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all the evening； and sat in his old corner between the plants and the
window； where he read a grave book； instead of talking； singing； or
finishing his volume of 'Ten Thousand a Year。' Charlotte was all this
time ill at ease。 She looked from Guy to Philip； from Philip to Guy；
she shut her mouth as if she was forming some great resolve； then
coloured； and looked confused； rushing into the conversation with
something more mal…apropos than usual； as if on purpose to appear at
her ease。 At last； just before her bed…time； when the tea was coming
in； Mrs。 Edmonstone engaged with that； Laura reading； Amy clearing
Charles's little table； and Philip helping Mr。 Edmonstone to unravel
the confused accounts of the late cheating bailiff； Guy suddenly found
her standing by him； perusing his face with all the power of her great
blue eyes。 She started as he looked up； and put her face into Amabel's
great myrtle as if she would make it appear that she was smelling to
it。
'Well； Charlotte？' said he； and the sound of his voice made her speak；
but in a frightened； embarrassed whisper。
'GuyGuyOh！ I beg your pardon； but I wanted to'
'Well； what？' said he； kindly。
'I wanted to make sure that you are not angry with Philip。 You don't
mean to keep up the feud； do you？'
'Feud？I hope not；' said Guy； too much in earnest to be diverted with
her lecture。 'I am very much obliged to him。'
'Are you really？' said Charlotte； her head a little on one side。 'I
thought he had been scolding you。'
Scolding was so very inappropriate to Philip's calm； argumentative way
of advising； that it became impossible not to laugh。
'Not scolding； then？' said Charlotte。 'You are too nearly grown up for
that； but telling you to learn； and being tiresome。'
'I was so foolish as to be provoked at first；' answered Guy； 'but I
hope I have thought better of it； and am going to act upon it。'
Charlotte opened her eyes wider than ever； but in the midst of her
amazement Mrs。 Edmonstone called to Guy to quit his leafy screen and
come to tea。
Philip was to return to Broadstone the next day； and as Mrs。 Edmonstone
had some errands there that would occupy her longer than Charles liked
to wait in the carriage； it was settled that Philip should drive her
there in the pony phaeton； and Guy accompany them and drive back； thus
having an opportunity of seeing Philip's print of the 'Madonna di San
Sisto；' returning some calls； and being introduced to Mr。 Lascelles；
whilst she was shopping。 They appointed an hour and place of meeting；
and kept to it； after which Mrs。 Edmonstone took Guy with her to call
on Mrs。 Deane； the wife of the colonel。
It was currently believed among the young Edmonstones that Mamma and
Mrs。 Deane never met without talking over Mr。 Morville's good
qualities； and the present visit proved no exception。 Mrs。 Deane； a
kind； open…hearted； elderly lady was very fond of Mr。 Morville； and
proud of him as a credit to the regiment； and she told several traits
of his excellent judgment； kindness of heart； and power of leading to
the right course。 Mrs。 Edmonstone listened； and replied with delight；
and no less pleasure and admiration were seen reflected in her young
friend's radiant face。
Mrs。 Edmonstone's first question； as they set out on their homeward
drive； was； whether they had seen Mr。 Lascelles？
'Yes；' said Guy； 'I am to begin to morrow； and go to him every Monday
and Thursday。'
'That is prompt。'
'Ah！ I have no time to lose； besides I have been leading too smooth a
life with you。 I want something unpleasant to keep me in order。
Something famously horrid；' repeated he； smacking the whip with a
relish； as if he would have applied that if he could have found nothing
else。
'You think you live too smoothly at Hollywell；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
hardly able； with all her respect for his good impulses； to help
laughing at this strange boy。
'Yes。 Happy； thoughtless； vehement； that is what your kindness makes
me。 Was it not a proof； that I must needs fly out at such a petty
provocation？'
'I should not have thought it such a very exciting life； certainly not
such as is usually said to lead to thoughtlessness； and we have been
even quieter than usual since you came。'
'Ah； you don't know what stuff I am made of；' said Guy； gravely； though
smiling； 'your own home party is enough to do me harm； it is so
exceedingly pleasant。'
'Pleasant things do not necessarily do harm。'
'Not to you； not to people who are not easily unsettled； but when I go
up…stairs； after a talking； merry evening； such as the night before
last； I find that I have enjoyed it too much； I am all abroad！ I can
hardly fix my thoughts； and I don't know what to do； since here I must
be； and I can't either be silent； or sit up in my own room。'
'Certainly not；' said she； smiling； 'there are duties of society which
you owe even to us dangerous people。'
'No； no： don't misunderstand me。 The fault is in myself。 If it was
not for that； I could learn nothing but good；' said Guy； speaking very
eagerly； distressed at her answer。
'I believe I understand you；' said she； marvelling at the serious；
ascetic temper； coupled with the very high animal spirits。 'For your
comfort； I believe the unsettled feeling you complain of is chiefly the
effect of novelty。 You have led so very retired a life； that a lively
family party is to you what dissipation would be to other people： and；
as you must meet with the world some time or other； it is better the
first encounter with should be in this comparatively innocent form。 Go
on watching yourself； and it will do you no harm。'
Yes； but if I find it does me harm？ It would be cowardly to run away；
and resistance should be from within。 Yet； on the other hand； there is
the duty of giving up； wrenching oneself from all that has temptation
in it。'
'There is nothing；' said Mrs Edmonstone； 'that has no temptation in it；
but I should think the rule was plain。 If a duty such as that of
living among us for the present； and making yourself moderately
agreeable； involves temptations； they must be met and battled from
within。 In the same way； your position in society； with all its
duties； could not be laid aside because it is full of trial。 Those who
do such things are fainthearted； and fail in trust in Him who fixed
their station； and finds room for them to deny themselves in the
trivial round and common task。 It is pleasure involving no duty that
should be given up； if we find it liable to lead us astray。'
'I see；' answered Guy； musingly； 'and this reading comes naturally； and
is just what I wanted to keep the pleasant things from getting a full
hold of me。 I ought to have thought of it sooner； instead of dawdling
a whole month in idleness。 Then all this would not have happened。 I
hope it will be very tough。'
'You have no great love for Latin and Greek？'
'Oh！' cried Guy； eagerly； 'to be sure I delight in Homer and the
Georgics； and plenty more。 What splendid things there are in these old
fellows！ But； I never liked the drudgery part of the affair； and now
if I am to be set to work to be accurate； and to get up all the grammar
and the Greek roots； it will be horrid enough in all conscience。'
He groaned as deeply as if he had not been congratulating himself just
before on the difficulty。
'Who was your tutor？' asked Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'Mr。 Potts；' said Guy。 'He is a very clever man； he had a common
grammar…school education； but he struggled ontaught himself a great
dealand at last thought it great promotion to be a teacher at the
Commercial Academy； as they call it； at Moorworth； where Markham's
nephews went to school。 He is very clever； I assure you； and very
patient of the hard； wearing life he must have of it there； and oh！ so
enjoying a new book； or an afternoon to himself。 When I was about
eight or nine； I began with him； riding into Moorworth three times in a
week； and I have gone on ever since。 I am sure he has done the best he
could for me； and he made the readings very pleasant by his own
enjoyment。 If Philip had known the difficulties that man has struggled
through； and his beautiful temper； persevering in doing his best and
being contented； I am sure he could never have spoken contemptuously of
him。'
'I am sure he would not；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'all he meant was； that
a person without a university education cannot tell what the
requirements are to which a man must come up in these days。'
'Ah！' said Guy； laughing； 'how I wished Mr。 Potts had been there to
have enjoyed listening to Philip and Mr。 Lascelles discussing some new
Lexicon； digging down for roots of words； and quoting passages of
obscure Greek poets at such a rate； that if my