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is getting on； and there is enough to do。'
To the accounts they went at once。 There was a good deal to be
settled； and though Guy had as yet no legal power； according to his
grandfather's will； he was of course consulted about everything。 He
was glad that； since he could not be alone to bring himself to the
realization of his newly…recovered happiness； he should have this
sobering and engrossing occupation。 There he sat； coolly discussing
leases and repairs； and only now and then allowing himself a sort of
glimpse at the treasury of joy awaiting him whenever he had time to
dwell on it。 The Coombe Prior matters were set in a better train； the
preliminary arrangements about the curacy were made； and Guy had hopes
it would be his friend Mr。 Wellwood's title for Orders。
There was no time to write to Hollywell； or rather Mr。 Edmonstone
forgot to do so till it was too late； and then consoled himself by
observing that it did not signify if his family were taken by surprise；
since joy killed no one。
His family were by no means of opinion that it did not signify when the
next morning's post brought them no letter。 Mrs Edmonstone and Charles
had hoped much； and Amy did not know how much she hoped until the
melancholy words； 'no letter；' passed from one to the other。
To make it worse； by some of those mismanagements of Mr。 Edmonstone's
which used to run counter to his wife's arrangements； a dinner…party
had been fixed for this identical Wednesday； and the prospect was
agreeable to no one； especially when the four o'clock train did not
bring Mr。 Edmonstone； who； therefore； was not to be expected till
seven； when all the world would be arrived。
Laura helped Amy to dress； put the flowers in her hair； kissed her； and
told her it was a trying day； and Amy sighed wearily； thanked her； and
went down with arms twined in hers； whispering； 'If I could help being
so foolish as to let myself have a little hope！'
Laura thought the case so hopeless； that she was sorry Amy could not
cease from the foolishness； and did not answer。 Amy sat down at the
foot of the sofa； whither Charles was now carried down every day； and
without venturing to look at him； worked at her netting。 A carriage
her colour came and went； but it was only some of the guests； another
the Brownlows。 Amy was speaking to Miss Brownlow when she heard more
greetings； she looked up； caught by the arm of the sofa； and looked
again。 Her father was pouring out apologies and welcomes； and her
mother was shaking hands with Guy。
Was it a dream？ She shut her eyes； then looked again。 He was close to
her by this time； she felt his fingers close on her white glove for one
moment； but she only heard his voice in the earnest 'How are you；
Charlie？' Her father came to her； gave her first his usual kiss of
greeting； then； not letting her go； looked at her for a moment； and； as
if he could not help it； kissed her on both cheeks； and said； 'How d'ye
do； my little Amy？' in a voice that meant unutterable things。 All the
room was swimming round； there was nothing for it but to run away； and
she ran； but from the ante…room she heard the call outside； 'Sir Guy's
bag to his room；' and she could not rush out among the servants。 At
that moment； however； she spied Mary Ross and her father； she darted up
to them； said something incoherent about Mary's bonnet； and took her up
to her own room。
'Amy； my dear； you look wild。 What has come to you？'
'Papa is come home； and' the rest failed； and Amy was as red as the
camellia in her hair。
'And？' repeated Mary； 'and the mystery is explained？'
'Oh！ I don't know； they are only just come； and I was so silly； I ran
away；I did not know what to do。'
'_They_ are come； are they？' thought Mary。 'My little Amy； I see it
all。'
She made the taking off her bonnet and the settling her lace as
elaborate an operation as she could； and Amy flitted about as if she
did not by any means know what she was doing。 A springy； running step
was heard on the stairs and in the passage； and Mary； though she could
not see her little friend's face； perceived her neck turn red for a
moment； after which Amy took her arm； pressed it affectionately； and
they went down。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was very glad to see Amabel looking tolerably natural。
'Mamma' was of course burning to hear all； but she was so confident
that the essentials were safe； that her present care was to see how her
two young lovers would be able to comport themselves； and to be on her
guard against attending to them more than to her guests。
Amy； after passing by Charles； and getting a squeeze from his ever…
sympathizing hand； put herself away behind Mary； while Laura talked to
every one； hoping to show that there was some self…possession in the
family。 Guy reappeared； but； after one glance to see if Amy was
present； he did not look at her again； but went and leant over the
lower end of Charles's sofa； just as he used to do； and Charles lay
gazing at him； and entirely forgetting what he had been trying to say
just before to Mrs。 Brownlow； professing to have come from London that
morning； and making the absent mistakes likely to be attributed to the
lovers themselves。
Mr。 Edmonstone came； and dinner followed。 As Mrs。 Edmonstone paired
off her company； she considered what to do with her new arrival。
'If you had come two hours ago；' said she； within herself； 'I would
have let you be at home。 Now you must be a great man； and be content
with me。 It will be better for Amy。'
Accordingly Guy was between her and Mrs。 Gresham。 She did not try to
speak to him； and was amused by his fitful attempts at making
conversation with Mrs。 Gresham； when it struck him that he ought to be
taking notice of her。 Amy （very fortunately； in her own opinion） was
out of sight of him； on the same side of the table； next to Mr。 Ross；
who； like his daughter； guessed enough about the state of things to let
her alone。
Charles was enjoying all manner of delightful conjectures with
Charlotte； till the ladies returned to the drawing…room； and then he
said as much as he dared to Mary Ross； far more than she had gained
from Laura； who； as they came out of the dining…room； had said；
'Don't ask me any questions； for I know nothing at all about it。'
Amy was talked to by Mrs。 Gresham about club…books； and new flowers； to
which she was by this time able to attend very well； satisfied that his
happiness had returned； and content to wait till the good time for
knowing how。 She could even be composed when the gentlemen came in；
Guy talking to Mr。 Ross about Coombe Prior； and then going to Charles；
but presently she saw no more； for a request for music was made； and
she was obliged to go and play a duet with Laura。 She did not dislike
this； but there followed a persecution for some singing。 Lau