might fear;
but when she is second, there is confidence indeed.'

'If speaking were all!' said Guy.

'There is one thing I ought to say,' she proceeded; 'you know you are
very young, and though--though I don't know that I can say so in my own
person, a prudent woman would say, that you have seen so little of the
world, that you may easily meet a person you would like better than such
a quiet little dull thing as your guardian's daughter.'

The look that he cast on Amy was worth seeing, and then, with a smile,
he answered--

'I am glad you don't say it in your own person.'

'It is very bold and presumptuous in me to say anything at all in papa's
absence' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling; 'but I am sure he will think in
the same way, that things ought to remain as they are, and that it is
our duty not to allow you to be, or to feel otherwise than entirely at
liberty.'

'I dare say it may be right in you,' said Guy, grudgingly. 'However,
I must not complain. It is too much that you should not reject me
altogether.'

To all three that space was as bright a gleam of sunshine as ever
embellished life, so short as to be free from a single care, a perfectly
serenely happy present, the more joyous from having been preceded by
vexations, each of the two young things learning that there was love
where it was most precious. Guy especially, isolated and lonely as he
stood in life, with his fear and mistrust of himself, was now not only
allowed to love, and assured beyond his hopes that Amy returned his
affection, but found himself thus welcomed by the mother, and gathered
into the family where his warm feelings had taken up their abode, while
he believed himself regarded only as a guest and a stranger.

They talked on, with happy silences between, Guy standing all the time
with his branch of roses in his hand, and Amy looking up to him, and
trying to realize it, and to understand why she was so very, very happy.

No one thought of time till Charlotte rushed in like a whirlwind,
crying--

'Oh, here you are! We could not think what had become of you. There has
Deloraine been at the door these ten minutes, and Charlie sent me to
find you, for he says if you are too late for Mrs. Henley's dinner, she
will write such an account of you to Philip as you will never get over.'

Very little of this was heard, there was only the instinctive
consternation of being too late. They started up, Guy threw down his
roses, caught Amy's hand