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'He who the lion's whelp has nurst；
At home with fostering hand；
Finds it a gentle thing at first；
Obedient to command；'
'Do you think him a lion's whelp？'
'I am afraid I saw the lion just now in his flashing eyes and
contracted brow。 There is an impatience of advice； a vehemence of
manner that I can hardly deem satisfactory。 I do not speak from
prejudice； for I think highly of his candour； warmth of heart； and
desire to do right； but from all I have seen； I should not venture as
yet to place much dependence on his steadiness of character or command
of temper。'
'He seems to have been very fond of his grandfather； in spite of his
severity。 He is but just beginning to brighten up a little。'
'Yes； his disposition is very affectionate；almost a misfortune to one
so isolated from family ties。 He showed remarkably well at Redclyffe；
the other day； boyish of course； and without much self…command； but
very amiably。 It is very well for him that he is removed from thence；
for all the people idolize him to such a degree that they could not
fail to spoil him。'
'It would be a great pity if he went wrong。'
'Great； for he has many admirable qualities； but still they are just
what persons are too apt to fancy compensation for faults。 I never
heard that any of his family； except perhaps that unhappy old Hugh；
were deficient in frankness and generosity； and therefore these do not
satisfy me。 Observe； I am not condemning him； I wish to be perfectly
just； all I say is； that I do not trust him till I have seen him
tried。'
Laura did not answer； she was disappointed； yet there was a justice and
guardedness in what Philip said； that made it impossible to gainsay it；
and she was pleased with his confidence。 She thought how cool and
prudent he was； and how grieved she should be if Guy justified his
doubts； and so they walked on in such silence as is perhaps the
strongest proof of intimacy。 She was the first to speak； led to do so
by an expression of sadness about her cousin's mouth。 'What are you
thinking of； Philip？'
'Of Locksley Hall。 There is nonsense； there is affectation in that；
Laura； there is scarcely poetry； but there is power； for there is
truth。'
'Of Locksley Hall！ I thought you were at Stylehurst。'
'So I was； but the one brings the other。'
'I suppose you went to Stylehurst while you were at St。 Mildred's？ Did
Margaret take you there？'
'Margaret？ Not she； she is too much engaged with her book…club； and
her soirées； and her societies of every sort and kind。'
'How did you get on with the Doctor？'
'I saw as little of him as I could； and was still more convinced that
he does not know what conversation is。 Hem！' Philip gave a deep sigh。
'No； the only thing to be done at St。 Mildred's is to walk across the
moors to Stylehurst。 It is a strange thing to leave that tumult of
gossip； and novelty； and hardness； and to enter on that quiet autumnal
old world； with the yellow leaves floating silently down； just as they
used to do； and the atmosphere of stillness round the green
churchyard。'
'Gossip！' repeated Laura。' Surely not with Margaret？'
'Literary； scientific gossip is worse than gossip in a primary sense；
without pretension。'
'I am glad you had Stylehurst to go to。 How was the old sexton's
wife？'
'Very well； trotting about on her pattens as merrily as ever。'
'Did you go into the garden？'
'Yes； Fanny's ivy has entirely covered the south wall； and the acacia
is so tall and spreading； that I longed to have the pruning of it。 Old
Will keeps everything in its former state。'
They talked on of the old home； till the stern bitter look of regret
and censure had faded from his brow； and given way to a softened
melancholy expression。
CHAPTER 4
A fig for all dactyls； a fig for all spondees；
A fig for all dunces and dominie grandees。SCOTT
'How glad I am！' exclaimed Guy； entering the drawing…room。
'Wherefore？' inquired Charles。
'I thought I was too late； and I am very glad to find no one arrived；
and Mr。 and Mrs。 Edmonstone not come down。'
'But where have you been？'
'I lost my way on the top of the down； I fancied some one told me there
was a view of the sea to be had there。'
'And can't you exist without a view of the sea？'
Guy laughed。 'Everything looks so dullit is as if the view was dead
or imprisonedwalled up by wood and hill； and wanting that living
ripple； heaving and struggling。'
'And your fine rocks？' said Laura。
'I wish you could see the Shag stone；a great island mass； sloping on
one side； precipitous on the other； with the spray dashing on it。 If
you see it from ever so far off； there is still that white foam coming
and goinga glancing speck； like the light in an eye。'
'Hark！ a carriage。'
'The young man and the young man's companion；' said Charles。
'How can you？' said Laura。 'What would any one suppose Mr。 Thorndale
to be？'
'Not Philip's valet；' said Charles； 'if it is true that no man is a
hero to his 〃valley…de…sham〃； whereas； what is not Philip to the
Honourable James Thorndale？'
'Philip； Alexander； and Bucephalus into the bargain；' suggested Amy； in
her demure； frightened whisper； sending all but Laura into a fit of
laughter； the harder to check because the steps of the parties
concerned were heard approaching。
Mr。 Thorndale was a quiet individual； one of those of whom there is
least to be said； so complete a gentleman that it would have been an
insult； to call him gentleman…like； agreeable and clever rather than
otherwise； good…looking； with a high…bred air about him； so that it
always seemed strange that he did not make more impression。
A ring at the front…door almost immediately followed their arrival。
'Encore？' asked Philip； looking at Laura with a sort of displeased
surprise。
'Unfortunately； yes；' said Laura； drawing aside。
'One of my uncle's family parties；' said Philip。 'I wish I had not
brought Thorndale。 Laura； what is to be done to prevent the tittering
that always takes place when Amy and those Harpers are together？'
'Some game？' said Laura。 He signed approval； but she had time to say
no more； for her father and mother came down； and some more guests
entered。
It was just such a party that continually grew up at Hollywell； for Mr。
Edmonstone was so fond of inviting； that his wife never knew in the
morning how many would assemble at her table in the evening。 But she
was used to it； and too good a manager even to be called so。 She liked
to see her husband enjoy himself in his good…natured； open…hearted way。
The change was good for Charles； and thus it did very well； and there
were few houses in the neighbourhood mor