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last no longer a spectator； but an active contributor to the sport。
When the break…up came； Mary and Amabel were standing over the table
together； collecting the scattered papers； and observing that it had
been very good fun。 'Some so characteristic；' said Amy； 'such as
Maurice's definition of happiness； … a row at Dublin。'
'Some were very deep； though；' said Mary； 'if it is not treason； I
should like to make out whose that other was of happiness。'
'You mean this；' said Amy： '〃Gleams from a brighter world； too soon
eclipsed or forfeited。〃 I thought it was Philip's； but it is Sir Guy's
writing。 How very sad！ I should not like to think so。 And he was so
merry all the time！ This is his； too； I see； this one about riches
being the freight for which the traveller is responsible。'
'There is a great deal of character in them；' said Mary。 'I should not
have wondered at any of us； penniless people； philosophizing in the fox
and grapes style； but； for him； and at his age'
'He has been brought up so as to make the theory of wisdom come early；'
said Philip； who was nearer than she thought。
'Is that intended for disparagement？' she asked quickly。
I think very highly of him； he has a great deal of sense and right
feeling；' was Philip's sedate answer； and he turned away to say some
last words to Mr。 Thorndale。
The Rosses were the last to depart； Mary in cloak and clogs； while Mr。
Edmonstone lamented that it was in vain to offer the carriage； and Mary
laughed； and thanked； and said the walk home with Papa was the greatest
of treats in the frost and star…light。
'Don't I pity you； who always go out to dinner in a carriage！' were her
last words to Laura。
'Well； Guy；' said Charlotte； 'how do you like it？'
'Very much； indeed。 It was very pleasant。'
'You are getting into the fairy ring；' said Laura； smiling。
'Ay' he said； smiling too； 'but it does not turn to tinsel。 Would it
if I saw more of it？' and he looked at Mrs； Edmonstone。
'It would be no compliment to ourselves to say so；' she answered。
'I suppose tinsel or gold depends on the using；' said he； thoughtfully；
'there are some lumps of solid gold among those papers； I am sure； one；
in particular； about a trifle。 May I see that again？ I mean
'Little things
On little wings
Bear little souls to heaven。'
'Oh！ that was only a quotation；' said Amy； turning over the definitions
again with him； and laughing at some of the most amusing； while； in the
mean time； Philip went to help Laura； who was putting some books away
in the ante…room。
'Yes； Laura；' he said； 'he has thought； mind； and soul； he is no mere
rattle。'
'No indeed。 Who could help seeing his superiority over Maurice？'
'If only he does not pervert his gifts； and if it is not all talk。 I
don't like such excess of openness about his feelings； it is too like
talking for talking's sake。'
'Mamma says it in the transparency of youthfulness。 You know he has
never been at school； so his thoughts come out in security of sympathy；
without fear of being laughed at。 But it is very late。 Good night。'
The frost turned to rain the next morning； and the torrents streamed
against the window； seeming to have a kind of attraction for Philip and
Guy； who stood watching them。
Guy wondered if the floods would be out at Redclyffe and his cousins
were interested by his description of the sudden； angry rush of the
mountain streams； eddying fiercely along； bearing with them tree and
rock； while the valleys became lakes； and the little mounds islets； and
the trees looked strangely out of proportion when only their branches
were visible。 'Oh！ a great flood is famous fun；' said he。
'Surely；' said Philip； 'I have heard a legend of your being nearly
drowned in some flood。
'Yes；' said Guy； 'I had a tolerable ducking。'
'Oh； tell us about it！' said Amy。
'Ay！ I have a curiosity to hear a personal experience of drowning；'
said Charles。 'Come； begin at the beginning。'
'I was standing watching the tremendous force of the stream； when I saw
an unhappy old ram floating along； bleating so piteously； and making
such absurd； helpless struggles； that I could not help pulling off my
coat and jumping in after him。 It was very foolish； for the stream was
too strongI was two years younger then。 Moreover； the beast was very
heavy； and not at all grateful for any kind intentions； and I found
myself sailing off to the sea； with the prospect of a good many rocks
before long； but just then an old tree stretched out its friendly arms
through the water； it stopped the sheep； and I caught hold of the
branches； and managed to scramble up； while my friend got entangled in
them with his wool'
'Omne quum Proteus pecus egit altos
Visere montes；'
quoted Philip。
'Ovium et summa； genus haesit ulmo；'
added Guy。
'_Ovium_；' exclaimed Philip； with a face of horror。 'Don't you know
that _0_ in _Ovis_ is short？ Do anything but take liberties with
Horace！'
'Get out of the tree first； Guy；' said Charles； 'for at present your
history seems likely to end with a long ohone！'
'Well； Tritonnot Proteuscame to the rescue at last；' said Guy；
laughing； 'I could not stir； and the tree bent so frightfully with the
current that I expected every minute we should all go together； so I
had nothing for it but to halloo as loud as I could。 No one heard but
Triton； the old Newfoundland dog； who presently came swimming up； so
eager to help； poor fellow； that I thought he would have throttled me；
or hurt himself in the branches。 I took off my handkerchief and threw
it to him； telling him to take it to Arnaud； who I knew would
understand it as a signal of distress。'
'Did he？ How long had you to wait？'
'I don't knowit seemed long enough before a most welcome boat
appeared； with some men in it； and Triton in an agony。 They would
never have found me but for him； for my voice was gone； indeed the next
thing I remember was lying on the grass in the park； and Markham
saying； 'Well； sir； if you do wish to throw away your life； let it be
for something better worth saving than Farmer Holt's vicious old ram！'
'In the language of the great Mr。 Toots；' said Charles 'I am afraid
you got very wet。'
'Were you the worse for it？' said Amy。
'Not in the least。 I was so glad to hear it was Holt's！ for you must
know that I had behaved very ill to Farmer Holt。 I had been very angry
at his beating our old hound； for； as he thought； worrying his sheep；
not that Dart ever did； though。
'And was the ram saved？'
'Yes； and next time I saw it； it nearly knocked me down。'
'Would you do it again？' said Philip。
'I don't kn