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opinions from all concerned with him； and made proof of talents which
could not have failed to raise him to the highest university
distinctions。 He was absent from home at the time of his father's
death； which took place after so short an illness； that there had been
no time to summon him back to Stylehurst。 Very little property was
left to be divided among the three； and as soon as Philip perceived how
small was the provision for his sisters； he gave up his hopes of
university honours； and obtained a commission in the army。
On hearing this； Sir Guy started forward： 'Noble！' he cried； 'and yet
what a pity！ If my grandfather had but known it'
'Ah！ I was convinced of _that_；' broke in Mr。 Edmonstone； 'and so； I am
sure； was Philip himself； but in fact he knew we should never have
given our consent； so he acted quite by himself； wrote to Lord
Thorndale； and never said a word； even to his sisters； till the thing
was done。 I never was more surprised in my life。'
'One would almost envy him the opportunity of making such a sacrifice；'
said Sir Guy； yet one must lament it。
'It was done in a hasty spirit of independence；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
'I believe if he had got a fellowship at Oxford； it would have answered
much better。'
'And now that poor Fanny is dead； and Margaret married； there is all
his expensive education thrown away； and all for nothing；' said Mr。
Edmonstone。
'Ah；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'he planned for them to go on living at
Stylehurst； so that it would still have been his home。 It is a great
pity； for his talent is thrown away； and he is not fond of his
profession。'
'You must not suppose； though； that he is not a practical man；' said
Mr。 Edmonstone； 'I had rather take his opinion than any one's；
especially about a horse； and there is no end to what I hear about his
good sense； and the use he is of to the other young men。'
'You should tell about Mr。 Thorndale； papa；' said Laura。
'Ah that is a feather in master Philip's cap； besides； he is your
neighbourat least； his father is。'
'I suppose you know Lord Thorndale？' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； in
explanation。
'I have seen him once at the Quarter Sessions；' said Sir Guy； 'but he
lives on the other side of Moorworth； and there was no visiting。'
'Well； this youth； James Thorndale； the second son； was Philip's fag。'
'Philip says he was always licking him！' interposed Charlotte。'
'He kept him out of some scrape or other； continued Mr。 Edmonstone。
'Lord Thorndale was very much obliged to him； had him to stay at his
house； took pretty much to him altogether。 It was through him that
Philip applied for his commission； and he has put his son into the same
regiment； on purpose to have him under Philip's eye。 There he is at
Broadstone； as gentlemanlike a youth as I would wish to see。 We will
have him to dinner some day； and Maurice tooeh； mamma？ Mauricehe
is a young Irish cousin of my own； a capital fellow at the bottom； but
a regular thoroughgoing rattle。 That was my doing。 I told his father
that he could not do better than put him into the …th。 Nothing like a
steady friend and a good example； I said； and Kilcoran always takes my
advice； and I don't think he has been sorry。 Maurice has kept much
more out of scrapes of late。'
'0 papa；' exclaimed Charlotte； 'Maurice has been out riding on a hired
horse； racing with Mr。 Gordon； and the horse tumbled down at the bottom
of East…hill； and broke its knees。'
'That's the way；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the instant my back is turned。'
Thereupon the family fell into a discussion of home affairs； and
thought little more of their silent guest。
CHAPTER 3
The hues of bliss more brightly glow
Chastised by sober tints of woe。GRAY
'What use shall I make of him？' said Charles to himself； as he studied
Sir Guy Morville； who sat by the table； with a book in his hand。
He had the unformed look of a growing boy； and was so slender as to
appear taller than he really was。 He had an air of great activity； and
though he sat leaning back； there was no lounging in his attitude； and
at the first summons he roused up with an air of alert attention that
recalled to mind the eager head of a listening greyhound。 He had no
pretension to be called handsome； his eyes were his best feature； they
were very peculiar； of a light hazel； darker towards the outside of the
iris； very brilliant； the whites tinted with blue； and the lashes
uncommonly thick and black； the eyebrows were also very dark； and of a
sharply…defined angular shape； but the hair was much lighter； loose；
soft； and wavy； the natural fairness of the complexion was shown by the
whiteness of the upper part of the forehead； though the rest of the
face； as well as the small taper hands； were tanned by sunshine and
sea…breezes； into a fresh； hardy brown； glowing with red on the cheeks。
'What use shall I make of him？' proceeded Charles's thoughts。 'He
won't be worth his salt if he goes on in this way； he has got a graver
specimen of literature there than I ever saw Philip himself read on a
week…day； he has been puritanized till he is good for nothing； I'll
trouble myself no more about him！' He tried to read； but presently
looked up again。 'Plague！ I can't keep my thoughts off him。 That
sober look does not sit on that sun…burnt face as if it were native to
it； those eyes don't look as if the Redclyffe spirit was extinguished。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone came in； and looking round； as if to find some
occupation for her guest； at length devised setting him to play at
chess with Charles。 Charles gave her an amiable look； expressing that
neither liked it； but she was pretty well used to doing him good
against his will； and trusted to its coming right in time。 Charles was
a capital chess…player； and seldom found any one who could play well
enough to afford him much real sport； but he found Sir Guy more nearly
a match than often fell to his lot； it was a bold dashing game； that
obliged him to be on his guard； and he was once so taken by surprise as
to be absolutely check…mated。 His ill…humour evaporated； he was
delighted to find an opponent worth playing with； and henceforth there
were games almost every morning or evening； though Sir Guy seemed not
to care much about them； except for the sake of pleasing him。
When left to himself； Guy spent his time in reading or in walking about
the lanes alone。 He used to sit in the bay…window of the drawing…room
with his book； but sometimes； when they least expected it； the girls
would find his quick eyes following them with an air of amused
curiosity； as Amabel waited on Charles and her flowers； or Laura drew；
wrote letters； and strove to keep down the piles of books and
periodicals under which it seemed as if her brother might some day be
stifleda vain task； for he wa