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foolish to give rise to them。'
Guy told nearly what he had said on the first day of his return； but
nothing could be done towards clearing up the mystery； and he returned
to Oxford as usual。
March commenced； and Charles； though no longer absolutely recumbent；
and able to write letters again； could not yet attempt to use his
crutches； so that all his designs vanished； except that of persuading
his father to go to London to meet Guy and Markham there； and transact
the business consequent on his ward's attaining his majority。 He
trusted much to Guy's personal influence； and said to his father； 'You
know no one has seen him yet but Philip； and he would tell things to
you that he might not to him。'
It was an argument that delighted Mr。 Edmonstone。
'Of course I have more weight and experience； andand poor Guy is very
fond of us。 Eh； Charlie？'
So Charles wrote to make an appointment for Guy to meet his guardian
and Markham in London on Easter Tuesday。 'If you will clear up the
gambling story；' he wrote； 'all may yet be well。'
Guy sighed as he laid aside the letter。 'All in vain； kind Charlie；'
said he to himself； 'vain as are my attempts to keep my poor uncle from
sinking himself further！ Is it fair； though；' continued he； with
vehemence； 'that the happiness of at least one life should be
sacrificed to hide one step in the ruin of a man who will not let
himself be saved？ Is it not a waste of self…devotion？ Have I any
right to sacrifice hers？ Ought I not rather'and a flash of joy came
over him'to make my uncle give me back my promise of concealment？ I
can make it up to him。 It cannot injure him； since only the
Edmonstones will know it！ But'and he pressed his lips firmly
together'is this the spirit I have been struggling for this whole
winter？ Did I not see that patient waiting and yielding is fit penance
for my violence。 It would be ungenerous。 I will wait and bear；
contented that Heaven knows my innocence at least in this。 For her；
when at my best I dreaded that my love might bring sorrow on herhow
much more now； when I have seen my doom face to face； and when the
first step towards her would be what I cannot openly and absolutely
declare to be right？ That would be the very means of bringing the
suffering on her； and I should deserve it。'
Guy quitted these thoughts to write to Markham to make the appointment；
finishing his letter with a request that Markham would stop at St。
Mildred's on his way to London； and pay Miss Wellwood； the lady with
whom his uncle's daughter was placed； for her quarter's board。 'I hope
this will not be a very troublesome request；' wrote Guy； 'but I know
you had rather I did it in this way； than disobey your maxims； as to
not sending money by the post。'
The time before the day of meeting was spent in strengthening himself
against the pain it would be to refuse his confidence to Mr。
Edmonstone； and thus to throw away the last chance of reconciliation；
and of Amy。 This would be the bitterest pang of allto see them ready
to receive him； and he forced to reject their kindness。
So passed the preceding week； and with it his twenty…first birthday；
spent very differently from the way in which it would ordinarily be
passed by a youth in his position。 It went by in hard study and sad
musings； in bracing himself to a resolution that would cost him all he
held dear； and； as the only means of so bracing himself； in trying to
fix his gaze more steadily beyond the earth。
Easter day steadied the gaze once more for him； and as the past week
had nerved him in the spirit of self…sacrifice； the feast day brought
him true unchanging joy； shining out of sadness； and enlightening the
path that would lead him to keep his resolution to the utmost； and
endure the want of earthly hope。
CHAPTER 25
Already in thy spirit thus divine；
Whatever weal or woe betide；
Be that high sense of duty still thy guide；
And all good powers will aid a soul like thine。SOUTHEY
'Now for it！' thought Guy； as he dismissed his cab； and was shown up…
stairs in the hotel。 'Give me the strength to withstand！'
The door was opened； and he beheld Mr。 Edmonstone； Markham； and
anotherit surely was Sebastian Dixon！ All sprung up to receive him；
and Mr。 Edmonstone； seizing him by both hands； exclaimed
'Here he is himself！ Guy； my boy； my dear boy； you are the most
generous fellow in the world！ You have been used abominably。 I wish
my two hands had been cut off before I was persuaded to write that
letter； but it is all right now。 Forget and forgiveeh； Guy？ You'll
come home with me； and we will write this very day for Deloraine。'
Guy was almost giddy with surprise。 He held one of Mr。 Edmonstone's
hands； and pressed it hard； his other hand he passed over his eyes； as
if in a dream。 'All right？' he repeated。
'All right！' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'I know where your money went； and I
honour you for it； and there stands the man who told me the whole
story。 I said； from the first； it was a confounded slander。 It was
all owing to the little girl。'
Guy turned his face in amazement towards his uncle； who was only
waiting to explain。 'Never till this morning had I the least
suspicion that I had been the means of bringing you under any
imputation。 How could you keep me in ignorance？'
'You have told'
'Of the cheque；' broke in Mr。 Edmonstone； 'and of all the rest； and of
your providing for the little girl。 How could you do it with that
pittance of an allowance of yours？ And Master Philip saying you never
had any money！ No wonder； indeed！'
'If I had known you were pinching yourself；' said Dixon； 'my mind would
have revolted'
'Let me understand it；' said Guy； grasping the back of a chair。 'Tell
me； Markham。 Is it really so？ Am I cleared？ Has Mr。 Edmonstone a
right to be satisfied？'
'Yes； Sir Guy；' was Markham's direct answer。 'Mr。 Dixon has accounted
for your disposal of the thirty pound cheque； and there is an end of
the matter。'
Guy drew a long breath； and the convulsive grasp of his fingers
relaxed。
'I cannot thank you enough！' said he to his uncle； then to Mr。
Edmonstone； 'how is Charles？'
'Bettermuch better； you shall see him to…morroweh； Guy？'
'But I cannot explain about the one thousand pounds。'
'Never mindyou never had it； so you can't have misspent it。 That's
neither here nor there。'
'And you forgive my language respecting you？'
'Nonsense about that！ If you never said anything worse than that
Philip was a meddling coxcomb； you haven't much to repent of； and I am
sure I was ten old fools when I let him bore me into writing that
letter。'
'No； no； you did right under your belief； and circumstances were strong
against me。 And is it clear？ Are we where we were before？'
'We arewe a