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coolly to see my daughter so treated。'
'I would only give him the opportunity of saying what he can for
himself。 He may have some explanation。'
'I'll admit of no explanation！ Passing himself off for steadiness
itself； daring to think of my daughter； and all the time going on in
this fashion！ I hate underhand ways！ I'll have no explanation。 He
may give up all thoughts of her。 I'll write and tell him so before I'm
a day older； nay； before I stir from this room。 My little Amy；
indeed！'
Philip put no obstacles in the way of this proposal； for he knew that
his uncle's displeasure； though hot at first； was apt to evaporate in
exclamations； and he thought it likely that his good nature； his
partiality for his ward； his dislike to causing pain to his daughter；
and； above all； his wife's blind confidence in Guy； would； when once at
home； so overpower his present indignation as to prevent the salutary
strictness which was the only hope of reclaiming Guy。 Beside； a letter
written under Philip's inspection was likely to be more guarded； as
well as more forcible； than an unassisted composition of his own； as
was； indeed； pretty well proved by the commencement of his first
attempt。
'My dear Guy；I am more surprised than I could have expected at your
application。'
Philip read this aloud； so as to mark its absurdity； and he began
again。
'I am greatly astonished； as well as concerned； at your application；
which confirms the unpleasant reports'
'Why say anything of reports？' said Philip。 'Reports are nothing。 A
man is not forced to defend himself from reports。'
'Yes；humha；the accounts I have received。 No。 You say there is
not to be a word of Mrs。 Henley。'
'Not a word that can lead her to be suspected。'
'Confirmsconfirms' sighed Mr。 Edmonstone。
'Don't write as if you went on hearsay evidence。 Speak of proofs
irrefragable proofsand then you convict him at once； without power of
eluding you。'
So Mr。 Edmonstone proceeded to write； that the application confirmed
the irrefragable proofs； then laughed at himself； and helplessly begged
Philip to give him a start。 It now stood thus：
'Your letter of this morning has caused me more concern than surprise；
as it unhappily only adds confirmation to the intelligence already in
my possession； that either from want of resolution to withstand the
seductions of designing persons； or by the impetuosity and instability
of your own character； you have been led into the ruinous and degrading
practice of gambling； and that from hence proceed the difficulties that
occasion your application to me for money。 I am deeply grieved at thus
finding that neither the principles which have hitherto seemed to guide
you； nor the pledges which you used to hold sacred； nor； I may add； the
feelings you have so recently expressed towards a member of my family；
have been sufficient to preserve you from yielding to a temptation
which could never be presented to the mind of any one whose time was
properly occupied in the business of his education。'
'Is that all I am to say about her；' exclaimed Mr。 Edmonstone； 'after
the atrocious way the fellow has treated her in？'
'Since it is； happily； no engagement； I cannot see how you can； with
propriety； assume that it is one； by speaking of breaking it off。
Besides； give him no ground for complaint； or he will take refuge in
believing himself ill…used。 Ask him if he can disprove it； and when he
cannot； it will be time enough to act further。 But waitwait； sir；'
as the pen was moving over the paper； impatient to dash forward。 'You
have not told him yet of what you accuse him。'
Philip meditated a few moments； then produced another sentence。
'I have no means of judging how long you have been following this
unhappy course； I had rather believe it is of recent adoption； but I do
not know how to reconcile this idea with the magnitude of your demand；
unless your downward progress has been more rapid than usual in such
beginnings。 It would； I fear； be quite vain for me to urge upon you
all the arguments and reasons that ought to have been present to your
mind； and prevented you from taking the first fatal step。 I can only
entreat you to pause； and consider the ruin and degradation to which
this hateful vice almost invariably conducts its victims； and
consistently with my duty as your guardian； everything in my power
shall be done to extricate you from the embarrassments in which you
have involved yourself。 But； in the first place； I make it a point
that you treat me with perfect confidence； and make a full； unequivocal
statement of your proceedings； above all； that you explain the
circumstances； occasioning your request for this large sum。 Remember；
I say； complete candour on your part will afford the only means of
rescuing you from difficulties； or of in any degree restoring you to my
good opinion。'
So far the letter had proceeded slowly； for Philip was careful and
deliberate in composition； and while he was weighing his words； Mr。
Edmonstone rushed on with something unfit to stand； so as to have to
begin over again。 At last； the town clock struck five； Philip started；
declaring that if he was not at the station in five minutes； he should
lose the train； engaged to come to Hollywell on the day an answer might
be expected； and hastened away； satisfied by having seen two sheets
nearly filled； and having said there was nothing more but to sign；
seal； and send it。
Mr。 Edmonstone had； however； a page of note…paper more； and it was with
a sensation of relief that he wrote；
'I wish； from the bottom of my heart； that you could clear yourself。
If a dozen men had sworn it till they were black in the face； I would
not have believed it of you that you could serve us in such a manner；
after the way you have been treated at home； and to dare to think of my
daughter with such things on your mind。 I could never have believed
it； but for the proofs Philip has brought； and I am sure he is as sorry
as myself。 Only tell the whole truth； and I will do my best to get you
out of the scrape。 Though all else must be at an end between us； I am
your guardian still； and I will not be harsh with you。'
He posted his letter； climbed up his tall horse； and rode home； rather
heavy…hearted； but his wrath burning out as he left Broadstone behind
him。 He saw his little Amy gay and lively； and could not bear to
sadden her； so he persuaded himself that there was no need to mention
the suspicions till he had heard what Guy had to say for himself。
Accordingly； he told no one but his wife； and she； who thought Guy as
unlikely to gamble as Amy herself； had not the least doubt that he
would be able to clear himself； and agreed that it was much better to
keep silence for the present。
CHAPTER 15
'Tis not unknown to you； Antonio；
How much I have disabled mine estate；
By something showing a more swelling port
Than my faint means would grant continuance。 Merchant of Venice
St。 Mildred's was a fashionable summer resort； which the virtues of a
mineral spring； and the reputation of Dr。 Henley； had contributed to
raise to a high degree of prosperity。 It stood at the foot of a
magnificent range of beautifully formed hills； where the crescents and
villas； white and smart； showed their own insignificance beneath the
purple peaks that rose high above them。
About ten miles distant； across the hills； was Stylehurst； the parish
of the late Archdeacon Morville； and the native place of Philip and his
sister Margaret。 It was an extensive parish； including a wide tract of
the hilly country； and in a farm…house in the midst of the moorland；
midway between St。 Mildred's and the village of Stylehurst； had Mr。
Wellwood fixed himself with his three pupils。
Guy's first visit was of course to Mrs。 Henley； and she was； on her
side； prepared by her brother to patronize him as Philip would have
done in her place。 Her patronage was valuable in her own circle； her
connections were good； the Archdeacon's name was greatly respected； she
had a handsome and well…regulated establishment； and this； together
with talents which； having no family； she had cultivated more than most
women have time to do； made her a person of considerable distinction at
St。 Mildred's。 She was； in fact； the leading lady of the placethe
manager of the book…club； in the chair at all the charitable
committees； and the principal person in society； giving literary
parties； with a degree of exclusiveness that made admission to them a
privilege。
She was a very fine woman； handsomer at two…and…thirty than in her
early bloom； her height little less than that of her tall brother； and
her manner and air had something very distinguished。 The first ti