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murmured in a low tremulous tone； 'Wherever or whenever we may be
destined to meet； Charlie； or if never again； I must thank you for a
great part of my happiness herefor a great deal of kindness and
sympathy。'
Charles looked straight before him； and answered'The kindness was all
on your part。 I had nothing to give in return but ill…temper and
exactions。 But； Guy； you must not think I have not felt all you have
done for me。 You have made a new man of me； instead of a wretched
stick； laughing at my misery； to persuade myself and others that I did
not feel it。 I hope you are proud of it。'
'As if I had anything to do with it！'
'Hadn't； you； that's all！ I know what you won't deny； at any rate
what a capital man…of…all…work you have been to me； when I had no right
to ask it； as now we have；' he added； smiling； because Amy was looking
at him； but not making a very successful matter of the smile。 'When
you come back； you'll see me treat you as indeed 〃a man and a
brother。〃'
This talk retarded them a little； and they did not reach the house till
the guests were arriving。 The first sight that met the eyes of Aunt
Charlotte and Lady Eveleen as they entered； was； in the frame of the
open window； Guy's light agile figure； assisting Charles up the step；
his brilliant hazel eyes and glowing healthy complexion contrasting
with Charles's pale； fair； delicate face； and features sharpened and
refined by suffering。 Amy； her deep blushes and downcast eyes almost
hidden by her glossy curls； stood just behind； carrying her brother's
crutch。
'There they are；' cried Miss Edmonstone； springing forward from her
brother and his wife； and throwing her arms round Amy in a warm
embrace。 'My dear； dear little niece； I congratulate you with all my
heart； and that I do；'
'I'll spare your hot cheeks； Amy dearest！' whispered Eveleen； as Amy
passed to her embrace； while Aunt Charlotte hastily kissed Charles； and
proceeded'I don't wait for an introduction；' and vehemently shook
hands with Guy。
'Ay； did I say a word too much in his praise？' said Mr。 Edmonstone。
'Isn't he all out as fine a fellow as I told you？'
Guy was glad to turn away to shake hands with Lord Kilcoran； and the
next moment he drew Amy out of the group eagerly talking round
Charles's sofa； and holding her hand； led her up to a sturdy； ruddy…
brown； elderly man； who had come in at the same time； but after the
first reception had no share in the family greetings。 'You know him；
already；' said Guy； and Amy held out her hand； saying
'Yes； I am sure I do。'
Markham was taken by surprise； he gave a most satisfied grunt； and
shook hands as heartily as if she had been his favourite niece。
'And the little girl？' said Amy。
'0 yes。I picked her up at St。 Mildred's： one of the servants took
charge of her in the hall。'
'I'll fetch her；' cried Charlotte； as Amy was turning to the door； and
the next moment she led in little Marianne Dixon； clinging to her hand。
Amy kissed her； and held her fast in her arms； and Marianne looked up；
consoled in her bewilderment； by the greeting of her dear old friend；
Sir Guy。
Mr。 Edmonstone patted her head； and when the others had spoken kindly
to her； Charlotte； under whose especial charge Guy and Amy had placed
her； carried her off to the regions up…stairs。
The rest of the evening was hurry and confusion。 Mrs。 Edmonstone was
very busy； and glad to be so； as she must otherwise have given way； and
there was Aunt Charlotte to be talked to； whom they had not seen since
Charles's illness。 She was a short； bustling； active person； with a
joyous face； inexhaustible good…humour； a considerable touch of Irish；
and referring everything to her mother；her one thought。 Everything
was to be told to her； and the only drawback to her complete pleasure
was the anxiety lest she should be missed at home。
Mrs。 Edmonstone was occupied with her； telling her the history of the
engagement； and praising Guy； Amy went up as soon as dinner was over；
to take leave of old nurse； and to see little Marianne； and Eveleen sat
between Laura and Charlotte； asking many eager questions； which were
not all convenient to answer。
Why Sir Guy had not been at home at Christmas was a query to which it
seemed as if she should never gain a reply； for that Charles had been
ill； and Guy at Redclyffe； was no real answer； and finding she should
not be told； she wisely held her tongue。 Again she made an awkward
inquiry
'Now tell me； is Captain Morville pleased about this or not？'
Laura would have been silent； trusting to Eveleen's propensity for
talking； for bringing her to some speech that it might be easier to
answer； but Charlotte exclaimed； 'What has he been saying about it？'
'Saying？ 0 nothing。 But why does not he come？'
'You have seen him more lately than we have；' said Laura。
'That is an evasion；' said Eveleen； 'as if you did not know more of his
mind than I could ever get at； if I saw him every day of my life。'
'He is provoking； that is all；' answered Charlotte。 'I am sure we
don't want him； but Laura and Guy will both of them take his part。'
A call came at that moment；the box of white gloves was come； and
Laura must come and count them。 She would fain have taken Charlotte
with her； but neither Charlotte nor Eveleen appeared disposed to move；
and she was obliged to leave them。 Eva had already guessed that there
was more chance of hearing the facts from Charlotte； and presently she
knew a good deal。 Charlotte had some prudence； but she thought she
might tell her own cousin what half the neighbourhood knewthat Philip
had suspected Guy falsely； and had made papa very angry with him； that
the engagement had been broken off； and Guy had been banished； while
all the time he was behaving most gloriously。 Now it was all
explained； but in spite of the fullest certainty； Philip would not be
convinced； and wanted them to have waited five years。
Eveleen agreed with Charlotte that this was a great deal too bad；
admired Guy； and pitied Amy to her heart's content。
'So； he was banished； regularly banished！' said she。 'However of
course Amy never gave him up。'
'Oh； she never mistrusted him one minute。'
'And while he had her fast； it was little he would care for the rest。'
'Yes； if he had known it； but she could not tell him。'
Eveleen looked arch。
'But I am sure she did not；' said Charlotte； rather angrily。
'You know nothing about it； my dear。'
'Yes； but I do； for mamma said to Charlie how beautifully she did
behave； and he too；never attempting any intercourse。'
'Very good of you to believe it。'
'I am sure of it； certain sure；' said Charlotte。 'How could you
venture to think they would either of them do anything wrong？'
'I did not say they would。'
'What； not to write to