se she was, and the
thorough enjoyment of her affection and sympathy, the opening into
confidence, and the freedom from doubt and suspense, were comforts that
were doing him good every hour.

The christening party consisted only of the Rosses, and Dr. Mayerne,
who had joined them at East-hill church, and walked home with Mr.
Edmonstone. They could not have been without him, so grateful were they
for his kindness all through their anxious winter, and Mr. Edmonstone
was well pleased to tell him on the way home that they might look to
having a wedding in the family; it had been a very long attachment,
constancy as good as a story, and he could all along have told what was
the matter, when mamma was calling in the doctor to account for Laura's
looking pale.

The doctor was not surprised at the news, for perhaps he, too, had had
some private theory about those pale looks; but, knowing pretty well
the sentiments Charles had entertained the winter before last, he was
curious to find out how he regarded this engagement. Charles spoke of
it in the most ready cordial way. 'Well, doctor, so you have heard our
news! I flatter myself we have as tall and handsome a pair of lovers to
exhibit here, as any in the United Kingdom, when we have fattened him a
little into condition.'

'Never was there a better match,' said Dr. Mayerne. 'Made for each
other all along. One could not see them without feeling it was the first
chapter of a novel.'

When Mrs. Edmonstone came in, the doctor was a little taken aback. He
thought her mind must be with poor Sir Guy, and was afraid the lovers
had been in such haste as to pain Lady Morville; for there was a
staidness and want of "epanchement du coeur" of answering that was very
unlike her usual warm manner. At dinner, Mr. Edmonstone was in high
spirits, delighted at Amy's recovery, happy to have a young man about
the house again, charmed to see two lovers together, pleased that Laura
should be mistress of Redclyffe, since it could not belong to Amy's
child; altogether, as joyous as ever. His wife, being at ease about Amy,
did her best to smile, and even laugh, though sad at heart all the time,
as she missed the father from the christening feast, and thought how
happy she had been in that far different reunion last year. It might be
the same with Charles; but the outward effect was exhibited in lively
nonsense; Charlotte's spirits were rising fast, and only Philip and
Laura themselves were grave and