has a sort of sunshine in his eyes and mind； that makes all he
cares about seem to him brighter and better than it really is。 I am
afraid he is only dressing me up with that sunshine。'
'It must be strange sunshine that you want to make you better and
brighter than you are；' said Laura； kissing her。
'I'll tell you what it is；' said Amy folding her hands； and standing
with her face raised； 'it won't do now； as you told me once； to have no
bones in my character。 I must learn to be steady and strong； if I can；
for if this is to be； he will depend on me； I don't mean； to advise
him； for he knows better than anybody； but to beyou know whatif
vexation； or trouble was to come！ And Laura； think if he was to depend
on me； and I was to fail！ Oh； do help me to have firmness and self…
command； like you！'
'It was a long time ago that we talked of your wanting bones。'
'Yes； before he came； but I never forget it。'
Laura was obliged to go out with Eveleen。 All went their different
ways； and Amy had the garden to herself to cool her cheeks in。 But
this was a vain operation； for a fresh access of burning was brought on
while Laura was helping her to dress for dinner； when her father's
quick step sounded in the passage。 He knocked at her door； and as she
opened it； he kissed her on each cheek； and throwing his arm round her；
exclaimed；
'Well； Miss Amy； you have made a fine morning's work of it！ A pretty
thing； for young ladies to be accepting offers while papa is out of the
way。 Eh； Laura？'
Amy knew this was a manifestation of extreme delight； but it was not
very pleasant to Laura。
'So you have made a conquest！' proceeded Mr。 Edmonstone； 'and I
heartily wish you joy of it； my dear。 He is as amiable and good…
natured a youth as I would wish to see； and I should say the same if he
had not a shilling in the world。'
Laura's heart bounded； but she knew； whatever her father might fancy；
the reality would be very different if Guy were as poor as Philip。
'I shall write to him this very evening；' he continued； 'and tell him；
if he has the bad taste to like such a silly little white thing； I am
not the man to stand in his way。 Eh； Amy？ Shall I tell him so？'
'Tell him what you please； dear papa。'
'Eh？ What I please？ Suppose I say we can't spare our little one； and
he may go about his business？'
'I'm not afraid of you； papa。'
'Come； she's a good little thingsha'n't be teased。 Eh； Laura？ what
do you think of it； our beauty； to see your younger sister impertinent
enough to set up a lover； while your pink cheeks are left in the
lurch？'
Laura not being wont to make playful repartees； her silence passed
unnoticed。 Her feelings were mixed； but perhaps the predominant one
was satisfaction that it was not for her pink cheeks that she was
valued。
It had occurred to Mrs。 Edmonstone that it was a curious thing； after
her attempt at scheming for Eveleen； to have to announce to her that
Guy was attached to her own daughter； nay； after the willingness
Eveleen had manifested to be gratified with any attention Guy showed
her； it seemed doubtful for a moment whether the intelligence would be
pleasing to her。 However； Eveleen was just the girl to like men better
than women； and never to be so happy as when on the verge of flirting；
it would probably have been the same with any other youth that came in
her； way； and Guy might fully be acquitted of doing more than paying
her the civilities which were requisite from him to any young lady
visitor。 He had； two years ago； when a mere boy； idled； laughed； and
made fun with her； but his fear of trifling away his time had made him
draw back； before he had involved himself in what might have led to
anything further； and during the present visit； no one could doubt that
he was preoccupied with Amy。 At any rate； it was right that Eveleen
should know the truth； in confidence； if only to prevent her from
talking of any surmises she might have。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was set at ease in a moment。 Eveleen was enchanted；
danced round and round the room； declared they would be the most
charming couple in the world； she had seen it all along； she was so
delighted they had come to an understanding at last； poor things； they
were so miserable all last week； and she must take credit to herself
for having done it all。 Was not her aunt very much obliged to her？
'My dear Eva；' exclaimed Mrs。 Edmonstone； into whose mind the notion
never entered that any one could boast of such a proceeding as hers
last night； but the truth was that Eveleen； feeling slightly culpable；
was delighted that all had turned out so well； and resolved to carry it
off with a high hand。
'To be sure！ Poor little Amy！ when she looked ready to sink into the
earth； she little knew her obligations to me！ Was not it the cleverest
thing in the world？ It was just the touch they wantedthe very
thing！'
'My dear； I am glad I know that you are sometimes given to talking
nonsense；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； laughing。
'And you won't believe me serious？ You won't be grateful to me for my
lucky hit' said Eveleen； looking comically injured。 'Oh auntie； that
is very hard； when I shall believe to my dying day that I did it！'
'Why； Eva； if I thought it had been done by design； I should find it
very hard to forgive you for it at all； rather hard even to accept Guy；
so you had better not try to disturb my belief that it was only that
spirit of mischief that makes you now and then a little mad。'
'Oh dear！ what a desperate scolding you must have given poor little
Charlotte！' exclaimed Eveleen； quaintly。
Mrs。 Edmonstone could not help laughing as she confessed that she had
altogether forgotten Charlotte。
'Then you will。 You'll go on forgetting her；' cried Eveleen。 'She
only did what she was told； and did not know the malice of it。 There；