itting
on the ground, she sobbed over him as long as he would submit to her
caresses.

Amabel meantime returned to her room, and looked round on its well-known
aspect with a sad smile, as she thought of the prayer with which she
had quitted it on her bridal day, and did not feel as if it had been
unanswered; for surely the hand of a Father had been with her to support
her through her great affliction.

Though she said she was very well, her mother made her go to bed at
once, and Laura attended on her with a sort of frightened, respectful
tenderness, hardly able to bear her looks of gratitude. The first time
the two sisters were alone, Amabel said, 'Philip is much better.'

Laura, who was settling some things on the table, started back and
coloured, then, unable to resist the desire of hearing of him, looked
earnestly at her sister.

'He is gone to Corfu,' continued Amabel. 'He only kept Arnaud three
days after we were gone, and Arnaud overtook us at Geneva, saying his
strength had improved wonderfully. Will you give me my basket? I should
like to read you a piece of a note he sent me.'

Laura brought it, and Amabel, holding her hand, looked up at her face,
which she vainly tried to keep in order. 'Dearest, I have been very
sorry for you, and so has Guy.'

'Amy!' and Laura found herself giving way to her tears, in spite of all
her previous exhortations to Charlotte, about self-control; 'my own, own
sister!' To have Amy at home was an unspeakable comfort.

'Papa and mamma were both as kind as possible to Philip,' continued
Amabel; 'but they could not bear to enter on _that_. So I told him you
had told all, and he was very glad.'

'He was not displeased at my betraying him?' exclaimed Laura. 'Oh, no!
he was glad; he said it was a great relief, for he was very anxious
about you, Laura. He has been so kind to me,' said Amabel, so earnestly,
that Laura received another comfort, that of knowing that her sister's
indignation against him had all passed by. 'Now I will read you what he
says. You see his writing is quite itself again.'

But Laura observed that Amabel only held towards her the 'Lady Morville'
on the outside, keeping the note to herself, and reading, 'I have
continued to gain strength since you went; so that there is no further
need of detaining Arnaud. I have twice been out of doors, and am
convinced that I am equal to the journey; indeed, it is hardly possible
for me to endure remaining here any longer.