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It was particularly becoming to Laura's bella…donna lily complexion；
rich brown curls； and classical features； and her brother exclaimed：
'Laura is exactly like Apollo playing the lyre； outside mamma's old
manuscript book of music。'
'Has not Amy made beautiful wreaths？' said Laura。 'She stripped the
tree； and Guy had to fetch the ladder； to gather the sprays on the top
of the wall。'
'Do you see your bit of myrtle； Guy；' said Amy； pointing to it； on
Laura's head； 'that you tried to persuade me would pass for jessamine？'
'Ah！ it should have been all myrtle；' said Guy。
Philip leant meantime against the door。 Laura only once glanced
towards him； thinking all this too trifling for him； and never
imagining the intense interest with which he gave a meaning to each
word and look。
'Well done； Mary！' cried Charles； 'they have furbished you up
handsomely。'
Mary made a face； and said she should wonder who was the fashionable
young lady she should meet in the pier…glasses at Allonby。 Then Mr。
Edmonstone hurried them away； and they arrived in due time。
The saloon at Allonby was a beautiful room； one end opening into a
conservatory； full of coloured lamps； fresh green leaves； and hot…house
plants。 There they found as yet only the home party； the good…natured；
merry Lord Kilcoran； his quiet English wife； who had bad health； and
looked hardly equal to the confusion of the evening； Maurice； and two
younger boys； Eveleen； and her two little sisters； Mabel and Helen。
'This makes it hard on Charlotte；' thought Amy； while the two girls
dragged her off to show her the lamps in the conservatory； and the rest
attacked Mrs。 Edmonstone for not having brought Charlotte； reproaching
her with hardness of heart of which they had never believed her
capableLady Eveleen； in especial； talking with that exaggeration of
her ordinary manner which her dread of Captain Morville made her
assume。 Little he recked of her； he was absorbed in observing how far
Laura's conduct coincided with Charles's hints。 On the first
opportunity； he asked her to dance； and was satisfied with her pleased
acquiescence； but the next moment Guy came up； and in an eager manner
made the same request。
'I am engaged；' said she； with a bright； proud glance at Philip； and
Guy pursued Amabel into the conservatory； where he met with better
success。 Mr。 Edmonstone gallantly asked Mary if he was too old a
partner； and was soon dancing with the step and spring that had once
made him the best dancer in the county。
Mrs。 Edmonstone watched her flock； proud and pleased； thinking how well
they looked and that； in especial； she had never been sensible how much
Laura's and Philip's good looks excelled the rest of the world。 They
were much alike in the remarkable symmetry both of figure and feature；
the colour of the deep blue eye； and fairness of complexion。
'It is curious；' thought Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'that； so very handsome as
Philip is； it is never the first thing remarked about him； just as his
height never is observed till he is compared with other people。 The
fact is； that his superior sense carries off a degree of beauty which
would be a misfortune to most men。 It is that sedate expression and
distinguished air that make the impression。 How happy Laura looks； how
gracefully she moves。 No； it is not being foolish to think no one
equal to Laura。 My other pair！' and she smiled much more； 'you happy
young things； I would not wish to see anything pleasanter than your
merry faces。 Little Amy looks almost as pretty as Laura； now she is
lighted up by blush and smile； and her dancing is very nice； it is just
like her laughing； so quiet； and yet so full of glee。 I don't think
she is less graceful than her sister； but the complete enjoyment
strikes one more。 And as to enjoymentthere are those bright eyes of
her partner's perfectly sparkling with delight； he looks as if it was a
world of enchantment to him。 Never had any one a greater capacity for
happiness than Guy。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone might well retain her opinion when； after the
quadrille； Guy came to tell her that he had never seen anything so
delightful； and he entertained Mary Ross with his fresh； joyous
pleasure； through the next dance。
'Laura；' whispered Eveleen； 'I've one ambition。 Do you guess it？
Don't tell him； but if he would； I should have a better opinion of
myself ever after。 I'm afraid he'll depreciate me to his friend； and
really with Mr。 Thorndale； I was no more foolish than a ball requires。'
Lady Eveleen hoped in vain。 Captain Morville danced with little Lady
Helen； a child of eleven； who was enchanted at having so tall a
partner； then； after standing still for some time； chose his cousin
Amabel。
'You are a good partner and neighbour；' said he； giving her his arm；
'you don't want young lady talk。'
'Should you not have asked Mary？ She has been sitting down this long
time。'
'Do you think she cares for such a sport as dancing？'
Amy made no answer。
'You have been well off。 You were dancing with Thorndale just now。'
'Yes。 It was refreshing to have an old acquaintance among so many
strangers。 And he is so delighted with Eveleen； but what is more；
Philip； that Mr。 Vernon； who is dancing with Laura； told Maurice he
thought her the prettiest and most elegant person here。'
'Laura might have higher praise；' said Philip； 'for hers is beauty of
countenance even more than of feature。 If only'
'If？' said Amy。
'Look round； Amy； and you will see many a face which speaks of
intellect wasted； or； if cultivated； turned aside from its true
purpose； like the double blossom； which bears leaves alone。'
'Ah！ you forget you are talking to silly little Amy。 I can't see all
that。 I had rather think people as happy and good as they look。'
'Keep your child…like temper as long as you canall your life；'
perhaps； for this is one of the points where it is folly to be wise。'
'Then you only meant things in general？ Nothing about Laura？'
'Things in general；' repeated Philip； 'bright promises blighted or
thrown away'
But he spoke absently； and his eye was following Laura。 Amy thought he
was thinking of his sister； and was sorry for him。 He spoke no more；
but she did not regret it； for she could not moralize in such a scene；
and the sight and the dancing were pleasure enough。
Guy； in the meantime； had met an Oxford acquaintance； who introduced
him to his sisterspretty girlswhose father Mr。 Edmonstone knew； but
who was rather out of the Hollywell visiting distance。 They fell into
conversation quickly； and the Miss Alstons asked him with some
interest； 'Which was the pretty Miss Edmonstone？' Guy looked for the
sisters； as if to make up his mind； for the fact was； that when he
first knew Laura and Amy； the idea of criticising beauty had not