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Guy knocked at his door； to offer to help him down…stairs。
Guy hardly spoke； and Amy could not look in his face。 It was late； and
he took down Charles at once。 After this； she had very little quiet；
every one was buzzing about her； and putting the last touches to her
dress； at last； just as she was quite finished； Charlotte exclaimed；
'Oh； there is Guy's step； may I call him in to have one look？'
Mrs。 Edmonstone did not say no； and Charlotte； opening the dressing…
room door； called to him。 He stood opposite to Amy for some moments；
then said； with a smile； 'I was wrong about the grogram。 I would not
for anything see you look otherwise than you do。'
It seemed to Mrs。 Edmonstone and Laura that these words made them lose
sight of the details of lace and silk that had been occupying them； so
that they only saw the radiance； purity； and innocence of Amy's bridal
appearance。 No more was said； for Mr。 Edmonstone ran up to call Guy；
who was to drive Charles in the pony…carriage。
Amabel； of course； went with her parents。 Poor child！ her tears flowed
freely on the way； and Mr。 Edmonstone； now that it had really come to
the point of parting with his little Amy； was very much overcome； while
his wife； hardly refraining from tears； could only hold her daughter's
hand very close。
The regular morning service was a great comfort； by restoring their
tranquillity； and by the time it was ended； Amabel's countenance had
settled into its own calm expression of trust and serenity。 She
scarcely even trembled when her father led her forward； her hand did
not shake； and her voice； though very low； was firm and audible； while
Guy's deep； sweet tones had a sort of thrill and quiver of intense
feeling。
No one could help observing that Laura was the most agitated person
present； she trembled so much that she was obliged to lean on
Charlotte； and her tears gave the infection to the other bridesmaids
all but Mary Ross； who could never cry when other people did； and
little Marianne； who did nothing but look and wonder。
Mary was feeling a great deal； both of compassion for the bereaved
family and of affectionate admiring joy for the young pair who knelt
before the altar。 It was a showery day； with gleams of vivid sunshine；
and one of these suddenly broke forth； casting a stream of colour from
a martyr's figure in the south window； so as to shed a golden glory on
the wave of brown hair over Guy's forehead； then passing on and tinting
the bride's white veil with a deep glowing shade of crimson and purple。
Either that golden light； or the expression of the face on which it
beamed； made Mary think of the lines
Where is the brow to wear in mortal's sight；
The crown of pure angelic light？
Charles stood with his head leaning against a pillar as if he could not
bear to look up； Mr。 Edmonstone was restless and almost sobbing； Mrs。
Edmonstone alone collected； though much flushed and somewhat trembling；
while the only person apparently free from excitement was the little
bride； as there she knelt； her hand clasped in his； her head bent down；
her modest； steadfast face looking as if she was only conscious of the
vow she exchanged； the blessing she received； and was； as it were；
lifted out of herself。
It was over now。 The feast； in its fullest sense； was held； and the
richest of blessings had been called down on them。
The procession came out of the vestry in full order； and very pretty it
was； the bride and bridegroom in the fresh bright graciousness of their
extreme youth； and the six bridesmaids following； Laura and Lady
Eveleen； two strikingly handsome and elegant girls； Charlotte； with the
pretty little fair Marianne； Mary Ross； and Grace Harper。 The village
people who stood round might well say that such a sight as that was
worth coming twenty miles to see。
The first care； after the bridal pair had driven off； was to put
Charles into his pony…carriage。 Charlotte； who had just pinned on his
favour； begged to drive him； for she meant to make him her especial
charge； and to succeed to all Amy's rights。 Mrs。 Edmonstone asked
whether Laura would not prefer going with him； but she hastily
answered；
'No； thank you； let Charlotte；' for with her troubled feelings； she
could better answer talking girls than parry the remarks of her shrewd；
observant brother。
Some one said it would rain； but Charlotte still pleaded earnestly。
'Come； then； puss；' said Charles； rallying his spirits； 'only don't
upset me； or it will spoil their tour。'
Charlotte drove off with elaborate care；then came a deep sigh； and
she exclaimed； 'Well！ he is our brother； and all is safe。'
'Yes；' said Charles； 'no more fears for them。'
'Had you any？ I am very glad if you had。'
'Why？'
'Because it was so like a book。 I had a sort of feeling； all the time；
that Philip would come in quite grand and terrible。'
'As if he must act Ogre。 I am not sure that I had not something of the
same notion；that he might appear suddenly； and forbid the banns；
entirely for Amy's sake； and as the greatest kindness to her。'
'Oh！'
'However； he can't separate them now； let him do his worst； and while
Amy is Guy's wife； I don't think we shall easily be made to quarrel。 I
am glad the knot is tied； for I had a fatality notion that the feud was
so strong； that it was nearly a case of the mountains bending and the
streams ascending； ere she was to be our foeman's bride。'
'No；' said Charlotte； 'it ought to be like that story of Rosaura and
her kindred； don't you remember？ The fate would not be appeased by the
marriage； till Count Julius had saved the life of one of the hostile
race。 That would be _it_；perhaps they will meet abroad； and Guy will
_do_ _it_。'
'That won't do。 Philip will never endanger his precious life； nor ever
forgive Guy the obligation。 Well； I suppose there never was a prettier
weddinghow silly of me to say so； I shall be sick of hearing it
before night。'
'I do wish all these people were gone； I did not know it would be so
horrid。 I should like to shut myself up and cry； and think what I
could ever do to wait on you。 Indeed； Charlie； I know I never can be
like Amy but if you'
'Be anything but sentimental； I don't want to make a fool of myself'
said Charles； with a smile and tone as if he was keeping sorrow at bay。
'Depend upon it if we were left to ourselves this evening； we should be
so desperately savage that we should quarrel furiously； and there would
be no Amy to set us to rights。'
'How Aunt Charlotte did cry！ What a funny little woman she is。'
'Yes； I see now who you take after； puss。 You'll be just like her when
you are her age。'
'So I mean to be；I mean to stay and take care of you all my life； as
she does of grandmamma。'
'You do； do you？'