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falling in love with her。 Now； as far as I see； Guy is much more in
love with you； or with Deloraine； and the idea argues far more that the
Captain himself is touched。'
'Depend upon it； Charlie； it was this that led to his detecting the
true state of the case。 Ever since that he has kept away。 It is
noble！'
'And what do you think about Laura？'
'Poor child！ I doubt if it was well to allow so much intimacy； yet I
don't see how it could have been helped。'
'So you think she is in for it？ I hope not； but she has not been
herself of late。'
'I think she misses what she has been used to from him； and thinks him
estranged； but I trust it goes no further。 I see she is out of
spirits； I wish I could help her； dear girl； but the worst of all would
be to let her guess the real name and meaning of all this； so I can't
venture to say a word。'
'She is very innocent of novels；' said Charles； 'and that is well。 It
would be an unlucky business to have our poor beauty either sitting
'like Patience on a monument'； or 'cockit up on a baggage…waggon。' But
that will never be。 Philip is not the man to have a wife in barracks。
He would have her like his books； in morocco； or not at all。'
'He would never involve her in discomforts。 He may be entirely
trusted； and as long as he goes on as he has begun； there is no harm
done； Laura will cheer up； will only consider him as her cousin and
friend； and never know he has felt more for her。'
'Her going to Ireland is very fortunate。'
'It has made me still more glad that the plan should take place at
once。'
'And you say 〃nothing to nobody〃？'
'Of course not。 We must not let him guess we have observed anything；
there is no need to make your father uncomfortable； and such things
need not dawn on Amy's imagination。'
It may be wondered at that Mrs。 Edmonstone should confide such a
subject to her son； but she knew that in a case really affecting his
sister； and thus introduced； his silence was secure。 In fact；
confidence was the only way to prevent the shrewd； unscrupulous
raillery which would have caused great distress； and perhaps led to the
very disclosure to be deprecated。 Of late； too； there had been such a
decrease of petulance in Charles； as justified her in trusting him； and
lastly； it must be observed that she was one of those open…hearted
people who cannot make a discovery nor endure an anxiety without
imparting it。 Her tact； indeed； led her to make a prudent choice of
confidants； and in this case her son was by far the best； though she
had spoken without premeditation。 Her nature would never have allowed
her to act as her daughter was doing； she would have been without the
strength to conceal her feelings； especially when deprived of the
safety…valve of free intercourse with their object。
The visit took place as arranged； and very uncomfortable it was to all
who looked deeper than the surface。 In the first place； Philip found
there the last person he wished his friend to meetLady Eveleen； who
had been persuaded to stay for the dinner…party； but Mr。 Thorndale was；
as Charles would have said； on his good behaviour； and； ashamed of the
fascination her manners exercised over him； was resolved to resist it；
answered her gay remarks with brief sentences and stiff smiles； and
consorted chiefly with the gentlemen。
Laura was grave and silent； trying to appear unconscious； and only
succeeding in being visibly constrained。 Philip was anxious and stern
in his attempts to appear unconcerned； and even Guy was not quite as
bright and free as usual； being puzzled as to how far he was forgiven
about the ball。
Amabel could not think what had come to every one； and tried in vain to
make them sociable。 In the evening they had recourse to a game； said
to be for Charlotte's amusement； but in reality to obviate some of the
stiffness and constraint； yet even this led to awkward situations。
Each person was to set down his or her favourite character in history
and fiction； flower； virtue； and time at which to have lived； and these
were all to be appropriated to the writers。 The first read was
'Lily of the valleytruthJoan of ArcPadre Cristoforothe present
time。'
'Amy！' exclaimed Guy。
'I see you are right；' said Charles； 'but tell me your grounds！'
'Padre Cristoforo；' was the answer。
'Fancy little Amy choosing Joan of Arc；' said Eveleen； 'she who is
afraid of a tolerable sized grasshopper。'
'I should like to have been Joan's sister； and heard her tell about her
visions；' said Amy。
'You would have taught her to believe them；' said Philip。
'Taught her！' cried Guy。 'Surely you take the high view of her。'
'I think；' said Philip； 'that she is a much injured person； as much by
her friends as her enemies； but I don't pretend to enter either
enthusiastically or philosophically into her character。'
What was it that made Guy's brow contract； as he began to strip the
feather of a pen； till； recollecting himself； he threw it from him with
a dash； betraying some irritation； and folded his hands。
'Lavender；' read Charlotte。
'What should make any one choose that？' cried Eveleen。
'I know！' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； looking up。 'I shall never forget the
tufts of lavender round the kitchen garden at Stylehurst。'
Philip smiled。 Charlotte proceeded； and Charles saw Laura's colour
deepening as she bent over her work。
'〃LavendersteadfastnessStraffordCordelia in 'King Lear'the late
war。〃 How funny！' cried Charlotte。 'For hear the next： 'Honeysuckle
steadfastnessLord StraffordCordeliathe present time。〃 Why；
Laura； you must have copied it from Philip's。'
Laura neither looked nor spoke。 Philip could hardly command his
countenance as Eveleen laughed； and told him he was much flattered by
those becoming blushes。 But here Charles broke in；'Come； make haste；
Charlotte； don't be all night about it；' and as Charlotte paused； as if
to make some dangerous remark； he caught the paper； and read the next
himself。 Nothing so startled Philip as this desire to cover their
confusion。 Laura was only sensible of the relief of having attention
drawn from her by the laugh that followed。
'A shamrockCaptain Rockthe tailor that was 〃blue moulded for want
of a bating〃Pat Riotismthe time of Malachy with the collar of
gold。'
'Eva！' cried Charlotte。
'Nonsense；' said Eveleen； 'I am glad I know your tastes； Charles。 They
do you honour。'
'More than yours do； if these are yours；' said Charles； reading them
contemptuously； 'RosegenerosityCharles EdwardCatherine Seyton
the civil wars。'
'You had better not have disowned Charlie's； Lady Eveleen；' said Guy。
'Nay do you think I would put up with such a set as these？' retorted
Charles； 'I am not fallen so low as the essence of young ladyism。'
'What can you find to