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'Oh！ he is well enough for them not to put it off！ Is he able to be
out of bed？'
'No； he lies perfectly flat； and looks very thin。 It has been a very
severe illness。 I don't think I ever knew him suffer so much； but； at
the same time； I never knew him behave so well； or show so much
patience； and consideration for other people； I was the more surprised；
because at first he seemed to have relapsed into all the ways he
thought he had shaken off； he was so irritable and fretful； that poor
Mrs。 Edmonstone looked worn out； but it seems to have been only the
beginning of the illness； it was very different after he was laid up。'
'Has he had you to see him？'
'Yes； he asked for it； which he never did before； and Amabel reads to
him every morning。 There is certainly much more that is satisfactory
about those young Edmonstones than there once seemed reason to expect。'
'And now tell me about Sir Guy。 What is the matter？ Why does he not
come home this winter！'
'I cannot tell you the rights of it； Mary。 Mr。 Edmonstone is very much
offended about something he is reported to have said； and suspects him
of having been in mischief at St。 Mildred's； but I am not at all
persuaded that it is not one of Mr。 Edmonstone's affronts。'
'Where is he？'
'At Redclyffe。 I have a letter from him which I am going to answer to…
night。 I shall tell the Edmonstones about it； for I cannot believe
that； if he had been guilty of anything very wrong； his mind would be
occupied in this manner；' and he gave Mary the letter。
'Oh； no！' exclaimed Mary； as she read。 'I am sure he cannot be in any
mischief。 What an admirable person he is！ I am very sorry this cloud
has arisen！ I was thinking last summer how happy they all were
together。'
'Either this or Charles's illness has cast a gloom over the whole
house。 The girls are both grown much graver。'
'Amy graver？' said Mary； quickly。
'I think so。 At least she did not seem to cheer up as I should have
expected when her brother grew better。 She looks as if she had been
nursing him too closely； and yet I see her walking a good deal。'
'Poor little Amy！' said Mary； and she asked no more questions； but was
anxious to make her own observations。
She did not see the Edmonstones till the next evening； as the day was
wet； and she only received a little note telling her that one carriage
would be sent to fetch her and Mr。 Ross。 The whole of the family；
except Charles； were in the drawing…room； but Mary looked chiefly at
Amy。 She was in white； with holly in her hair； and did not look
sorrowful； but she was paler and thinner than last summer； and though
she spoke； smiled； and laughed when she ought； it was without the gay；
childish freedom of former times。 She was a small； pale； quiet girl
now； not a merry； caressing kitten。 Mary recollected what she had been
in the wood last summer； and was sure it was more than Charles's
illness that had altered her； yet still Amy had not Laura's harassed
look。
Mary had not much talk with Amy； for it was a large party； with a good
many young ladies and children； and Amy had a great deal of work in the
way of amusing them。 She had a wearied look； and was evidently
exerting herself to the utmost。
'You look tired；' said Mary； kindly。
'No； it is only stupidity；' said Amy； smiling rather sadly。 'We can't
be entertaining without Charlie。'
'It has been a melancholy winter；' began Mary； but she was surprised；
for Amy's face and neck coloured in a moment； then； recovering herself；
with some hesitation； she said；
'Oh！ but Charlie is much better； and that is a great comfort。 I am
glad you are come home； Mary。'
'We are going to have some magic music；' was said at the other end of
the room。 'Who will play？'
'Little Amy！' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'Where is she？ She always does it
to admiration。 Amy； come and be a performer。'
Amy rose； and came forward； but the colour had flushed into her cheeks
again； and the recollection occurred to Mary； that her fame as a
performer； in that way； arose from the very amusing manner in which she
and Sir Guy had conducted the game last year。 At the same moment her
mother met her； and whispered；
'Had you rather not； my dear？'
'I can do it； mamma； thank younever mind。'
'I should like to send you up to Charliehe has been so long alone。'
'Oh！ thank you； dear mamma；' with a look of relief。
'Here is Charlotte wild to be a musician；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Perhaps you will see how she can manage； for I think Charles must want
a visit from his little nurse。'
Amy moved quietly away； and entered Charles's room； full of warm
gratitude for the kindness which was always seeking how to spare her。
Charles was asleep； and throwing a shawl round her； she sat down in the
dim light of the lamp； relieved by the stillness； only broken by now
and then a louder note of the music down…stairs。 It was very
comfortable； after all that buzz of talk； and the jokes that seemed so
nonsensical and tiresome。 There were but two people who could manage
to make a party entertaining； and that was the reason it was so
different last year。 Then Amy wondered if she was the only person who
felt sick at heart and dreary； but she only wondered for a momentshe
murmured half aloud to herself； 'I said I never would think of him
except at my prayers！ Here I am doing it again； and on Christmas
night。 I won't hide my eyes and moan over my broken reed； for
Christmas is come； and the circles of song are widening round！ Glory！
good will； peace on earth！ How he sang it last year； the last thing；
when the people were gone； before we went up to bed。 But I am breaking
my resolution again。 I must do something。'
She took up a book of sacred poetry； and began to learn a piece which
she already nearly knew； but the light was bad； and it was dreamy work；
and probably she was half asleep； for her thoughts wandered off to
Sintram and the castle on the Mondenfelsen； which seemed to her like
what she had pictured the Redclyffe crags； and the castle itself was
connected in her imagination with the deep； echoing porch； while Guy's
own voice seemed to be chanting
Who lives forlorn；
On God's own word doth rest；
His path is bright
With heavenly light；
His lot among the blest。
'Are you there； Amy？' said Charles； waking。 'What are you staying here
for？ Don't they want you？'
'Mamma was so kind as to send me up。'
'I am glad you are come； for I have something to tell you。 Mr。 Ross
has been up to see me； you know； and he has a letter from Guy。'
Amy's heart beat fast； and； with eyes fixed on the ground； she listened
as Charles continued to give an account of Guy's letter about Coombe
Prior。 'Mr。 Ross is quite satisfied about him； Amy；' he conc