and leaving him to repose, they all, except Mr. Edmonstone, who had stayed to dine at the mess, sat down to dinner.
Amy came down dressed just as the carriage had been announced, and found Laura and Eveleen standing by the table, arranging their bouquets, while Guy, in the dark, behind the piano, was playing—not, as usual, in such cases, the Harmonious Blacksmith, but a chant.
‘Is mamma ready?’ asked Laura.
‘Nearly,’ said Amy, ‘but I wish she was not obliged to go! I am sure she cannot bear to leave Charlie.’
‘I hope she is not going on my account,’ said Eveleen.
‘No, said Laura, ‘we must go; it would so frighten papa if we did not come. Besides, there is nothing to be uneasy about with Charles.’
‘O no,’ said Amy; ‘she says so, only she is always anxious, and she is afraid he is too restless to go to sleep.’
‘We must get home as fast as we can; if you don’t mind, Eva,’ said Laura, remembering how her last dance with Guy had delayed them.
‘Can I do any good to Charlie?’ said Guy, ceasing his music. I don’t mean to go.’
‘Not go!’ cried the girls in consternation.
‘He is joking!’ said Eveleen. ‘But, I declare!’ added she, advancing towards him, ‘he is not dressed! Come, nonsense, this is carrying it too far; you’ll make us all too late, and then I’ll set Maurice at you.’
‘I am afraid it is no joke,’ said Guy, smiling.
‘You must go. It will never do for you to stay away,’ said Laura, decidedly.
‘Are you tired? Aren’t you well?’ asked Amy.
‘Quite well, thank you, but I am sure I had better not.’
Laura thought she had better not seem anxious to take him, so she left the task of persuasion, to the others, and Amy went on.
‘Neither Mamma nor Charlie could bear to think you stayed because of him.’
‘I don’t, I assure you, Amy. I meant it before. I have been gradually finding out that it must come to this.’
‘Oh, you think it a matter of right and wrong! But you don’t think balls wrong?’
‘Oh no; only they won’t do for such an absurd person as I am. The last turned my head for a week, and I am much too unsteady for this.’
‘Well, if you think it a matter of duty, it can’t be helped,’ said Amy sorrowfully; ‘but I am very sorry.’
‘Thank you,’ said Guy, thinking it compassion, not regret; ‘but I shall do very well. I shall be all the happier to-morrow for a quiet hour at my Greek, and you’ll tell me all the fun.’
‘You liked it so much!’ said Amy; ‘but you have made up your mind and I ought not to tease you.’
‘That’s right Amy; he does it on purpose to be teased,’ said Eveleen, ‘and I never knew anybody so provoking. Mind, Sir Guy, if you make us all too late, you shan’t have the ghost of a quadrille with me.’
‘I shall console myself by quadrilling with Andromache,’ said Guy.
‘Come, no nonsense—off to dress directly! How can you have the conscience to stand there when the carriage is at the door?’
‘I shall have great pleasure in handing you in when you are ready.’
‘Laura—Amy! Does he really mean it?’
‘I am afraid he does,’ said Amy.
Eveleen let herself fall on the sofa as if fainting. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘take him away! Let me never see the face of him again! I’m perfectly overcome! All my teaching thrown away!’
‘I am sorry for you,’ said Guy, laughing.
‘And how do you mean to face Maurice?’
‘Tell him his first bugle has so distracted me that I can’t answer for the consequences if I come to-night.
‘Mrs. Edmonstone came in, saying—
‘Come, I have kept you waiting shamefully, but I have been consoling myself by thinking you must be well entertained, as I heard no Harmonious Blacksmith. Papa will be wondering where we are.’
‘Oh, mamma! Guy won’t go.’
‘Guy! is anything the matter?’
‘Nothing, thank you, only idleness.’
‘This will never do. You really must go, Guy.’
‘Indeed! I think not. Pray don’t order me, Mrs. Edmonstone.’
‘What o’clock is it, Amy? Past ten! Papa will be in despair! What is to be done? How long do you take to dress, Guy?’
‘Not under an hour,’ said Guy, smiling.
‘Nonsense! But if there was time I should certainly send you. Self-discipline may be carried too far, Guy. But now it can’t be helped—I don’t know how to keep papa waiting any longer. Laura, what shall I do?’
‘Let me go to Charles,’ answered Guy. ‘Perhaps I can read him to sleep.’
‘Thank you; but don’t talk, or he will be too excited. Reading would be the very thing! It will be a pretty story to tell every one who asks for you that I have left you to nurse my son!’
‘No, for no such good reason,’ said Guy; ‘only because I am a great fool.’
‘Well, Sir Guy, I am glad you can say one sensible word,’ said Lady Eveleen.
‘Too true, I assure you,’ he answered, as he handed her in. ‘Good night! You will keep the quadrille for me till I am rational.’
He handed the others in, and shut the door. Mrs. Edmonstone, ruffled out of her composure, exclaimed—
‘Well, this is provoking!’
‘Every one will be vexed,’ said Laura.
‘It will be so stupid,’ said Amy.
‘I give him up,’ said Eveleen. ‘I once had hopes of him.’
‘If it was not for papa, I really would turn back this moment and fetch him,’ cried Mrs. Edmonstone, starting forward. ‘I’m sure it will give offence. I wish I had not consented.’
‘He can’t be made to see that his presence is of importance to any living creature,’ said Laura.
‘What is the reason of this whim?’ said Eveleen.
‘No,
