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stiff and guarded； she had a craving for Philip's presence； with a
dread of showing it； which made her uncomfortable。 She wondered he had
not been at Hollywell since the bail； for he must know that she was
going to Ireland in a fortnight； and was not likely to return till his
regiment had left Broadstone。
An interval passed long enough for her not to be alone in her surprise
at his absenting himself before he at length made his appearance； just
before luncheon； so as to miss the unconstrained morning hours he used
so much to enjoy。 He found Guy； Charles； and Amy； deep in Butler's
Analogy。
'Are you making poor little Amy read that？' said he。
'Bravo！' cried Charles； 'he is so disappointed that it is not Pickwick
that he does not know what else to say。'
'I don't suppose I take much in；' said Amy； 'but I like to be told what
it means。'
'Don't imagine I can do that；' said Guy。
'I never spent much time over it；' said Philip； 'but I should think you
were out of your depth。'
'Very well；' said Charles； 'we will return to Dickens to oblige you。'
'It is your pleasure to wrest my words；' replied Philip； in his own
calm manner； though he actually felt hurt； which he had never done
before。 His complacency was less secure； so that there was more need
for self…assertion。
'Where are the rest？' he asked。
'Laura and Eveleen are making a dictation lesson agreeable to
Charlotte；' said Amy； 'I found Eva making mistakes on purpose。'
'How much longer does she stay？'
'Till Tuesday。 Lord Kilcoran is coming to fetch her。'
Charlotte entered； and immediately ran up…stairs to announce her
cousin's arrival。 Laura was glad of this previous notice； and hoped
her blush and tremor were not observed。 It was a struggle； through
luncheon time； to keep her colour and confusion within bounds； but she
succeeded better than she fancied she did； and Philip gave her as much
help as he could； by not looking at her。 Seeing that he dreaded
nothing so much as her exciting suspicion； she was at once braced and
alarmed。
Her father was very glad to see him； and reproached him for making
himself a stranger； while her sisters counted up the days of his
absence。
'There was the time； to be sure； when we met you on Ashen…down； but
that was a regular cheat。 Laura had you all to herself。'
Laura bent down to feed Bustle； and Philip felt _his_ colour deepening。
Mr。 Edmonstone went on to ask him to come and stay at Hollywell for a
week； vowing he would take no refusal。 'A week was out of the
question； said Philip； 'but he could come for two nights。' Amabel
hinted that there was to be a dinner…party on Thursday； thinking it
fair to give him warning of what he disliked； but he immediately chose
that very day。 Again he disconcerted all expectations； when it was
time to go out。 Mrs。 Edmonstone and Charles were going to drive； the
young ladies and Guy to walk； but Philip disposed himself to accompany
his uncle in a survey of the wheat。
Laura perceived that he would not risk taking another walk with her
when they might be observed。 It showed implicit trust to leave her to
his rival； but she was sorry to find that caution must put an end to
the freedom of their intercourse； and would have stayed at home； but
that Eveleen was so wild and unguarded that Mrs。 Edmonstone did not
like her to be without Laura as a check on her； especially when Guy was
of the party。 There was some comfort in that warm pressure of her hand
when she bade Philip good…bye； and on that she lived for a long time。
He stood at the window watching them till they were out of sight； then
moved towards his aunt； who with her bonnet on； was writing an
invitation for Thursday； to Mr。 Thorndale。
'I was thinking；' said he； in a low voice； 'if it would not be as well；
if you liked； to ask Thorndale here for those two days。'
'If _you_ think so；' returned Mrs。 Edmonstone； looking at him more
inquiringly than he could well bear。
'You know how he enjoys being here； and I owe them all so much
kindness。'
'Certainly； I will speak to your uncle；' said she； going in search of
him。 She presently returned； saying they should be very glad to see
Mr； Thorndale； asking him at the same time； in her kind tones of
interest； after an old servant for whom he had been spending much
thought and pains。 The kindness cut him to the heart； for it evidently
arose from a perception that he was ill at ease； and his conscience
smote him。 He answered shortly； and was glad when the carriage came；
he lifted Charles into it； and stood with folded arms as they drove
away。
'The air is stormy；' said Charles； looking back at him。'
'You thought so； too？' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； eagerly。
'You did！'
'I have wondered for some time past。'
'It was very decided to…daythat long absenceand there was no
provoking him to be sententious。 His bringing his young man might be
only to keep him in due subjection； but his choosing the day of the
party； and above all； not walking with the young ladies。'
'It not like himself；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； in a leading tone。
'Either the sweet youth is in love； or in the course of some strange
transformation。'
'In love！' she exclaimed。 'Have you any reason for thinking so？'
'Only as a solution of phenomena； but you look as if I had hit on the
truth。'
'I hope it is no such thing； yet'
'Yet？' repeated Charles； seriously。 'I think he has discovered the
danger。'
'The danger of falling in love with Laura？ Well； it would be odd if he
was not satisfied with his own work。 But he must know how preposterous
that would be。'
'And you think that would prevent it？' said his mother； smiling。 'He
is just the man to plume himself on making his judgment conquer his
inclination； setting novels at defiance。 How magnanimously he would
resolve to stifle a hopeless attachment！'
'That is exactly what I think he is doing。 I think he has found out
the state of his feelings； and is doing all in his power to check them
by avoiding her； especially in tete…a…tetes； and an unconstrained
family party。 I am nearly convinced that is his reason for bringing
Mr。 Thorndale； and fixing on the day of the dinner。 Poor fellow； it
must cost him a great deal； and I long to tell him how I thank him。'
'Hm！ I don't think it unlikely；' said Charles。 'It agrees with what
happened the evening of the Kilcoran ball； when he was ready to eat me
up for saying something he fancied was a hint of a liking of Guy's for
Laura。 It was a wild mistake； for something I said about Petrarch；
forgetting that Petrarch suggested Laura； but it put him out to a
degree； and he made all manner of denunciations on the horror of Guy's
falling in love with her。 Now； as far as I see； Guy is much more in
love with you； or with Deloraine； a