silent, she, the more so, because she
was disappointed to find that the one walk back from East-hill, much as
he had enjoyed it, had greatly tired Philip. However, the others talked
enough without them; and Mr. Edmonstone was very happy, drinking the
health of Miss Morville, and himself carrying a bit of the christening
cake to the mamma in the drawing-room.

There sat Amabel by the fire, knowing that from henceforth she must
exert herself to take part in the cheerfulness of the house, and willing
to join the external rejoicing in her child's christening, or at least
not to damp it by remaining up-stairs. Yet any one but Mr. Edmonstone
would have seen more sadness than pleasure in the sweet smile with
which she met and thanked him; but they were cheerful tones in which she
replied, and in her presence everything was hushed and gentle, subdued,
yet not mournful. The spirit of that evening was only recognized after
it was past, and then it ever grew fairer and sweeter in recollection,
so as never to be forgotten by any of those who shared it.

CHAPTER 42

She was not changed when sorrow came,
That awed the sternest men;
It rather seemed she kept her flame
To comfort us till then.

But sorrow passed, and others smiled
With happiness once more;
And she drew back the spirit mild
She still had been before.
--S. R.

Philip's marriage could not take place at once. No one said, but every
one felt, that it must not be talked of till the end of Amabel's first
year of widowhood; and in the meantime Philip remained at Hollywell,
gaining strength every day, making more progress in one week than he had
done in six at St. Mildred's, finding that, as his strength returned,
his mind and memory regained their tone, and he was as capable as ever
of applying to business, and, above all, much settled and comforted by
some long conversations with Mr. Ross.

Still he could not endure the thought of being at Redclyffe. The
business connected with it was always performed with pain and dislike,
and he shrank with suffering at every casual mention of his going
thither. Mrs. Edmonstone began to wonder whether he could mean to linger
at Hollywell all the summer, and Amabel had some fears that it would end
in his neglecting Redclyffe, till a letter arrived from Lord Thorndale,
saying that his brother, the member for Moorworth, had long been
thinking of gi