with his own youth and untried principles, with his
undesirable connections, and the reserve he was obliged to exercise
regarding them, he considered himself as objectionable a person as could
well be found, as yet untouched by any positive crime, and he respected
the Edmonstones too much to suppose that these disadvantages could be
counterbalanced for a moment by his position; indeed, he interpreted
Amy's coolness by supposing that there was a desire to discourage his
attentions. No poor tutor or penniless cousin ever felt he was doing
a more desperate thing in confessing an attachment, than did Sir Guy
Morville when he determined that all should be told, at the risk of
losing her for ever, and closing against himself the doors of his happy
home. It was not right and fair by her parents, he thought, so to regard
their daughter, and live in the same house with his sentiments unavowed,
and as to Amy herself, if his feelings had reached such a pitch of
sensitiveness that he must needs behave like an angry lion, because her
name had been dragged into an idle joke, it was high time it should
be explained, unpropitious as the moment might be for declaring his
attachment, when he had manifested such a temper as any woman might
dread. Thus he made up his mind that, come of it what might, he would
not leave Hollywell that day till the truth was told. Just as he was
turning to find Mrs. Edmonstone and 'put his fate to the touch,' a
little figure stood beside him, and Amy's own sweet, low tones were
saying, imploringly,--

'Guy, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am you were so teased last
night.'

'Don't think of it!' said he, taken extremely by surprise

'It was our fault, I could not stop it; I should have kept Charlotte in
better order, but they would not let her hear me. I knew it was what you
dislike particularly, and I was very sorry.'

'You--I was--I was. But no matter now. Amy,' he added earnestly, 'may I
ask you to walk on with me a little way? I must say something to you.'

Was this what 'mamma' objected to? Oh no! Amy felt she must stay now,
and, in truth, she was glad it was right, though her heart beat fast,
fast, faster, as Guy, pulling down a long, trailing branch of Noisette
rose, and twisting it in his hand, paused for a few moments, then spoke
collectedly, and without hesitation, though with the tremulousness of
subdued agitation, looking the while not at her, but straight before
him.

'You ought to be to