.

'It will go off soon. Here is a cup of hot coffee for you to take him.
I'll call you when it is time to go.'

Amabel and Charlotte were very busy looking after Laura's packing up,
and putting all that was wanted into the carriage, in which the pair
were to set off at once from church, without returning to Hollywell.

At the last moment she went to warn Philip it was time to go, if he
meant to walk to church alone, the best thing for his head.

'It is better,' said Laura, somewhat comforted.

'Much better for your bathing it, thank you,' said Philip, rising; then,
turning to Amy,--'Do I wish you good-bye now?'

'No, I shall see you at church, unless you don't like to have my
blackness there.'

'Would we not have our guardian angel, Laura?' said Philip.

'You know _he_ would have been there,' said Amy. 'No one would have been
more glad, so thank you for letting me come.'

'Thank you for coming,' said Laura, earnestly. 'It is a comfort.'

They left her, and she stood a few minutes to enjoy the solitude, and
to look from the window at her little girl, whom she had sent out with
Anne. She was just about to open the window to call to her, and make her
look up with one of her merry shouts of 'Mamma!' when Philip came out at
the garden-door, and was crossing the lawn. Mary was very fond of him,
flattered by the attention of the tallest person in the house, and she
stretched her arms, and gave a cry of summons. Amabel watched him turn
instantly, take her from her nurse, and hold her in a close embrace,
whilst her little round arms met round his neck. She was unwilling to
be restored to Anne, and when he left she looked up in his face, and
unprompted, held up to him the primroses and violets in her hand.

Those flowers were in his coat when Amabel saw him again at church,
and she knew that this spontaneous proof of affection from Guy's little
unconscious child was more precious to him than all the kindnesses she
could bestow.

Little space was there for musing, for it was high time to set off for
church. Mary Ross met the party at the wicket of the churchyard, took
Charles on her arm, and by look and sign inquired for Amy.

'Bright outwardly,' he answered, 'and I think so inwardly. Nothing does
her so much good as to represent him. Did you wonder to see her?'

'No' said Mary. 'I thought she would come. It is the crowning point of
his forgiveness.'

'Such forgiveness that she has forgotten there is anything to