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poor youth from the fatal habits which are hereditary in his family；
and must be strong indeed not to have been eradicated by such careful
training as you say he has received。 I leave it entirely to you；
trusting in your excellent judgment； and only hoping you will not bring
my name forward。 Grieving much at having to be the first to
communicate such unpleasant tidings； which will occasion so much
vexation at Hollywell。'
'Your affectionate sister；
'MARGARET HENLEY。'
Captain Morville was alone when he received the latter of these
letters。 At first； a look divided between irony and melancholy passed
over his face； as he read his sister's preface and her hearsay
evidence； but； as he went farther； his upper lip curled； and a sudden
gleam； as of exultation in a verified prophecy； lighted his eye；
shading off quickly； however； and giving place to an iron expression of
rigidity and sternness； the compressed mouth； coldly…fixed eye； and
sedate brow； composed into a grave severity that might have served for
an impersonation of stern justice。 He looked through the letter a
second time； folded it up； put it in his pocket； and went about his
usual affairs； but the expression did not leave his face all day； and
the next morning he took a day…ticket by the railway to Broadstone；
where； as it was the day of the petty sessions； he had little doubt of
meeting Mr。 Edmonstone。 Accordingly； he had not walked far down the
High Street； before he saw his uncle standing on the step of the post…
office； opening a letter he had just received。
'Ha！ Philip； what brings you here？ The very man I wanted。 Coming to
Hollywell？'
'No； thank you； I go back this evening；' said Philip； and； as he spoke；
he saw that the letter which Mr。 Edmonstone held； and twisted with a
hasty； nervous movement； was in Guy's writing。
'Well； I am glad you are here； at any rate。 Here is the most
extraordinary thing！ What possesses the boy I cannot guess。 Here's
Guy writing to me forWhat do you think？ To send him a thousand
pounds！'
'Hem！' said Philip in an expressive tone； yet； as if he was not very
much amazed； 'no explanation； I suppose？'
'No； none at all。 Here； see what he says yourself。 No！ Yes； you
may；' added Mr。 Edmonstone； with a rapid glance at the end of the
letter；a movement； first to retain it； and then following his first
impulse； with an unintelligible murmuring。
Philip read；
'SOUTH MOOR； SEPT。 7th。
'MY DEAR MR； EDMONSTONE；
You will be surprised at the request I have to make you； after my
resolution not to exceed my allowance。 However； this is not for my own
expenses； and it will not occur again。 I should be much obliged to you
to let me have ￡1000； in what manner you please； only I should be glad
if it were soon。 I am sorry I am not at liberty to tell you what I
want it for； but I trust to your kindness。 Tell Charlie I will write
to him in a day or two； but； between our work； and walking to St。
Mildred's for the letters； which we cannot help doing every day； the
time for writing is short。 Another month； however； and what a holiday
it will be！ Tell Amy she ought to be here to see the purple of the
hills in the early morning； it almost makes up for having no sea。 The
races have been making St。 Mildred's very gay； indeed； we laugh at
Wellwood for having brought us here； by way of a quiet place。 I never
was in the way of so much dissipation in my life。
'Yours very affectionately；
'GUY MORVILLE。'
'Well； what do you think of it？ What would you do in my placeeh；
Philip！ What can he want of it； eh？' said Mr。 Edmonstone； tormenting
his riding…whip； and looking up to study his nephew's face； which； with
stern gravity in every feature； was bent over the letter； as if to
weigh every line。 'Eh； Philip？' repeated Mr。 Edmonstone； several
times； without obtaining an answer。
'This is no place for discussion；' at last said Philip； deliberately
returning the letter。 'Come into the reading…room。 We shall find no
one there at this hour。 Here we are。'
'Wellwellwell；' began Mr。 Edmonstone； fretted by his coolness to
the extreme of impatience； 'what do you think of it？ He can't be after
any mischief； 'tis not in the boy； whenwhen he is all butPooh！ what
am I saying？ Well； what do you think？'
'I am afraid it confirms but too strongly a report which I received
yesterday。'
'From your sister？ Does she know anything about it？'
'Yes； from my sister。 But I was very unwilling to mention it； because
she particularly requests that her name may not be used。 I came here
to see whether you had heard of Guy lately； so as to judge whether it
was needful to speak of it。 This convinces me； but I must beg； in the
first instance； that you will not mention her； not even to my aunt。'
'Well； yes； very well。 I promise。 Only let me hear。'
'Young Harewood has； I fear； led him into bad company。 There can now
be no doubt that he has been gambling。'
Philip was not prepared for the effect of these words。 His uncle
started up； exclaiming'Gambling！ Impossible！ Some confounded
slander！ I don't believe one word of it！ I won't hear such things
said of him；' he repeated； stammering with passion； and walking
violently about the room。 This did not last long； there was something
in the unmoved way in which Philip waited till he had patience to
listen； which gradually mastered him； his angry manner subsided； and；
sitting down； he continued the argument； in a would…be…composed voice。
'It is utterly impossible！ Remember； he thinks himself bound not so
much as to touch a billiard cue。'
'I could have thought it impossible； but for what I have seen of the
way in which promises are eluded by persons too strictly bound；' said
Philip。 'The moral force of principle is the only efficient pledge。'
'Principle！ I should like to see who has better principles than Guy！'
cried Mr。 Edmonstone。 'You have said so yourself； fifty times； and
your aunt has said so； and Charles。 I could as soon suspect myself。'
He was growing vehement； but again Philip's imperturbability repressed
his violence； and he asked； 'Well； what evidence have you？ Mind； I am
not going to believe it without the strongest。 I don't know that I
would believe my own eyes against him。'
'It is very sad to find such confidence misplaced；' said Philip。 'Most
sincerely do I wish this could be proved to be a mistake； but this
extraordinary request corroborates my sister's letter too fully。'
'Let me hear；' said Mr。 Edmonstone feebly。 Philip produced his letter；
without reading the whole of it； for he could not bear the appearance
of gossip and prying； and