The Heir of Redclyffe

Guy, the ho

has left

lower perfum

ze is on

lay, who thr

d, his par

and flower, co

e is cou

CO

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 t

and sitting by the open window, gave herself

or softly, and treading lightly and airily as she en

ot begun

it t

l you the pimpernels are closed, and the tigridias dropping their leaves? I

pa com

d you have been, not to have heard Guy

slight degree of constraint, which caused Amy, who was help

uld have

down came to visit you when we were gone. But seriously, dear

I was only thinking over t

O

into Philip's talks with Laura

ntercourse with Guy; since, though she was convinced that all was safe at present, she had Phili

th 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 ide

last occasion when they had taken him to a flower-show, where they had lost, first Mr. Edmonstone, next the carr

r him; Guy would find the carriage. Philip would be there to help, besides Maurice; and when

own,' said Mr

this would be

triumph as the dog's that caught the hare wi

n her all the pleading eloquence of his eyes, 'you know

across the room

nd the tent is so near, that you could get to the breakfast, unless the review had been enough for you.

othing,' s

he pony the instant you are ready, and we c

one, 'that you were to go to the mes

mply a bore, and he may rejoice to

ad rather dine i

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

and falls of the glass, of the way weather-cocks were turning, or about to turn, of swallows flying high or low, red sunsets, and halos round the moon, until at last Guy, bursting into a merry laugh, begged Mrs. Edmonstone's pard

waltzes, polkas, and now and then an Irish jig, for the special benefit of Mr. Edmonstone's ears. The morning was almost as much spent in mirth as the afternoon, for the dawdlings after breakfast, and before luncheon, had a great tendency to spread out and meet, there was new music and singing to be practised, or preparations made for evening's diversion, or councils to be held, which Laura's absence could not break up, though

rs. Edmonstone, their daughters, and Lady Eveleen, were packed inside and outside the great carriage, while Guy, carefully settling Charles in the low pha

nterest as to banish all thought of fatigue. Happy, indeed, he was. He enjoyed the surprise of his acquaintance at meeting him; he enjoyed Dr. Mayerne's laugh and congratulation; he enjoyed seeing how foolish Philip thought him, nodding to his mother and sisters, laughing at the dreadful faces Guy could not help making at any particularly discordant note of the offensive bugle; and his capabilities rising w

en fatigued, that she should have been more anxious, and leaving him to repose, the

een standing by the table, arranging their bouquets, while Guy, in the dark, behind the

ready?' as

e was not obliged to go! I am sure

going on my accou

ghten papa if we did not come. Besides, there

she is always anxious, and she is afr

don't mind, Eva,' said Laura, remembering

ie?' said Guy, ceasing his

d the girls in

owards him, 'he is not dressed! Come, nonsense, this is carrying it to

is no joke,' s

er do for you to stay awa

? Aren't you w

you, but I am sur

ous to take him, so she left the task of p

ie could bear to think y

it before. I have been gradually fi

of right and wrong! But y

person as I am. The last turned my head for

duty, it can't be helped,' said Amy

ut I shall do very well. I shall be all the happier to-morrow

; 'but you have made up your min

, 'and I never knew anybody so provoking. Mind, Sir Guy, if you make

f by quadrilling with

How can you have the conscience to stand

easure in handing you

Does he real

id he does

she said, 'take him away! Let me never see the face of him

or you,' said

you mean to

stracted me that I can't answer for

stone came

ling myself by thinking you must be well entertained, as I heard

ma! Guy

nything th

ank you, onl

r do. You reall

. Pray don't order m

a will be in despair! What is to be don

hour,' said

scipline may be carried too far, Guy. But now it can't be helped-I do

answered Guy. 'Perhaps I

would be the very thing! It will be a pretty story to tell ev

ason,' said Guy; 'only b

you can say one sensible

he handed her in. 'Good night! You will ke

the door. Mrs. Edmonstone, ruffled

his is p

ill be vexed

so stupid,

id Eveleen. 'I once

nt and fetch him,' cried Mrs. Edmonstone, starting forward.

s presence is of importance to a

son of this whim

aid Laura; 'it is because he thi

st of the world is!' said Eveleen. 'I am

now I shall feel all night a

monstone; 'and yet I belie

o it,' said Amy. 'Oh! yes,' and her voice lo

Eveleen. 'Depend upon it, Laura, it is all your fault. You only danced once with him at

slike to jokes of this sort, went on,-'If it were only ourselves I shou

,' said Amy, 'that i

one. 'But Charlie will never hold his tongue.

not have had this happen for fifty pounds; she ought not to have suffered it; but it was all her nonsense about Charles, and as to not being late, she should have waited till midnight rather than

be lazy about balls, and this sufficed for good-natured Mrs. Deane, but Maurice poured out many exclamations abo

s of feeling was gone. She could not meet his eye, nor see him turn towards her without a start and tremor for which she could not render herself a reason, and her heart beat so much that it was at once a relief and a disappointment

t was a polka, and there was not much talk, which, perhaps, was all the better for her. She admired the revi

pid cousin of yours!' said she. Did you ev

unexpected one

joking, for he likes dancing so much; he was the life of our ball,

to enjoy doing

n always busy of late when we have wanted her; and I assure her his pride

illes belief, but h

see Captain Morville's attention gained. 'She is even better dressed than at our ball-those Venetian pins suit

' said

on his arm. Does not he? Poor Maurice

by his pining

ly in love! No,' she added more gravely, 'I am very glad it is only that kind of desperation

le conducting her a second time round the room

her away from her own party, said,

Laura, wishing she co

that could excuse his e

is growing unsettled. It is par

temper, and I am convinced that some change in your manner-nay, I say unconscious, and am far from blaming yo

r ourselves much b

t decidedly mortifying him and rousing his temper, because I am sorry others should be slighted;

hought

o others-to anoth

I am conscious of having made, was keeping more up-stai

ale, He only waited for persuasion, and you act

did not

; to do the right thing without knowing why. But come, I

ver that Guy was falling in love with her; and after musing all through the dance, she said

ing to I

mamma since Charles began to be ill, and there is some

it was not to be till later in the y

at home before the end of October, and

t becomes

he plan was first mentioned I should be sorry, except that it is quite right to go to grandmamma; but if it is so

very desirable, though it will be a great loss to me,

I feared!'

sake, poor fellow, it will be better to make a b

. His only doubt was whether it would do to leave Guy so long alo

des, I shall be at hand. Taking all things into consideration, Laura, I think that, whatever the s

ge restlessness and impatience of feeling. Her numerous partners teased her by hindering her from watching him moving about the room, catching his tones, and guessing what he was talking of;-not that she wanted to meet his eye, for sh

ed towards her, and well knew it was principle, and not inclination, that held him at a distance. He did indeed once ask her t

Besides, she knew she had been as idle as Guy, or still more so, and she thought it wrong she should have pleasure while he was doing penance. It was on her mind, and damped her spirits, and though sh

s he put Laura's cloak round her shoulders he was able to

r what he had said, was she not bound more than ever to exert herself to the utmost, that he might not be disappointed in her? She loved him only the better for what others might have deemed a stern coldness of manner, for it made the contrast of his real warmth of affecti