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greeting； as she lifted from her cot her little one； with cheeks
flushed by sleep。 Morning and evening Amy spoke those words； and was
happy in the double kiss that Mary had learnt to connect with them；
happy too in holding her up to the picture； and saying 'papa；' so that
his child might never recollect a time when he had not been a familiar
and beloved idea。
A little play with the merry child； then came Anne to take her away；
and with a suppressed sigh； Amabel dressed for the first time without
her weeds； which she had promised to leave off on Laura's wedding…day。
'No； I will not sigh！' then she thought； 'it does not put me further
from him。 He would be more glad than any one this day； and so I must
show some sign of gladness。'
So she put on such a dress as would be hers for lifeblack silk； and
face cap over her still plain hair； then with real pleasure she put on
Charles's bracelet； and the silver brooch； which she had last worn the
evening when the echoes of Recoara had answered Guy's last chant。 Soon
she was visiting Laura； cheering her； soothing her agitation； helping
her to dress in her bridal array； much plainer than Amy's own had been；
for it had been the especial wish of both herself and Philip that their
wedding should be as quiet and unlike Guy's as possible。 Then Amabel
was running down…stairs to see that all was right； thinking the
breakfast…table looked dull and forlorn； and calling Charlotte to help
her to make it appear a little more festal； with the aid of some
flowers。 Charlotte wondered to see that she had forgotten how she
shunned flowers last summer； for there she was flitting from one old
familiar plant to another in search of the choicest； arranging little
bouquets with her own peculiar grace and taste； and putting them by
each person's place； in readiness to receive them。
It was as if no one else could smile that morning； except Mr。
Edmonstone； who was so pleased to see her looking cheerful； in her
altered dress； that he kissed her repeatedly； and confidentially told
Mrs。 Henley that his little Amy was a regular darling； the sweetest
girl in the world； poor dear； except Laura。
Mrs。 Henley； in the richest of all silks； looked magnificent and
superior。 Mrs。 Edmonstone had tears in her eyes； and attended to every
one softly and kindly； without a word； Charlotte was grave； helpful；
and thoughtful； Charles watching every one； and intent on making things
smooth； Laura looked fixed in the forced composure which she had long
ago learnt； and Philip；it was late before he appeared at all； and
when he came down； there was nothing so plainly written on his face as
headache。
It was so severe that the most merciful thing was to send him to lie on
the sofa in the dressing…room。 Amabel said she would fetch him some
camphor； and disappeared； while Laura sat still with her forced
composure。 Her father fidgeted； only restrained by her presence from
expressing his fears that Philip was too unwell for the marriage to
take place to…day； and Charles talked cheerfully of the great
improvement in his general health； saying this was but a chance thing；
and that on the whole he might be considered as quite restored。
Mrs。 Henley listened and answered； but could not comprehend the state
of things。 Breakfast was over； when she heard Amabel speaking to Laura
in the ante…room。
'It will go off soon。 Here is a cup of hot coffee for you to take him。
I'll call you when it is time to go。'
Amabel and Charlotte were very busy looking after Laura's packing up；
and putting all that was wanted into the carriage； in which the pair
were to set off at once from church； without returning to Hollywell。
At the last moment she went to warn Philip it was time to go； if he
meant to walk to church alone； the best thing for his head。
'It is better；' said Laura； somewhat comforted。
'Much better for your bathing it； thank you；' said Philip； rising；
then； turning to Amy；'Do I wish you good…bye now？'
'No； I shall see you at church； unless you don't like to have my
blackness there。'
'Would we not have our guardian angel； Laura？' said Philip。
'You know _he_ would have been there；' said Amy。 'No one would have
been more glad； so thank you for letting me come。'
'Thank you for coming；' said Laura； earnestly。 'It is a comfort。'
They left her； and she stood a few minutes to enjoy the solitude； and
to look from the window at her little girl； whom she had sent out with
Anne。 She was just about to open the window to call to her； and make
her look up with one of her merry shouts of 'Mamma！' when Philip came
out at the garden…door； and was crossing the lawn。 Mary was very fond
of him； flattered by the attention of the tallest person in the house；
and she stretched her arms； and gave a cry of summons。 Amabel watched
him turn instantly； take her from her nurse； and hold her in a close
embrace； whilst her little round arms met round his neck。 She was
unwilling to be restored to Anne； and when he left she looked up in his
face； and unprompted； held up to him the primroses and violets in her
hand。
Those flowers were in his coat when Amabel saw him again at church； and
she knew that this spontaneous proof of affection from Guy's little
unconscious child was more precious to him than all the kindnesses she
could bestow。
Little space was there for musing； for it was high time to set off for
church。 Mary Ross met the party at the wicket of the churchyard； took
Charles on her arm； and by look and sign inquired for Amy。
'Bright outwardly；' he answered； 'and I think so inwardly。 Nothing
does her so much good as to represent him。 Did you wonder to see her？'
'No' said Mary。 'I thought she would come。 It is the crowning point
of his forgiveness。'
'Such forgiveness that she has forgotten there is anything to forgive；'
said Charles。
Philip Morville and Laura Edmonstone stood before Mr。 Ross。 It was not
such a wedding as the last。 There was more personal beauty； but no
such air of freshness； youth； and peace。 He was； indeed； a very fine…
looking man； his countenance more noble than it had ever been； though
pale and not only betraying the present suffering of the throbbing；
burning brow； but with the appearance of a care…worn； harassed man；
looking more as if his age was five…and…thirty than eight…and…twenty。
And she； in her plain white muslin and quiet bonnet； was hardly bridal…
looking in dress； and so it was with her face； still beautiful and
brilliant in complexion； but with the weight of care permanent on it；
and all the shades of feeling concealed by a fixed command of
countenance； unable； however； to hide the oppression of dejection and
anxiety。
Yet to the eyes that only beheld the surface； there was nothing but
prosperity and happiness in a marriage between a pair who ha