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enthusiastic way。'
'I only wonder I am not more enthusiastic；' said Guy。 'I suppose it is
his plain good sense that drives away that sort of feeling； for he is
as near heroism in the way of self…sacrifice as a man can be in these
days。'
'Poor Philip！ if disappointment can make a hero； it has fallen to his
share。 Ah！ Guy； you are brightening and looking like one of my young
ladies in hopes of a tale of true love crossed； but it was only love of
a sister。'
'The sister for whom he gave up so much？'
'Yes； his sister Margaret。 She was eight or nine years older； very
handsome； very clever； a good deal like hima pattern elder sister；
indeed； she brought him up in great part after his mother died； and he
was devoted to her。 I do believe it made the sacrifice of his
prospects quite easy to him； to know it was for her sake； that she
would live on at Stylehurst； and the change be softened to her。 Then
came Fanny's illness； and that lead to the marriage with Dr。 Henley。
It was just what no one could object to； he is a respectable man in
full practice； with a large income； but he is much older than she is；
not her equal in mind or cultivation； and though I hardly like to say
so； not at all a religious man。 At any rate； Margaret Morville was one
of the last people one could bear to see marry for the sake of an
establishment。'
'Could her brother do nothing？'
'He expostulated with all his might； but at nineteen he could do little
with a determined sister of twenty…seven； and the very truth and power
of his remonstrance must have made it leave a sting。 Poor fellow； I
believe he suffered terriblyjust as he had lost Fanny； too； which he
felt very deeply； for she was a very sweet creature； and he was very
fond of her。 It was like losing both sisters and home at once。'
'Has he not just been staying with Mrs。 Henley？'
'Yes。 There was never any coolness； as people call it。 He is the one
thing she loves and is proud of。 They always correspond； and he often
stays with her； but he owns to disliking the Doctor； and I don't think
he has much comfort in Margaret herself； for he always comes back more
grave and stern than he went。 Her house； with all her good wishes； can
be no home to him； and so we try to make Hollywell supply the place of
Stylehurst as well as we can。'
'How glad he must be to have you to comfort him！'
'Philip？ Oh no。 He was always reserved； open to no one but Margaret；
not even to his father； and since her marriage he has shut himself up
within himself more than ever。 It has； at least I think it is this
that has given him a severity； an unwillingness to trust； which I
believe is often the consequence of a great disappointment either in
love or in friendship。'
'Thank you for telling me；' said Guy： 'I shall understand him better；
and look up to him more。 Oh！ it is a cruel thing to find that what one
loves is； or has not been； all one thought。 What must he not have gone
through！'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was well pleased to have given so much assistance to
Guy's sincere desire to become attached to his cousin； one of the most
favourable signs in the character that was winning so much upon her。
CHAPTER 5
A cloud was o'er my childhood's dream；
I sat in solitude；
I know not howI know not why；
But round my soul all drearily
There was a silent shroud。
THOUGHTS IN PAST YEARS
Mrs。 Edmonstone was anxious to hear Mr。 Lascelle's opinion of his
pupil； and in time she learnt that he thought Sir Guy had very good
abilities； and a fair amount of general information； but that his
classical knowledge was far from accurate； and mathematics had been
greatly neglected。 He had been encouraged to think his work done when
he had gathered the general meaning of a passage； or translated it into
English verse； spirited and flowing； but often further from the
original than he or his tutor could perceive。 He had never been taught
to work； at least as other boys study； and great application would be
requisite to bring his attainments to a level with those of far less
clever boys educated at a public school。
Mr。 Lascelles told him so at first； but as there were no reflections on
his grandfather； or on Mr。 Potts； Guy's lip did not suffer； and he only
asked how many hours a day he ought to read。 'Three；' said Mr。
Lascelles； with a due regard to a probable want of habits of
application； but then； remembering how much was undone； he added； that
'it ought to be four or more； if possible。'
'Four it _shall_ be；' said Guy； 'five if I can。'
His whole strength of will was set to accomplish these four hours；
taking them before and after breakfast； working hard all the morning
till the last hour before luncheon； when he came to read the lectures
on poetry with Charles。 Here； for the first time； it appeared that
Charles had so entirely ceased to consider him as company； as to
domineer over him like his own family。
Used as Guy had been to an active out…of…doors life； and now turned
back to authors he had read long ago； to fight his way through the
construction of their language； not excusing himself one jot of the
difficulty； nor turning aside from one mountain over which his own
efforts could carry him； he found his work as tough and tedious as he
could wish or fear； and by the end of the morning was thoroughly
fagged。 Then would have been the refreshing time for recreation in
that pleasant idling…place； the Hollywell drawing…room。 Any other time
of day would have suited Charles as well for the reading； but he liked
to take the hour at noon； and never perceived that this made all the
difference to his friend of a toil or a pleasure。 Now and then Guy
gave tremendous yawns； and once when Charles told him he was very
stupid； proposed a different time； but as Charles objected； he yielded
as submissively as the rest of the household were accustomed to do。
To watch Guy was one of Charles's chief amusements； and he rejoiced
greatly in the prospect of hearing his history of his first dinner…
party。 Mr。； Mrs。 and Miss Edmonstone； and Sir Guy Morville； were
invited to dine with Mr。 and Mrs。 Brownlow。 Mr。 Edmonstone was
delighted as usual with any opportunity of seeing his neighbours； Guy
looked as if he did not know whether he liked the notion or not； Laura
told him it would be very absurd and stupid； but there would be some
good music； and Charles ordered her to say no more； that he might have
the account； the next morning； from a fresh and unprejudiced mind。
The next morning's question was； of course； 'How did you like your
party？'
'O； it was great fun。' Guy's favourite answer was caught up in the
midst； as Laura replied； 'It was just what parties always are。'
'Come； let us have the history。 Who handed who in to din