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might be； and proceeded to utter deep regrets for his hasty
expressions。
'I do not know what I may have said；' he wrote； 'I have no doubt it was
unpardonable； for I am sure my feelings were so； and that I deserve
whatever I have brought on myself。 I can only submit to Mr。
Edmonstone's sentence； and trust that time will bring to his knowledge
that I am innocent of what I am accused of。 He has every right to be
displeased with me。
Charles pronounced this to be only Guy's way of abusing himself； but
his father saw in it a disguised admission of guilt。 It was thought；
also； to be bad sign that Guy intended to remain at South Moor till the
end of the vacation； though Charles argued that he must be somewhere；
and if they wished to keep him out of mischief； why exile him from
Hollywell！ He would hardly listen to his mother's representation； that
on Amy's account it would not be right to have him there till the
mystery was cleared up。
He tried to stir his father up to go and see Guy at St。 Mildred's； and
investigate matters for himself； but； though Mr。 Edmonstone would have
liked the appearance of being important； this failed； because Philip
declared it to be unadvisable； knowing that it would be no
investigation at all； and that his uncle would be talked over directly。
Next； Charles would have persuaded Philip himself to go； but the
arrangements about his leave did not make this convenient； and it was
put off till he should pay his farewell visit to his sister； in
October。 Lastly； Charles wrote to Mrs。 Henley； entreating her to give
him some information about this mysterious evidence which was wanting；
but her reply was a complete 'set down' for interference in a matter
with which he had no concern。
He was very angry。 In fact； the post seldom came in without
occasioning a fresh dispute； which only had the effect of keeping up
the heat of Mr。 Edmonstone's displeasure； and making the whole house
uncomfortable。
Fretfulness and ill…humour seemed to have taken possession of Charles
and his father。 Such a state of things had not prevailed since Guy's
arrival： Hollywell was hardly like the same house； Mrs。 Edmonstone and
Laura could do nothing without being grumbled at or scolded by one or
other of the gentlemen； even Amy now and then came in for a little
petulance on her father's part； and Charles could not always forgive
her for saying in her mournful； submissive tome；'It is of no use to
talk about it！'
CHAPTER 18
This just decree alone I know；
Man must be disciplined by woe；
To me； whate'er of good or ill
The future brings； since come it will；
I'll bow my spirit； and be still。
AESCHYLUS； （Anstice's Translation。）
Guy； in the meantime； was enduring the storm in loneliness； for he was
unwilling to explain the cause of his trouble to his companions。 The
only occasion of the suspicions； which he could think of； was his
request for the sum of money； and this he could not mention to Mr。
Wellwood； nor was he inclined to make confidants of his other
companions； though pleasant； right…minded youths。
He had only announced that he had had a letter which had grieved him
considerably； but of which he could not mention the contents； and as
Harry Graham； who knew something of the Broadstone neighbourhood； had
picked up a report that Sir Guy Morville was to marry Lady Eveleen de
Courcy； there was an idea among the party that there was some trouble
in the way of his attachment。 He had once before been made； by some
joke； to colour and look conscious； and now this protected him from
inconvenient questions； and accounted for his depression。 He was like
what he had been on first coming to Hollywellgrave and silent；
falling into reveries when others were talking； and much given to long；
lonely wanderings。 Accustomed as he had been in boyhood to a solitary
life in beautiful scenery； there was something in a fine landscape that
was to him like a friend and companion； and he sometimes felt that it
would have been worse if he had been in a dull； uniform country；
instead of among mountain peaks and broad wooded valleys。 Working
hard； too； helped him not a little； and conic sections served him
almost as well as they served Laura。
A more real help was the neighbourhood of Stylehurst。 On the first
Sunday after receiving Mr。 Edmonstone's letter； he went to church
there； instead of with the others； to St。 Mildred's。 They thought it
was for the sake of the solitary walk； but he had other reasons for the
preference。 In the first place it was a Communion Sunday； and in the
next； he could feel more kindly towards Philip there； and he knew he
needed all that could strengthen such a disposition。
Many a question did he ask himself； to certify whether he wilfully
entertained malice or hatred； or any uncharitableness。 It was a long；
difficult examination； but at its close； he felt convinced that； if
such passions knocked at the door of his heart； it was not at his own
summons； and that he drove them away without listening to them。 And
surely he might approach to gain the best aid in that battle；
especially as he was certain of his strong and deep repentance for his
fit of passion； and longing earnestly for the pledge of forgiveness。
The pardon and peace he sought came to him； and in such sort that the
comfort of that day； when fresh from the first shock； and waiting in
suspense for some new blow； was such as never to be forgotten。 They
linked themselves with the grave shade of the clustered gray columns；
and the angel heads on roof of that old church； with the long grass and
tall yellow mullens among its churchyard graves； and with the tints of
the elm…trees that closed it in； their leaves in masses either of green
or yellow； and opening here and there to show the purple hills beyond。
He wandered in the churchyard between the services。 All enmity to
Philip was absent now； and he felt as if it would hardly return when he
stood by the graves of the Archdeacon and of the two Frances Morvilles；
and thought what that spot was to his cousin。 There were a few flowers
planted round Mrs。 Morville's grave； but they showed that they had long
been neglected； and no such signs of care marked her daughter Fanny's。
And when Guy further thought of Mrs。 Henley； and recollected how Philip
had sacrificed all his cherished prospects and hopes of distinction；
and embraced an irksome profession； for the sake of these two sisters；
he did not find it difficult to excuse the sternness； severity； and
distrust which were an evidence how acutely a warm heart had suffered。
Though he suffered cruelly from being cut off from Amy； yet his
reverence for her helped him to submit。 He had always felt as if she
was too far above him； and though he had； beyond his hopes； been
allowed to aspire to the thoug