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don't know how to pardon his making poor Laura so miserable； and
leading her to do what was not right。 Poor； dear girl！ no wonder she
looked so worn and unhappy！ I cannot help being angry with him；
indeed； Guy！' said she； her eyes full of tears。
'The best pleading is his own repentance； Amy。 I don't think you can
be very unrelenting when you see how subdued and how altered he is。
You know you are to make him a visit to…morrow； now the doctor says all
fear of infection is over。'
'I shall be thinking of poor Laura the whole time。'
'And how she would like to see him in his present state？ What shall
you do if I bring him home to Redclyffe？ Shall you go to Hollywell； to
comfort Laura？'
'I shall wait till you send me。 Besides； how can you invite company
till we know whether we have a roof over our house or not？ What is he
doing now？'
'As usual； he has an unlimited capacity for sleep。'
'I wish you had。 I don't think you have slept two hours together since
you left off sitting up。'
'I am beginning to think it a popular delusion。 I do just as well
without it。'
'So you say； but Mr。 Shene would never have taken such a fancy to you；
if you always had such purple lines as those under your eyes。 Look！
Is that a face for Sir Galahad； or Sir Guy； or any of the Round Table？
Come； I wish you would lie down； and be read to sleep。'
'I should like a walk much better。 It is very cool and bright。 Will
you come？'
They walked for some time； talking over the conduct of Philip and
Laura。 Amabel seemed quite oppressed by the thought of such a burthen
of concealment。 She said she did not know what she should have done in
her own troubles without mamma and Charlie； and she could not imagine
Laura's keeping silence through the time of Philip's danger； more
especially as she recollected how appalling some of her bulletins had
been。 The only satisfaction was in casting as much of the blame on him
as possible。
'You know he never would let her read novels； and I do believe that was
the reason she did not understand what it meant。'
'I think there is a good deal in that；' said Guy； laughing； 'though
Charlie would say it is a very _novel_ excuse for a young lady falling
imprudently in love。'
'I do believe； if it was any one but Laura； Charlie would be very glad
of it。 He always fully saw through Philip's supercilious shell。'
'Amy！'
'No； let me go on； Guy； for you must allow that it was much worse in
such a grave； grand； unromantic person； who makes a point of thinking
before he speaks； than if it had been a hasty； hand…over…head man like
Maurice de Courcy； who might have got into a scrape without knowing it。
'That must have made the struggle to confess all the more painful； and
a most free； noble； open…hearted confession it was。'
They tried to recollect all that had passed during that summer； and to
guess against whom he had wished to warn her； but so far were they from
divining the truth； that they agreed it must either have been Maurice；
or some other wild Irishman。
Next； they considered what was to be done。 Philip must manage his
confession his own way； but they had it in their power greatly to
soften matters； and there was no fear that； after the first shock； Mr。
Edmonstone would insist on the engagement being broken off； Philip
should come to recover his health at Redclyffe； where he would be ready
to meet the first advance towards forgiveness；and Amabel thought it
would soon be made。 Papa's anger was sharp； but soon over； he was very
fond of Philip； and delighted in a love affair； but she was afraid
mamma would not get over it so soon； for she would be excessively hurt
and grieved。 'And when I was naughty；' said Amy； 'nothing ever made me
so sorry as mamma's kindness。'
Guy launched out into more schemes for facilitating their marriage than
ever he had made for himself； and the walk ended with extensive castle
building on Philip's account； in the course of which Amy was obliged to
become much less displeased。 Guy told her； in the evening； that she
would have been still more softened if she could have heard him talk
about Stylehurst and his father。 Guy had always wished to hear him
speak of the Archdeacon； though they had never been on terms to enter
on such a subject。 And now Philip had been much pleased by Guy's
account of his walks to Stylehurst； and taken pleasure in telling which
were his old haunts； making out where Guy had been； and describing his
father's ways。
The next day was Sunday； and Amabel was to pay her cousin a visit。 Guy
was very eager about it； saying it was like a stage in his recovery；
and though the thought of her mother and Laura could not be laid aside；
she would not say a word to damp her husband's pleasure in the
anticipation。 It seemed as if Guy； wanting to bestow all he could upon
his cousin in gratitude for his newly…accorded friendship； thought the
sight of his little wife the very best thing he had to give。
It was a beautiful day； early in September； with a little autumnal
freshness in the mountain breezes that they enjoyed exceedingly。
Philip's convalescence； and their own escape； might be considered as so
far decided； that they might look back on the peril as past。 Amabel
felt how much cause there was for thankfulness； and； after all； Philip
was not half as bad now as when he was maintaining his system of
concealment； he had made a great effort； and was about to do his best
by way of reparation； but it was so new to her to pity him； that she
did not know how to begin。
She tried to make the day seem as Sunday…like as she could； by putting
on her white muslin dress and white ribbons； with Charles's hair
bracelet； and a brooch of beautiful silver workmanship； which Guy had
bought for her at Milan； the only ornament he had ever given to her。
She sat at her window； watching the groups of Italians in their holiday
costume； and dwelling on the strange thoughts that had passed through
her mind often before in her lonely Sundays in this foreign land；
thinking much of her old home and East…hill Church； wondering whether
the letter had yet arrived which was to free them from anxiety； and
losing herself in a maze of uncomfortable marvels about Laura。
'Now； then；' at length said Guy； entering； 'I only hope he has not
knocked himself up with his preparations； for he would make such a
setting to rights； that I told him I could almost fancy he expected the
queen instead of only Dame Amabel Morville。'
He led her down； opened the door； and playfully announced； 'Lady
Morville！ I have done it right this time。 Here she is'！
She had of course expected to see Philip much altered； but she was
startled by the extent of the change； for being naturally fair and
high…coloured； he was a person on whom the traces of illness were