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you will be patient with me。 Indeed； Guy； I don't know whether it is a
thing I ought to say；' she added； blushing； 'but I think it would be
dismal for you to go and live all alone at Redclyffe。'
'Honestly； Amy；' replied he； after a little pause； 'if you feel so； and
your father approves； I don't think it will be better to wait。 I know
your presence is a safeguard； and if the right motives did not suffice
to keep me straight； and I was only apparently so from hopes of you；
why then I should be so utterly good for nothing at the bottom； if not
on the surface； that you had better have nothing to say to me。'
Amy laughed incredulously。
'That being settled；' proceeded Guy； 'did you hear what your father
said as you left the breakfast…room？'
She coloured all over； and there was silence。 'What did you answer？'
said she； at length。
'I said； whatever happened； you must not be taken by surprise in having
to decide quickly。 Do you wish to have time to think？ I'll go in and
leave you to consider； if you like。'
'I only want to know what you wish；' said Amy； not parting with his
arm。
'I had rather you did just as suits you best。 Of course； you know what
my wish must be。'
Amy walked on a little way in silence。 'Very well；' said she；
presently； 'I think you and mamma had better settle it。 The worst'
she had tears in her eyes'the going awaymammaCharlieall that
will be as bad at one time as at another。' The tears flowed faster。
'It had better be as you all like best。'
'0 Amy！ I wonder at myself for daring to ask you to exchange your
bright cheerful home for my gloomy old house。'
'No； your home；' said Amy； softly。
'I used to wonder why it was called gloomy； but it will be so no more
when you are there。 Yet there is a shadow hanging over it； which makes
it sometimes seem too strange that you and it should be brought
together。'
'I have read somewhere that there is no real gloom but what people
raise for themselves。'
'True。 Gloom is in sin； not sorrow。 Yes； there would be no comfort if
I were not sure that if aught of grief or pain should come to you
through me； it will not； cannot really hurt you； my Amy。'
'No； unless by my own fault； and you will help me to meet it。 Hark！
was that a nightingale？'
'Yes； the first！ How beautiful！ Theredon't you see it？ Look on
that hazel； you may see its throat moving。 Well！' when they had
listened for a long time；'after all； that creature and the sea will
hardly let one speak of gloom； even in this world； to say nothing of
other things。
'The sea！ I am glad I have never seen it； because now you will show it
to me for the first time。'
'You will never； can never imagine it； Amy！ and he sung；
'With all tones of waters blending；
Glorious is the breaking deep；
Glorious； beauteous； without ending；
Songs of ocean never sleep。'
A silence followed； only broken by the notes of the birds； and
presently by the strokes of the great clock。 Guy looked at his watch。
'Eleven； Amy！ I must go to my reading； or you will have to be very
much ashamed of me。'
For； after the first few days； Guy had returned to study regularly
every day。 He said it was a matter of necessity； not at all of merit；
for though he did not mean to try for honours； Amy must not marry a
plucked man。 His whole career at Oxford had been such a struggle with
the disadvantages of his education； that all his diligence had； he
thought； hardly raised him to a level with his contemporaries。
Moreover； courtship was not the best preparation for the schools； so
that though he knew he had done his best； he expected no more than to
pass respectably； and told Amy it was very good of her to be contented
with a dunce； whereat she laughed merrily。 But she knew him too well
to try to keep him lingering in the April sunshine； and in they went；
Guy to his Greek； and Amy to her mother。 Charlotte's lessons had been
in abeyance； or turned over to Laura of late； and Mrs。 Edmonstone and
her dressing…room were always ready for the confidences of the family；
who sought her there in turnall but one； and that the one whose need
was the sorest。
Amy and her mother comforted themselves with a good quiet cry； that was
not exactly sorrowful； and came to the conclusion that Guy was the most
considerate person in the world； and they would do whatever best suited
him and papa。 So； when Mr。 Edmonstone came home； he was rewarded for
putting off the letter by finding every one willing to let the marriage
take place whenever he pleased。 There were various conferences in the
dressing…room； and Guy and Amy both had burning faces when they came
down to dinner。 Laura beheld them with a throbbing heart； while she
mechanically talked to Dr。 Mayerne； as if nothing was going on。 She
was glad there was no singing that evening； for she felt incapable of
joining； and when at night Charles and his father talked of sitting up
to write to Philip； the misery was such that she had no relief till she
had shut herself in her room； to bear or to crush the suffering as best
she might。
She was still sitting helpless in her wretchedness when Amy knocked at
the door； and came in glowing with blushes and smiles； though her
eyelashes were dewy with tears。
'Laura； dearest！ if you would not be so very unhappy！ I wish I knew
what to do for you。'
Laura laid her head on her shoulder； and cried。 It was a great
comfort； little as Amy could understand her trouble。 Amy kissed her；
soothed her caressingly； cried too； and said； in broken sentences； how
often they would be together； and how comfortable it was that Charlie
was so much better； and Charlotte quite a companion。
'Then you have fixed the day？' whispered Laura； at last。
'The Tuesday in Whitsun…week；' returned Amy； resting her forehead on
Laura's shoulder。 'They all thought it right。'
Laura flung her arms round her； and wept too much to speak。
'Dear； dear Laura！' said Amy； after a time； 'it is very kind of you；
but'
'Oh； Amy！ you don't know。 You must not think so much better of me than
I deserve。 It is not onlyNo； I would not be so selfish； if butbut…
…' Never had her self…command so given way。
'Ah！ you are unhappy about Philip；' said Amy； and Laura； alarmed lest
she might have betrayed him； started； and tried to recover herself； but
she saw Amy was quite unsuspicious； and the relief from this fright
helped her through what her sister was saying； 'Yes； you； who were so
fond of him； must be vexed at this unkindness on his part。'
'I am sure it is his real wish for your good；' murmured Laura。
'I dare say！' said Amy； with displeasure。 Then changing her tone； 'I
beg your pardon； dear Laura； but I don't think I can quite bear to hear
any one but Guy defend him。'
'I