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hardly able； with all her respect for his good impulses； to help
laughing at this strange boy。
'Yes。 Happy； thoughtless； vehement； that is what your kindness makes
me。 Was it not a proof； that I must needs fly out at such a petty
provocation？'
'I should not have thought it such a very exciting life； certainly not
such as is usually said to lead to thoughtlessness； and we have been
even quieter than usual since you came。'
'Ah； you don't know what stuff I am made of；' said Guy； gravely； though
smiling； 'your own home party is enough to do me harm； it is so
exceedingly pleasant。'
'Pleasant things do not necessarily do harm。'
'Not to you； not to people who are not easily unsettled； but when I go
up…stairs； after a talking； merry evening； such as the night before
last； I find that I have enjoyed it too much； I am all abroad！ I can
hardly fix my thoughts； and I don't know what to do； since here I must
be； and I can't either be silent； or sit up in my own room。'
'Certainly not；' said she； smiling； 'there are duties of society which
you owe even to us dangerous people。'
'No； no： don't misunderstand me。 The fault is in myself。 If it was
not for that； I could learn nothing but good；' said Guy； speaking very
eagerly； distressed at her answer。
'I believe I understand you；' said she； marvelling at the serious；
ascetic temper； coupled with the very high animal spirits。 'For your
comfort； I believe the unsettled feeling you complain of is chiefly the
effect of novelty。 You have led so very retired a life； that a lively
family party is to you what dissipation would be to other people： and；
as you must meet with the world some time or other； it is better the
first encounter with should be in this comparatively innocent form。 Go
on watching yourself； and it will do you no harm。'
Yes； but if I find it does me harm？ It would be cowardly to run away；
and resistance should be from within。 Yet； on the other hand； there is
the duty of giving up； wrenching oneself from all that has temptation
in it。'
'There is nothing；' said Mrs Edmonstone； 'that has no temptation in it；
but I should think the rule was plain。 If a duty such as that of
living among us for the present； and making yourself moderately
agreeable； involves temptations； they must be met and battled from
within。 In the same way； your position in society； with all its
duties； could not be laid aside because it is full of trial。 Those who
do such things are fainthearted； and fail in trust in Him who fixed
their station； and finds room for them to deny themselves in the
trivial round and common task。 It is pleasure involving no duty that
should be given up； if we find it liable to lead us astray。'
'I see；' answered Guy； musingly； 'and this reading comes naturally； and
is just what I wanted to keep the pleasant things from getting a full
hold of me。 I ought to have thought of it sooner； instead of dawdling
a whole month in idleness。 Then all this would not have happened。 I
hope it will be very tough。'
'You have no great love for Latin and Greek？'
'Oh！' cried Guy； eagerly； 'to be sure I delight in Homer and the
Georgics； and plenty more。 What splendid things there are in these old
fellows！ But； I never liked the drudgery part of the affair； and now
if I am to be set to work to be accurate； and to get up all the grammar
and the Greek roots； it will be horrid enough in all conscience。'
He groaned as deeply as if he had not been congratulating himself just
before on the difficulty。
'Who was your tutor？' asked Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Mr。 Potts；' said Guy。 'He is a very clever man； he had a common
grammar…school education； but he struggled ontaught himself a great
dealand at last thought it great promotion to be a teacher at the
Commercial Academy； as they call it； at Moorworth； where Markham's
nephews went to school。 He is very clever； I assure you； and very
patient of the hard； wearing life he must have of it there； and oh！ so
enjoying a new book； or an afternoon to himself。 When I was about
eight or nine； I began with him； riding into Moorworth three times in a
week； and I have gone on ever since。 I am sure he has done the best he
could for me； and he made the readings very pleasant by his own
enjoyment。 If Philip had known the difficulties that man has struggled
through； and his beautiful temper； persevering in doing his best and
being contented； I am sure he could never have spoken contemptuously of
him。'
'I am sure he would not；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'all he meant was； that
a person without a university education cannot tell what the
requirements are to which a man must come up in these days。'
'Ah！' said Guy； laughing； 'how I wished Mr。 Potts had been there to
have enjoyed listening to Philip and Mr。 Lascelles discussing some new
Lexicon； digging down for roots of words； and quoting passages of
obscure Greek poets at such a rate； that if my eyes had been shut I
could have thought them two withered old students in spectacles and
snuff…coloured coats。'
'Philip was in his element。' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； smiling。
'Really；' proceeded Guy； with animation； 'the more I hear and see of
Philip； the more I wonder。 What a choice collection of books he has
so many of them school prizes； and how beautifully bound！'
'Ah！ that is one of Philip's peculiar ways。 With all his prudence and
his love of books； I believe he would not buy one unless he had a
reasonable prospect of being able to dress it handsomely。 Did you see
the print？'
'Yes that I did。 What glorious loveliness！ There is nothing that does
it justice but the description in the lecture。 Oh I forgot； you have
not heard it。 You must let me read it to you by and by。 Those two
little angels； what faces they have。 Perfect innocenceone full of
reasoning； the other of unreasoning adoration！'
'I see it！' suddenly exclaimed Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'I see what you are
like in one of your looks； not by any means； in allit is to the
larger of those two angels。'
'Very seldom； I should guess；' said Guy； and sinking his voice； as if
he was communicating a most painful fact； he added； 'My real likeness
is old Sir Hugh's portrait at home。 But what were we saying？ Oh！
about Philip。 How nice those stories were of Mrs。 Deane's。'
'She is very fond of him。'
'To have won so much esteem and admiration； already from strangers；
with no prejudice in his favour。It must be entirely his own doing；
and well it may！ Every time one hears of him； something comes out to
make him seem more admirable。 You are laughing at me； and I own it is
presumptuous to praise； but I did not mean to praise； only to admire。'
'I like very much to hear my nephew praised； I was only smiling at your
enthusiastic way。'
'I only wonder I am not more enthusiastic；' said Guy。 'I