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all the winter； you would perceive my superhuman generosity in not
receiving you as my greatest enemy。'
'I shall soon cease to be surprised at any superhuman generosity；' said
Guy。 'But how thin you are； Charlie； you are a very feather to carry；
I had no notion it had been such a severe business。'
'Most uncommon！' said Charles； shaking his head； with a mock solemnity。
'It was the worst of all；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'six weeks of constant
pain。'
'How very sorry Philip must have been！' exclaimed Guy。
'Philip？' said Charlotte。
'Why； was it not owing to him？ Surely； your father told me so。 Did
not he let you fall on the stairs？'
'My dear father！' exclaimed Charles； laughing； every disaster that
happens for the next twelvemonth will be imputed to Philip。'
'How was it； then？' said Guy。
'The fact was this；' said Charles； 'it was in the thick of the
persecution of you； and I was obliged to let Philip drag me upstairs；
because I was in a hurry。 He took the opportunity of giving me some
impertinent advice which I could not stand。 I let go his arm；
forgetting what a dependent mortal I am； and down I should assuredly
have gone； if he had not caught me； and carried me off； as a fox does a
goose； so it was his fault； as one may say； in a moral； though not in a
physical sense。'
'Then；' said his mother； 'you do think your illness was owing to that
accident？'
'I suppose the damage was brewing； and that the shake brought it into
an active state。 There's a medical opinion for you！'
'Well； I never knew what you thought of it before；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone。
'Why； when I had a condor to pick on Guy's account with Philip； I was
not going to pick a crow on my own；' said Charles。 'Oh！ is luncheon
ready； and you all going？ I never see anybody now。 I want the story
of the shipwreck； though； of course； Ben What's…his…name was the hero；
and Sir Guy Morville not a bit of it。'
Laura wanted to walk to East Hill； and the other young people agreed to
go thither； too。
'It will be nice to go to church there to…day' said Amy； in a half…
whisper； heard only by Guy； and answered by a look that showed how well
he understood and sympathized。
'Another thing；' said Amy； colouring a good deal； 'shall you mind my
telling Mary？ I behaved so oddly last night； and she was so kind to me
that I think I ought。'
Mary had seen enough last night to be very curious to…day； though
hardly expecting her curiosity to be gratified。 However； as she was
putting on her bonnet for church； she looked out of her window； and saw
the four coming across the fields from Hollywell。 Guy and Amy did not
walk into the village arm…in…arm； but； as they came under the church
porch； Guy； unseen by all held out his hand； sought hers； and； for one
moment； pressed it fervently。 Amy knew he felt this like their
betrothal。
After the service； they stood talking with Mr。 Ross and Mary； for some
little time。 Amy held apart； and Mary saw how it was。 As they were
about to turn homewards； Amy said quickly； 'Come and walk a little way
home with me。'
She went on with Mary before the rest； and when out of sight of them
all； said； 'Mary！' and then stopped short。
'I guess something； Amy；' said Mary。
'Don't tell any one but Mr。 Ross。'
'Then I have guessed right。 My dear little Amy； I am very glad！ So
that was the reason you flew out of the room last evening； and looked
so bright and glowing！'
'It was so good of you to ask no questions！'
'I don't think I need ask any now； Amy； for I see in your face how
right and happy it all is。'
'I can't tell you all； Mary； but I must one thing；that the whole
terrible story arose from his helping a person in distress。 I like you
to know that。'
'Papa was always sure that he had not been to blame；' said Mary。
'Yes； so Charlie told me； and that is the reason I wanted you to know。'
'Then； Amy； something of this had begun last summer？'
'Yes； but not as it is now。 I did not half know what it was then。'
'Poor dear little Amy；' said Mary； 'what a very sad winter it must have
been for you！'
'Oh； very！' said Amy； 'but it was worse for him； because he was quite
alone； and here every one was so kind to me。 Mamma and Laura； and poor
Charlie； through all his illness and pain； he was so very kind。 And do
you know； Mary； now it is all over； I am very glad of this dismal time；
for I think that it has taught me how to bear things better。'
She looked very happy。 Yet it struck Mary that it was strange to hear
that the first thought of a newly…betrothed maiden was how to brace
herself in endurance。 She wondered； however； whether it was not a more
truly happy and safe frame than that of most girls； looking forward to
a life of unclouded happiness； such as could never be realized。 At
least； so it struck Mary； though she owned to herself that her
experience of lovers was limited。
Mary walked with Amy almost to the borders of Hollywell garden； and
when the rest came up with them； though no word passed； there was a
great deal of congratulation in her warm shake of Guy's hand； and no
lack of reply in his proud smile and reddening cheek。 Charlotte could
not help turning and going back with her a little way； to say； 'Are not
you delighted； Mary？ Is not Amy the dearest thing in the world？ And
you don't know； for it is a secret； and I know it； how very noble Guy
has been； while they would suspect him。'
'I am very； very glad； indeed！ It is everything delightful。'
'I never was so happy in my life；' said Charlotte； 'nor Charlie；
either。 Only think of having Guy for our brother； and he is going to
send for Bustle to…morrow。'
Mary laughed； and parted with Charlotte； speculating on the cause of
Laura's graver looks。 Were they caused by the fear of losing her
sister； or by a want of confidence in Guy？
That evening； how happy was the party at Hollywell； when Charles put
Guy through a cross…examination on the shipwreck； from the first puff
of wind to the last drop of rain； and Guy submitted very patiently；
since he was allowed the solace of praising his Redclyffe fishermen。
Indeed； this time was full of tranquil； serene happiness。 It was like
the lovely weather only to be met with in the spring； and then but
rarely； when the sky is cloudless； and intensely blue；the sunshine
one glow of clearness without burning；not a breath of wind checks the
silent growth of the expanding buds of light exquisite green。 Such
days as these shone on Guy and Amabel； looking little to the future； or
if they did so at all； with a grave； peaceful awe； reposing in the
present； and resuming old habits；singing； reading； gardening； walking
as of old； and that intercourse with each other that was so much more
than ever before。
It was more； but it was not quite