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It was horror at such wickedness that first checked him； and brought
him back to the combat。 His was not a temper that was satisfied with
half measures。 He locked his hands more rigidly together； vowing to
compel himself； ere he left the spot； to forgive his enemyforgive him
candidlyforgive him； so as never again to have to say； 'I forgive
him！' He did not try to think； for reflection only lashed up his sense
of the wrong： but； as if there was power in the words alone； he forced
his lips to repeat；
'Forgive us our trespasses； as we forgive them that trespass against
us。'
Coldly and hardly were they spoken at first； again he pronounced them；
again； again；each time the tone was softer； each time they came more
from the heart。 At last the remembrance of greater wrongs； and worse
revilings came upon him； his eyes filled with tears； the most subduing
and healing of all thoughtsthat of the great Examplebecame present
to him； the foe was driven back。
Still he kept his hands over his face。 The tempter was not yet
defeated without hope。 It was not enough to give up his first
intention （no great sacrifice； as he perceived； now that he had time to
think how Philip would be certain to treat a challenge）； it was not
enough to wish no ill to his cousin； to intend no evil measure； he must
pardon from the bottom of his heart； regard him candidly； and not
magnify his injuries。
He sat long； in deep thought； his head bent down； and his countenance
stern with inward conflict。 It was the hardest part of the whole
battle； for the Morville disposition was as vindictive as passionate；
but； at last； he recovered clearness of vision。 His request might well
appear unreasonable； and possibly excite suspicion； and； for the rest；
it was doing a man of honour； like Philip； flagrant injustice to
suspect him of originating slanders。 He was； of course； under a
mistake； had acted； not perhaps kindly； but as he thought； rightly and
judiciously； in making his suspicions known。 If he had caused his
uncle to write provokingly； every one knew that was his way； he might
very properly wish； under his belief； to save Amabel； and though the
manner might have been otherwise； the proceeding itself admitted
complete justification。 Indeed； when Guy recollected the frenzy of his
rage； and his own murderous impulse； he was shocked to think that he
had ever sought the love of that pure and gentle creature； as if it had
been a cruel and profane linking of innocence to evil。 He was appalled
at the power of his fury； he had not known he was capable of it； for
his boyish passion； even when unrestrained； had never equalled this； in
all the strength of early manhood。
He looked up； and saw that the last remnant of the sun's disk was just
disappearing beneath the horizon。 The victory was won！
But Guy's feeling was not the rejoicing of the conquest； it was more
the relief which is felt by a little child； weary of its fit of
naughtiness； when its tearful face is raised； mournful yet happy； in
having won true repentance； and it says； 'I _am_ sorry now。'
He rose； looked at his watch； wondered to find it so late； gazed round；
and considered his bearings； perceiving； with a sense of shame； how far
he had wandered； then retraced his steps slowly and wearily； and did
not reach South Moor till long after dark。
CHAPTER 17
My blood hath been too cold and temperate；
Unapt to stir at these indignities；
But you have found me。KING HENRY IV
Philip； according to promise； appeared at Hollywell； and a volume of
awful justice seemed written on his brow。 Charles； though ignorant of
its cause； perceived this at a glance； and greeted him thus：
'Enter Don Philip II； the Duke of Alva； alguazils； corregidors； and
executioners。'
'Is anything the matter； Philip？' said Amy； a question which took him
by surprise； as he could not believe her in ignorance。 He was sorry
for her； and answered gravely；
'Nothing is amiss with me； thank you； Amy；'
She knew he meant that he would tell no more； and would have thought no
more about it； but that she saw her mother was very uneasy。
'Did you ask whether there were any letters at the post？' said Charles。
'Guy is using us shamefullypractising self…denial on us； I suppose。
Is there no letter from him？'
'There is；' said Philip； reluctantly。
'Well； where is it？'
'It is to your father。'
'Oh！' said Charles； with a disappointed air。 'Are you sure？ Depend on
it； you overlooked my M。 He has owed me a letter this fortnight。 Let
me see。'
'It is for my uncle；' repeated Philip； as if to put an end to the
subject。
'Then he has been so stupid as to forget my second name。 Come； give it
me。 I shall have it sooner or later。'
'I assure you； Charles； it is not for you。'
'Would not any one suppose he had been reading it？' exclaimed Charles。
'Did you know Mary Ross was gone to stay with her brother John？' broke
in Mrs。 Edmonstone； in a nervous； hurried manner。
'No is she？' replied Philip。
'Yes； his wife is ill。'
The universal feeling was that something was amiss； and mamma was in
the secret。 Amy looked wistfully at her； but Mrs。 Edmonstone only
gazed at the window； and so they continued for some minutes； while an
uninteresting exchange of question and answer was kept up between her
and her nephew until at length the dressing…bell rang； and cleared the
room。 Mrs。 Edmonstone lingered till her son and daughters were gone；
and said；
'You have heard from St。 Mildred's？'
'Yes；' said Philip； as if he was as little inclined to be communicative
to her as to his cousins。
'From Guy； or from Margaret？'
'From Margaret。'
'But you say there is a letter from him？'
'Yes； for my uncle。'
'Does she say nothing more satisfactory？' asked his aunt； her anxiety
tortured by his composure。 'Has she learnt no more？'
'Nothing more of his proceedings。 I see Amy knows nothing of the
matter？'
'No； her papa thought there was no need to distress her till we had
seen whether he could explain。'
'Poor little thing！' said Philip； 'I am very sorry for her。
Mrs。 Edmonstone did not choose to discuss her daughter's affairs with
him； and she turned the conversation to ask if Margaret said much of
Guy。
'She writes to tell the spirit in which he received my uncle's letter。
It is only the Morville temper； again； and； of course； whatever you may
think of that on Amy's account； I should never regard it； as concerns
myself； as other than his misfortune。 I hope he may be able to explain
the rest。'
'Ah！ there comes your uncle！' and Mr。 Edmonstone entered。
'How d'ye do； Philip？ Brought better news； eh？'
'Here is a letter to speak for itself。'
'Eh？ From Guy？ Give it me。 What does he say？ Let me see。 Here