's, forced from Eva that
they were to marry the next morning. Then she said it would be a great
deal better that they should abuse her and call her a spy than do what
they would repent of all their lives; she begged Eva's pardon, and cried
so much that Eva was in hopes she would relent, and then came straight
to me, very unhappy, and not in the least triumphant in her discovery.
You can guess what a dreadful afternoon we had, I don't think any one
was more miserable than poor Charlotte, who stayed shut up in my room
all day, dreading the sight of any one, and expecting to be universally
called a traitor. The end was, that after much storming, Lord Kilcoran,
finding Eveleen determined, and anxious to save her the discredit of an
elopement, has agreed to receive Mr. Fielder, and they are to be married
from this house on the 6th of December, though what they are to live
upon no one can guess. The Kilcorans are very anxious to put the best
face on the matter possible, and have persuaded us, for the sake of
the family, to stay for the wedding; indeed, poor Lady Kilcoran is so
completely overcome, that I hardly like to leave her till this is over.
How unpleasant the state of things in the house is no one can imagine,
and very, very glad shall I be to get back to Hollywell and my Amy and
Charlie. Dearest Amy,

'Your most affectionate.

'L. EDMONSTONE.'

The news was at length told, and Philip was indeed thunder-struck at
this fresh consequence of his interference. It threatened at first to
overthrow his scarcely recovered spirits, and but for the presence of
his guests, it seemed as if it might have brought on a renewal of the
state from which they had restored him.

'Yes,' said Charles to Amy, when they talked it over alone, 'It seems
as if good people could do wrong with less impunity than others. It is
rather like the saying about fools and angels. Light-minded people see
the sin, but not the repentance, so they imitate the one without being
capable of the other. Here are Philip and Laura finishing off like the
end of a novel, fortune and all, and setting a very bad example to the
world in general.'

'As the world cannot see below the surface,' said Amy, 'how distressed
Laura, must be! You see, mamma does not say one word about her.'

Philip had not much peace till he had written to Mr. Thorndale, who
was going at once to Germany, not liking to return home to meet the
condolences. Mrs. Edmonstone had nearly the who