t you think it would tease her more to have to
persuade papa out of what he likes, and alter every little matter? That
would be worry, the rest only exertion; and, do you know, I think,' said
she, with a rising tear, 'that it will be better for her, to keep her
from thinking about losing me.'

'I see. Very well, we will take the finery quietly. Only one thing, Amy,
we will not be put out of,--we will not miss the full holy-day service.'

'Oh, yes; that will be the comfort.'

'One other thing, Amy. You know I have hardly a friend of my own; but
there is one person I should like to ask,--Markham. He has been so
kind, and so much attached to me; he loved my father so devotedly, and
suffered so much at his death, that it is a pity he should not be made
happy; and very happy he will be.'

'And there is one person I should like to ask, Guy, if mamma thinks we
can do it. I am sure little Marianne ought to be one of my bridesmaids.
Charlotte would take care of her, and it would be very nice to have
her.'

CHAPTER 28

But no kind influence deign they shower,
Till pride be quelled and love be free.
--SCOTT

Kilcoran was about twenty miles from Cork, and Captain Morville was
engaged to go and spend a day or two there. Maurice de Courcy drove him
thither, wishing all the way for some other companion, since no one ever
ventured to smoke a cigar in the proximity of 'Morville'; and, besides,
Maurice's conversational powers were obliged to be entirely bestowed
on his horse and dog, for the captain, instead of, as usual, devoting
himself to suit his talk to his audience, was wrapped in the deepest
meditation, now and then taking out a letter and referring to it.

This letter was the reply jointly compounded by Mr. Edmonstone and
Charles, and the subject of his consideration was, whether he should
accept the invitation to the wedding. Charles had taken care fully to
explain how the truth respecting the cheque had come out, and Philip
could no longer suspect that it had been a fabrication of Dixon's; but
while Guy persisted in denial of any answer about the thousand pounds,
he thought the renewal of the engagement extremely imprudent. He was
very sorry for poor little Amy, for her comfort and happiness were, he
thought, placed in the utmost jeopardy, with such a hot temper, under
the most favourable circumstances; and there was the further peril, that
when the novelty of the life