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Margaret； you must give me some guide to the most probable quarters for
learning anything respecting this poor boy's follies。'
Mrs。 Henley did her best in that way； and Philip followed up his
inquiries with great ardour； but still unsuccessfully。 Jack White； the
hero of the draft； was not at St。 Mildred's； nor likely to be heard of
again till the next races； and whether Sir Guy had been on the race…
ground at all was a doubtful point。 Next； Philip walked to Stylehurst；
to call on Colonel Harewood； and see if he could learn anything in
conversation with him； but the Colonel did not seem to know anything；
and his sons were not at home。 Young Morville was； he thought； a
spirited lad； very good natured； he had been out shooting once or twice
with Tom； and had a very fine spaniel。 If he had been at the races；
the Colonel did not know it； he had some thoughts of asking him to join
their party； but had been prevented。
This was no reason； thought Philip； why Guy might not have been with
Tom Harewood without the Colonel's knowledge。 Tom was just the man to
lead him amongst those who were given to betting； he might have been
drawn in； and； perhaps； he had given some pledge of payment when he was
of age； or； possibly； obtained an immediate supply of money from the
old steward at Redclyffe； who was devotedly attached to him。 If so；
Philip trusted to be able to detect it from the accounts； on the other
supposition； there was no hope of discovery。
The conversation with Colonel Harewood kept him so late that he had no
time for going； as usual； to his old haunts； at Stylehurst； nor did he
feel inclined just then to revive the saddening reflections they
excited。 He spent the evening in talking over books with his sister；
and the next day proceeded on his journey to Thorndale Park。
This was one of the places where he was always the most welcome； ever
since he had been a school…boy； received in a way especially
flattering； considering that the friendship was entirely owing to the
uncompromising good sense and real kindness with which he had kept in
order the follies of his former fag。
Charles might laugh； and call them the young man and young man's
companion； and Guy more classically term them the pious Aeneas and his
fidus Achates； but it was a friendship that did honour to both； and the
value that the Thorndales set upon Captain Morville was not misplaced；
and scarcely over…rated。 Not particularly clever themselves； they the
more highly appreciated his endowments； and were proud that James had
been able to make such a friend； for they knew； as well as the rest of
the world； that Captain Morville was far from seeking the acquaintance
for the sake of their situation in life； but that it was from real
liking and esteem。 How far this esteem was gained by the deference the
whole family paid to his opinion； was another question； at any rate；
the courting was from them。
The Miss Thorndales deemed Captain Morville the supreme authority in
drawing； literature； and ecclesiastical architecture； and whenever a
person came in their way who was thought handsome； always pronounced
that he was not by any means equal to James's friend。 Lady Thorndale
delighted to talk over James with him； and thank him for his kindness；
and Lord Thorndale； rather a pompous man himself； liked his somewhat
stately manners； and talked politics with him； sincerely wishing he was
his neighbour at Redclyffe； and calculating how much good he would do
there。 Philip listened with interest to accounts of how the Thorndale
and Morville influence had always divided the borough of Moorworth；
and； if united； might dispose of it at will； and returned evasive
answers to questions what the young heir of Redclyffe might be likely
to do。
James Thorndale drove his friend to Redclyffe； as Philip had authority
from Mr。 Edmonstone to transact any business that might be required
with Markham； the steward； and； as has been said before； he expected to
discover in the accounts something that might explain why Guy had
ceased to press for the thousand pounds。 However； he could find
nothing amiss in them； thoughbearing in mind that it is less easy to
detect the loss of a score of sheep than of onehe subjected them to a
scrutiny which seemed by no means agreeable to the gruff old grumbling
steward。 He also walked about the park； saw to the marking of certain
trees that were injuring each other； and finding that there was a
misunderstanding between Markham and the new rector； Mr。 Ashford； about
certain parish matters； where the clergyman was certainly right； he
bore down Markham's opposition with Mr。 Edmonstone's weight； and felt
he was doing good service。
He paused at the gate； and looked back at the wide domain and fine old
house。 He pitied them； and the simple…hearted； honest tenantry； for
being the heritage of such a family； and the possession of one so
likely to misuse them； instead of training them into the means of
conferring benefits on them； on his country。 What would not Philip
himself do if those lands were his；just what was needed to give his
talents free scope？ and what would it be to see his beautiful Laura
their mistress？
CHAPTER 20
The longing for ignoble things；
The strife for triumph more than truth；
The hardening of the heart； that brings
Irreverence for the dreams of youth。LONGFELLOW
After his week at Thorndale Park； Captain Morville returned to make his
farewell visit at Hollywell； before joining his regiment at Cork；
whence it was to sail for the Mediterranean。 He reckoned much on this
visit； for not even Laura herself could fathom the depth of his
affection for her； strengthening in the recesses where he so sternly
concealed it； and viewing her ever as more faultless since she had been
his own。 While she was his noble； strong…minded； generous； fond Laura；
he could bear with his disappointment in his sister； with the loss of
his home； and with the trials that had made him a grave； severe man。
She had proved the strength of her mind by the self…command he had
taught her； and for which he was especially grateful to her； as it made
him safer and more unconstrained； able to venture on more demonstration
than in those early days when every look had made her blush and
tremble。
Mr。 Edmonstone brought the carriage to fetch him from the station； and
quickly began；
'I suppose； as you have not written； you have found nothing out？'
'Nothing。'
'And you could do nothing with him。 Eh？'
'No； I could not get a word of explanation； nor break through the fence
of pride and reserve。 I must do him the justice to say that he bears
the best of characters at Oxford； and if there were any debts I could
not get at them from the tradesmen。'
'Well； well； say no more about it； he is an ungrateful young dog；