to Laura as it was meant. There was no grudging in the praise, and she
answered, in a very low, broken voice,--

'You will think so still more when you see this note, which he sent
open, inside mine, to be given to papa when I had told my own story. Oh,
his considerateness for me!'

She gave it to him. The address, 'C. Edmonstone, Esq.,' was a mere
scrawl, and within the writing was very trembling and weak. Charles
remarked it, and she answered by saying that her own letter began in
his own strong hand, but failed and grew shaky at the end, as if from
fatigue and agitation. The words were few, brief, and simple, very
unlike his usual manner of letter-writing.

'MY DEAR UNCLE,--My conduct has been unjustifiable--I feel it. Do not
visit it on Laura--I alone should suffer. I entreat your pardon, and my
aunt's, and leave all to you. I will write more at length. Be kind to
her.--Yours affectionately,

'PH. M.'

'Poor Philip!' said Charles, really very much touched. From that moment,
Laura no longer felt completely isolated, and deprived of sympathy. She
sat by Charles till late that night, and told him the whole history
of her engagement, much relieved by the outpouring of her long-hidden
griefs, and comforted by his kindness, though he could not absolutely
refrain from words and gestures of censure. It was as strange that
Charles should be the first person to whom Laura told this history, as
that Guy should have been Philip's first confidant.

CHAPTER 35

There is a Rock, and nigh at hand,
A shadow in a weary land,
Who in that stricken Rock hath rest,
Finds water gushing from its breast.
--NEALE

In the meantime the days passed at Recoara without much change for the
better or worse. After the first week, Guy's fever had diminished; his
pulse was lower, the drowsiness ceased, and it seemed as if there was
nothing to prevent absolute recovery. But though each morning seemed to
bring improvement, it never lasted; the fever, though not high, could
never be entirely reduced, and strength was perceptibly wasting, in
spite of every means of keeping it up.

There was not much positive suffering, very little even of headache,
and he was cheerful, though speaking little, because he was told not to
excite or exhaust himself. Languor and lassitude were the chief causes
of discomfort; and as his strength failed, there came fits of exhaustion
and oppression t