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easily that she must be on her guard。 She sat down； settled the little
one on her knee； and gave him time to recover himself。
Presently he came and stood by her saying； in a most decided tone；
'Amabel； you must let me do this child justice。'
She looked up； wondering what he could mean。
'I will not delay in taking steps for restoring her inheritance；' said
he； hoping by determination to overpower Amabel； and make her believe
it a settled and a right thing。
'0 Philip； you are not thinking of that！'
'It is to be done。'
'You would not be so unkind to this poor little girl；' said Amy； with a
persuasive smile； partaking of her old playfulness； adding； very much
in earnest； 'Pray put it out of your head directly； for it would be
very wrong。'
The nurse knocked at the door to fetch the baby； as Amabel had desired。
When this interruption was over； Philip came and sat down opposite to
her； and began with his most decided manner：
'You must listen to me； Amy； and not allow any scruples to prevent you
from permitting your child to be restored to her just rights。 You must
see that the estate has come to me by circumstances such that no honest
man can be justified in retaining it。 The entail was made to exclude
females； only because of the old Lady Granard。 It is your duty to
consent。'
'The property has always gone in the male line；' replied Amabel。
'There never was such a state of things。 Old Sir Guy could never have
thought of entailing it away from his own descendant on a distant
cousin。 It would be wrong of me to profit by these unforeseen
contingencies； and you ought not； in justice to your child； to object。'
He spoke so forcibly and decidedly that he thought he must have
prevailed。 But not one whit convinced； Amabel answered； in her own
gentle voice； but beginning with a business…like argument：'Such a
possibility was contemplated。 It was all provided for in the marriage
settlements。 Indeed； I am afraid that； as it is； she will be a great
deal too rich。 Besides； Philip； I am sure this is exactly what Guy
would have chosen；' and the tears rose in her eyes。 'The first thing
that came into my head when she was born； was； that it was just what he
wished； that I should have her for myself； and that you should take
care of Redclyffe。 I am certain now that he hoped it would be so。 I
knowindeed I dothat he took great pleasure in thinking of its being
in your hands； and of your going on with all he began。 You can't have
forgotten how much he left in your charge？ If you were to give it up；
it would be against his desire； and with that knowledge； how could I
suffer it？ Then think what a misfortune to her； poor little thing； to
be a great heiress； and how very bad for Redclyffe to have no better a
manager than me！ Oh； Philip； can you not see it is best as it is； and
just as he wished？'
He almost groaned 'If you could guess what a burden it is。'
'Ah！ but you must carry it； not throw it down on such hands as mine and
that tiny baby's；' said she； smiling。
'It would have been the same if it had been a boy。'
'Yes； then I must have done the best I could； and there would have been
an end to look to； but I am so glad to be spared。 And you are so fit
for it； and will make it turn to so much use to every one。'
'I don't feel as if I should ever be of use to any one；' said Philip；
in a tone of complete dejection。
'Your head is aching；' said she； kindly。
'It always does； more or less；' replied he； resting it on his hand。
'I am so sorry。 Has it been so ever since you were ill？ But you are
better？ You look better than when I saw you last。'
'I am better on the whole； but I doubt whether I shall ever be as
strong as I used to be。 That ought to make me hesitate； even if'
then came a pause； while he put his hand over his face； and seemed
struggling with irrepressible emotion； and after all he was obliged to
take two walks to the window before he could recover composure； and
could ask in a voice which he tried to make calm and steady； though his
face was deeply flushed 'Amy； how is Laura？'
'She is very well；' answered Amabel。 'Only you must not be taken by
surprise if you see her looking thinner。'
'And she has trustedshe has endured through all？' said he； with
inquiring earnestness。
'O yes！'
'And theyyour father and mothercan forgive？'
'They dothey have。 But； Philip； it was one of the things I came down
to say to you。 I don't think you must expect papa to begin about it
himself。 You know he does not like awkwardness； though he will be very
glad when once it is done； and ready to meet you half way。' He did not
answer； and after a silence Amabel added； 'Laura is out of doors。 She
and Charlotte take very long walks。'
'And is she really strong and well； or is it that excited overdoing of
employment that I first set her upon？' he asked； anxiously。
'She is perfectly well； and to be busy has been a great help to her；'
said Amabel。 'It was a great comfort that we did not know how ill you
had been at Corfu； till the worst was over。 Eveleen only mentioned it
when you were better。 I was very anxious； for I had some fears from
the note that you sent by Arnaud。 I am very glad to see you safe here；
for I have felt all along that we forsook you； but I could not help
it。'
'I am very glad you did not stay。 The worst of all would have been
that you should have run any risk。'
'There is the carriage；' said Amy。 'Mamma and Charlie have been to
Broadstone。 They thought they might meet you by the late train。'
Philip's colour rose。 He stood upsat down； then rising once more；
leant on the mantel…piece； scarcely knowing how to face either of them…
…his aunt； with her well…merited displeasure； and Charles； who when he
parted with him had accused him so justlyCharles； who had seen
through him and had been treated with scorn。
A few moments； and Charles came in； leaning on his mother。 They both
shook hands； exclaimed at finding Amabel downstairs； and Mrs。
Edmonstone asked after Philip's health in her would…be cordial manner。
The two ladies then went up…stairs together； and thus ended that
conference； in which both parties had shown rare magnanimity； of which
they were perfectly unconscious； and perhaps the most remarkable part
of all was that Philip quietly gave up the great renunciation and so…
called sacrifice； with which he had been feeding his hopes； at the
simple bidding of the gentle…spoken Amabelnot even telling her that
he resigned it。 He kept the possessions which he abhorred； and gave up
the renunciation he had longed to make； and in this lay the true
sacrifice； the greater because the world would think him the gainer。
When the mother and daughter were gone； the cousins were silent； Philip
resting his elbow on the mantel…shelf and hi