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and moderate。
They had been so busy； and Mr； Edmonstone so excited； that Philip
thought it best to accept the offer of tea being sent them in the
dining…room； and it was not till nearly midnight that their conference
broke up； when Mr。 Edmonstone found his wife sitting up by the
dressing…room fire； having shut Charles's door； sorely against his
will。
'There；' began Mr。 Edmonstone； 'you may tell Amy she may give him up；
and a lucky escape she has had。 But this is what comes of settling
matters in my absence。' So he proceeded with the narration； mixing the
facts undistinguishably with his own surmises； and overwhelming his
wife with dismay。 If a quarter of this was true； defence of Guy was
out of the question； and it was still more impossible to wish Amy's
attachment to him to continue； and though much was incredible； it was
no time to say so。 She could only hope morning would soften her
husband's anger； and make matters explicable。
Morning failed to bring her comfort。 Mr。 Edmonstone repeated that Amy
must be ordered to give up all thoughts of Guy； and she perceived that
the words ascribed to him stood on evidence which could not be doubted。
She could believe he might have spoken them in the first shock of an
unjust imputation； and she thought he might have been drawn into some
scrape to serve a friend； but she could never suppose him capable of
all Mr。 Edmonstone imagined。
The first attempt to plead his cause； however； brought on her an angry
reply； for Philip； by a hint； that she never saw a fault in Guy； had
put it into his uncle's head that she would try to lead him； and made
him particularly inaccessible to her influence。
There was no help for it； then； poor little Amy must hear the worst；
and it was not long before Mrs。 Edmonstone found her waiting in the
dressing…room。 Between obedience to her husband； her conviction of
Guy's innocence； and her tenderness to her daughter； Mrs。 Edmonstone
had a hard task； and she could scarcely check her tears as Amy nestled
up for her morning kiss。
'0 mamma！ what is it？'
'Dearest； I told you a cloud was coming。 Try to bear it。 Your papa is
not satisfied with Guy's answer； and it seems he spoke some hasty words
of papa and Philip； they have displeased papa very much； and； my dear
child； you must try to bear it； he has written to tell Guy he must not
think any more of you。'
'He has spoken hasty words of papa！' repeated Amy； as if she had not
heard the rest。 'How sorry he must be！'
As she spoke； Charles's door was pushed open； and in he came； half
dressed； scrambling on； with but one crutch； to the chair near which
she stood； with drooping head and clasped hands。
'Never mind； little Amy； he said； 'I'll lay my life 'tis only some
monstrous figment of Mrs。 Henley's。 Trust my word； it will right
itself； it is only a rock to keep true love from running too smooth。
Come； don't cry； as her tears began to flow fast； 'I only meant to
cheer you up。'
'I am afraid； Charlie； said his mother； putting a force on her own
feeling； 'it is not the best or kindest way to do her good by telling
her to dwell on hopes of him。'
'Mamma one of Philip's faction！' exclaimed Charles。
'Of no faction at all； Charles； but I am afraid it is a bad case；' and
Mrs； Edmonstone related what she knew； glad to address herself to any
one but Amy； who stood still； meanwhile； her hands folded on the back
of her brother's chair。
Charles loudly protested that the charges were absurd and preposterous；
and would be proved so in no time。 He would finish dressing instantly；
go to speak to his father； and show him the sense of the thing。 Amy
heard and hoped； and his mother； who had great confidence in his clear
sight； was so cheered as almost to expect that today's post might carry
a conciliatory letter。
Meantime； Laura and Philip met in the breakfast…room； and in answer to
her anxious inquiry； he had given her an account of Guy； which； though
harsh enough； was far more comprehensible than what the rest had been
able to gather。
She was inexpressibly shocked； 'My poor dear little Amy！' she
exclaimed。 'O Philip； now I see all you thought to save me from！'
'It is an unhappy business that it ever was permitted！'
'Poor little dear！ She was so happy； so very happy and sweet in her
humility and her love。 Do you know； Philip； I was almost jealous for a
moment that all should be so easy for them； and I blamed poverty； but
oh！ there are worse things than poverty！'
He did not speak； but his dark blue eye softened with the tender look
known only to her； and it was one of the precious moments for which she
lived。 She was happy till the rest came down； and then a heavy cloud
seemed to hang on them at breakfast time。
'Charles； who found anxiety on Guy's account more exciting； though
considerably less agreeable； than he had once expected； would not go
away with the womankind； but as soon as the door was shut； exclaimed；
'Now then； Philip； let me know the true grounds of your persecution。'
It was not a conciliating commencement。 His father was offended； and
poured out a confused torrent of Guy's imagined misdeeds； while Philip
explained and modified his exaggerations。
'So the fact is；' said Charles； at length； 'that Guy has asked for his
own money； and when in lieu of it he received a letter full of unjust
charges； he declared Philip was a meddling coxcomb。 I advise you not
to justify his opinion。'
Philip disdained to reply； and after a few more of Mr。 Edmonstone's
exclamations Charles proceeded；
'This is the great sum total。'
'No；' said Philip； 'I have proof of his gambling。'
'What is it？'
'I have shown it to your father； and he is satisfied。'
'Is it not proof enough that he is lost to all sense of propriety； that
he should go and speak in that fashion of us； and to Philip's own
sister？' cried Mr。 Edmonstone。 'What would you have more？'
'That little epithet applied to Captain Morville is hardly； to my mind；
proof sufficient that a man is capable of every vice；' said Charles；
who； in the pleasure of galling his cousin； did not perceive the harm
he did his friend's cause； by recalling the affront which his father；
at least； felt most deeply。 Mr。 Edmonstone grew angry with him for
disregarding the insulting term applied to himself； and Charles； who；
though improved in many points； still sometimes showed the effects of
early habits of disrespect to his father； answered hastily； that no one
could wonder at Guy's resenting such suspicions； he deserved no blame
at all； and would have been a blockhead to bear it tamely。
This was more than Charles meant； but his temper was fairly roused； and
he said much more than was right or judicious； so that his advocacy
only injured the cause。 He had many representations to make on th