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some writing。 He was obliged to leave it to Charles to finish； and go
out to walk with Amy。
Amabel came in before him； and began to talk to Charles about his great
vexation at his friend's disappointment。
'I am almost sorry you threw out that hint about Mr。 Fielder；' said
she。 'Don't you remember how he was recommended？'
'Ah！ I had forgotten it was Philip's doing； a bit of his spirit of
opposition；' said Charles。 'Were not the boys to have gone to Coombe
Prior？'
'Yes' said Amabel； 'that is the thing that seems to have made him so
unhappy about it。 I am sure I hope it is not true；' she added；
considering； 'for； Charlie； you must know that Guy had an impression
against him。'
'Had he？' said Charles； anxiously。
'It was only an impression； nothing he could accuse him of； or mention
to Lord Kilcoran。 He would have told no one but me； but he had seen
something of him at Oxford； and thought him full of conversation； very
clever； only not the sort of talk he liked。'
'I don't like that。 Charlotte concurs in testifying to his
agreeableness； and in the dearth of intellect； I should not wonder at
Eva's taking up with him。 He would be a straw to the drowning。 It
looks dangerous。'
They were very anxious for further intelligence； but received none；
except that Philip had a letter from his friend； on which his only
comment was a deep sigh； and 'Poor Thorndale！ She little knows what
she has thrown away！' Letters from Kilcoran became rare； Laura
scarcely wrote at all to Philip； and though Mrs。 Edmonstone wrote as
usual； she did not notice the subject； while Charlotte's gravity and
constraint； when she did achieve a letter to Charles； were in such
contrast to her usual free and would…be satirical style； that such eyes
as her brother's could hardly fail to see that something was on her
mind。
So it went on week after week； Charles and Amabel wondering when they
should ever have any notice to go home； and what their family could be
doing in Ireland。 October had given place to November； and more than a
week of November had passed； and here they still were； without anything
like real tidings。
At last came a letter from Mrs。 Edmonstone； which Amabel could not read
without one little cry of surprise and dismay； and then had some
difficulty in announcing its contents to Philip。
'Kilcoran； Nov。 8th。
'My Dearest Amy；You will be extremely surprised at what I have to
tell you； and no less grieved。 It has been a most unpleasant；
disgraceful business from beginning to end； and the only comfort in it
to us is the great discretion and firmness that Charlotte has shown。 I
had better； however； begin at the beginning； and tell you the history
as far as I understand it myself。 You know that Mr。 James Thorndale
has been here； and perhaps you know it was for the purpose of making an
offer to Eveleen。 Every one was much surprised at her refusing him；
and still more when； after much prevarication； it came out that the
true motive was her attachment to Mr。 Fielder； the tutor。 It appeared
that they had been secretly engaged for some weeks； ever since they had
perceived Mr。 Thorndale's intentions； and not； as it was in poor
Laura's case； an unavowed attachment； but an absolute engagement。 And
fancy Eva justifying it by Laura's example！ There was of course great
anger and confusion。 Lord Kilcoran was furious； poor Lady Kilcoran had
nervous attacks； the gentleman was dismissed from the house； and
supposed to be gone to England； Eva shed abundance of tears； but after
a great deal of vehemence she appeared subdued and submissive。 We were
all very sorry for her； as there is much that is very agreeable and
likely to attract her in Mr。 Fielder； and she always had too much mind
to be wasted in such a life as she leads here。 It seemed as if Laura
was a comfort to her； and Lady Kilcoran was very anxious we should stay
as long as possible。 This was all about three weeks or a month ago；
Eva was recovering her spirits； and I was just beginning a letter to
tell you we hoped to be at home in another week； when Charlotte came
into my room in great distress to tell me that Eveleen and Mr。 Fielder
were on the verge of a run…away marriage。 Charlotte had been coming
back alone from a visit to grandmamma； and going down a path out of the
direct way to recall Bustle； who had run on； she said； as if he scented
mischief； came； to her great astonishment； on Eveleen walking arm…in…
arm with Mr。 Fielder！ Charlie will fancy how Charlotte looked at them！
They shuffled； and tried to explain it away； but Charlotte was too
acute for them； or rather； she held steadily to 〃be that as it may；
Lord Kilcoran ought to know it。〃 They tried to frighten her with the
horrors of betraying secrets； but she said none had been confided to
her； and mamma would judge。 They tried to persuade her it was the way
of all lovers； and appealed to Laura s example； but there little
Charlotte was less to be shaken than on any point。 〃I did not think
them worthy to hear their names；〃 she said to me； 〃but I told them；
that I had seen that the truest and deepest of love had a horror of all
that was like wrong； and as to Philip and Laura； they little knew what
they had suffered； besides； theirs was not half so bad。〃 I verily
believe these were the very words she used to them。 At last Eva threw
herself on her mercy； and begged so vehemently that she would only wait
another day； that she suspected； and； with sharpness very like
Charlie's； forced from Eva that they were to marry the next morning。
Then she said it would be a great deal better that they should abuse
her and call her a spy than do what they would repent of all their
lives； she begged Eva's pardon； and cried so much that Eva was in hopes
she would relent； and then came straight to me； very unhappy； and not
in the least triumphant in her discovery。 You can guess what a
dreadful afternoon we had； I don't think any one was more miserable
than poor Charlotte； who stayed shut up in my room all day； dreading
the sight of any one； and expecting to be universally called a traitor。
The end was； that after much storming； Lord Kilcoran； finding Eveleen
determined； and anxious to save her the discredit of an elopement； has
agreed to receive Mr。 Fielder； and they are to be married from this
house on the 6th of December； though what they are to live upon no one
can guess。 The Kilcorans are very anxious to put the best face on the
matter possible； and have persuaded us； for the sake of the family； to
stay for the wedding； indeed； poor Lady Kilcoran is so completely
overcome； that I hardly like to leave her till this is over。 How
unpleasant the state of things in the house is no one can imagine； and
very； very glad shall I be to get back to Hollywell and my Amy and
Charlie。 Dearest Amy；