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were few houses in the neighbourhood more popular than Hollywell。
The guests this evening were Maurice de Courcy； a wild young Irishman；
all noise and nonsense； a great favourite with his cousin； Mr。
Edmonstone； two Miss Harpers； daughters of the late clergyman； good…
natured； second…rate girls； Dr。 Mayerne； Charles's kind old physician；
the friend and much…loved counsellor at Hollywell； and the present
vicar； Mr。 Ross with his daughter Mary。
Mary Ross was the greatest friend that the Miss Edmonstones possessed；
though； she being five…and…twenty； they had not arrived at perceiving
that they were on the equal terms of youngladyhood。
She had lost her mother early； and had owed a great deal to the
kindness of Mrs。 Edmonstone； as she grew up among her numerous elder
brothers。 She had no girlhood； she was a boy till fourteen； and then a
woman； and she was scarcely altered since the epoch of that transition；
the same in likings； tastes； and duties。 'Papa' was all the world to
her； and pleasing him had much the same meaning now as then； her
brothers were like playfellows； her delights were still a lesson in
Greek from papa； a school…children's feast； a game at play； a new book。
It was only a pity other people did not stand still too。 'Papa；'
indeed； had never grown sensibly older since the year of her mother's
death： but her brothers were whiskered men； with all the cares of the
world； and no holidays； the school…girls went out to service； and were
as a last year's brood to an old hen； the very children she had fondled
were young ladies； as old； to all intents and purposes； as herself； and
here were even Laura and Amy Edmonstone fallen into that bad habit of
growing up！ though little Amy had still much of the kitten in her
composition； and could play as well as Charlotte or Mary herself； when
they had the garden to themselves。
Mary took great pains to amuse Charles； always walking to see him in
the worst weather； when she thought other visitors likely to fall； and
chatting with him as if she was the idlest person in the world； though
the quantity she did at home and in the parish would be too amazing to
be recorded。 Spirited and decided； without superfluous fears and
fineries； she had a firm； robust figure； and a rosy； good…natured face；
with a manner that； though perfectly feminine； had in it an air of
strength and determination。
Hollywell was a hamlet； two miles from the parish church of East…hill；
and Mary had thus seen very little of the Edmonstone's guest； having
only been introduced to him after church on Sunday。 The pleasure on
which Charles chiefly reckoned for that evening was the talking him
over with her when the ladies came in from the dining…room。 The Miss
Harpers； with his sisters； gathered round the piano； and Mrs。
Edmonstone sat at Charles's feet； while Mary knitted and talked。
'So you get on well with him？'
'He is one of those people who are never in the way； and yet you never
can forgot their presence；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'His manners are quite the pink of courtesy；' said Mary。
'Like his grandfather's；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'that old…school
deference and attention is very chivalrous； and sits prettily and
quaintly on his high spirits and animation； I hope it will not wear
off。'
'A vain hope；' said Charles。 'At present he is like that German myth；
Kaspar Hauser； who lived till twenty in a cellar。 It is lucky for
mamma that； in his green state； he is courtly instead of bearish。'
'Lucky for you； too； Charlie； he spoils you finely。'
'He has the rare perfection of letting me know my own mind。 I never
knew what it was to have my own way before。'
'Is that your complaint； Charlie？ What next？' said Mary。
'So you think I have my way； do you； Mary？ That is all envy； you see；
and very much misplaced。 Could you guess what a conflict it is every
time I am helped up that mountain of a staircase； or the slope of my
sofa is altered？ Last time Philip stayed here； every step cost an
argument； till at last； through sheer exhaustion； I left myself a dead
weight on his hands； to be carried up by main strength。 And after all；
he is such a great； strong fellow； that I am afraid he did not mind it；
so next time I _crutched_ myself down alone； and I hope that did
provoke him。'
'Sir Guy is so kind that I am ashamed；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'It
seems as if we had brought him for the sole purpose of waiting on
Charles。'
'Half his heart is in his horse；' said Charles。 'Never had man such
delight in the 〃brute creation。〃'
'They have been his chief playfellows；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'The
chief of his time was spent in wandering in the woods or on the beach；
watching them and their ways。'
'I fairly dreamt of that Elysium of his last night；' said Charles： 'a
swamp half frozen on a winter's night； full of wild ducks。 Here；
Charlotte； come and tell Mary the roll of Guy's pets。'
Charlotte began。 'There was the sea…gull； and the hedgehog； and the
fox； and the badger； and the jay； and the monkey； that he bought
because it was dying； and cured it； only it died the next winter； and a
toad； and a raven； and a squirrel； and'
'That will do； Charlotte。'
'Oh！ but Mary has not heard the names of all his dogs。 And Mary； he
has cured Bustle of hunting my Puss。 We held them up to each other； and
Puss hissed horribly； but Bustle did not mind it a bit； and the other
day； when Charles tried to set him at her； he would not take the least
notice。'
'Now； Charlotte；' said Charles； waving his hand； with a provoking mock
politeness； 'have the goodness to return to your friends。
Tea over； Laura proposed the game of definitions。 'You know it。
Philip；' said she； 'you taught us。'
'Yes I learnt it of your sisters； Thorndale；' said Philip。
'0 pray let us have it。 It must be charming！' exclaimed Miss Harper；
on this recommendation。
'Definitions！' said Charles； contemptuously。 'Dr。 Johnson must be the
hand for them。'
'They are just the definitions not to be found in Johnson；' said Mr。
Thorndale。 'Our standing specimen is adversity； which may be
differently explained according to your taste； as 〃a toad with a
precious jewel in its head；〃 or 〃the test of friendship。〃'
'The spirit of words；' said Guy； looking eager and interested。
'Well； we'll try；' said Charles； 'though I can't say it sounds to me
promising。 Come； Maurice； define an Irishman。'
'No； no； don't let us be personal；' said Laura； 'I had thought of the
word 〃happiness〃。 We are each to write a definition on a slip of
paper； then compare them。'
The game was carried on with great spirit for more than an hour。 It
was hard to say； which made most fun； Maurice； Charles； or Guy； the
last no longer a spectator； but an active contributor to the sport。
When the break…up came； Mary a