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always blame them for that relapse。'
'It had nothing to do with it。 Their remaining was impossible。'
'On Amabel's account？ No； poor thing； I don't blame her； for she must
have been quite helpless； but it was exactly like my aunt； to have but
one idea at a time。 Charles used to be the idol； and now it is Amy； I
suppose。'
'If anything could have made it more intolerable for me； it would have
been detaining them there for my sake； at such a time。'
'Ah！ I felt a great deal for you。 You must have been very sorry for
that poor little Amy。 She was very kind in writing while you were ill。
How did she contrive； poor child？ I suppose you took all the head work
for her？'
'I？ I was nothing but a burden。'
'Were you still so very ill？' said Margaret； tenderly。 'I am sure you
must have been neglected。'
'Would that I had！' muttered Philip； so low that she did not catch the
words。 Then aloud；'No care could have been greater than was taken
for me。 It was as if no one had been ill but myself； and the whole
thought of every one had been for me。'
'Then Amabel managed well； poor thing！ We do sometimes see those weak
soft characters'
'Sister！' he interrupted。'
'Have not you told me so yourself？'
'I was a fool； or worse；' said he； in a tone of suffering。 'No words
can describe what she proved herself。'
'Self…possessed？ energetic？' asked Mrs。 Henley； with whom those were
the first of qualities； and as her brother paused from repugnance to
speak of Amabel to one so little capable of comprehending her； she
proceeded： 'No doubt she did the best she could； but she must have been
quite inexperienced。 It was a very young thing in the poor youth to
make her executrix。 I wonder the will was valid； but I suppose you
took care of that。'
'I did nothing。'
'Did you see it？'
'My uncle showed it to me。'
'Then you can tell me what I want to hear； for no one has told me
anything。 I suppose my uncle is to be guardian？'
'No； Lady Morville。'
'You don't mean it？ Most lover…like indeed。 That poor girl to manage
that great property？ Everything left to her！' said Mrs。 Henley；
continuing her catechism in spite of the unwillingness of his replies。
'Were there any legacies？ I know of Miss Wellwood's。'
'That to Dixon's daughter； and my own；' he answered。
'Yours？ How was it that I never heard of it？ What is it？'
'Ten thousand；' said Philip； sadly。
'I am delighted to hear it！' cried Margaret。 'Very proper of Sir Guy
very proper indeed； poor youth。 It is well thought of to soften the
disappointment。'
Philip started forward。 'Disappointment！' exclaimed he； with horror。
'You need not look as if I wished to commit murder；' said his sister；
smiling。 'Have you forgotten that it depends on whether it is a son or
daughter？'
His dismay was not lessened。 'Do you mean to say that this is to come
on me if the child is a daughter？'
'Ah！ you were so young when the entail was made； that you knew nothing
of it。 Female heirs were expressly excluded。 There was some aunt whom
old Sir Guy passed over； and settled the property on my father and you；
failing his own male heirs。'
'No one would take advantage of such a chance；' said Philip。
'Do not make any rash resolutions； my dear brother； whatever you do；'
said Margaret。 'You have still the same fresh romantic generous spirit
of self…sacrifice that is generally so soon worn out； but you must not
let it allow you'
'Enough of this；' said Philip； hastily； for every word was a dagger。
'Ah！ you are right not to dwell on the uncertainty。 I am almost sorry
I told you；' said Margaret。 'Tell me about Miss Wellwood's legacy；'
she continued； desirous of changing the subject。 'I want to know the
truth of it； for every one is talking of it。''How comes the world to
know of it？'
'There have been reports ever since his death； and now it has been
paid； whatever it is； on Lady Morville's coming of age。 Do you know
what it is？ The last story I was told was； that it was ￡20；000； to
found a convent to pray for his grand'
'Five thousand for her hospital；' interrupted Philip。 'Sister！' he
added； speaking with effort； 'it was for that hospital that he made the
request for which we persecuted him。'
'Ah！ I thought so； I could have told you so！' cried Margaret；
triumphant in her sagacity； but astonished； as her brother started up
and stood looking at her； as if he could hardly resolve to give credit
to her words。
'Youthoughtso；' he repeated slowly。
'I guessed it from the first。 He was always with that set； and I
thought it a very bad thing for him； but as it was only a guess； it was
not worth while to mention it： besides； the cheque seemed full
evidence。 It was the general course； not the individual action。'
'If you thought so； why not mention it to me？ Oh！ sister； what would
you not have spared me！'
'I might have done so if it had appeared that it might lead to his
exculpation； but you were so fully convinced that his whole course
confirmed the suspicions； that a mere vague idea was not worth dwelling
on。 Your general opinion； of him satisfied me。'
'I cannot blame you；' was all his reply； as he sat down again； with his
face averted from the light。
And Mrs。 Henley was doubtful whether he meant that she had been
judicious！ She spoke again； unconscious of the agony each word
inflicted。
'Poor youth！ we were mistaken in those facts； and of course； all is
forgiven and forgotten now； but he certainly had a tremendous temper。
I shall never forget that exhibition。 Perhaps poor Amabel is saved
much unhappiness。'
'Once for all；' said Philip； sternly； 'let me never hear you speak of
him thus。 We were both blind to a greatness of soul and purity of
heart that we shall never meet again。 Yours was only prejudice； mine I
must call by a darker name。 Remember； that he and his wife are only to
be spoken of with reverence。'
He composed himself to silence； and Margaret； after looking at him for
some moments in wonder； began in a sort of exculpatory tone：
'Of course we owe him a great deal of gratitude。 It was very kind and
proper to come to you when you were ill； and his death must have been a
terrible shock。 He was a fine young man； amiable； very attractive in
manner。'
'No more！' muttered Philip。
'That； you always said of him；' continued she； not hearing； 'but you
have no need to reproach yourself。 You always acted the part of a true
friend； did full justice to his many good qualities； and only sought
his real good。'
'Every word you speak is the bitterest satire on me；' said Philip；
goaded into rousing himself for a moment。 'Say no more； unless you
would drive me distracted！'
Margaret was obliged to be silent； and marvel； while her brother sat
motionless； leaning back in his chair； till Dr。 Henley came in； and
after a few words to him； went on talking to his wife； till dinner was
announced。 Philip went with them into the dining…room； but had
scarcely sat down before he said he could not stay； and returned to the
drawing…room sofa。 He said he only wanted quiet and darkness； and sent
his sister and her husband back to their dinner。
'What has he been doing？' said the Doctor； 'here is his pulse up to a
hundred again。 How can he have raised it？'
'He only came down an hour ago； and has been sitting still ever since。'
'Talking？'
'Yes； and there； perhaps； I was rather imprudent。 I did not know he
could so little bear to hear poor Sir Guy's name mentioned； and；
besides； he did not know； till I told him； that he had so much chance
of Redclyffe。 He did not know the entail excluded daughters。'
'Did he not！ That accounts for it。 I should like to see the man who
could hear coolly that he was so near such a property。 This suspense
is unlucky just now； very much against him。 You must turn his thoughts
from it as much as possible。'
All the next day； Mrs。 Henley wondered why her brother's spirits were
so much depressed； resisting every attempt to amuse or cheer them； but；
on the third； she thought some light was thrown on the matter。 She was
at breakfast with the Doctor when the post came in； and there was a
black…edged letter for Captain Morville； evidently from Amabel。 She
took it up at once to his room。 He stretched out his hand for it
eagerly； but laid it down； and would not open it while she was in the
room。 The instant she was gone； however； he broke the seal and read：
'Hollywell； February 20th。
'MY DEAR PHILIP；Thank you much for writing to me。 It was a great
comfort to see your writing again； and to hear of your being safe in
our own country。 We had been very anxious about you； though we did no