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Mrs。 Drew into no end of a fuss。'
'Not like to have you？'
'0 yes； I should be all very well； but if they heard I was bringing
three or four men with me； they would think them regular wild beasts。
They would be in an awful fright。 Besides； it is so long since I have
been at home； that I don't altogether fancy going there till I settle
there for good。'
'Ah！ it will be sad going there at first。'
'And it has not been my duty yet。'
'But you will be glad when you get there？'
'Sha'n't I？ I wonder if any one has been to shoot the rabbits on the
shag rock。 They must have quite overrun it by this time。 But I don't
like the notion of the first day。 There is not only the great change；
but a stranger at the vicarage。'
'Do you know anything about the new clergyman？ I believe Mrs。 Ashford
is a connection of Lady Thorndale's？'
'Yes； Thorndale calls them pattern people； and I have no doubt they
will do great good in the parish。 I am sure we want some
enlightenment； for we are a most primitive race； and something beyond
Jenny Robinson's dame school would do us no harm。'
Here Mr。 Edmonstone called from the window that they must come in。
Mrs。 Edmonstone thought deeply that night。 She had not forgotten her
notion that Eveleen was attracted by Guy's manners； and had been
curious to see what would happen when Eveleen was sent to Hollywell for
country air。
She had a very good opinion of Lady Eveleen。 Since the former visit；
she had shown more spirit of improvement； and laid aside many little
follies； she had put herself under Laura's guidance； and tamed down
into what gave the promise of a sensible woman； more than anything that
had hitherto been observed in her； and little addicted to match…making
as Mrs。 Edmonstone was； she could not help thinking that Eva was almost
worthy of her dear Guy （she never could expect to find anyone she
should think quite worthy of him； he was too like one of her own
children for that）； and on the other hand； how delighted Lord and Lady
Kilcoran would be。 It was a very pretty castle in the air； but in the
midst of it； the notion suddenly darted into Mrs。 Edmonstone's head；
that while she was thinking of it； it was Amy； not Eveleen； who was
constantly with Guy。 Reading and music； roses； botany； and walks on
the terrace！ She looked back； and it was still the same。 Last Easter
vacation； how they used to study the stars in the evening； to linger in
the greenhouse in the morning nursing the geraniums； and to practise
singing over the school…room piano； how； in a long walk； they always
paired together； and how they seemed to share every pursuit or
pleasure。
Now Mrs。 Edmonstone was extremely fond of Guy； and trusted him
entirely； but she thought she ought to consider how far this should be
allowed。 Feeling that he ought to see more of the world； she had sent
him as much as she could into society； but it had only made him cling
closer to home。 Still he was but twenty； it was only a country
neighbourhood； and there was much more for him to see before he could
fairly be supposed to know his own mind。 She knew he would act
honourably； but she had a horror of letting him entangle himself with
her daughter before he was fairly able to judge of his own feelings。
Or； if this was only behaving with a brother's freedom and confidence；
Mrs。 Edmonstone felt it was not safe for her poor little Amy； who might
learn so to depend on him as to miss him grievously when this intimacy
ceased； as it must when he settled at his own home。 It would be right；
while it was still time； to make her remember that they were not
brother and sister； and by checking their present happy； careless；
confidential intercourse； to save her from the chill which seemed to
have been cast on Laura。 Mrs。 Edmonstone was the more anxious； because
she deeply regretted not having been sufficiently watchful in Laura's
case； and perhaps she felt an unacknowledged conviction that if there
was real love on Guy's part； it would not be hurt by a little reserve
on Amy's。 Yet to have to speak to her little innocent daughter on such
a matter disturbed her so much； that she could hardly have set about
it； if Amy had not； at that very moment； knocked at her door。
'My dear； what has kept you up so late？'
'We have been sitting in Eveleen's room； mamma； hearing about her
London life； and then we began to settle our plans for to…morrow； and I
came to ask what you think of them。 You know Guy has promised to go
and hear the East…hill singing； and we were proposing； if you did not
mind it； to take the pony…carriage and the donkey； and go in the
morning to East…hill； have luncheon； and get Mary to go with us to the
top of the great down； where we have never been。 Guy has been wanting
us； for a long time past； to go and see the view； and saying there is a
track quite smooth enough to drive Charlie to the top。'
Amy wondered at her mother's look of hesitation。 In fact； the scheme
was so accordant with their usual habits that it was impossible to find
any objection； yet it all hinged on Guy； and the appointment at East…
hill might lead to a great many more。
'Do you wish us to do anything else； mamma？ We don't care about it。'
'No； my dear；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'I see no reason against it。 But…
…' and she felt as if she was making a desperate plunge； 'there is
something I want to say to you。'
Amy stood ready to hear； but Mrs。 Edmonstone paused。 Another effort；
and she spoke：…
'Amy； my dear； I don't wish to find fault； but I thought of advising
you to take care。 About Guy'
The very brilliant pink which instantly overspread Amy's face made her
mother think her warning more expedient。
'You have been spending a great deal of time with him of late； very
sensibly and pleasantly； I know； I don't blame you at all； my dear； so
you need not look distressed。 I only want you to be careful。 You
know； though we call him cousin； he is scarcely a relation at all。'
'0 mamma； don't go on；' said poor little Amy； hurriedly； 'indeed I am
very sorry！'
For Amy understood that it was imputed to her that she had been forward
and unmaidenly。 Mrs。 Edmonstone saw her extreme distress； and； grieved
at the pain she had inflicted； tried to reassure her as much as might
be safe。
'Indeed； my dear； you have done nothing amiss。 I only intended to tell
you to be cautious for fear you should get into a way of going on which
might not look well。 Don't make any great difference； I only meant
that there should not be quite so much singing and gardening alone with
him； or walking in the garden in the evening。 You can manage to draw
back a little； so as to keep more with me or with Laura； and I think
that will be the best way。'
Every word； no matter what； increased the burning of poor Amy's cheeks。
A broad