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'It is a case of flint and steel；' said Charles； 'but be it owing to
who it will； we have been alive since you came here。 You have taken
care to be remembered。 We have been studying you； or laughing at you；
or wondering what absurdity was to come next。'
'I am very sorrythat is； if you are serious。 I hoped at least I
appeared like other people。'
'I'll tell you what you appear like。 Just what I would be if I was a
free man。'
'Never say that； Charlie！'
'Nay； wait a bit。 I would never be so foolish。 I would never give my
sunny mornings to Euripides； I would not let the best hunter in the
county go when I had wherewithal to pay for him。'
'You would not have such an ill…conditioned self to keep in rule。'
'After all；' continued Charles； yawning； 'it is no great compliment to
say I am sorry you are going。 If you were an Ethiopian serenader； you
would be a loss to me。 It is something to see anything beyond this old
drawing…room； and the same faces doing the same things every day。
Laura poking over her drawing； and meditating upon the last entry in
Philip's memorandum…book； and Amy at her flowers or some nonsense or
other； and Charlotte and the elders all the same； and a lot of stupid
people dropping in and a lot of stupid books to read； all just alike。
I can tell what they are like without looking in！' Charles yawned
again； sighed； and moved wearily。 'Now； there came some life and
freshness with you。 You talk of Redclyffe； and your brute creation
there； not like a book； and still less like a commonplace man； you are
innocent and unsophisticated； and take new points of view； you are
something to interest oneself about； your coming in is something to
look forward to； you make the singing not such mere milk…and…water；
your reading the Praelectiones is an additional landmark to time；
besides the mutton of to…day succeeding the beef of yesterday。 Heigh…
ho！ I'll tell you what； Guy。 Though I may carry it off with a high
hand； 'tis no joke to be a helpless log all the best years of a man's
life；nay； for my whole life；for at the very best of the
contingencies the doctors are always flattering me with； I should make
but a wretched crippling affair of it。 And if that is the best hope
they give me； you may guess it is likely to be a pretty deal worse。
Hope？ I've been hoping these ten years； and much good has it done me。
I say； Guy；' he proceeded； in a tone of extreme bitterness； though with
a sort of smile； 'the only wonder is that I don't hate the very sight
of you！ There are times when I feel as if I could bite some men；that
Tomfool Maurice de Courcy； for instance； when I hear him rattling on；
and think'
'I know I have often talked thoughtlessly； I have feared afterwards I
might have given you pain。'
'No； no； you never have； you have carried me along with you。 I like
nothing better than to hear of your ridings； and shootings； and
boatings。 It is a sort of life。'
Charles had never till now alluded seriously to his infirmity before
Guy； and the changing countenance of his auditor showed him to be much
affected； as he stood leaning over the end of the sofa； with his
speaking eyes earnestly fixed on Charles； who went on：
'And now you are going to Oxford。 You will take your place among the
men of your day。 You will hear and be heard of。 You will be somebody。
And I！I know I have what they call talentI could be something。
They think me an idle dog； but where's the good of doing anything？ I
only know if I was notnot condemned toto thisthis life；' （had it
not been for a sort of involuntary respect to the gentle compassion of
the softened hazel eyes regarding him so kindly； he would have used the
violent expletive that trembled on his lip；） 'if I was not chained down
here； Master Philip should not stand alone as the paragon of the
family。 I've as much mother wit as he。'
'That you have；' said Guy。 'How fast you see the sense of a passage。
You could excel very much if you only tried。'
'Tried？' And what am I to gain by it？'
'I don't know that one ought to let talents rust；' said Guy；
thoughtfully； 'I suppose it is one's duty not； and surely it is a pity
to give up those readings。'
'I shall not get such another fellow dunce as you；' said Charles； 'as I
told you when we began； and it would be a mere farce to do it alone。 I
could not make myself； if I would。'
'Can't you make yourself do what you please？' said Guy； as if it was
the simplest thing in the world。
'Not a bit； if the other half of me does not like it。 I forget it； or
put it off； and it comes to nothing。 I do declare； though； I would get
something to break my mind on； merely as a medical precaution； just to
freshen myself up； if I could find any one to do it with。 No； nothing
in the shape of a tutor； against that I protest。'
'Your sisters；' suggested Guy。
'Hum'！ Laura is too intellectual already； and I don't mean to poach on
Philip's manor； and if I made little Amy cease to be silly； I should do
away with all the comfort I have left me in life。 I don't know；
though； if she swallowed learning after Mary Ross's pattern； that it
need do her much harm。'
Amy came into the room at the moment。 'Amy； here is Guy advising me to
take you to read something awfully wise every day； something that will
make you as dry as a stick； and as blue'
'As a gentianella；' said Guy。
'I should not mind being like a gentianella；' said Amy。 'But what
dreadful thing were you setting him to do？'
'To make you read all the folios in my uncle's old library；' said
Charles。 'All that Margaret has in keeping against Philip has a house
of his own。'
'Sancho somebody； and all you talked of when first you came？' said Amy。
'We were talking of the hour's reading that Charlie and I have had
together lately；' said Guy。
'I was thinking how Charlie would miss that hour；' said Amy； 'and we
shall be very sorry not to have you to listen to。'
'Well； then； Amy； suppose you read with me？'
'Oh； Charlie； thank you！ Should you really like it？' cried Amy；
colouring with delight。 'I have always thought it would be so very
delightful if you would read with me； as James Ross used with Mary；
only I was afraid of tiring you with my stupidity。 Oh； thank you！'
So it was settled； and Charles declared that he put himself on honour
to give a good account of their doings to Guy； that being the only way
of making himself steady to his resolution； but he was perfectly
determined not to let Philip know anything about the practice he had
adopted； since he would by no means allow him to guess that he was
following his advice。
Charles had certainly grown very fond of Guy； in spite of his
propensity to admire Philip； satisfying himself by maintaining that；
after all； Guy only tried to esteem his cousin because he th