‘Your pardon! O, mamma, I see it all now!’
Poor thing! she had too much failed in a daughter’s part to go forth from her home with the clear, loving, hopeful heart her sister had carried from it! Mrs. Edmonstone’s kiss was a full answer, however, a kiss unlike what it had been with all her efforts for many and many a month.
‘Amy, pray that it may not be visited!’ were the last words breathed to her sister, as they were pressed in each other’s arms.
Philip scarcely spoke, only met their kindnesses with grateful gestures and looks, and brief replies, and the parting was hastened that he might as soon as possible be at rest. His only voluntary speech was as he bade farewell to Amabel,—
‘My sister now!’
‘And his brother,’ she answered. ‘Good-bye!’
As soon as Amabel was alone in the carriage with Charles, she leant back, and gave way to a flood of tears.
‘Amy, has it been too much?’
‘No,’ she said, recovering herself; ‘but I am so glad! It was his chief desire. Now everything he wished is fulfilled.’
‘And you are free of your great charge. He has been a considerable care to you, but now he is safe on Laura’s hands, and well and satisfactory; so you have no care but your daughter, and we settle into our home life.’