按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Charles； 'I am not fallen so low as the essence of young ladyism。'
'What can you find to say against them？' said Eveleen。
'Nothing；' said Charles； 'No one ever can find anything to say for or
against young ladies' tastes。'
'You seem to be rather in the case of the tailor yourself；' said Guy；
'ready to do battle； if you could but get any opposition。'
'Only tell me；' said Amy； 'how you could wish to live in the civil
wars？'
'O； because they would be so entertaining。'
'There's Paddy； genuine Paddy at last！' exclaimed Charles。 'Depend
upon it； the conventional young lady won't do； Eva。'
After much more discussion； and one or two more papers； came Guy'sthe
last。 'HeatherTruthKing CharlesSir Galahadthe present time。'
'Sir how much？ exclaimed Charles。
'Don't you know him？' said Guy。 'Sir Galahadthe Knight of the Siege
Perilouswho won the Saint Greal。'
'What language is that？' said Charles。
'What！ Don't you know the Morte d'Arthur！ I thought every one did！
Don't you； Philip！'
'I once looked into it。 It is very curious； in classical English； but
it is a book no one could read through。'
'0h！' cried Guy； indignantly； then； 'but you only looked into it。 If
you had lived with its two fat volumes； you could not help delighting
in it。 It was my boating…book for at least three summers。'
'That accounts for it；' said Philip； 'a book so studied in boyhood
acquires a charm apart from its actual merits。'
'But it has actual merits。 The depth； the mystery； the allegorythe
beautiful characters of some of the knights。'
'You look through the medium of your imagination；' said Philip； but you
must pardon others for seeing a great sameness of character and
adventure； and for disapproving of the strange mixture of religion and
romance。'
'You've never read it；' said Guy； striving to speak patiently。
'A cursory view is sufficient to show whether a book will repay the
time spent in reading it。'
'A cursory view enable one to judge better than making it your study？
Eh； Philip？' said Charles。
'It is no paradox。 The actual merits are better seen by an
unprejudiced stranger than by an old friend who lends them graces of
his own devising。'
Charles laughed： Guy pushed back his chair； and went to look out at the
window。 Perhaps Philip enjoyed thus chafing his temper； for after all
he had said to Laura； it was satisfactory to see his opinion justified；
so that he might not feel himself unfair。 It relieved his uneasiness
lest his understanding with Laura should be observed。 It had been in
great peril that evening； for as the girls went up to bed； Eveleen
gaily said； 'Why； Laura； have you quarrelled with Captain Morville？'
'How can you say such things； Eva？ Good night。' And Laura escaped
into her own room。
'What's the meaning of it； Amy？' pursued Eveleen。
'Only a stranger makes us more formal；' said Amy。
'What an innocent you are！ It is of no use to talk to you！' said
Eveleen； running away。
'No； but Eva；' said Amy； pursuing her； 'don't go off with a wrong
fancy。 Charles has teased Laura so much about Philip； that of course
it makes her shy of him before strangers； and it would never have done
to laugh about their choosing the same things when Mr。 Thorndale was
there。'
'I must be satisfied； I suppose。 I know that is what you think； for
you could not say any other。'
'But what do you think？' said Amy； puzzled。
'I won't tell you； little innocenceit would only shock you。'
'Nothing you _really_ _thought_ about Laura could shock me；' said Amy；
'I don't mean what you might say in play。'
'Well； then； shall you think me in play or earnest when I say that I
think Laura likes Philip very much？'
'In play' said Amy； 'for you know that if we had not got our own
Charlie to show us what a brother is； we should think of Philip as just
the same as a brother。'
'A brother！ You are pretending to be more simple than you really are；
Amy！ Don't you know what I mean？'
'O；' said Amy； her cheeks lighting up； 'that must be only play； for he
has never asked her。'
'Ah； but suppose she was in the state just ready to be asked？'
'No； that could never be； for he could never ask her；'
'Why not； little Amy？'
'Because we are cousins； and everything；' said Amy； confused。 'Don't
talk any more about it； Eva； for though I know it is all play； I don't
like it； and mamma； would not wish me to talk of such things。 And
don't you laugh about it； dear Eva； pray； for it only makes every one
uncomfortable。 Pray！'
Amy had a very persuasive way of saying 'pray；' and Eveleen thought she
must yield to it。 Besides； she respected Laura and Captain Morville
too much to resolve to laugh at them； whatever she might do when her
fear of the Captain made her saucy。
Mrs。 Edmonstone thought it best on all accounts to sit in the drawing…
room the next morning； but she need not have taken so much pains to
chaperon her young ladies； for the gentlemen did not come near them。
Laura was more at ease in manner； though very far from happy； for she
was restlessly eager for a talk with Philip； while he was resolved not
to seek a private interview； sure that it would excite suspicion； and
willing to lose the consciousness of his underhand proceedings。
This was the day of the dinner…party； and Laura's heart leaped as she
calculated that it must fall to Philip's lot to hand her in to dinner。
She was not mistaken； he did give her his arm； and they found
themselves most favourably placed； for Philip's other neighbour was
Mrs。 Brownlow； talking at a great rate to Mr。 de Courcy； and on Laura's
side was the rather deaf Mr。 Hayley； who had quite enough to do to talk
to Miss Brownlow。 Charles was not at table； and not one suspicious eye
could rest on them； yet it was not till the second course was in
progress that he said anything which the whole world might not have
heard。 Something had passed about Canterbury； and its distance from
Hollywell。
'I can be here often；' said Philip。
'I am glad。'
'If you can only be guarded；and I think you are becoming so。'
'Is this a time to speak of？ Oh； don't！'
'It is the only time。 No one is attending； and I have something to say
to you。'
Overpowering her dire confusion； in obedience to him； she looked at the
epergne； and listened。
'You have acted prudently。 You have checked' and he indicated Guy
'without producing more than moderate annoyance。 You have only to
guard your self…possession。'
'It is very foolish；' she murmured。
'Ordinary women say so； and rest contented with the folly。 You can do
better things。'
There was a thrill of joy at finding him conversing with her as his
'own；' it overcame her embarrassment and alarm； and wishes he would not
choose such a time for