e has written to tell Guy he must not
think any more of you.'

'He has spoken hasty words of papa!' repeated Amy, as if she had not
heard the rest. 'How sorry he must be!'

As she spoke, Charles's door was pushed open, and in he came, half
dressed, scrambling on, with but one crutch, to the chair near which she
stood, with drooping head and clasped hands.

'Never mind, little Amy, he said; 'I'll lay my life 'tis only some
monstrous figment of Mrs. Henley's. Trust my word, it will right itself;
it is only a rock to keep true love from running too smooth. Come, don't
cry, as her tears began to flow fast, 'I only meant to cheer you up.'

'I am afraid, Charlie, said his mother, putting a force on her own
feeling, 'it is not the best or kindest way to do her good by telling
her to dwell on hopes of him.'

'Mamma one of Philip's faction!' exclaimed Charles.

'Of no faction at all, Charles, but I am afraid it is a bad case;' and
Mrs. Edmonstone related what she knew; glad to address herself to any
one but Amy, who stood still, meanwhile, her hands folded on the back of
her brother's chair.

Charles loudly protested that the charges were absurd and preposterous,
and would be proved so in no time. He would finish dressing instantly,
go to speak to his father, and show him the sense of the thing. Amy
heard and hoped, and his mother, who had great confidence in his clear
sight, was so cheered as almost to expect that today's post might carry
a conciliatory letter.

Meantime, Laura and Philip met in the breakfast-room, and in answer to
her anxious inquiry, he had given her an account of Guy, which, though
harsh enough, was far more comprehensible than what the rest had been
able to gather.

She was inexpressibly shocked, 'My poor dear little Amy!' she exclaimed.
'O Philip, now I see all you thought to save me from!'

'It is an unhappy business that it ever was permitted!'

'Poor little dear! She was so happy, so very happy and sweet in her
humility and her love. Do you know, Philip, I was almost jealous for a
moment that all should be so easy for them; and I blamed poverty; but
oh! there are worse things than poverty!'

He did not speak, but his dark blue eye softened with the tender look
known only to her; and it was one of the precious moments for which she
lived. She was happy till the rest came down, and then a heavy cloud
seemed to hang on them at breakfast time.

'Charles, who found anxiety on Guy's account mo