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grandfather's death has happened at a most favourable time for him。
The poor old man had such a dread of his going wrong that he kept
him'
'I knowas tight as a drum。'
'With strictness that I should think very bad for a boy of his
impatient temper。 It would have been a very dangerous experiment to
send him at once among the temptations of Oxford； after such discipline
and solitude as he has been used to。'
'Don't talk of it；' interrupted Mr。 Edmonstone； spreading out his hands
in a deprecating manner。 'We must do the best we can with him； for I
have got him on my hands till he is five…and…twentyhis grandfather
has tied him up till then。 If we can keep him out of mischief； well
and good； if not； it can't be helped。'
'You have him all to yourself；' said Charles。
'Ay； to my sorrow。 If your poor father was alive； Philip； I should be
free of all care。 I've a pretty deal on my hands；' he proceeded；
looking more important than troubled。 'All that great Redclyffe estate
is no sinecure； to say nothing of the youth himself。 If all the world
will come to me； I can't help it。 I must go and speak to the men； if I
am to be off to Redclyffe tomorrow。 Will you come； Philip？'
'I must go back soon； thank you；' replied Philip。 'I must see about my
leave； only we should first settle when to set off。'
This arranged； Mr。 Edmonstone hurried away； and Charles began by
saying； 'Isn't there a ghost at Redclyffe？'
'So it is said；' answered his cousin； 'though I don't think it is
certain whose it is。 There is a room called Sir Hugh's Chamber； over
the gateway； but the honour of naming it is undecided between Hugo de
Morville； who murdered Thomas a Becket； and his namesake； the first
Baronet； who lived in the time of William of Orange； when the quarrel
began with our branch of the family。 Do you know the history of it；
aunt？'
'It was about some property；' said Mrs Edmonstone； 'though I don't know
the rights of it。 But the Morvilles were always a fiery； violent race；
and the enmity once begun between Sir Hugh and his brother； was kept
up； generation after generation； in a most unjustifiable way。 Even I
can remember when the Morvilles of Redclyffe used to be spoken of in
our family like a sort of ogres。'
'Not undeservedly； I should think；' said Philip。 'This poor old man；
who is just dead； ran a strange career。 Stories of his duels and mad
freaks are still extant。'
'Poor man！ I believe he went all lengths；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。
'What was the true version of that horrible story about his son？' said
Philip。 'Did he strike him？'
'Oh； no！ it was bad enough without that。'
'How？' asked Laura。
'He was an only child； and lost his mother early。 He was very ill
brought up； and was as impetuous and violent as Sir Guy himself； though
with much kindliness and generosity。 He was only nineteen when he made
a runaway marriage with a girl of sixteen； the sister of a violin
player； who was at that time in fashion。 His father was very much
offended； and there was much dreadfully violent conduct on each side。
At last； the young man was driven to seek a reconciliation。 He brought
his wife to Moorworth； and rode to Redclyffe； to have an interview with
his father。 Unhappily； Sir Guy was giving a dinner to the hunt； and
had been drinking。 He not only refused to see him； but I am afraid he
used shocking language； and said something about bidding him go back to
his fiddling brother in…law。 The son was waiting in the hall； heard
everything； threw himself on his horse； and rushed away in the dark。
His forehead struck against the branch of a tree； and he was killed on
the spot。'
'The poor wife？' asked Amabel； shuddering。
'She died the next day； when this boy was born。'
'Frightful！' said Philip。 'It might well make a reformation in old Sir
Guy。'
'I have heard that nothing could be more awful than the stillness that
fell on that wretched party； even before they knew what had happened
before Colonel Harewood； who had been called aside by the servants；
could resolve to come and fetch away the father。 No wonder Sir Guy was
a changed man from that hour。'
'It was then that he sent for my father；' said Philip。
'But what made him think of doing so？'
'You know Colonel Harewood's house at Stylehurst？ Many years ago； when
the St。 Mildred's races used to be so much more in fashion； Sir Guy and
Colonel Harewood； and some men of that stamp； took that house amongst
them； and used to spend some time there every year； to attend to
something about the training of the horses。 There were some
malpractices of their servants； that did so much harm in the parish；
that my brother was obliged to remonstrate。 Sir Guy was very angry at
first； but behaved better at last than any of the others。 I suspect he
was struck by my dear brother's bold； uncompromising ways； for he took
to him to a certain degreeand my brother could not help being
interested in him； there seemed to be so much goodness in his nature。
I saw him once； and never did I meet any one who gave me so much the
idea of a finished gentleman。 When the poor son was about fourteen； he
was with a tutor in the neighbourhood； and used to be a good deal at
Stylehurst； and； after the unhappy marriage； my brother happened to
meet him in London； heard his story； and tried to bring about a
reconciliation。'
'Ha！' said Philip； 'did not they come to Stylehurst？ I have a dim
recollection of somebody very tall； and a lady who sung。'
'Yes； your father asked them to stay there； that he might judge of her；
and wrote to Sir Guy that she was a little； gentle； childish thing；
capable of being moulded to anything； and representing the mischief of
leaving them to such society as that of her brother； who was actually
maintaining them。 That letter was never answered； but about ten days
or a fortnight after this terrible accident； Colonel Harewood wrote to
entreat my brother to come to Redclyffe； saying poor Sir Guy had
eagerly caught at the mention of his name。 Of course he went at once；
and he told me that he never； in all his experience as a clergyman； saw
any one so completely broken down with grief。'
I found a great many of his letters among my father's papers；' said
Philip； 'and it was a very touching one that he wrote to me on my
father's death。 Those Redclyffe people certainly have great force of
character。'
'And was it then he settled his property on my uncle？' said Charles。
'Yes；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'My brother did not like his doing so；
but he would not be at rest till it was settled。 It was in vain to put
him in mind of his grandchild； for he would not believe it could live；
and； indeed； its life hung on a thread。 I remember my brother telling
me how he went to Moorworth to see itfor it could not be brought
homein hopes of bringing； back a report that might cheer its
grandfather； but how he found it so weak and delicate； that he did not
dare to try to make him take interest in it。 It was not till the child
was two or three years old； that Sir Guy ventured to let himself grow
fond of it。'
'Sir Guy was a very striking person；' said Philip； 'I shall not easily
forget my visit to Redclyffe four years ago。 It was more like a scene
in a romance than anything realthe fine old red sandstone house
crumbling away in the exposed parts； the arched gateway covered with
ivy； the great quadrangle where the sun never shone； and full of
echoes； the large hall and black wainscoted rooms； which the candles
never would light up。 It is a fit place to be haunted。'
'That poor boy alone there！' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； 'I am glad you and
your uncle are going to him。'
'Tell us about him；' said Laura。
'He was the most incongruous thing there；' said Philip。 'There was a
calm； deep melancholy about the old man added to the grand courtesy
which showed he had been what old books call a fine gentleman； that
made him suit his house as a hermit does his cell； or a knight his
castle； but breaking in on this 〃penseroso〃 scene； there was Guy'
'In what way？' asked Laura。
'Always in wild spirits； rushing about； playing antics； provoking the
solemn echoes with shouting； whooping； singing； whistling。 There was
something in that whistle of his that always made me angry。'
'How did this suit old Sir Guy？'
'It was curious to see how Guy could rattle on to him； pour out the
whole history of his doings； laughing； rubbing his hands； springing
about with animationall with as little answer as if he had been
talking to a statue。'
'Do you mean that Sir Guy did not like it？'
'He did in his own way。 There was now and then a glance or a nod； to
show that he was attending； but it was such slight encouragement； that