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passed constantly。 It seemed as if there were very few to whom Guy
would ever give his confidence； but that once bestowed； it was with
hardly any reserve； and that was his great relief and satisfaction to
pour out his whole mind； where he was sure of sympathy。
To her； then； he confided how much provoked he was with himself； his
'first term；' he said； 'having only shown him what an intolerable fool
he had to keep in order。' By his account； he could do nothing 'without
turning his own head； except study； and that stupefied it。' 'Never was
there a more idle fellow； he could work himself for a given time； but
his sense would not second him； and was it not most absurd in him to
take so little pleasure in what was his duty； and enjoy only what was
bad for him？'
He had tried boating； but it had distracted him from his work； so he
had been obliged to give it up； and had done so in a hasty vehement
manner； which had caused offence； and for which he blamed himself。 It
had been the same with other things； till he had left himself no
regular recreation but walking and music。 'The last；' he said； 'might
engross him in the same way； but he thought （here he hesitated a
little） there were higher ends for music； which made it come under Mrs。
Edmonstone's rule； of a thing to be used guardedly； not disused。' He
had resumed light reading； too； which he had nearly discontinued before
he went to Oxford。 'One wants something；' he said； 'by way of
refreshment； where there is no sea nor rock to look at； and no Laura
and Amy to talk to。'
He had made one friend； a scholar of his own college； of the name of
Wellwood。 This name had been his attraction； Guy was bent on
friendship with him； if； as he tried to make him out to be； he was the
son of that Captain Wellwood whose death had weighed so heavily on his
grandfather's conscience； feeling almost as if it were his duty to ask
forgiveness in his grandfather's name； yet scarcely knowing how to
venture on advances to one to whom his name had such associations。
However； they had gradually drawn together； and at length entered on
the subject； and Guy then found he was the nephew； not the son of
Captain Wellwood； indeed； his former belief was founded on a
miscalculation； as the duel had taken place twenty…eight years ago。 He
now heard all his grandfather had wished to know of the family。 There
were two unmarried daughters； and their cousin spoke in the highest
terms of their self…devoted life； promising what Guy much wished； that
they should hear what deep repentance had followed the crime which had
made them fatherless。 He was to be a clergyman； and Guy admired him
extremely； saying； however； that he was so shy and retiring； it was
hard to know him well。
From not having been at school； and from other causes； Guy had made few
acquaintance； indeed； he amused Mrs。 Edmonstone by fearing he had been
morose。 She was ready to tell him he was an ingenious self…tormentor；
but she saw that the struggle to do right was the main spring of the
happiness that beamed round him； in spite of his self…reproach； heart…
felt as it was。 She doubted whether persons more contented with
themselves were as truly joyous； and was convinced that； while thus
combating lesser temptations； the very shadow of what are generally
alone considered as real temptations would hardly come near him。
If it had not been for these talks； and now and then a thoughtful look；
she would have believed him one of the most light…hearted and merriest
of beings。 He was more full of glee and high spirits than she had ever
seen him； he seemed to fill the whole house with mirth； and keep every
one alive by his fun and frolic； as blithe and untiring as Maurice de
Courcy himself； though not so wild。
Very pleasant were those summer daysreading； walking； music；
gardening。 Did not they all work like very labourers at the new arbour
in the midst of the laurels； where Charles might sit and see the spires
of Broadstone？ Work they did； indeed！ Charles looking on from his
wheeled chair； laughing to see Guy sawing as if for his living and Amy
hammering gallantly； and Laura weaving osiers； and Charlotte flying
about with messages。
One day； they were startled by an exclamation from Charles。 'Ah； ha！
Paddy； is that you？' and beheld the tall figure of a girl； advancing
with a rapid； springing step； holding up her riding habit with one
hand； with the other whisking her coral…handled whip。 There was
something distinguished in her air； and her features； though less fine
than Laura's； were very pretty； by the help of laughing dark blue eyes；
and very black hair； under her broad hat and little waving feather。
She threatened Charles with her whip； calling out'Aunt Edmonstone
said I should find you here。 What is the fun now？'
'Arbour building；' said Charles； 'don't you see the head carpenter！'
'Sir Guy？' whispered she to Laura； looking up at him； where he was
mounted on the roof； thatching it with reed； the sunshine full on his
glowing face and white shirt sleeves。
'Here！' said Charles； as Guy swung himself down with a bound； his face
much redder than sun and work had already made it； 'here's another wild
Irisher for you。'
'Sir Guy MorvilleLady Eveleen de Courcy；' began Laura； but Lady
Eveleen cut her short； frankly holding out her hand； and saying； 'You
are almost a cousin； you know。 Oh； don't leave off。 Do give me
something to do。 That hammer； Amy； prayLaura； don't you remember how
dearly I always loved hammering？'
'How did you come？' said Laura。
'With papa'tis his visit to Sir Guy。 'No； don't go；' as Guy began to
look for his coat； 'he is only impending。 He is gone on to Broadstone；
but he dropped me here； and will pick me up on his way back。 Can't you
give me something to do on the top of that ladder？ I should like it
mightily； it looks so cool and airy。'
'How can you； Eva？' whispered Laura； reprovingly； but Lady Eveleen only
shook her head at her； and declaring she saw a dangerous nail sticking
out； began to hammer it in with such good will； that Charles stopped
his ears； and told her it was worse than her tongue。 'Go on about the
ball； do。'
'0h；' said she earnestly； 'do you think there is any hope of Captain
Morville's coming？'
'Oh yes；' said Laura。
'I am so glad！ That is what papa is gone to Broadstone about。 Maurice
said he had given him such a lecture； that he would not be the one to
think of asking him； and papa must do it himself； for if he sets his
face against it； it will spoil it all。'
'You may make your mind easy；' said Charles； 'the captain is lenient；
and looks on the ball as a mere development of Irish nature。 He has
been consoling Guy on the difficulties of dancing。'
'Can't you dance？' said Lady Eveleen； looking at him with compassion。
'Such is my melancholy ignorance；' said Guy。
'We have been talking of teaching him；' said Laura。
'Talk！ will that do it？' cried Lady Eveleen； springing up。 'We will
begin this moment。 Come out on the lawn。 Here； Charles；' wheeling him
along； 'No； thank you； I like it；' as Guy was going to help her。
'There； Charles； be fiddler go on； tum…tum； tee！ that'll do。 Amy；
Laura； be ladies。 I'm the other gentleman；' and she stuck on her hat
in military style； giving it a cock。 She actually set them quadrilling
in spite of adverse circumstances； dancing better； in her habit； than
most people without one； till Lord Kilcoran arrived。
While he was making his visit； she walked a little apart； arm…in…arm
with Laura。 'I like him very much；' she said； 'he looks up to anything。
I had heard so much of his steadiness； that it is a great relief to my
mind to see him so unlike his cousin。'
'Eveleen！'
'No disparagement to the captain； only I am so dreadfully afraid of
him。 I am sure he thinks me such an unmitigated goose。 Now； doesn't
he？'
'If you would but take the right way to make him think otherwise； dear
Eva； and show the sense you really have。'
'That is just what my fear of him won't let me do。 I would not for the
world let him guess it； so there is nothing for it but sauciness to
cover one's weakness。 I can't be sensible with those that won't give
me credit for it。 But you'll mind and teach Sir Guy to dance； he has
so much spring in him； he deserves to be an Irishman。'
In compliance with this injunction； there used to be a clearance every
evening； Charles turned into the bay window out of the way； Mrs。
Edmonstone at the piano； and the rest figuring away； the partnerless
one； called 'puss in the corner'； being generally Amabel； while
Charlotte； disdaining them all the time； used to try to make them
imitate her dancing…master's graces； causing her father to perform such
caricatures of them； as