Why Sir Guy had not been at home at Christmas was a query to which it seemed as if she should never gain a reply; for that Charles had been ill, and Guy at Redclyffe, was no real answer; and finding she should not be told, she wisely held her tongue. Again she made an awkward inquiry-'Now tell me, is Captain Morville pleased about this or not?'
Laura would have been silent, trusting to Eveleen's propensity for talking, for bringing her to some speech that it might be easier to answer, but Charlotte exclaimed, 'What has he been saying about it?'
'Saying? O nothing. But why does not he come?'
'You have seen him more lately than we have,' said Laura.
'That is an evasion,' said Eveleen; 'as if you did not know more of his mind than I could ever get at, if I saw him every day of my life.'
'He is provoking, that is all,' answered Charlotte. 'I am sure we don't want him; but Laura and Guy will both of them take his part.'
A call came at that moment,--the box of white gloves was come, and Laura must come and count them. She would fain have taken Charlotte with her; but neither Charlotte nor Eveleen appeared disposed to move, and she was obliged to leave them. Eva had already guessed that there was more chance of hearing the facts from Charlotte, and presently she knew a good deal. Charlotte had some prudence, but she thought she might tell her own cousin what half the neighbourhood knew--that Philip had suspected Guy falsely, and had made papa very angry with him, that the engagement had been broken off, and Guy had been banished, while all the time he was behaving most gloriously. Now it was all explained; but in spite of the fullest certainty, Philip would not be convinced, and wanted them to have waited five years.
Eveleen agreed with Charlotte that this was a great deal too bad, admired Guy, and pitied Amy to her heart's content.
'So, he was banished, regularly banished!' said she. 'However of course Amy never gave him up.'
'Oh, she never mistrusted him one minute.'
'And while he had her fast, it was little he would care for the rest.'
'Yes, if he had known it, but she could not tell him.'
Eveleen looked arch.
'But I am sure she did not,' said Charlotte, rather angrily.
'You know nothing about it, my dear.'
'Yes, but I do; for mamma said to Charlie how beautifully she did behave, and he too,--never attempting any intercourse.'