-adhered to his second resolution,
and wrote to his uncle a calm and lofty letter, free from all token of
offence, expressing every wish for the happiness of Guy and Amabel, and
thanking his uncle for the invitation, which, however, he thought it
best to decline, much as he regretted losing the opportunity of seeing
Hollywell and its inhabitants again. His regiment would sail for Corfu
either in May or June; but he intended, himself, to travel on foot
through Germany and Italy, and would write again before quitting
Ireland.

'So,' said Charles, 'there were at the marriage the Picanninies, and the
Joblillies, and the Garryulies, but not the grand Panjandrum himself.'

'Nor the little round button at top!' rejoined Charlotte.

'Well, it's his own look out,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'It is of a piece
with all the rest.'

'I am sure we don't want him,' said Charlotte.

'Not in this humour,' said her mother.

Amy said nothing; and if she did not allow herself to avow that
his absence was a relief, it was because she saw it was a grief and
disappointment to Guy.

Laura was, of course, very much mortified,--almost beyond the power of
concealment. She thought he would have come for the sake of seeing
her, and she had reckoned so much on this meeting that it was double
vexation. He did not know what he was missing by not coming; and she
could not inform him, for writing to him was impossible, without the
underhand dealings to which they would never, either of them, have
recourse. So much for herself; and his perseverance in disapproval, in
spite of renewed explanation, made her more anxious and sorry on Amy's
account. Very mournful were poor Laura's sensations; but there was
no remedy but to try to bewilder and drive them away in the bustle of
preparation.

Guy had to go and take his degree, and then return to make his own
preparations at Redclyffe. Amy begged him, as she knew he would like,
to leave things alone as much as possible; for she could not bear old
places to be pulled to pieces to suit new-comers; and she should like to
find it just as he had been used to it.

He smiled, and said, 'It should only be made habitable.' She must have
a morning-room, about which he would consult Mrs. Ashford: and he would
choose her piano himself. The great drawing-room had never been unpacked
since his grandmother's time, so that must be in repair; and, as for a
garden, they would lay it out together. There could not be much done;