n
to-day.'

'Have you dined?' said Philip, looking perplexed to know where the
dinner could come from.

'Yes; at K----, thank you.'

'What will you have? I'll ring for Mrs. Drew.'

'No, thank you; don't tease yourself. Mrs. Drew will take care of us.
Never mind; but how bad your head is!' said Amabel, as he sat down on
the sofa, leaning his elbow on his knee, and pressing his hand very hard
on his forehead. 'You must lie down and keep quiet, and never mind us.
We only want a little tea. I am just going to take off my bonnet, and
see what they have done with baby, and then I'll come down. Pray lie
still till then. Mind he does, Charlie.'

They thought she was gone; but the next moment there she was with the
two pillows from the library sofa, putting them under Philip's head,
and making him comfortable; while he, overpowered by a fresh access of
headache, had neither will nor power to object. She rang, asked for Mrs.
Drew, and went.

Philip lay, with closed eyes, as if in severe pain: and Charles, afraid
to disturb him, sat feeling as if it was a dream. That he, with Amy and
her child, should be in Guy's home, so differently from their old plans,
so very differently from the way she should have arrived. He looked
round the room, and everywhere knew what Guy's taste had prepared for
his bride--piano, books, prints, similarities to Hollywell, all with
a fresh new bridal effect, inexpressibly melancholy. They brought a
thought of the bright eye, sweet voice, light step, and merry whistle;
and as he said to himself 'gone for ever,' he could have hated Philip,
but for the sight of his haggard features, gray hairs, and the deep
lines which, at seven-and-twenty, sorrow had traced on his brow. At
length Philip turned and looked up.

'Charles,' he said, 'I trust you have not let her run any risk.'

'No: we got Dr. Mayerne's permission.'

'It is like all the rest,' said Philip, closing his eyes again.
Presently he asked: 'How did you know I was not well?'

'Markham said something in a business letter that alarmed Amy. She wrote
to inquire, and on his second letter we thought we had better come and
see after you ourselves.'

No more was said till Amabel returned. She had made some stay up-stairs,
talking to Mrs. Drew, who was bewildered between surprise, joy, and
grief; looking to see that all was comfortable in Charles's room, making
arrangements for the child, and at last relieving herself by a short
space of calm,