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vacation； but that he thought he could not give time enough to his
studies here； and had settled； at Oxford； to make one of a reading…
party； under the tutorship of his friend； Mr。 Wellwood。
'Where do they go？'
'It is not settled。 Guy wished it to be the sea…side； but Philip has
been recommending a farmhouse in Stylehurst parish； rather nearer St。
Mildred's Wells than Stylehurst； but quite out in the moor； and an
immense way from both。'
'Do you think it will be the place？'
'Yes； Guy thinks it would suit Mr。 Wellwood； because he has friends at
St。 Mildred's； so he gave his vote for it。 He expects to hear how it
is settled to…day or to…morrow。'
Coming out on the lawn； they found the three ladies sitting under the
acacia； with their books and work。 Laura did； indeed； look older than
her real age； as much above twenty as Amy looked under nineteen。 She
was prettier than ever； her complexion exquisite in delicacy； her fine
figure and the perfect outline of her features more developed； but the
change from girl to woman had passed over her； and set its stamp on the
anxious blue eye； and almost oppressed brow。 Mary thought it would be
hard to define where was that difference。 It was not want of bloom；
for of that Laura had more than any of the others； fresh； healthy； and
bright； while Amy was always rather pale； and Lady Eveleen was
positively wan and faded by London and late hours； nor was it loss of
animation； for Laura talked and laughed with interest and eagerness；
nor was it thought； for little Amy； when at rest； wore a meditative；
pensive countenance； but there was something either added or taken
away； which made it appear that the serenity and carelessness of early
youth had fled from her； and the air of the cares of life had come over
her。
Mary told her plans；Church service at four； followed by a tea…
drinking in the fields； tea in the garden for the company； and play for
the school children and all who liked to join them。 Every one likes
such festivals； which have the recommendation of permitting all to do
as they please； bringing friends together in perfect ease and freedom；
with an object that raises them above the rank of mere gatherings for
the pleasure of rich neighbours。
Mrs。 Edmonstone gladly made the engagement and Lady Eveleen promised to
be quite well； and to teach the children all manner of new games；
though she greatly despised the dullness of English children； and had
many droll stories of the stupidity of Laura's pupils； communicated to
her； with perhaps a little exaggeration； by Charles； and still further
embellished by herself； for the purpose of exciting Charlotte's
indignation。
Mary proceeded to her consultation about the singing； and was conducted
by Guy and Amy to the piano； and when her ears could not be
indoctrinated by their best efforts； they more than half engaged to
walk to East…hill； and have a conversation with the new school…master；
whom Mary pitied for having fallen on people so unable to appreciate
his musical training as herself and her father。 The whole party walked
back with her as far as the shade lasted； and at the end of the next
field she turned； saw them standing round the stile； thought what happy
people they were； and then resumed her wonder whither Laura's
youthfulness had flown。
The situation of Philip and Laura had not changed。 His regiment had
never been at any great distance from Hollywell； and he often came；
venturing more as Laura learnt to see him with less trepidation。 He
seldom or never was alone with her； but his influence was as strong as
ever； and look； word； and gesture； which she alone could understand；
told her what she was to him； and revealed his thoughts。 To him she
was devoted； all her doings were with a view to please him； and deserve
his affection； he was her world； and sole object。 Indeed； she was
sometimes startled by perceiving that tenderly as she loved her own
family； all were subordinate to him。 She had long since known the true
name of her feelings for him； she could not tell when or how the
certainty had come； but she was conscious that it was love that they
had acknowledged for one another and that she only lived in the light
of his love。 Still she did not realize the evil of concealment； it was
so deep a sensation of her innermost heart； that she never could
imagine revealing it to any living creature； and she had besides so
surrendered her judgment to her idol； that no thought could ever cross
her that he had enjoined what was wrong。 Her heart and soul were his
alone； and she left the future to him without an independent desire or
reflection。 All the embarrassments and discomforts which her secret
occasioned her were met willingly for his sake； and these were not a
few； though time had given her more self…command； or； perhaps； more
properly speaking； had hardened her。
She always had a dread of tete…a…tetes and conversations over novels；
and these were apt to be unavoidable when Eveleen was at Hollywell。
The twilight wanderings on the terrace were a daily habit； and Eveleen
almost always paired with her。 On this evening in particular； Laura
was made very uncomfortable by Eveleen's declaring that it was
positively impossible and unnatural that the good heroine of some novel
should have concealed her engagement from her parents。 Laura could not
help saying that there might be many excuses； then afraid that she was
exciting suspicion； changed the subject in great haste； and tried to
make Eveleen come indoors； telling her she would tire herself to death；
and vexed by her cousin's protestations that the fresh cool air did her
good。 Besides； Eveleen was looking with attentive eyes at another pair
who were slowly walking up and down the shady walk that bordered the
grass…plot； and now and then standing still to enjoy the subdued
silence of the summer evening； and the few distant sounds that marked
the perfect lull。
'How calmhow beautiful！' murmured Amabel。
'It only wants the low solemn surge and ripple of the tide； and its
dash on the rocks；' said Guy。 'If ever there was music； it is there；
but it makes one think what the ear must be that can take in the whole
of those harmonics。'
'How I should like to hear it！'
'And see it。 0 Amy！ to show you the sunny sea；the sense of breadth
and vastness in that pale clear horizon line； and the infinite number
of fields of light between you and it；and the free feelings as you
stand on some high crag； the wind blowing in your face across half the
globe； and the waves dashing far below！ I am growing quite thirsty for
the sea。'
'You know； papa said something about your taking your reading…party to
Redclyffe。'
'True； but I don't think Markham would like it； and it would put old
Mrs。 Drew into no end of a fuss。'
'Not like to have you？'