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Mr。 Edmonstone was fidgety and ill at ease； found fault with the
dinner； and was pettish with his wife。 Mrs。 Edmonstone set Philip off
upon politics； which lasted till the ladies could escape into the
drawing…room。 In another minute Philip brought in Charles； set him
down； and departed。 Amy； who was standing by the window； resting her
forehead against the glass； and gazing into the darkness； turned round
hastily； and left the room； but in passing her brother； she put her
hand into his； and received a kind pressure。 Her mother followed her；
and the other three all began to wonder。 Charles said he had regularly
been turned out of the dining…room by Philip； who announced that he
wanted to speak to his uncle； and carried him off。
They conjectured； and were indignant at each other's conjectures； till
their mother returned； and gave them as much information as she could；
but this only made them very anxious。 Charles was certain that Mrs。
Henley had laid a cockatrice egg； and Philip was hatching it； and Laura
could not trust herself to defend Philip； lest she should do it too
vehemently。 They could all agree in desire to know the truth； in hope
that Guy was not culpable； and； above all； in feeling for Amy； but by
tacit consent they were silent on the three shades of opinion in their
minds。 Laura was confident that Philip was acting for the best； Mrs。
Edmonstone thought he might be mistaken in his premises； but desirous
of Guy's real good； and Charles； though sure he would allege nothing
which he did not believe to be true； also thought him ready to draw the
worst conclusions from small grounds； and to take pleasure in driving
Mr。 Edmonstone to the most rigorous measures。
Philip； meanwhile； was trying to practise great moderation and
forbearance； not bringing forward at first what was most likely to
incense Mr。 Edmonstone； and without appearance of animosity in his
cool； guarded speech。 There was no design in this； he meant only to be
just； yet anything less cool would have had far less effect。
When he shut the dining…room door； he found his uncle wavering； touched
by the sight of his little Amy； returning to his first favourable view
of Guy's letter； ready to overlook everything； accept the
justification； and receive his ward on the same footing as before；
though he was at the same time ashamed that Philip should see him
relent； and desirous of keeping up his character for firmness； little
guessing how his nephew felt his power over him； and knew that he could
wield him at will。
Perceiving and pitying his feebleness； and sincerely believing strong
measures the only rescue for Amy； the only hope for Guy； Philip found
himself obliged to work on him by the production of another letter from
his sister。 He would rather； if possible； have kept this back； so much
did his honourable feeling recoil from what had the air of slander and
mischief…making； but he regarded firmness on his uncle's part as the
only chance for Guy or for his cousin； and was resolved not to let him
swerve from strict justice。
Mrs。 Henley had written immediately after Guy's outburst in her house；
and； taking it for granted that her brother would receive a challenge；
she wrote in the utmost alarm； urging him to remember how precious he
was to her； and not to depart from his own principles。
'You would not be so mad as to fight him； eh？' said Mr。 Edmonstone；
anxiously。 'You know betterbesides； for poor Amy's sake。'
'For the sake of right；' replied Philip； 'no。 I have reassured my
sister。 I have told her that； let the boy do what he will； he shall
never make me guilty of his death。'
'You have heard from him； then？'
'No； I suppose a night's reflection convinced him that he had no
rational grounds for violent proceedings； and he had sense enough not
to expose himself to such an answer as I should have given。 What
caused his wrath to be directed towards me especially； I cannot tell；
nor can my sister；' said Philip； looking full at his uncle； 'but I seem
to have come in for a full share of it。'
He proceeded to read the description of Guy's passion； and the
expressions he had used。 Violent as it had been； it did not lose in
Mrs。 Henley's colouring； and what made the effect worse was that she
had omitted to say she had overheard his language； so that it appeared
as if he had been unrestrained even by gentlemanly feeling； and had
thus spoken of her brother and uncle in her presence。
Mr。 Edmonstone was resentful now； really displeased； and wounded to the
quick。 The point on which he was especially sensitive was his
reputation for sense and judgment； and that Guy； who had shown him so
much respect and affection； whom he had treated with invariable
kindness； and received into his family like a son； that he should thus
speak of him shocked him extremely。 He was too much overcome even to
break out into exclamations at first； he only drank off his glass of
wine hastily； and said； 'I would never have thought it！'
With these words； all desire for forbearance and toleration departed。
If Guy could speak thus of him； he was ready to believe any accusation；
to think him deceitful from the first； to say he had been trifling with
Amy； to imagine him a confirmed reprobate； and cast him off entirely。
Philip had some difficulty to restrain him from being too violent； and
to keep him to the matter in hand； he defended Guy from the
exaggerations of his imagination in a manner which appeared highly
noble； considering how Guy had spoken of him。 Before they parted that
night； another letter had been written； which stood thus；
'DEAR SIR GUY；
Since you refuse the confidence which I have a right to demand； since
you elude the explanation I asked； and indulge yourself in speaking in
disrespectful terms of me and my family； I have every reason to suppose
that you have no desire to continue on the same footing as heretofore
at Hollywell。 As your guardian； I repeat that I consider myself bound
to keep a vigilant watch over your conduct； and； if possible； to
recover you from the unhappy course in which you have involved
yourself： but all other intercourse between you and this family must
cease。
'Your horse shall be sent to Redclyffe to…morrow。
'Yours faithfully；
'C。 EDMONSTONE。'
This letter was more harsh than Philip wished； but Mr。 Edmonstone would
hardly be prevailed on to consent to enter on no further reproaches。
He insisted on banishing Deloraine； as well as on the mention of Guy's
disrespect； both against his nephew's opinion； but it was necessary to
let him have his own way on these points； and Philip thought himself
fortunate in getting a letter written which was in any degree rational
and moderate。
They had been so busy； and Mr； Edmonstone so excited； t