r something before, but when
I look back on what I was when first he came, I know that his leading,
unconscious as it was, brought out the stifled good in me. What a wretch
I should have been; what a misery to myself and to you all by this time,
and now, I verily believe, that since he let in the sunlight from heaven
on me, I am better off than if I had as many legs as other people.'

'Better off?'

'Yes. Nobody else lives in such an atmosphere of petting, and has so
little to plague them. Nobody else has such a "mamma," to say nothing of
silly little Amy, or Charlotte, or Miss Morville. And as to being of
no use, which I used to pine about--why, when the member for Moorworth
governs the country, I mean to govern him.'

'I am sure you are of wonderful use to every one,' said Amabel; 'neither
Philip nor papa could get on without you to do their writing for them.
Besides, I want you to help me when baby grows older.'

'Is that the laudable result of that great book on education I saw you
reading the other day?' said Charles. 'Why don't you borrow a few hints
from Mrs. Henley?'

Amy's clear, playful laugh was just what it used to be.

'It is all settled, then, that you go on with us! Not that I ever
thought you were going to do anything so absurd as to set up for
yourself, you silly little woman: but it seems to be considered right
to come to a formal settlement about such a grand personage as my Lady
Morville.'

'Yes; it was better to come to an understanding,' said Amabel. 'It was
better that papa should make up his mind to see that I can't turn into a
young lady again. You see Charlotte will go out with him and be the Miss
Edmonstone for company, and he is so proud of her liveliness and--how
pretty she is growing--so that will keep him from being vexed. So
now you see I can go on my own way, attend to baby, and take Laura's
business about the school, and keep out of the way of company, so that
it is very nice and comfortable. It is the very thing that Guy wished!'

Amabel's life is here pretty well shown. That of Philip and Laura may
be guessed at. He was a distinguished man, one of the most honoured and
respected in the country, admired for his talents and excellence, and
regarded universally as highly prosperous and fortunate, the pride of
all who had any connection with him. Yet it was a harassed, anxious
life, with little of repose or relief; and Laura spent her time between
watching him and tending his hea