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Sits hushed； his partner nigh；
Breeze； bird； and flower； confess the hour；
But where is county Guy？SCOTT
How was it meantime with Laura？ The others were laughing and talking
round her； but all seemed lost in the transcendent beam that had shone
out on her。 To be told by Philip that she was all to him that he had
always been to her！ This one idea pervaded hertoo glorious； too
happy for utterance； almost for distinct thought。 The softening of his
voice； and the look with which he had regarded her； recurred again and
again； startling her with a sudden surprise of joy almost as at the
first moment。 Of the future Laura thought not。 Never had a promise of
love been made with less knowledge of what it amounted to： it seemed
merely an expression of sentiments that she had never been without； for
had she not always looked up to Philip more than any other living
creature； and gloried in being his favourite cousin？ Ever since the
time when he explained to her the plates in the Encyclopaedia； and made
her read 'Joyce's Scientific Dialogues；' when Amy took fright at the
first page。 That this might lead further did not occur to her； she was
eighteen； she had no experience； not even in novels； she did not know
what she had done； and above all； she had so leant to surrender her
opinions to Philip； and to believe him always right； that she would
never have dreamt of questioning wherever he might choose to lead her。
Even the caution of secrecy did not alarm her； though she wondered that
he thought it required； safe as his confidence always was with her。
Mrs。 Edmonstone had been so much occupied by Charles's illness； as to
have been unable to attend to her daughters in their girlish days； and
in the governess's time the habit had been disused of flying at once to
her with every joy or grief。 Laura's thoughts were not easy of access；
and Philip had long been all in all to her。 She was too ignorant of
life to perceive that it was her duty to make this conversation known；
or； more truly； she did not awaken her mind to consider that anything
could be wrong that Philip desired。
On coming home； she ran up to her own room； and sitting by the open
window； gave herself up to that delicious dream of new…found joy。
There she still sat when Amy came in； opening the door softly； and
treading lightly and airily as she entered； bringing two or three roses
of different tints。
'Laura！ not begun to dress？'
'Is it time？'
'Shall I answer you according to what Philip calls my note of time； and
tell you the pimpernels are closed； and the tigridias dropping their
leaves？ It would be a proper answer for you； you look as if you were
in Fairy Land。'
'Is papa come home？'
'Long ago！ and Guy too。 Why； where could you have been； not to have
heard Guy and Eveleen singing the Irish melodies？'
'In a trance；' said Laura； starting up； and laughing； with a slight
degree of constraint； which caused Amy； who was helping her to dress；
to exclaim； 'Has anything happened； Laura？'
'What should have happened？'
'I can't guess； unless the fairies in the great ring on Ashendown came
to visit you when we were gone。 But seriously； dear Laura； are you
sure you are not tired？ Is nothing the matter？'
'Nothing at all； thank you。 I was only thinking over the talk I had
with Philip。'
'Oh！'
Amy never thought of entering into Philip's talks with Laura； and was
perfectly satisfied。
By this time Laura was herself again； come back to common life； and
resolved to watch over her intercourse with Guy； since； though she was
convinced that all was safe at present； she had Philip's word for it
that there might be danger in continuing the pleasant freedom of their
behaviour。
Nothing could be more reassuring than Guy's demeanour。 His head seemed
entirely full of the Thursday； and of a plan of his own for enabling
Charles to go to the review。 It had darted into his head while he was
going over the ground with Maurice。 It was so long since Charles had
thought it possible to attempt any amusement away from home； and former
experiments had been so unsuccessful； that it had never even occurred
to him to think of it； but he caught at the idea with great delight and
eagerness。 Mrs。 Edmonstone seemed not to know what to say； she had
much rather that it had not been proposed； yet it was very kind of Guy；
and Charles was so anxious about it that she knew not how to oppose
him。
She could not bear to have Charles in a crowd； helpless as he was； and
she had an unpleasing remembrance of the last occasion when they had
taken him to a flower…show； where they had lost； first Mr； Edmonstone；
next the carriage； and lastly； Amy and Charlotteall had been
frightened； and Charles laid up for three days from the fatigue。
Answers； however； met each objection。 Charles was much stronger； Guy's
arm would be ready for him； Guy would find the carriage。 Philip would
be there to help； besides Maurice； and whenever Charles was tired； Guy
would take him home at once； without spoiling any one's pleasure。
'Except your own；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Thank you； but this would be so delightful。'
'Ah！' said Charles； 'it would be as great a triumph as the dog's that
caught the hare with the clog round his neckthe dog's； I mean。'
'If you will but trust me with him；' said Guy； turning on her all the
pleading eloquence of his eyes； 'you know he can get in and out of the
pony…carriage quite easily。'
'As well as walk across the room；' said Charles。
'I would drive him in it； and tell William to ride in and be at hand to
hold the pony or take it out； and the tent is so near； that you could
get to the breakfast； unless the review had been enough for you。 I
paced the distance to make sure； and it is no further than from the
garden…door to the cherry…tree。'
'That is nothing；' said Charles。
'And William shall be in waiting to bring the pony the instant you are
ready； and we can go home independently of every one else。'
'I thought；' interposed Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'that you were to go to the
mess…dinnerwhat is to become of that？'
'O；' said Charles； 'that will be simply a bore； and he may rejoice to
be excused from going the whole hog。'
'To be sure； I had rather dine in peace at home。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was not happy； but she had great confidence in Guy； and
her only real scruple was； that she did not think it fair to occupy him
entirely with attendance on her son。 She referred it to papa； which；
as every one knew； was the same as yielding the point； and consoled
herself by the certainty that to prevent it would be a great
disappointment to both the youths。 Laura was convinced that to achieve
the adventure of Charles at the review； was at present at least a
matter of far more prominence with Guy than anything relating