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she does of grandmamma。'
'You do； do you？'
'Yes。 I never mean to marry； it is so disagreeable。 0 dear！ But how
lovely dear Amy did look。'
'Here's the rain！' exclaimed Charles； as some large drops began to fall
in good time to prevent them from being either savage or sentimental；
though at the expense of Charlotte's pink and white； for they had no
umbrella； and she would not accept a share of Charles's carriage…cloak。
She laughed； and drove on fast through the short cut； and arrived at
the house…door； just as the pelting hail was over； having battered her
thin sleeves； and made her white bonnet look very deplorable。 The
first thing they saw was Guy； with Bustle close to him； for Bustle had
found out that something was going on that concerned his master； and
followed him about more assiduously than ever； as if sensible of the
decree； that he was to be left behind to Charlotte's care。
'Charlotte； how wet you are。'
'Never mind； Charlie is not。' She sprung out； holding his hand； and
felt as if she could never forget that moment when her new brother
first kissed her brow。
'Where's Amy？'
'Here！' and while Guy lifted Charles out； Charlotte was clasped in her
sister's arms。
'Are you wet； Charlie？'
'No； Charlotte would not be wise； and made me keep the cloak to
myself。'
'You are wet through； poor child； come up at once； and change；' said
Amy； flying nimbly up the stairs；up even to Charlotte's own room； the
old nursery； and there she was unfastening the drenched finery。
'0 Amy； don't do all this。 Let me ring。'
'No； the servants are either not come home or are too busy。 Charles
won't want me； he has Guy。 Can I find your white frock？'
'Oh； but Amylet me see！' Charlotte made prisoner the left hand； and
looked up with an arch smile at the face where she had called up a
blush。 'Lady Morville must not begin by being lady's…maid。'
'Let melet me； Charlotte； dear； I sha'n't be able to do anything for
you this long time。' Amy's voice trembled； and Charlotte held her fast
to kiss her again。
'We must make haste；' said Amy； recovering herself。 'There are the
carriages。'
While the frock was being fastened； Charlotte looked into the Prayer…
book Amy had laid down。 There was the name； Amabel Frances Morville；
and the date。
'Has he just written it？' said Charlotte。
'Yes； when we came home。'
'0 Amy！ dear； dear Amy； I don't know whether I am glad or sorry！'
'I believe I am both；' said Amy。
At that moment Mrs。 Edmonstone and Laura hastened in。 Then was the
time for broken words； tears and smiles； as Amy leant against her
mother； who locked her in a close embrace； and gazed on her in a sort
of trance； at once of maternal pride and of pain； at giving up her
cherished nestling。 Poor Laura！ how bitter were her tears； and how
forced her smiles；far unlike the rest！
No one would care to hear the details of the breakfast； and the
splendours of the cake； how Charlotte recovered her spirits while
distributing the favours： and Lady Eveleen set up a flirtation with
Markham； and forced him into wearing one； though he protested； with
many a grunt； that she was making a queer fool of him； how often
Charles was obliged to hear it had been a pretty wedding； and how well
Lord Kilcoran made his speech proposing the health of Sir Guy and Lady
Morville。 All the time； Laura was active and useful；feeling as if
she was acting a play； sustaining the character of Miss Edmonstone； the
bridesmaid at her sister's happy marriage； while the true Laura；
Philip's Laura； was lonely； dejected； wretched； half fearing for her
sister； half jealous of her happiness； forced into pageantry with an
aching heart；with only one wish； that it was over； and that she might
be again alone with her burden。
She was glad when her mother rose； and the ladies moved into the
drawing…room；glad to escape from Eveleen's quick eye； and to avoid
Mary's clear sense；glad to talk to comparative strangers；glad of
the occupation of going to prepare Amabel for her journey。 This lasted
a long time；there was so much to be said； and hearts were so full；
and Amy over again explained to Charlotte how to perform all the little
services to Charles which she relinquished； while her mother had so
many affectionate last words； and every now and then stopped short to
look at her little daughter； saying； she did not know if it was not a
dream。
At length Amabel was dressed in her purple and white shot silk； her
muslin mantle； and white bonnet。 Mrs。 Edmonstone left her and Laura to
have a few words together； and went to the dressing…room。 There she
found Guy； leaning on the mantelshelf； as he used to do when he brought
his troubles to her。 He started as she entered。
'Ought I not to be here？ he said。 'I could not help coming once more。
This room has always been the kernel of my home； my happiness here。'
'Indeed； it has been a very great pleasure to have you here。'
'You have been very kind to me；' he proceeded； in a low； reflecting
tone。 'You have helped me very much； very often； even when Do you
remember the day I begged you to keep me in order； as if I were
Charles？ I did not think then'
He was silent； and Mrs。 Edmonstone little able to find words； smiling；
tried to say；'I little thought how truly and how gladly I should be
able to call you my son；' and ended by giving him a mother's kiss。
'I wish I could tell you half；' said Guy；'half what I feel for the
kindness that made a home to one who had no right to any。 Coming as a
stranger； I found'
'We found one to love with all our hearts；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'I
have often looked back； and seen that you brought a brightness to us
allespecially to poor Charles。 Yes； it dates from your coming； and I
can only wish and trust； Guy； that the same brightness will rest on
your own home。'
'There must be brightness where she is；' said Guy。
'I need not tell you to take care of her；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
smiling。 'I think I can trust you； but I feel rather as I did when
first I sent her and Laura to a party of pleasure by themselves。'
Laura at this moment； came in。 Alone with Amy； she could not speak；
she could only cry； and fearful of distressing her sister； she came
away； but here； with Guy； it was worse； for it was unkind not to speak
one warm word to him。 Yet what could she say！ He spoke first
'Laura； you must get up your looks again； now this turmoil is over。
Don't do too much mathematics； and wear yourself down to a shadow。'
Laura gave her sad； forced smile。
'Will you do one thing for me； Laura？ I should like to have one of
your perspective views of the inside of the church。 Would it be too
troublesome to do？'
'Oh； no； I shall be very glad。'
'Don't set about it till you quite like it； and have plenty