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balancing a Venetian weight on as few of his fingers as could support
it。
'Guy；' said she； smiling； 'does that unfortunate glass inspire you with
any arguments in favour of the Venetians？'
Guy put it down at once； and Philip proceeded to improved methods of
farming； to enable landlords to meet the exigencies of the times。 Guy
had got hold of Mr。 Edmonstone's spectacle…case； and was putting its
spring to a hard trial。 Mrs。 Edmonstone doubted whether to interfere
again； she knew this was not the sort of thing that tried his temper；
yet she particularly disliked playing him off； as it were for Philip's
amusement； and quite as much letting him go on； and lower himself in
her nephew's estimation。 The spectacle…case settled the mattera；
crack was heard； it refused to snap at all； and Guy； much discomfited；
made many apologies。
Amy laughed； Philip was much too well…bred to do anything but curl his
lip unconsciously。 Mrs。 Edmonstone waited till he was gone； then； when
she was wishing Guy 'good…night' at Charles's door； she said；
'The spectacle…case forestalled me in giving you a lecture on sparing
our nerves。 Don't look so very full of compunctionit is only a trick
which your mother would have stopped at five years old； and which you
can soon stop for yourself。'
'Thank you； I will！' said Guy； 'I hardly knew I did it； but I am very
sorry it has teased you。'
Thenceforward it was curious to see how he put down and pushed away all
he had once begun to touch and torture。 Mrs。 Edmonstone said it was
self command in no common degree； and Philip allowed that to cure so
inveterate a habit required considerable strength of will。
'However；' he said； 'I always gave the Morvilles credit for an iron
resolution。 Yes； Amy； you may laugh； but if a man is not resolute in a
little； he will never be resolute in great matters。'
'And Guy has been resolute the right way this time；' said Laura。
'May he always be the same；' said Philip。
Philip had undertaken； on his way back to Broadstone； to conduct
Charlotte to East…hill； where she was to spend the day with a little
niece of Mary Ross。 She presently came down； her bonnet…strings tied
in a most resolute…looking bow； and her little figure drawn up so as to
look as womanly is possible for her first walk alone with Philip。 She
wished the party at home 'goodbye；' and as Amy and Laura stood watching
her； they could not help laughing to see her tripping feet striving to
keep step； her blue veil discreetly composed and her little head turned
up； as if she was trying hard to be on equa1 terms with the tall
cousin； who meanwhile looked graciously down from his height；
patronising her like a very small child。 After some space； Amy began
to wonder what they could talk about； or whether they would talk at
all； but Laura said there was no fear of Charlotte's tongue ever being
still； and Charles rejoined；
'Don't you know that Philip considers it due to himself that his
audience should never be without conversation suited to their
capacity？'
'Nonsense； Charlie！'
'Nay； I give him credit for doing it as well as it is in nature of
things for it to be done。 The strongest proof I know of his being a
superior man； is the way he adapts himself to his company。 He lays
down the law to us； because he knows we are all born to be his
admirers； he calls Thorndale his dear fellow and conducts him like a
Mentor； but you may observe how different he is with other peopleMr。
Ross； for instance。 It is not showing off； it is just what the pattern
hero should be with the pattern clergyman。 At a dinner party he is
quite in his place； contents himself with leaving an impression on his
neighbour that Mr。 Morville is at home on every subject； and that he is
the right thing with his brother officers is sufficiently proved； since
not even Maurice either hates or quizzes him。'
'Well； Charlie；' said Laura； well pleased； I am glad you are convinced
at last。'
'Do you think I ever wanted to be convinced that we were created for no
other end than to applaud Philip？ I was fulfilling the object of our
existence by enlarging on a remark of Guy's； that nothing struck him
more than the way in which Philip could adapt his conversation to the
hearers。 So the hint was not lost on me； and I came to the conclusion
that it was a far greater proof of his sense than all the maxims he
lavishes on us。'
'I wonder Guy was the person to make the remark；' said Laura； 'for it
is strange that those two never appear to the best advantage together。'
'Oh； Laura； that would be the very reason；' said Amy。
'The very reason？' said Charles。 Draw out your meaning； Miss。'
'Yes；' said Amy； colouring； 'If Guyif a generous person； I meanwere
vexed with another sometimes； it would be the very reason he would make
the most of all his goodness。'
'Heigh…ho！' yawned Charles。 What o'clock is it？ I wonder when Guy is
ever coming back from that Lascelles。'
'Your wonder need not last long；' said Laura； 'for I see him riding
into the stable yard。'
In a few minutes he had entered； and； on being asked if he had met
Philip and Charlotte； and how they were getting on； he replied；'A
good deal like the print of Dignity and Impudence；' at the same time
throwing back his shoulders； and composing his countenance to imitate
Philip's lofty deportment and sedate expression； and the next moment
putting his head on one side with a sharp little nod； and giving a
certain espiegle glance of the eye； and knowing twist of one corner of
the mouth； just like Charlotte。
'By the by；' added he； 'would Philip have been a clergyman if he had
gone to Oxford？'
'I don't know； I don't think it was settled；' said Laura； 'Why？'
'I could never fancy him one' said Guy。 'He would not have been what
he is now if he had gone to Oxford；' said Charles。 'He would have
lived with men of the same powers and pursuits with himself； and have
found his level。'
'And that would have been a very high one；' said Guy。
'It would； but there would be all the difference there is between a
feudal prince and an Eastern despot。 He would know what it is to live
with his match。'
'But you don't attempt to call him conceited！' cried Guy； with a sort
of consternation。
'He is far above that； far too grand；' said Amy。
'I should as soon think of calling Jupiter conceited；' said Charles；
and Laura did not know how far to be gratified； or otherwise。
Charles had not over…estimated Philip's readiness of self adaptation。
Charlotte had been very happy with him； talking over the 〃Lady of the
Lake〃； which she had just read； and being enlightened； partly to her
satisfaction； partly to her disappointment； as to how much was
historical。 He listened good…naturedly to a fit of rapture； and threw
in a few； not too many； discreet