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'Then I am glad of it； I could hardly have given you a candid opinion
just at present。'
Charles was vexed； but he consoled himself by thinking that Guy did not
yet feel himself out of his leading…strings； and was still on his good
behaviour。 After such a flash as this there was no fear； but there was
that in him which would create mischief and disturbance enough。
Charles was well principled at the bottom； and would have shrunk with
horror had it been set before him how dangerous might be the effect of
destroying the chance of a friendship between Guy and the only person
whose guidance was likely to be beneficial to him； but his idle；
unoccupied life； and habit of only thinking of things as they concerned
his immediate amusement； made him ready to do anything for the sake of
opposition to Philip； and enjoy the vague idea of excitement to be
derived from anxiety about his father's ward； whom at the same time he
regarded with increased liking as he became certain that what he called
the Puritan spirit was not native to him。
At dinner…time； Guy was as silent as on his first arrival； and there
would have been very little conversation had not the other gentleman
talked politics； Philip leading the discussion to bear upon the duties
and prospects of landed proprietors； and dwelling on the extent of
their opportunities for doing good。 He tried to get Guy's attention；
by speaking of Redclyffe； of the large circle influenced by the head of
the Morville family； and of the hopes entertained by Lord Thorndale
that this power would prove a valuable support to the rightful cause。
He spoke in vain； the young heir of Redclyffe made answers as brief；
absent； and indifferent； as if all this concerned him no more than the
Emperor of Morocco； and Philip； mentally pronouncing him sullen； turned
to address himself to Laura。
As soon as the ladies had left the dining…room； Guy roused himself； and
began by saying to his guardian that he was afraid he was very
deficient in classical knowledge； that he found be must work hard
before going to Oxford； and asked whether there was any tutor in the
neighbourhood to whom he could apply。
Mr。 Edmonstone opened his eyes； as much amazed as if Guy had asked if
there was any executioner in the neighbourhood who could cut off his
head。 Philip was no less surprised； but he held his peace； thinking it
was well Guy bad sense enough to propose it voluntarily； as he would
have suggested it to his uncle as soon as there was an opportunity of
doing so in private。 As soon as Mr。 Edmonstone had recollected
himself； and pronounced it to be exceedingly proper； &c。； they entered
into a discussion on the neighbouring curates； and came at last to a
resolution that Philip should see whether Mr。 Lascelles； a curate of
Broadstone； and an old schoolfellow of his own； would read with Guy a
few hours in every week。
After this was settled； Guy looked relieved； though he was not himself
all the evening； and sat in his old corner between the plants and the
window； where he read a grave book； instead of talking； singing； or
finishing his volume of 'Ten Thousand a Year。' Charlotte was all this
time ill at ease。 She looked from Guy to Philip； from Philip to Guy；
she shut her mouth as if she was forming some great resolve； then
coloured； and looked confused； rushing into the conversation with
something more mal…apropos than usual； as if on purpose to appear at
her ease。 At last； just before her bed…time； when the tea was coming
in； Mrs。 Edmonstone engaged with that； Laura reading； Amy clearing
Charles's little table； and Philip helping Mr。 Edmonstone to unravel
the confused accounts of the late cheating bailiff； Guy suddenly found
her standing by him； perusing his face with all the power of her great
blue eyes。 She started as he looked up； and put her face into Amabel's
great myrtle as if she would make it appear that she was smelling to
it。
'Well； Charlotte？' said he； and the sound of his voice made her speak；
but in a frightened； embarrassed whisper。
'GuyGuyOh！ I beg your pardon； but I wanted to'
'Well； what？' said he； kindly。
'I wanted to make sure that you are not angry with Philip。 You don't
mean to keep up the feud； do you？'
'Feud？I hope not；' said Guy； too much in earnest to be diverted with
her lecture。 'I am very much obliged to him。'
'Are you really？' said Charlotte； her head a little on one side。 'I
thought he had been scolding you。'
Scolding was so very inappropriate to Philip's calm； argumentative way
of advising； that it became impossible not to laugh。
'Not scolding； then？' said Charlotte。 'You are too nearly grown up for
that； but telling you to learn； and being tiresome。'
'I was so foolish as to be provoked at first；' answered Guy； 'but I
hope I have thought better of it； and am going to act upon it。'
Charlotte opened her eyes wider than ever； but in the midst of her
amazement Mrs。 Edmonstone called to Guy to quit his leafy screen and
come to tea。
Philip was to return to Broadstone the next day； and as Mrs。 Edmonstone
had some errands there that would occupy her longer than Charles liked
to wait in the carriage； it was settled that Philip should drive her
there in the pony phaeton； and Guy accompany them and drive back； thus
having an opportunity of seeing Philip's print of the 'Madonna di San
Sisto；' returning some calls； and being introduced to Mr。 Lascelles；
whilst she was shopping。 They appointed an hour and place of meeting；
and kept to it； after which Mrs。 Edmonstone took Guy with her to call
on Mrs。 Deane； the wife of the colonel。
It was currently believed among the young Edmonstones that Mamma and
Mrs。 Deane never met without talking over Mr。 Morville's good
qualities； and the present visit proved no exception。 Mrs。 Deane； a
kind； open…hearted； elderly lady was very fond of Mr。 Morville； and
proud of him as a credit to the regiment； and she told several traits
of his excellent judgment； kindness of heart； and power of leading to
the right course。 Mrs。 Edmonstone listened； and replied with delight；
and no less pleasure and admiration were seen reflected in her young
friend's radiant face。
Mrs。 Edmonstone's first question； as they set out on their homeward
drive； was； whether they had seen Mr。 Lascelles？
'Yes；' said Guy； 'I am to begin to morrow； and go to him every Monday
and Thursday。'
'That is prompt。'
'Ah！ I have no time to lose； besides I have been leading too smooth a
life with you。 I want something unpleasant to keep me in order。
Something famously horrid；' repeated he； smacking the whip with a
relish； as if he would have applied that if he could have found nothing
else。
'You think you live too smoothly at Hollywell；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
hardly able； with all her respect for his good impulses； to help