ogether you might have more confidence?'

'I don't look on you quite as he does now,' said Amy, with a very pretty
smile. 'Do you think his opinion of you will ever alter?'

'But what do you think? Is there not some reason in what he says?'

'The only use I can see is, that perhaps I should be wiser at
twenty-four, and fitter to take care of such a great house; but then you
have been always helping me to grow wiser, and I am not much afraid but
that you will be patient with me. Indeed, Guy, I don't know whether it
is a thing I ought to say,' she added, blushing, 'but I think it would
be dismal for you to go and live all alone at Redclyffe.'

'Honestly, Amy,' replied he, after a little pause, 'if you feel so, and
your father approves, I don't think it will be better to wait. I know
your presence is a safeguard, and if the right motives did not suffice
to keep me straight, and I was only apparently so from hopes of you, why
then I should be so utterly good for nothing at the bottom, if not on
the surface, that you had better have nothing to say to me.'

Amy laughed incredulously.

'That being settled,' proceeded Guy, 'did you hear what your father said
as you left the breakfast-room?'

She coloured all over, and there was silence. 'What did you answer?'
said she, at length.

'I said, whatever happened, you must not be taken by surprise in having
to decide quickly. Do you wish to have time to think? I'll go in and
leave you to consider, if you like.'

'I only want to know what you wish,' said Amy, not parting with his arm.

'I had rather you did just as suits you best. Of course, you know what
my wish must be.'

Amy walked on a little way in silence. 'Very well,' said she, presently,
'I think you and mamma had better settle it. The worst'--she had tears
in her eyes--'the going away--mamma--Charlie--all that will be as bad at
one time as at another.' The tears flowed faster. 'It had better be as
you all like best.'

'O Amy! I wonder at myself for daring to ask you to exchange your bright
cheerful home for my gloomy old house.'

'No, your home,' said Amy, softly.

'I used to wonder why it was called gloomy; but it will be so no more
when you are there. Yet there is a shadow hanging over it, which
makes it sometimes seem too strange that you and it should be brought
together.'

'I have read somewhere that there is no real gloom but what people raise
for themselves.'

'True. Gloom is in sin, not sorrow. Yes