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story。'
'It is not the end；' said Philip。 'I was surprised to see Guy so
sober； instead of going into one of his usual raptures。 He took them
home； but the first thing I heard in the morning was； that he was gone
to offer them to a farmer； to keep the birds from his fruit。'
'Did he do it of his own accord？' asked Laura。
'That was just what I wanted to know； but any hint about them brought
such a cloud over his face that I thought it would be wanton to
irritate him by questions。 However； I must be going。 Good…bye； Amy； I
hope your Camellia will have another blossom before I come back。 At
least； I shall escape the horticultural meeting。'
'Good…bye；' said Charles。 'Put the feud in your pocket till you can
bury it in old Sir Guy's grave； unless you mean to fight it out with
his grandson； which would be more romantic and exciting。'
Philip was gone before he could finish。 Mrs。 Edmonstone looked
annoyed； and Laura said； 'Charlie； I wish you would not let your
spirits carry you away。'
'I wish I had anything else to carry me away！' was the reply。
'Yes；' said his mother； looking sadly at him。 'Your high spirits are a
blessing； but why misuse them？ If they are given to support you
through pain and confinement； why make mischief with them？'
Charles looked more impatient than abashed； and the compunction seemed
chiefly to rest with Amabel。
'Now；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'I must go and see after my poor little
prisoner。'
'Ah！' said Laura； as she went； 'it was no kindness in you to encourage
Charlotte to stay； Amy； when you know how often that inquisitive temper
has got her into scrapes。'
'I suppose so；' said Amy； regretfully； 'but I had not the heart to send
her away。'
'That is just what Philip says； that you only want bones and sinews in
your character to'
'Come； Laura；' interrupted Charles； 'I won't hear Philip's criticisms
of my sister； I had rather she had no bones at all； than that they
stuck out and ran into me。 There are plenty of angles already in the
world； without sharpening hers。'
He possessed himself of Amy's round； plump； childish hand； and spread
out over it his still whiter； and very bony fingers； pinching her 'soft
pinky cushions；' as he called them； 'not meant for studying anatomy
upon。'
'Ah！ you two spoil each other sadly；' said Laura； smiling； as she left
the room。
'And what do Philip and Laura do to each other？' said Charles。
'Improve each other； I suppose；' said Amabel； in a shy； simple tone； at
which Charles laughed heartily。
'I wish I was as sensible as Laura！' said she； presently； with a sigh。
'Never was a more absurd wish；' said Charles； tormenting her hand still
more； and pulling her curls； 'unwish it forthwith。 Where should I be
without silly little Amy？ If every one weighed my wit before laughing；
I should not often be in disgrace for my high spirits； as they call
them。'
'I am so little younger than Laura；' said Amy； still sadly； though
smiling。
'Folly；' said Charles； 'you are quite wise enough for your age； while
Laura is so prematurely wise； that I am in constant dread that nature
will take her revenge by causing her to do something strikingly
foolish！'
'Nonsense！' cried Amy； indignantly。 'Laura do anything foolish！'
'What I should enjoy；' proceeded Charles； 'would be to see her over
head and ears in love with this hero； and Philip properly jealous。'
'How can you say such things； Charlie？'
'Why？ was there ever a beauty who did not fall in love with her
father's ward？'
'No； but she ought to live alone with her very old father and horribly
grim maiden aunt。'
'Very well； Amy； you shall be the maiden； aunt。' And as Laura returned
at that moment； he announced to her that they had been agreeing that no
hero ever failed to fall in love with his guardian's beautiful
daughter。
'If his guardian had a beautiful daughter；' said Laura； resolved not to
be disconcerted。
'Did you ever hear such barefaced fishing for compliments？' said
Charles； but Amabel； who did not like her sister to be teased； and was
also conscious of having wasted a good deal of time； sat down to
practise。 Laura returned to her drawing； and Charles； with a yawn；
listlessly turned over a newspaper； while his fair delicate features；
which would have been handsome but that they were blanched； sharpened；
and worn with pain； gradually lost their animated and rather satirical
expression； and assumed an air of weariness and discontent。
Charles was at this time nineteen； and for the last ten years had been
afflicted with a disease in the hip…joint； which； in spite of the most
anxious care； caused him frequent and severe suffering； and had
occasioned such a contraction of the limb as to cripple him completely；
while his general health was so much affected as to render him an
object of constant anxiety。 His mother had always been his most
devoted and indefatigable nurse； giving up everything for his sake； and
watching him night and day。 His father attended to his least caprice；
and his sisters were； of course； his slaves； so that he was the
undisputed sovereign of the whole family。
The two elder girls had been entirely under a governess till a month or
two before the opening of our story； when Laura was old enough to be
introduced； and the governess departing； the two sisters became
Charles's companions in the drawing…room； while Mrs。 Edmonstone； who
had a peculiar taste and talent for teaching； undertook little
Charlotte's lessons herself。
CHAPTER 2
If the ill spirit have so fair a house；
Good things will strive to dwell with't。THE TEMPEST
One of the pleasantest rooms at Hollywell was Mrs。 Edmonstone's
dressing…roomlarge and bay…windowed； over the drawing…room； having
little of the dressing…room but the name； and a toilet…table with a
black and gold japanned glass； and curiously shaped boxes to match； her
room opened into it on one side； and Charles's on the other； it was a
sort of up…stairs parlour； where she taught Charlotte； cast up
accounts； spoke to servants； and wrote notes； and where Charles was
usually to be found； when unequal to coming down…stairs。 It had an air
of great snugness； with its large folding…screen； covered with prints
and caricatures of ancient date； its book…shelves； its tables； its
peculiarly easy arm…chairs； the great invalid sofa； and the grate；
which always lighted up better than any other in the house。
In the bright glow of the fire； with the shutters closed and curtains
drawn； lay Charles on his couch； one Monday evening； in a gorgeous
dressing…gown of a Chinese pattern； all over pagodas； while little
Charlotte sat opposite to him； curled up on a footstool。 He was not
always very civil to Charlotte； she sometimes came into collision with