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historical。 He listened good…naturedly to a fit of rapture； and threw
in a few； not too many； discreet words of guidance to the true
principles of taste； and next told her about an island； in a pond at
Stylehurst； which had been by turns Ellen's isle and Robinson Crusoe's。
It was at this point in the conversation that Guy came in sight； riding
slowly； his reins on his horse's neck； whistling a slow； melancholy
tune； his eyes fixed on the sky； and so lost in musings； that he did
not perceive them till Philip arrested him by calling out； 'That is a
very bad plan。 No horse is to be trusted in that way； especially such
a spirited one。'
Guy started； and gathered up his reins； owning it was foolish。
'You look only half disenchanted yet；' said Philip。 'Has Lascelles put
you into what my father's old gardener used to call a stud？'
'Nothing so worthy of a stud；' said Guy； smiling and colouring a
little。 'I was only dreaming over a picture of ruin
'The steed is vanish'd from the stall；
No serf is seen in Hassan's hall；
The lonely spider's thin grey pall
Waves； slowly widening o'er the wall。'
'Byron！' exclaimed Philip。 'I hope you are not dwelling on him？'
'Only a volume I found in my room。'
'Oh； the 〃Giaour〃！' said Philip。 'Well； there is no great damage done；
but it is bad food for excitable minds。 Don't let it get hold of you。'
'Very well；' and there was a cloud； but it cleared in a moment； and；
with a few gay words to both； he rode off at a quick pace。
'Foolish fellow！' muttered Philip； looking after him。
After some space of silence； Charlotte began in a very grave tone
'Philip。'
'Well？'
'Philip。'
Another 'Well！' and another long pause。
'Philip； I don't know whether you'll be angry with me。'
'Certainly not；' said Philip； marvelling at what was coming。
'Guy says he does not want to keep up the feud； and I wish you would
not。'
'What do you mean？'
'The deadly feud！' said Charlotte。
'What nonsense is this？' said Philip。
'SurelyOh Philip； there always was a deadly feud between our
ancestors； and the Redclyffe Morvilles； and it was very wrong； and
ought not to be kept up now。'
'It is not I that keep it up。'
'Is it not？' said Charlotte。 'But I am sure you don't like Guy。 And I
can't think why not； unless it is the deadly feud； for we are all so
fond of him。 Laura says it is a different house since he came。'
'Hum！' said Philip。 'Charlotte； you did well to make me promise not to
be angry with you； by which； I presume； you mean displeased。 I should
like to know what put this notion into your head。'
'Charlie told me；' almost whispered Charlotte； hanging down her head。
'Andand'
'And what？ I can't hear。'
Charlotte was a good deal frightened； but either from firmness； or from
the female propensity to have the last word； or it might be the spirit
of mischief； she got out'You have made me quite sure of it yourself。'
She was so alarmed at having said this； that had it not been
undignified； she would have run quite away； and never stopped till she
came to East…hill。 Matters were not mended when Philip said
authoritatively； and as if he was not in the least bit annoyed （which
was the more vexatious）； 'What do you mean； Charlotte？'
She had a great mind to cry； by way of getting out of the scrape； but
having begun as a counsellor and peacemaker； it would never do to be
babyish； and on his repeating the question； she said； in a tone which
she could not prevent from being lachrymose； 'You make Guy almost
angry； you tease him； and when people praise him； you answer as if it
would not last！ And it is very unfair of you；' concluded she； with
almost a sob。
'Charlotte；' replied Philip； much more kindly than she thought she
deserved； after the reproach that seemed to her so dreadfully naughty；
'you may dismiss all fear of deadly feud； whatever you may mean by it。
Charles has been playing tricks on you。 You know； my little cousin；
that I am a Christian； and we live in the nineteenth century。'
Charlotte felt as if annihilated at the aspect of her own folly。 He
resumed'You misunderstood me。 I do think Guy very agreeable。 He is
very attentive to Charles； very kind to you； and so attractive； that I
don't wonder you like him。 But those who are older than you see that
he has faults； and we wish to set him on his guard against them。 It
may be painful to ourselves； and irritating to him； but depend upon it；
it is the proof of friendship。 Are you satisfied； my little cousin？'
She could only say humbly； 'I beg your pardon。'
'You need not ask pardon。 Since you had the notion； it was right to
speak； as it was to me； one of your own family。 When you are older；
you need never fear to speak out in the right place。 I am glad you
have so much of the right sort of feminine courage； though in this case
you might have ventured to trust to me。'
So ended Charlotte's anxieties respecting the deadly feud； and she had
now to make up her mind to the loss of her playfellow； who was to go to
Oxford at Easter； when he would be just eighteen； his birthday being
the 28th of March。 Both her playmates were going； Bustle as well as
Guy； and it was at first proposed that Deloraine should go too； but Guy
bethought himself that Oxford would be a place of temptation for
William； and not choosing to trust the horse to any one else； resolved
to leave both at Hollywell。
His grandfather had left an allowance for Guy； until his coming of age；
such as might leave no room for extravagance； and which even Philip
pronounced to be hardly sufficient for a young man in his position。
'You know；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； in his hesitating； good…natured way；
'if ever you have occasion sometimes for a littlea little moreyou
need only apply to me。 Don't be afraid； anything rather than run into
debt。 You know me； and 'tis your own。'
'This shall do；' said Guy； in the same tone as he had fixed his hours
of study。
Each of the family made Guy a birthday present； as an outfit for
Oxford； Mr。 Edmonstone gave him a set of studs； Mrs。 Edmonstone a
Christian Year； Amabel copied some of his favourite songs； Laura made a
drawing of Sintram； Charlotte worked a kettle…holder； with what was
called by courtesy a likeness of Bustle。 Charles gave nothing；
professing that he would do nothing to encourage his departure。
'You don't know what a bore it is to lose the one bit of quicksilver in
the house！' said he； yawning。 'I shall only drag on my existence till
you come back。'
'You； Charles； the maker of fun！' said Guy； amazed。
'It is a case of flint and steel；' said Charles； 'but be it owing to
who it will； we have been alive since you came here。 You have taken
care to be remembered。 We have been studying you； or laughing at you；
or wondering what absurdity was to come next。'
'I am very sorrythat is； if you are serious。 I hoped at least I
appeared like other people。'
'I'll tell you what you appear like。 Just what I would be if I was a
free man。'
'Never say that； Charlie！'
'Nay； wait a bit。 I would never be so foolish。 I would never give my
sunny mornings to Euripides； I would not let the best hunter in the
county go when I had wherewithal to pay for him。'
'You would not have such an ill…conditioned self to keep in rule。'
'After all；' continued Charles； yawning； 'it is no great compliment to
say I am sorry you are going。 If you were an Ethiopian serenader； you
would be a loss to me。 It is something to see anything beyond this old
drawing…room； and the same faces doing the same things every day。
Laura poking over her drawing； and meditating upon the last entry in
Philip's memorandum…book； and Amy at her flowers or some nonsense or
other； and Charlotte and the elders all the same； and a lot of stupid
people dropping in and a lot of stupid books to read； all just alike。
I can tell what they are like without looking in！' Charles yawned
again； sighed； and moved wearily。 'Now； there came some life and
freshness with you。 You talk of Redclyffe； and your brute creation
there； not like a book； and still less like a commonplace man； you are
innocent and unsophisticated； and take new points of view； you are
something to interest oneself about； your coming in is something to
look forward to； you make the singing not such mere milk…and…water；
your reading the Praelectiones is an additional landmark to time；
besides the mutton of to…day succeeding the beef of yesterday。 Heigh…
ho！ I'll tell you what； Guy。 Though I may carry it off with a high
hand； 'tis no joke to be a helpless log all the best years of a man's
life；nay； for my whole life；for at