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'Confidence。'
'Eh？ Oh； ay； he says he can't tellbound in honour。'
'It is easy to write off…hand； and say I cannot satisfy you； I am bound
in honour； but that is not what most persons would think a full
justification； especially considering the terms on which you stand。'
'Why； yes； he might have said more。 It would have been safe enough
with me。'
'It is his usual course of mystery； reserve； and defiance。'
'The fact is；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； turning away； 'that it is a very
proper letter； right sense； proper feelingand if he never gamed in
his life； what would you have more？'
'There are different ways of understanding such a denial as this；' said
Philip。 'See； he says not in the way in which I suppose。' He held up
his hand authoritatively； as his aunt was about to interpose。 'It was
against gaming that his vow was made。 I never thought he had played；
but he never says he has not betted。'
'He would never be guilty of a subterfuge！' exclaimed Mr。 Edmonstone；
indignantly。
'I should not have thought so； without the evidence of the payment of
the cheque； my uncle had just given him； to this gambling fellow；' said
Philip； 'yet it is only the natural consequence of the habit of eluding
inquiry into his visits to London。'
'I can't see any reason for so harsh an accusation；' said she。
'I should hardly want more reason than his own words。 He refuses to
answer the question on which my uncle's good opinion depends； he owns
he has been to blame； and thus retracts his full denial。 In my
opinion； his letter says nothing so plainly as； 〃While I can stand fair
with you I do not wish to break with you。〃'
'He will not find that quite so easy。' cried Mr。 Edmonstone。 'I am no
fool to be hoodwinked； especially where my little Amy is concerned。
I'll see all plain and straight before he says another word of her。
But you see what comes of their settling it while I was out of the
way。'
Mrs； Edmonstone was grieved to see him so hurt at this。 It could not
have been helped； and if all had been smooth； he never would have
thought of it again； but it served to keep up his dignity in his own
eyes； and； as he fancied； to defend him from Philip's censure； and he
therefore made the most of it； which so pained her that she did not
venture to continue her championship of Guy。
'Well； well；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the question is what to do next
eh； Philip？' I wish he would have spoken openly。 I hate mysteries。
I'll write and tell him this won't do； he must be expliciteh；
Philip？'
'We will talk it over by and by；' said Philip。
His aunt understood that it was to be in her absence； and left the
room； fearing it would be impossible to prevent Amy from being
distressed； though she had no doubt that Guy would be able to prove his
innocence of the charges。 She found Amy waiting for her in her room。
'Don't； ring； mamma； dear。 I'll fasten your dress；' said she； then
pausing'Oh！ mamma； I don't know whether I ought to ask； but if you
would only tell me if there is nothing gone wrong。'
'I don't believe there is anything really wrong； my dear；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone； kissing her； as she saw how her colour first deepened and
then faded。
'Oh！ no；' said she。
'But there is some mystery about his money…matters； which has vexed
your papa。'
'And what has Philip to do with it？'
'I cannot quite tell； my dear。 I believe Margaret Henley has heard
something； but I do not know the whole。'
'Did you see his letter； mamma？ said Amy； in a low； trembling voice。
'Yes； it is just like himself； and absolutely denies the accusations。'
Amy did not say 'then they are false；' but she held up her head。
'Then papa is satisfied？' she said。
'I have no doubt all will be made clear in time；' said her mother； 'but
there is still something unexplained； and I am afraid things may not go
smoothly just now。 I am very sorry； my little Amy； that such a cloud
should have come over you； she added； smoothing fondly the long； soft
hair； sad at heart to see the cares and griefs of womanhood gathering
over her child's bright； young life。
'I said I must learn to bear things！' murmured Amy to herself。 'Only；'
and the tears filled her eyes； and she spoke with almost childish
simplicity of manner； 'I can't bear them to vex him。 I wish Philip
would let papa settle it alone。 Guy will be angry； and grieved
afterwards。'
They were interrupted by the dinner…bell； but Amy ran into her own room
for one moment。
'I said I would learn to bear；' said she to herself； 'or I shall never
be fit for him。 Yes； I will； even though it is the thinking he is
unhappy。 He said I must be his Verena； I know what that means； I ought
not to be uneasy； for he will bear it beautifully； and say he is glad
of it afterwards。 And I will try not to seem cross to Philip。'
Mr。 Edmonstone was fidgety and ill at ease； found fault with the
dinner； and was pettish with his wife。 Mrs。 Edmonstone set Philip off
upon politics； which lasted till the ladies could escape into the
drawing…room。 In another minute Philip brought in Charles； set him
down； and departed。 Amy； who was standing by the window； resting her
forehead against the glass； and gazing into the darkness； turned round
hastily； and left the room； but in passing her brother； she put her
hand into his； and received a kind pressure。 Her mother followed her；
and the other three all began to wonder。 Charles said he had regularly
been turned out of the dining…room by Philip； who announced that he
wanted to speak to his uncle； and carried him off。
They conjectured； and were indignant at each other's conjectures； till
their mother returned； and gave them as much information as she could；
but this only made them very anxious。 Charles was certain that Mrs。
Henley had laid a cockatrice egg； and Philip was hatching it； and Laura
could not trust herself to defend Philip； lest she should do it too
vehemently。 They could all agree in desire to know the truth； in hope
that Guy was not culpable； and； above all； in feeling for Amy； but by
tacit consent they were silent on the three shades of opinion in their
minds。 Laura was confident that Philip was acting for the best； Mrs。
Edmonstone thought he might be mistaken in his premises； but desirous
of Guy's real good； and Charles； though sure he would allege nothing
which he did not believe to be true； also thought him ready to draw the
worst conclusions from small grounds； and to take pleasure in driving
Mr。 Edmonstone to the most rigorous measures。
Philip； meanwhile； was trying to practise great moderation and
forbearance； not bringing forward at first what was most likely to
incense Mr。 Edmonstone； and without appearance of animosity in his
cool； guarded speech。 There was no design in this； he meant only to be
just； yet anything less cool would have had far less effect。
When he shut the dining…room door； he found his uncle wavering； touched
by the sight of his little Amy； returning to his first favourable view
of Guy's letter； ready to overlook everything； accept the
justification； and receive his ward on the same footing as before；
though he was at the same time ashamed that Philip should see him
relent； and desirous of keeping up his character for firmness； little
guessing how his nephew felt his power over him； and knew that he could
wield him at will。
Perceiving and pitying his feebleness； and sincerely believing strong
measures the only rescue for Amy； the only hope for Guy； Philip found
himself obliged to work on him by the production of another letter from
his sister。 He would rather； if possible； have kept this back； so much
did his honourable feeling recoil from what had the air of slander and
mischief…making； but he regarded firmness on his uncle's part as the
only chance for Guy or for his cousin； and was resolved not to let him
swerve from strict justice。
Mrs。 Henley had written immediately after Guy's outburst in her house；
and； taking it for granted that her brother would receive a challenge；
she wrote in the utmost alarm； urging him to remember how precious he
was to her； and not to depart from his own principles。
'You would not be so mad as to fight him； eh？' said Mr。 Edmonstone；
anxiously。 'You know betterbesides； for poor Amy's sake。'
'For the sake of right；' replied Philip； 'no。 I have reassured my
sister。 I have told her that； let the boy do what he will； he shall
never make me guilty of his death。'
'You have heard from him； then？'
'No； I suppose a night's reflection convinced him that he had no
rational grounds for violent proceedings； and he had sense enough not
to expose himself to such an answer as I should have given。 What
caused his wrath to be directed