a black fringe
those little wakeful eyes are getting.'

And when Mary went down it was with the conviction that those black
eyelashes, too marked to be very pretty in so young a babe, were more of
a comfort to Amabel than anything she could say.

The evening wore on, and at length Laura came into her sister's room.
She looked fagged and harassed, the old face she used to wear in the
time of disguise and secrecy, Amabel asked if it had been a tiresome
party.

'Yes--no--I don't know. Just like others,' said Laura.

'You are tired, at any rate,' said Amabel. 'You took too long a ride
with Philip. I saw you come in very late.'

'I am not in the least tired, thank you.'

'Then he is,' said Amabel. 'I hope he has not one of his headaches
again.'

'No,' said Laura, still in a dissatisfied, uncomfortable tone.

'No? Dear Laura, I am sure there is something wrong;' and with a little
more of her winning, pleading kindness, she drew from Laura that Philip
had told her she idolized him. He had told her so very gently and
kindly, but he had said she idolized him in a manner that was neither
good for herself nor him; and he went on to blame himself for it, which
was what she could not bear. It had been rankling in her mind ever since
that he had found fault with her for loving him so well, and it had
made her very unhappy. She _could_ not love him less, and how should she
please him? She had much rather he had blamed her than himself.

'I think I see what he means' said Amy, thoughtfully. 'He has grown
afraid of himself, and afraid of being admired now.'

'But how am I to help that, Amy?' said Laura, with tears in her eyes:
'he cannot help being the first, the very first of all with me--'

'No, no,' said Amy, quickly, 'not the very first, or what would you do
if you were to be--like me? Don't turn away, dear Laura; I don't think
I over could bear this at all, if dear Guy had not kept it always before
my eyes from the very first that we were to look to something else
besides each other.'

'Of course I meant the first earthly thing,' said Laura; but it was not
heartfelt--she knew she ought, therefore she thought she did.

'And so,' proceeded Amy, 'I think if that other is first, it would make
you have some other standard of right besides himself, then you would be
a stay and help to him. I think that is what he means.'

'Amy! let me ask you,' said Laura, a little entreatingly, yet as if she
must needs put the question