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he was constant。
Such was Guy's inner life； his outward life； frank and joyous； has been
shown； and the two flowed on like a stream； pure as crystal； but into
which the eye cannot penetrate from its depth。 The surface would be
sometimes obscured by cloud or shade； and reveal the sombre wells
beneath； but more often the sunshine would penetrate the inmost
recesses； and make them glance and sparkle； showing themselves as clear
and limpid as the surface itself。
CHAPTER 6
Can piety the discord heal；
Or stanch the death…feud's enmity？Scott
It must not be supposed that such a history of Guy's mind was expressed
by himself； or understood by Mrs。 Edmonstone； but she saw enough to
guess at his character； perceive the sort of guidance he needed； and be
doubly interested in him。 Much did she wish he could have such a
friend as her brother would have been； and hope that nothing would
prevent a friendship with her nephew。
The present question about the horse was； she thought； unfortunate；
since； though Guy had exercised great self…denial； it was no wonder
Philip was annoyed。 Mr。 Edmonstone's vexation was soon over。 As soon
as she had persuaded him that there had been no offence； he strove to
say with a good grace； that it was very proper； and told Guy he would
be a thorough book…worm and tremendous scholar； which Guy took as an
excellent joke。
Philip had made up his mind to be forbearing； and to say no more about
it。 Laura thought this a pity； as they could thus never come to an
understanding； but when she hinted it； he wore such a dignified air of
not being offended； that she was much ashamed of having tried to direct
one so much better able to judge。 On his side Guy had no idea the
trouble he had caused； so； after bestowing his thanks in a gay； off…
hand way； which Philip thought the worst feature of the case； he did
his best to bring Hecuba back into his mind； drive the hunters out of
it； and appease the much…aggrieved William of Deloraine。
When all William's manoeuvres resulted in his master's not hunting at
all； he was persuaded it was Mr。 Edmonstone's fault； compassionated Sir
Guy with all his heart； and could only solace himself by taking
Deloraine to exercise where he was most likely to meet the hounds。 He
further chose to demonstrate that he was not Mr。 Edmonstone's servant；
by disregarding some of his stable regulations； but as soon as this
came to his master's knowledge； a few words were spoken so sharp and
stern； that William never attempted to disobey again。
It seemed as if it was the perception that so much was kept back by a
strong force； that made Guy's least token of displeasure so formidable。
A village boy； whom be caught misusing a poor dog； was found a few
minutes after； by Mr。 Ross； in a state of terror that was positively
ludicrous； though it did not appear that Sir Guy had said or done much
to alarm him； it was only the light in his eyes； and the strength of
repressed indignation in his short broken words that had made the
impression。
It appeared as if the force of his anger might be fearful； if once it
broke forth without control； yet at the same time be had a gentleness
and attention； alike to small and great； which； with his high spirit
and good nature； his very sweet voice and pleasant smile； made him a
peculiarly winning and engaging person； and few who saw him could help
being interested in him。
No wonder he had become in the eyes of the Edmonstones almost a part of
their family。 Mrs。 Edmonstone had assumed a motherly control over him；
to which he submitted with a sort of affectionate gratitude。
One day Philip remarked； that he never saw any one so restless as Guy；
who could neither talk nor listen without playing with something。
Scissors； pencil； paper…knife； or anything that came in his way； was
sure to be twisted or tormented； or if nothing else was at hand； he
opened and shut his own knife so as to put all the spectators in fear
for his fingers。
'Yes；' said Laura； 'I saw how it tortured your eyebrows all the time
you were translating Schiller to us。 I wondered you were not put out。'
'I consider that to be put outby which you mean to have the intellect
at the mercy of another's follyis beneath a reasonable creature；'
said Philip； 'but that I was annoyed； I do not deny。 It is a token of
a restless； ill…regulated mind。'
'Restless； perhaps；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone 'but not necessarily ill…
regulated。 I should think it rather a sign that he had no one to tell
him of the tricks which mothers generally nip in the bud。'
'I was going to say that I think he fidgets less；' said Laura； 'but I
think his chief contortions of the scissors have been when Philip has
been here。'
'They have； I believe；' said her mother； I was thinking of giving him a
hint。'
'Well； aunt； you are a tamer of savage beasts if you venture on such a
subject；' said Philip。
'Do you dare me？' she asked； smiling。
'Why； I don't suppose he would do more than give you one of his
lightning glances： but that； I think； is more than you desire。'
'Considerably；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'for his sake as much as my own。'
'But；' said Laura； 'mamma has nearly cured him of pawing like a horse
in the hall when he is kept waiting。 He said he knew it was
impatience； and begged her to tell him how to cure it。 So she treated
him as an old fairy might； and advised him in a grave； mysterious way；
always to go and play the 〃Harmonious Blacksmith；〃 when he found
himself getting into 〃a taking〃； just as if it was a charm。 And he
always does it most dutifully。'
'It has a very good effect；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'for it is apt to
act as a summons to the other party； as well as a sedative to him。'
'I must say I am curious to see what you will devise this time；' said
Philip； 'since you can't set him to play on the piano； and very few can
bear to be told of a trick of the kind。'
In the course of that evening； Philip caused the great atlas to be
brought out in order to make investigations on the local habitation of
a certain Khan of Kipchack； who existed somewhere in the dark ages。
Then he came to Marco Polo； and Sir John Mandeville； and Guy； who knew
both the books in the library at Redclyffe； grew very eager in talking
them over； and tracing their adventuresthen to the Genoese merchants；
where Guy confessed himself perfectly ignorant。 Andrea Doria was the
only Genoese he ever heard of； but he hunted out with great interest
all the localities of their numerous settlements。 Then came modern
Italy； and its fallen palaces； then the contrast between the republican
merchant and aristocratic lord of the soil； then the corn laws； and
then； and not till then； did Philip glance at his aunt； to show her Guy
balancing a Venetian weight on as few of his fingers as