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'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 are in everything； only we know better what you are worth；
Guy。 Shake hands once more。 There's an end of all misunderstanding
and vexation； and we shall be all right at home again！'
The shake was a mighty one。 Guy shaded his face for a moment or two；
and then said
'It is too much。 I don't understand it。 How did you know this matter
wanted explanation？' said he； turning to his uncle。
'I learnt it from Mr。 Markham； and you will do me the justice to
believe； that I was greatly shocked to find that your generosity'
'The truth of the matter is this；' said Markham。 'You sent me to Miss
Wellwood's； at St。 Mildred's。 The principal was not within； and while
waiting for her to make the payment； I got into conversation with her
sister； Miss Jane。 She told me that the child； Mr。 Dixon's daughter；
was always talking of your kindness； especially of a morning at St。
Mildred's； when you helped him in some difficulty。 I thought this
threw some light on the matter； found out Mr。 Dixon this morning； and
you see the result。'
'I do； indeed；' said Guy； 'I wish I could attempt to thank you all。'
'Thanks enough for me to see you look like yourself；' said Markham。
'Did you think I was going to sit still and leave you in the mess you
had got yourself into； with your irregularity about keeping your
accounts？'
'And to you；' said Guy； looking at his uncle； as if it was especially
pleasant to be obliged to him。 'You never can guess what I owe to
you！'
'Nay； I deserve no thanks at all；' said Sebastian； 'since I was the
means of bringing the imputation on you； and I am sure it is enough for
a wretch like me； not to have brought only misery wherever I turnto
have done something to repair the evil I have caused。 Oh； could I but
bring back your father to what he was when first I saw him as you are
now！'
He was getting into one of those violent fits of self…reproach； at once
genuine and theatrical； of which Guy had a sort of horror； and it was
well Mr。 Edmonstone broke in； like comedy into tragedy。
'Come； what's past can't be helped； and I have no end of work to be
done； so there's speechifying enough for once。 Mr。 Dixon； you must not
be going。 Sit down and look over the newspaper； while we sign these
papers。 You must dine with us； and drink your nephew's health； though
it is not his real birthday。'
Guy was much pleased that Mr。 Edmonstone should have given this
invitation； as well as with the consideration Markham had shown for
Dixon in his narration。 Mr。 Dixon； who had learnt to consider parents
and guardians as foes and tyrants； stammered and looked confused and
enraptured； but it appeared that he could not stay； for he had a
professional engagement。 He gave them an exhortation to come to the
concert where he was employed； and grew so ardent in his description of
it； that Guy could have wished to go； but his companions were in haste
to say there was far too much to do。 And the next moment Guy told
himself； that Mr。 Edmonstone's good…natured face and joyous 'eh； Guy？'
were more to him than any music he could hear nearer than Hollywell。
He went down…stairs with his uncle； who all the way raved about the
music； satisfied to find ears that could comprehend； and was too full
of it even to attend or respond to the parting thanks； for his last
words were something about a magnificent counter…tenor。
Guy walked up slowly； trying to gather his thoughts： but when it came
back to him that Amy was his again； his brain seemed to reel with
ecstasy； and it would have taken far more time than he could spare to
recall his sober senses； so he opened the door； to convince himself at
least of Mr。 Edmonstone's presence； and was received with another shake
of the hand。
'So here you are again。 I was afraid he was carrying you off to his
concert after all！ I believe you have half a mind for it。 Do you
like to stay in London for the next？ Eh； Guy？' and it was good to hear
Mr。 Edmonstone's hearty laugh； as he patted his ward on the shoulder；
saw his blushing； smiling shake of the head； and gave a knowing look；
which let in a fresh light on Markham； and luckily was unseen by Guy。
'Well；' continued Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the man is more gentlemanlike than I
expected。 A good sort of fellow at the bottom； I dare say。 He was
pretty considerably shocked to find he had brought you into such a
scrape。'
'He is very generous；' said Guy。 'Oh； there is much of a noble
character in him。'
'Noble！ humph！' put in Markham。 'He has gone down…hill fast enough；
since I used to see him in your father's time； but I am glad he had the
decency not to be the undoing of you。'
'His feeling is his great point；' said Guy； 'when you can once get at
it。 I wish' But breaking off short； 'I can't make it out。 What did
little Marianne tell you？ Or was it Miss Wellwood？'
'It was first the youngest sister；' said Markham。 'I sat there talking
to her some little time； she said you had been very kind to the family；
and the child was very grateful to youwas always talking of some
morning when you and your dog came； and helped her mother。 Her father
had been out all night； and her mother was crying； she said； and
declaring he would be sent to prison； till you came and helped them。'
'Yes； that's it；' said Guy。
'Well； I remembered what you had told me of the mystery of the draft；
and guessed that this might be the clue to it。 I begged to see the
child； and in she came； the very image of your mother； and a sharp
little thing that knew what she meant； but had not much idea of the
shame； poor child； about her father。 She told me the story of his
coming home in the morning； and her mother being in great distress； and
saying they were ruined； till you came and talked to her mother； and
gave her something。 I asked if it was money； and she said it was
paper。 I showed her a draft； and she knew it was like that。 So then I
made her tell me where to find her father； whom I used to know in old
times； and had to write to； now and then。 I hunted him up； and a
creditable figure he was； to be sure； but I got the truth out of him at
last； and when he heard you had got into disgrace on his account； he
raved like a tragedy hero； and swore he would come and tell your
guardian the whole story。 I put him into a cab for fear he should
repent； and he had just got to the end of it when you came in。'
'It is of no use to thank you again； Markham！'
'Why； I have been getting your family out of scrapes these forty years
or thereabouts；' said Markham； ''tis all I am good for； and if they had
been no worse than this one it would be better for all of us。 But time
is getting on； and there is enough