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Charlie； but don't persuade me any more； for I can't bear it。 I am
going away now； but don't fancy I am angry； only I don't think I can
sit by while you write that letter。'
Poor little Amy； she seldom knew worse pain than at that moment； when
she was obliged to go away to put it out of her power to follow the
promptings of her heart to send the few kind words which might prove
that nothing could shake her love and trust。
A fresh trial awaited her when she looked from her own window。 She saw
Deloraine led out； his chestnut neck glossy in the sun and William
prepared for a journey； and the other servants shaking hands； and
bidding him good…bye。 She saw him ride off； and could hardly help
flying back to her brother to exclaim； '0 Charlie； they have sent
Deloraine away！' while the longing to send one kind greeting became
more earnest than ever； but she withstood it； and throwing herself on
the bed； exclaimed；
'He will never come backnever； never！' and gave way； unrestrainedly；
to a fit of weeping； nor was it till this had spent itself that she
could collect her thoughts。
She was sitting on the side of her bed trying to compose herself； when
Laura； came in。
'My own Amymy poor； dearest；I am very sorry！'
'Thank you； dear Laura；' and Amy gladly rested her aching head on her
shoulder。
'I wish I knew what to do for you！' proceeded Laura。 'You cannot；
cease to think about him； and yet you ought。'
'If I ought； I suppose I can；' said Amy in a voice exhausted with
crying。
'That's right； darling。 You will not be weak； and pine for one who is
not worthy。'
'Not worthy； Laura？' said Amy； withdrawing her arm； and holding up her
head。
'Ah！ my poor Amy； we thought'
'Yes； and it is so still。 I know it is so。 I know he did not do it。'
'Then what do you think of Margaret and Philip？'
'There is some mistake。'
And how can you defend what he said of papa？'
'I don't；' said Amy； hiding her face。 'That is the worst； but I am
sure it was only a moment's passion； and that he must be very unhappy
about it now。 I don't think papa would mind it； at least not long； if
it was not for this other dreadful misapprehension。 0； Laura！ why
cannot something be done to clear it up？'
'Everything will be done；' said Laura。 Papa has written to Mr。
Wellwood； and Philip means to go and make inquiries at Oxford and St。
Mildred's。'
'When？' asked Amy。
'Not till term begins。 You know he is to have a fortnight's leave
before the regiment goes to Ireland。'
'Oh； I hope it will come right then。 People must come to an
understanding when they meet； it is so different from writing。'
'He will do everything to set things on a right footing。 You may be
confident of that； Amy； for your sake as much as anything else。'
'I can't think why he should know I have anything to do with it；' said
Amy； blushing。 'I had much rather he did not。'
'Surely； Amy； you think be can be trusted with your secret； and there
is no one who can take more care for you。 You must look on him as one
of ourselves。'
Amy made no answer； and Laura； was annoyed。
'You are vexed with him for having told this to papa； but that is not
reasonable of you； Amy； your better sense must tell you that it is the
only truly kind course； both towards Guy and yourself。'
It was said in Philip's manner； which perhaps made it harder to bear；
and Amy could scarcely answer；
'He means it for the best。'
'You would not have had him be silent？'
'I don't know；' said Amy； sadly。 'No； he should have done something；
but he might have done it more kindly。'
Laura endeavoured to persuade her that nothing could have been more
kind and judicious； and Amy sat dejectedly owning the good intention；
and soothed by the affection of her family； with the bitter suffering
of her heart unallayed； with all her fond tender feelings torn at the
thought of what Guy must be enduring； and with the pain of knowing it
was her father's work。 She had one comfort； in the certainty that Guy
would bear it nobly。 She was happy to find her confidence confirmed by
her mother and Charles； and one thing she thought she need not give up；
though she might no longer think of him as her lover； she might be his
Verena still； whether he knew it or not。 It could not be wrong to
remember any one in her prayers； and to ask that he might not be led
into temptation； but have strength to abide patiently。 That helped her
to feel that he was in the hands of One to whom the secrets of all
hearts are known； and a line of poetry seemed to be whispered in her
ears； in his own sweet tones；
Wait； and the cloud shall roll away。
So； after the first day； she went on pretty well。 She was indeed
silent and grave； and no longer the sunbeam of Hollywell； but she took
her share in what was passing； and a common observer would hardly have
remarked the submissive melancholy of her manner。 Her father was very
affectionate； and often called her his jewel of good girls； but he was
too much afraid of women's tears to talk to her about Guy； he left that
to her mother： and Mrs。 Edmonstone； having seen her submit to her
father's will； was unwilling to say more。
She doubted whether it was judicious to encourage her in dwelling on
Guy； for； even supposing his character clear； they had offended him
deeply； and released him from any engagement to her； so that there was
nothing to prevent him from forming an attachment elsewhere。 Mrs。
Edmonstone did not think he would； but it was better to say nothing
about him； lest she should not speak prudently； and only keep up the
subject in Amy's mind。
Charles stormed and wrangled； told Mr。 Edmonstone 'he was breaking his
daughter's heart； that was all；' and talked of unfairness and
injustice； till Mr。 Edmonstone vowed it was beyond all bearing； that
his own son should call him a tyrant； and accused Guy of destroying all
peace in his family。
The replies to the letters came； some thought them satisfactory； and
the others wondered that they thought so。 Mr。 Wellwood gave the
highest character of his pupil； and could not imagine how any
irregularities could be laid to his charge； but when asked in plain
terms how he disposed of his time； could only answer in general； that
he had friends and engagements of his own at St。 Mildred's and its
neighbourhood； and had been several times at Mrs。 Henley's and at
Colonel Harewood's。 The latter place； unfortunately； was the very
object of Philip's suspicions； and thus the letter was anything but an
exculpation。
Guy wrote to Charles in the fulness of his heart； expressing gratitude
for his confidence and sympathy。 He again begged for the supposed
evidence of his misconduct； declaring he could explain it； whatever it
might be； and proceeded to utter deep reg