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dinner； the door opened and in came the two Morvilles。 Guy； without；
even stopping to take off his great coat； ran at once up…stairs； and
the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook
the house； and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation。
'Redclyffe temper；' said he； coolly； with a half…smile curling his
short upper lip。
'What have you been doing to him？' said Charles。'
'Nothing。 At least nothing worthy of such ire。 I only entered on the
subject of his Oxford life； and advised him to prepare for it； for his
education has as yet been a mere farce。 He used to go two or three
days in the week to one Potts； a self…educated geniusa sort of
superior writing…master at the Moorworth commercial school。 Of course；
though it is no fault of his； poor fellow； he is hardly up to the fifth
form； and he must make the most of his time； if he is not to be
plucked。 I set all this before him as gently as I could； for I knew
with whom I had to deal； yet you see how it is。'
'What did he say？' asked Charles。
'He said nothing； so far I give him credit； but he strode on furiously
for the last half mile； and this explosion is the finale。 I am very
sorry for him； poor boy； I beg no further notice may be taken of it。
Don't you want an arm； Charlie？'
'No thank you；' answered Charles； with a little surliness。
'You had better。 It really is too much for Amy；' said Philip； making a
move as if to take possession of him； as he arrived at the foot of the
stairs。
'Like the camellia； I suppose；' he replied； and taking his other crutch
from Charlotte； he began determinedly to ascend without assistance；
resolved to keep Philip a prisoner below him as long as he could； and
enjoying the notion of chafing him by the delay。 Certainly teasing
Philip was a dear delight to Charles； though it was all on trust； as；
if he succeeded； his cousin never betrayed his annoyance by look or
sign。
About a quarter of an hour after； there was a knock at the dressing…
room door。 'Come in；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； looking up from her
letter…writing； and Guy made his appearance； looking very downcast。
'I am come；' he said； 'to ask pardon for the disturbance I made just
now。 I was so foolish as to be irritated at Philip's manner； when he
was giving me some good advice； and I am very sorry。'
'What has happened to your lip？' she exclaimed。
He put his handkerchief to it。 'Is it bleeding still？ It is a trick
of mine to bite my lip when I am vexed。 It seems to help to keep down
words。 There！ I have given myself a mark of this hateful outbreak。'
He looked very unhappy； more so； Mrs。 Edmonstone thought； than the
actual offence required。 'You have only failed in part；' she said。
'It was a victory to keep down words。'
'The feeling is the _thing_；' said Guy； 'besides； I showed it plainly
enough； without speaking。'
'It is not easy to take advice from one so little your elder；' began
Mrs。 Edmonstone； but he interrupted her。 'It was not the advice。 That
was very good； I' but he spoke with an effort；'I am obliged to him。
It wasno； I won't say what；' he added； his eyes kindling； then
changing in a moment to a sorrowful； resolute tone； 'Yes； but I _will_；
and then I shall make myself thoroughly ashamed。 It was his veiled
assumption of superiority； his contempt for all I have been taught。
Just as if he had not every right to despise me； with his talent and
scholarship； after such egregious mistakes as I had made in the
morning。 I gave him little reason to think highly of my attainments；
but let him slight me as much as he pleases； he must not slight those
who taught me。 It was not Mr。 Potts' fault。'
Even the name could not spoil the spirited sound of the speech； and
Mrs。 Edmonstone was full of sympathy。 'You must remember；' she said；
'that in the eyes of a man brought up at public school； nothing
compensates for the want of the regular classical education。 I have no
doubt it was very provoking。'
'I don't want to be excused； thank you；' said Guy。 'Oh I am grieved；
for I thought the worst of my temper had been subdued。 After all that
has passedall I feltI thought it impossible。 Is there no hope for…
…' He covered his face with his hands； then recovering and turning to
Mrs。 Edmonstone； he said； 'It is encroaching too much on your kindness
to come here and trouble you with my confessions。'
'No； no； indeed；' said she； earnestly。 'Remember how we agreed that
you should come to me like one of my own children。 And； indeed； I do
not see why you need grieve in this despairing way； for you almost
overcame the fit of anger； and perhaps you were off your guard because
the trial came in an unexpected way？'
'It did； it did；' he said； eagerly； 'I don't； mind being told point
blank that I am a dunce； but that Mr。 Pottsnay； by implicationmy
grandfather should be set at nought in that cool But here I am
again！' said he； checking himself in the midst of his vehemence； 'he
did not mean that； of course。 I have no one to blame but myself。'
'I am sure；' said Mrs； Edmonstone； 'that if you always treat your
failings in this way； you must subdue them at last。'
'It is all failing； and resolving； and failing again！' said Guy。
'Yes； but the failures become slighter and less frequent； and the end
is victory。'
'The end victory！' repeated Guy； in a musing tone； as he stood leaning
against the mantelshelf。
'Yes； to all who persevere and seek for help；' said Mrs Edmonstone； and
he raised his eyes and fixed them on her with an earnest look that
surprised her； for it was almost as if the hope came home to him as
something new。 At that moment； however； she was called away； and
directly after a voice in the next room exclaimed； 'Are you there； Guy？
I want an arm！' while he for the first time perceived that Charles's
door was ajar。
Charles thought all this a great fuss about nothing； indeed he was glad
to find there was anyone who had no patience with Philip； and in his
usual mischievous manner； totally reckless of the fearful evil of
interfering with the influence for good which it was to be hoped that
Philip might exert over Guy； he spoke thus： 'I begin to think the world
must be more docile than I have been disposed to give it credit for。
How a certain cousin of ours has escaped numerous delicate hints to
mind his own business is to me one of the wonders of the world。'
'No one better deserves that his advice should be followed；' said Guy；
with some constraint。
'An additional reason against it；' said Charles。 'Plague on that bell！
I meant to have broken through your formalities and had a candid
opinion of Don Philip before it rang。'
'Then I am glad of it； I could hardly have given you a candid opinion
just at present。'
Charles was vexed； but he consoled himse