ss.

'He has been suffering a great deal, I am sure,' said Charles, kindly.
It was the first voluntary word of compassion towards Philip that Laura
had heard, and it was as grateful as unexpected. Her face softened, and
tears gushed from her eyes as she said,--

'You do not know how much. There he is grieving for me! thinking they
will be angry with me, and hurting himself with that! Oh! if this had
but come before they set off!'

'Guy and Amy will tell them of his having written.'

'Dear, dear Guy and Amy! He speaks so earnestly of their kindness. I
don't fear it so much now he and Guy understand each other.'

Recollecting her love, Charles refrained, only saying, 'You can rely on
their doing everything to make it better.'

'I can hardly bear to think of what we owe to them,' said Laura.
'How glad I am that Amy was there after he wrote, when he was so much
overcome! Amy has written me such a very kind note; I think you must see
that--it is so like her own dear self.'

She gave it to him, and he read:--

'MY DEAREST,--I never could tell you before how we have grieved for you
ever since we knew it. I am so sorry I wrote such dreadful accounts;
and Guy says he wants to ask your pardon, if he ever said anything that
pained you about Philip. I understand all your unhappiness now, my poor
dear; but it will be better now it is known. Don't be reserved, with
Charlie, pray; for if he sees you are unhappy, he will be so very kind.
I have just seen Philip again, and found him rested and better. He is
only anxious about you; but I tell him I know you will be glad it is
told.

'Your most affectionate sister,
'A. F. M.'

'Laura' said Charles, finishing the letter, 'Amy gives you very good
advice, as far as I am concerned. I do want to be of as much use to you
as I can--I mean as kind.'

'I know--I know; thank you,' said Laura, struggling with her tears. 'You
have been--you are; but--'

'Ay,' thought Charles, 'I see, she won't be satisfied, if my kindness
includes her alone. What will my honesty let me say to please her? Oh! I
know.--You must not expect me to say that Philip has, behaved properly,
Laura, nothing but being in love could justify such a delusion; but I do
say that there is greatness of mind in his confessing it, especially at
a time when he could put it off, and is so unequal to agitation.'

It was the absence of any tone of satire that made this speech come home