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long before Amabel could get her to hear that his face was much less
thin now； and that he was altogether much stronger； it was fatigue and
anxiety to…night； and to…morrow he would be better。 Laura proceeded to
brood over her belief that his altered demeanour； his settled
melancholy； his not seeking her eye； his cold shake of the hand； all
arose from the diminution of his love； and his dislike to be encumbered
with a weak； foolish wife； with whom he had entangled himself when he
deemed her worthy of him。 She dwelt on all this in silence； as she sat
at her sister's feet； and Amy left her to think； only now and then
giving some caress to her hair or cheek； and at each touch the desolate
waste of life that poor Laura was unfolding before herself was rendered
less dreary by the thought； 'I have my sister still； and she knows
sorrow too。' Then she half envied Amy； who had lost her dearest by
death； and held his heart fast to the last； not； like herself； doomed
to see the love decay for which she had endured so longdecay at the
very moment when the suspense was over。
Laura might justly have envied Amabel； though for another reason； it
was because in her cup there was no poison of her own infusing。
There she stayed till Charlotte came to summon her to tea； saying the
gentlemen； except Charles； were still in the dining…room。
They had remained sitting over the fire for a considerable space；
waiting for each other to begin； Mr。 Edmonstone irresolute； Philip
striving to master his feelings； and to prevent increasing pain and
confusion from making him forget what he intended； to say。 At last；
Mr。 Edmonstone started up； pulled out his keys； took a candle； and
said； 'Come to the studyI'll give you the Redclyffe papers。'
'Thank you；' said Philip； also rising； but only because he could not
sit while his uncle stood。 'Not to…night； if you please。 I could not
attend to them。'
'What； your head？ Eh？'
'Partly。 Besides； there is another subject on which I hope you will
set me at rest before I can enter on any other。'
'YesyesI know；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； moving uneasily。
'I am perfectly conscious how deeply I have offended。'
Mr。 Edmonstone could not endure the apology。
'Well； well；' he broke in nervously； 'I know all that； and it can't be
helped。 Say no more about it。 Young people will be foolish； and I
have been young and in love myself。'
That Captain Morville should live to be thankful for being forgiven in
consideration of Mr。 Edmonstone's having been young！
'May I then consider myself as pardoned； and as having obtained your
sanction？'
'Yes； yes； yes； and I hope it will cheer poor Laura up again a little。
Four years has it gone on？ Constancy； indeed！ and it is time it should
be rewarded。 We little thought what you were up to； so grave and
demure as you both were。 So you won't have the papers to…night？ I
can't say you do look fit for business。 Perhaps Laura may suit you
bettereh； Philip？'
Love…making was such a charming sight to Mr。 Edmonstone； that having
once begun to look on Philip and Laura as a pair of lovers； he could
not help being delighted； and forgetting； as well as forgiving； all
that had been wrong。
They did not； however； exactly answer his ideas； Laura did not once
look up； and Philip； instead of going boldly to take the place next
her； sat down； holding his hand to his forehead； as if too much
overpowered by indisposition to think of anything else。 Such was in
great measure the case； he was very much fatigued with the journey； and
these different agitating scenes had increased the pain in his head to
a violent degree； besides which； feeling that his aunt still regarded
him as she did at Recoara； he could not bear to make any demonstration
towards Laura before her； lest she might think it a sort of triumphant
disregard of her just displeasure。
Poor Laura saw in it both severe suffering and dislike to her； and the
more she understood from her father's manner what had passed in the
other room； the more she honoured him for the sacrifice he was making
of himself。
Mrs。 Edmonstone waited on the headache with painful attention； but they
all felt that the only thing to be done for the two poor things was to
let them come to an explanation； so Charlotte was sent to bed； her
mother went up to Amy； Charles carried off his father to the study； and
they found themselves alone。
Laura held down her face； and struggled to make her palpitating heart
and dry tongue suffer her to begin the words to which she had wound
herself up。 Philip raised his hands from his eyes as the door shut；
then rose up； and fixed them on Laura。 She； too； looked up； as if to
begin； their eyes met； and they understood all。 He stepped towards
her； and held out his hands。 The next moment both hers were clasped in
hishe had bent down and kissed her brow。
No words of explanation passed between them。 Laura knew he was her
own； and needed no assurance that her misgivings had been vain。 There
was a start of extreme joy； such as she had known twice before； but it
could be only for a moment while he looked so wretchedly unwell。 It
did but give her the right to attend to him。 The first thing she said
was to beg him to lie down on the sofa； her only care was to make him
comfortable with cushions； and he was too entirely worn out to say
anything he had intended； capable only of giving himself up to the
repose of knowing her entirely his own； and of having her to take care
of him。 There he lay on the sofa； with his eyes shut； and Laura's hand
in his； while she sat beside him； neither of them speaking； and；
excepting that she withdrew her hand； neither moved when the others
returned。
Mrs。 Edmonstone compassionated him； and showed a great deal of
solicitude about him； trying hard to regard him as she used to do； yet
unable to bring back the feeling； and therefore； do what she would；
failing to wear its semblance。
Laura； sad； anxious； and restless； had no relief till she went to wish
her sister good night。 Amabel； who was already in bed； stretched out
her hand with a sweet look； beaming with affection and congratulation。
'You don't want to be convinced now that all is right！' said she。
'His head is so dreadfully bad！' said Laura。
'Ah！ it will get better now his mind is at rest。'
'If it will but do so！'
'And you know you must be happy to…morrow； because of baby。'
'My dear；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； coming in； 'I am sorry to prevent your
talk； but Amy must not be kept awake。 She must keep her strength for
to…morrow'
'Good night； then； dear； dear Laura。 I am so glad your trouble is
over； and you have him again！' whispered Amabel； with her parting kiss；
and Laura went away； better able to hope； to pray； and to rest； than
she could have thought possible when sh