their power greatly to
soften matters; and there was no fear that, after the first shock,
Mr. Edmonstone would insist on the engagement being broken off, Philip
should come to recover his health at Redclyffe, where he would be ready
to meet the first advance towards forgiveness,--and Amabel thought it
would soon be made. Papa's anger was sharp, but soon over; he was very
fond of Philip, and delighted in a love affair, but she was afraid mamma
would not get over it so soon, for she would be excessively hurt and
grieved. 'And when I was naughty,' said Amy, 'nothing ever made me so
sorry as mamma's kindness.'

Guy launched out into more schemes for facilitating their marriage than
ever he had made for himself; and the walk ended with extensive castle
building on Philip's account, in the course of which Amy was obliged
to become much less displeased. Guy told her, in the evening, that she
would have been still more softened if she could have heard him talk
about Stylehurst and his father. Guy had always wished to hear him speak
of the Archdeacon, though they had never been on terms to enter on such
a subject. And now Philip had been much pleased by Guy's account of his
walks to Stylehurst, and taken pleasure in telling which were his old
haunts, making out where Guy had been, and describing his father's ways.

The next day was Sunday, and Amabel was to pay her cousin a visit. Guy
was very eager about it, saying it was like a stage in his recovery; and
though the thought of her mother and Laura could not be laid aside, she
would not say a word to damp her husband's pleasure in the anticipation.
It seemed as if Guy, wanting to bestow all he could upon his cousin in
gratitude for his newly-accorded friendship, thought the sight of his
little wife the very best thing he had to give.

It was a beautiful day, early in September, with a little autumnal
freshness in the mountain breezes that they enjoyed exceedingly.
Philip's convalescence, and their own escape, might be considered as so
far decided, that they might look back on the peril as past. Amabel felt
how much cause there was for thankfulness; and, after all, Philip
was not half as bad now as when he was maintaining his system of
concealment; he had made a great effort, and was about to do his best
by way of reparation; but it was so new to her to pity him, that she did
not know how to begin.

She tried to make the day seem as Sunday-like as she could, by putting
on her