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troublesome to do？'
'Oh； no； I shall be very glad。'
'Don't set about it till you quite like it； and have plenty of time。
Thank you。 I shall think it is a proof that you can forgive me for all
the pain I am causing you。 I am very sorry。
'You are so very kind；' said Laura； bursting into tears； and； as her
mother was gone； she could not help adding； 'but don't try to comfort
me； Guy； don't blame yourself；'tisn't only that；but I am so very；
very unhappy。'
'Amy told me you were grieved for Philip。 I wish I could help it；
Laura。 I want to try to meet him in Switzerland； and； if we can；
perhaps it may be set right。 At any rate he will be glad to know you
see the rights of it。'
Laura wept still more； but she could never again lose the sisterly
feeling those kind words had awakened。 If Philip had but known what he
missed！
Charlotte ran in。 'Oh； I am glad to find you here； Guy； I wanted to
put you in mind of your promise。 You must write me the first letter
you sign 〃Your affectionate brother！〃'
'I won't forget； Charlotte。'
'Guy！ Where's Guy？' called Mr。 Edmonstone。 'The rain's going off。
You must come down； both of you； or you'll be too late。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone hastened to call Amabel。 Those moments that she had
been alone； Amabel had been kneeling in an earnest supplication that
all might be forgiven that she had done amiss in the home of her
childhood； that the blessings might be sealed on her and her husband；
and that she might go forth from her father's house in strength sent
from above。 Her mother summoned her； she rose； came calmly forth； met
Guy at the head of the stairs； put her arm in his； and they went down。
Charles was on the sofa in the ante…room； talking fast； and striving
for high spirits。
'Amy； woman； you do us credit！ Well； write soon； and don't break your
heart for want of me。'
There was a confusion of good…byes； and then all came out to the hall
door； even Charles； with Charlotte's arm。 One more of those fast…
locked embraces between the brother and sister； and Mr。 Edmonstone put
Amabel into the carriage。
'Good…bye； good…bye； my own dearest little one！ Bless you； bless you！
and may you be as happy as a Mayflower！ Guy； goodbye。 I've given you
the best I had to give；and 'tis you that are welcome to her。 Take
care what you do with her； for she's a precious little jewel！ Good…
bye； my boy！'
Guy's face and grasping hand were the reply。 As he was about to spring
into the carriage； he turned again。 'Charlotte； I have shut Bustle up
in my room。 Will you let him out in half an hour？ I've explained it
all to him； and he will be very good。 Good…bye。'
'I'll take care of him。 I'll mention him in every letter。'
'And； Markham； mind； if our house is not ready by Michaelmas； we shall
be obliged to come and stay with you。'
Grunt！
Lastly； as if he could not help it； Guy dashed up the step once more；
pressed Charles's hand； and said； 'God bless you； Charlie！'
In an instant he was beside Amabel； and they drove off；Amabel leaning
forward； and gazing wistfully at her mother and Charles； till she was
startled by a long cluster of laburnums； their yellow bloom bent down
and heavy with wet； so that the ends dashed against her bonnet； and the
crystal drops fell on her lap。
'Why； Amy； the Hollywell flowers are weeping for the loss of you！
She gave a sweet； sunny smile through her tears。 At that moment they
came beyond the thick embowering shrubs； while full before them was the
dark receding cloud； on which the sunbeams were painting a wide…spanned
rainbow。 The semicircle was perfect； and full before them； like an
arch of triumph under which they were to pass。
'How beautiful！' broke from them both。
'Guy；' said the bride； after a few minutes had faded the rainbow； and
turned them from its sight； 'shall I tell you what I was thinking？ I
was thinking； that if there is a doom on us； I am not afraid； if it
will only bring a rainbow。'
'The rainbow will come after； if not with it；' said Guy。
CHAPTER 30
She's a winsome wee thing；
She's a handsome wee thing；
She's a bonnie wee thing；
This sweet wee wifie of mine。BURNS
'Look here； Amy；' said Guy； pointing to a name in the traveller's book
at Altdorf。
'Captain Morville！' she exclaimed； 'July 14th。 That was only the day
before yesterday。'
'I wonder whether we shall overtake him！ Do you know what was this
gentleman's route？' inquired Guy； in French that was daily becoming
more producible。
The gentleman having come on foot； with nothing but his knapsack； had
not made much sensation。 There was a vague idea that he had gone on to
the St。 Gothard； but the guide who was likely to know； was not
forthcoming； and all Guy's inquiries only resulted in； 'I dare say we
shall hear of him elsewhere。'
To tell the truth； Amabel was not much disappointed； and she could see；
though he said nothing； that Guy was not very sorry。 These two months
had been so very happy； there had been such full enjoyment； such
freedom from care and vexation； or aught that could for a moment ruffle
the stream of delight。 Scenery； cathedrals music； paintings；
historical association； had in turn given unceasing interest and
pleasure； and； above all； Amabel had been growing more and more into
the depths of her husband's mind； and entering into the grave； noble
thoughts inspired by the scenes they were visiting。 It had been a sort
of ideal happiness； so exquisite； that she could hardly believe it
real。 A taste of society； which they had at Munich； though very
pleasant； had only made them more glad to be alone together again； any
companion would have been an interruption； and Philip； so intimate； yet
with his carping； persecuting spirit towards Guy； was one of the last
persons she could wish to meet； but knowing that this was by no means a
disposition Guy wished to encourage； she held her peace。
For the present； no more was said about Philip； and they proceeded to
Interlachen； where they spent a day or two； while Arnaud was with his
relations； and they visited the two beautiful lakes of Thun and
Brientz。 On first coming among mountains； Amabel had been greatly
afraid of the precipices； and had been very much alarmed at the way in
which Guy clambered about； with a sureness of foot and steadiness of
head acquired long ago on the crags of Redclyffe； and on which the
guides were always complimenting him； but from seeing him always come
down safe； and from having been enticed by him to several heights；
which had at first seemed to her most dizzy and dangerous； she had
gradually laid aside her fears； and even become slightly； very
slightly； adventurous herself。
One beautiful evening； they were wandering on the side of the
Beatenberg； in the little narrow pat