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and Laura went away； better able to hope； to pray； and to rest； than
she could have thought possible when she left the drawing…room。
'Poor dear Laura；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； sighing； 'I hope he will soon
be better。'
'Has it been very uncomfortable？'
'I can't say much for it； my dear。 He was suffering terribly with his
head； so that I should have been quite alarmed if he had not said it
was apt to get worse in the evening； and she； poor thing； was only
watching him。 However； it is a comfort to have matters settled； and
papa and Charlie are well pleased with him。 But I must not keep you
awake after driving Laura away。 You are not over…tired to…night I
hope； my dear？'
'Oh； no； only sleepy。 Good night； dearest mamma。'
'Good night； my own Amy；' then； as Amy put back the coverings to show
the little face nestled to sleep on her bosom； 'good night； you little
darling！ don't disturb your mamma。 How comfortable you look！ Good
night； my dearest！'
Mrs。 Edmonstone looked for a moment； while trying to check the tears
that came at the thought of the night； one brief year ago； when she
left Amy sleeping in the light of the Easter moon。 Yet the sense of
peace and serenity that had then given especial loveliness to the
maiden's chamber on that night； was there still with the young widow。
It was dim lamplight now that beamed on the portrait of her husband；
casting on it the shade of the little wooden cross in front； while she
was shaded by the white curtains drawn from her bed round the infant's
little cot； so as to shut them both into the quiet twilight； where she
lay with an expression of countenance that； though it was not sorrow；
made Mrs。 Edmonstone more ready to weep than if it had been； so with
her last good night she left her。
And Amabel always liked to be shut in by herself； dearly as she loved
them all； and mamma especially； there was always something pleasant in
being able to return to her own world； to rest in the thoughts of her
husband； and in the possession of the little unconscious creature that
had come to inhabit that inner world of hers； the creature that was
only his and hers。
She had from the first always felt herself less lonely when quite
alone； before with his papers； and now with his child； and could Mrs。
Edmonstone have seen her face； she would have wept and wondered more；
as Amy fondled and hushed her babe； whispering to it fond words which
she could never have uttered in the presence of any one who could
understand them； and which had much of her extreme youthfulness in
them。 Not one was so often repeated or so endearing as 'Guy's baby！
Guy's own dear little girl！' It did not mean half so much when she
called it her baby； and she loved to tell the little one that her
father had been the best and the dearest； but he was gone away； and
would she be contented to be loving and good with only her mother to
take care of her； and tell her； as well as she could； what a father
hers was； when she was old enough to know about him？
To…night； Amy told her much in that soft； solemn； murmuring tone； about
what was to befall her to…morrow； and the great blessings to be given
to her； and how the poor little fatherless one would be embraced in the
arms of His mercy； and received by her great Father in heaven：'Ay；
and brought nearer to your own papa； and know him in some inner way；
and he will know his little child then； for you will be as good and
pure and bright as he； and you will belong to the great communion of
saints to…morrow； you precious little one； and be so much nearer to him
as you will be so much better than I。 Oh！ baby； if we can but both
endure to the end！'
With such half…uttered words； Amabel Morville slept the night before
her babe's christening。
CHAPTER 41
A stranger's roof to hold thy head；
A stranger's foot thy grave to tread；
Desert and rock； and Alp and sea；
Spreading between thy home and thee。SEWELL
Mary Ross was eager for the first report from Hollywell the next
morning； and had some difficulty in keeping her attention fixed on her
class at school。 Laura and Charlotte came in together in due time； and
satisfied her so far as to tell her that Amy was very well。
'Is Captain Morville come？' thought Mary。 'No； I cannot guess by
Laura's impressive face。 Never mind； Charles will tell me all between
services。'
The first thing she saw on coming out of school was the pony carriage；
with Charles and Captain Morville himself。 Charlotte； who was all
excitement； had time to say； while her sister was out of hearing；
'It is all made up now； Mary； and I really am very sorry for Philip。'
It was fortunate that Mary understood the amiable meaning this speech
was intended to convey； and she began to enter into its grounds in the
short conference after church； when she saw the alteration in the whole
expression of countenance。
'Yes；' said Charles； who as usual remained at the vicarage during the
two services； and who perceived what passed in her mind； 'if it is any
satisfaction to you to have a good opinion of your fellow…sponsor； I
assure you that I am converted to Amy's opinion。 I do believe the
black dog is off his back for good and all。'
'I never saw any one more changed；' said Mary。
'Regularly tamed；' said Charles。 He is something more like his old
self to…day than last night； and yet not much。 He was perfectly
overpowered thenso knocked up that there was no judging of him。 To…
day he has all his sedateness and scrupulous attention； but all like a
shadow of former timenot a morsel of sententiousness； and seeming
positively grateful to be treated in the old fashion。'
'He looks very thin and pale。 Do you think him recovered？'
'A good way from it；' said Charles。 'He is pretty well to…day；
comparatively； though that obstinate headache hangs about him。 If this
change last longer than that and his white looks； I shall not even
grudge him the sponsorship Amy owed me。'
'Very magnanimous！' said Mary。 'Poor Laura！ I am glad her suspense is
over。 I wondered to see her at school。'
'They are very sad and sober lovers； and it is the best way of not
making themselves unbearable； consideringWell； that was a different
matter。 How little we should have believed it； if any one had told us
last year what would be the state of affairs to…day。 By the bye； Amy's
godson is christened to…day。'
'Who？'
'Didn't you hear that the Ashfords managed to get Amy asked if she
would dislike their calling their boy by that name we shall never hear
again； and she was very much pleased； and made offer in her own pretty
way to be godmother。 I wonder how Markham endures it！ I believe he is
nearly crazy。 He wrote me word he should certainly have given up all
concern with Redclyffe； but for the especial desire of