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any one but Guy defend him。'
'It is very generous。'
'Oh； is not it； Laura？ and he says he is so grieved to see us turned
against Philip； after being so fond of him； he says it makes him feel
as if he had supplanted him； and that he is quite thankful to you for
taking his part still。'
'How shall I bear it？' sighed Laura； to herself。
'I wonder whether he will come？' said Amy； thoughtfully。
'He will；' said Laura。
'You think so？' said Amy。 'Well； Guy would be glad。 Yes。 0 Laura； if
Philip would learn to do Guy justice； I don't think there would be any
more to wish！'
'He will in time；' said Laura。 'He is too generous not to be won by
such generosity as Guy's； and when all this is forgotten； and all these
accusations have been lived down； he will be the warmest of friends。'
'Yes；' said Amy； as if she wished to be convinced； 'but if he would
only leave off saying his opinion has never altered； I think I could
bring myself to look on him as Guy wants me to do。 Good night！ dear
Laura； and don't be unhappy。 Oh！ one thing I must tell you； Guy made
Charles promise to do all he could not to let it be a hasty letter。
Now； good night！'
Poor Laura； she knew not whether gratitude to Guy was not one of her
most painful sensations。 She wished much to know what had been said in
the letter； but only one sentence transpired； and that was； that Mr。
Edmonstone had never heard it was necessary to apply to a nephew for
consent to a daughter's marriage。 It seemed as if it must have been as
cutting as Charles could make it； but Laura trusted to Philip's
knowledge of the family； and desire for their good； to make him forgive
it； and the expectation of seeing him again at the wedding； cheered
her。 Indeed； a hope of still greater consequences began to rise in her
mind； after Charles one day said to her； 'I think you ought to be much
obliged to Guy。 This morning； he suddenly exclaimed； 〃I say； Charlie；
I wish you would take care Amy's fortune is not settled on her so that
it can't be got rid of。〃 I asked how he meant to make ducks and drakes
of it； and he explained； that if either of you two did not happen to
marry for money； like Amy； it might do you no harm。'
'We are very much obliged to him；' said Laura； more earnestly than
Charles had expected。 'Do you know what it is； Charlie？'
'Oh！ you want to calculate the amount of your obligation！ Somewhere
about five thousand pounds； I believe。'
Charles watched Laura； and the former idea recurred； as he wondered
whether there was any particular meaning in her inquiry。
Meaning； indeed； there was。 Laura knew nothing about the value of
money； she did not know what Philip had of his own； how far five； or
even ten； thousand would go in enabling them to marry； or whether it
was available in her father's lifetime； but she thought this prospect
might smooth the way to the avowal of their attachment； as effectually
as his promotion； she reckoned on relief from the weary oppression of
secrecy； and fully expected that it would all be told in the favourable
juncture； when her parents were full of satisfaction in Amy's marriage。
Gratitude to Guy would put an end to all doubt； dislike； and prejudice；
and Philip would receive him as a brother。
These hopes supported Laura； and enabled her to take part with more
appearance of interest in the consultations and arrangements for the
marriage； which were carried on speedily； as the time was short； and
Mr。 Edmonstone's ideas were on a grand scale。 It seemed as if he meant
to invite all the world； and there were no limits to his views of
breakfast； carriages； and splendours。 His wife let him run on without
contradiction； leaving the plans either to evaporate or condense； as
time might prove best。 Guy took Amy out walking； and asked what she
thought of it。
'Do you dislike it very much？' she said。
'I can hardly tell。 Of course； as a general rule； the less parade and
nonsense the better； but if your father wishes it； and if people do
find enjoyment in that way； it seems hard they should not have all they
can out of it。'
'Oh； yes； the school children and poor people；' said Amy。
'How happy the Ashford children will be； feasting the poor people at
Redclyffe！ Old Jonas Ledbury will be in high glory。'
'To be sure it does not seem like merit to feast one's poor neighbours
rather than the rich。 It is so much pleasanter。'
'However； since the poor will be feasted； I don't think the rich ones
will do us much harm。'
'I am sure I shall know very little about them；' said Amy。
'The realities are so great to us； that they will swallow up the
accessories。 There must be the church； and all that； and for the rest；
Amy； I don't think I shall find out whether you wear lace or grogram。'
'There's encouragement for me！' said Amy； laughing。 'However； what I
mean is； that I don't care about it； if I am not obliged to attend； and
give my mind； to those kind of things just then； and that mamma will
take care of。'
'Is it not a great trouble for her？ I forgot that。 It was selfish；
for we slip out of the fuss； and it all falls on her。'
'Yes；' said Amy； 'but don't you think it would tease her more to have
to persuade papa out of what he likes； and alter every little matter？
That would be worry； the rest only exertion； and； do you know； I
think；' said she； with a rising tear； 'that it will be better for her；
to keep her from thinking about losing me。'
'I see。 Very well； we will take the finery quietly。 Only one thing；
Amy； we will not be put out of；we will not miss the full holy…day
service。'
'Oh； yes； that will be the comfort。'
'One other thing； Amy。 You know I have hardly a friend of my own； but
there is one person I should like to ask；Markham。 He has been so
kind； and so much attached to me； he loved my father so devotedly； and
suffered so much at his death； that it is a pity he should not be made
happy； and very happy he will be。'
'And there is one person I should like to ask； Guy； if mamma thinks we
can do it。 I am sure little Marianne ought to be one of my
bridesmaids。 Charlotte would take care of her； and it would be very
nice to have her。'
CHAPTER 28
But no kind influence deign they shower；
Till pride be quelled and love be free。SCOTT
Kilcoran was about twenty miles from Cork； and Captain Morville was
engaged to go and spend a day or two there。 Maurice de Courcy drove
him thither； wishing all the way for some other companion； since no one
ever ventured to smoke a cigar in the proximity of 'Morville'； and；
besides； Maurice's conversational powers were obliged to be entirely
bestowed on his horse and dog； for the captain； instead of； as usual；
devoting himself to suit his talk to his audience； was wrapped in the
deepest meditation；