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is a young Irish cousin of my own； a capital fellow at the bottom； but
a regular thoroughgoing rattle。 That was my doing。 I told his father
that he could not do better than put him into the …th。 Nothing like a
steady friend and a good example； I said； and Kilcoran always takes my
advice； and I don't think he has been sorry。 Maurice has kept much
more out of scrapes of late。'
'0 papa；' exclaimed Charlotte； 'Maurice has been out riding on a hired
horse； racing with Mr。 Gordon； and the horse tumbled down at the bottom
of East…hill； and broke its knees。'
'That's the way；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the instant my back is turned。'
Thereupon the family fell into a discussion of home affairs； and
thought little more of their silent guest。
CHAPTER 3
The hues of bliss more brightly glow
Chastised by sober tints of woe。GRAY
'What use shall I make of him？' said Charles to himself； as he studied
Sir Guy Morville； who sat by the table； with a book in his hand。
He had the unformed look of a growing boy； and was so slender as to
appear taller than he really was。 He had an air of great activity； and
though he sat leaning back； there was no lounging in his attitude； and
at the first summons he roused up with an air of alert attention that
recalled to mind the eager head of a listening greyhound。 He had no
pretension to be called handsome； his eyes were his best feature； they
were very peculiar； of a light hazel； darker towards the outside of the
iris； very brilliant； the whites tinted with blue； and the lashes
uncommonly thick and black； the eyebrows were also very dark； and of a
sharply…defined angular shape； but the hair was much lighter； loose；
soft； and wavy； the natural fairness of the complexion was shown by the
whiteness of the upper part of the forehead； though the rest of the
face； as well as the small taper hands； were tanned by sunshine and
sea…breezes； into a fresh； hardy brown； glowing with red on the cheeks。
'What use shall I make of him？' proceeded Charles's thoughts。 'He
won't be worth his salt if he goes on in this way； he has got a graver
specimen of literature there than I ever saw Philip himself read on a
week…day； he has been puritanized till he is good for nothing； I'll
trouble myself no more about him！' He tried to read； but presently
looked up again。 'Plague！ I can't keep my thoughts off him。 That
sober look does not sit on that sun…burnt face as if it were native to
it； those eyes don't look as if the Redclyffe spirit was extinguished。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone came in； and looking round； as if to find some
occupation for her guest； at length devised setting him to play at
chess with Charles。 Charles gave her an amiable look； expressing that
neither liked it； but she was pretty well used to doing him good
against his will； and trusted to its coming right in time。 Charles was
a capital chess…player； and seldom found any one who could play well
enough to afford him much real sport； but he found Sir Guy more nearly
a match than often fell to his lot； it was a bold dashing game； that
obliged him to be on his guard； and he was once so taken by surprise as
to be absolutely check…mated。 His ill…humour evaporated； he was
delighted to find an opponent worth playing with； and henceforth there
were games almost every morning or evening； though Sir Guy seemed not
to care much about them； except for the sake of pleasing him。
When left to himself； Guy spent his time in reading or in walking about
the lanes alone。 He used to sit in the bay…window of the drawing…room
with his book； but sometimes； when they least expected it； the girls
would find his quick eyes following them with an air of amused
curiosity； as Amabel waited on Charles and her flowers； or Laura drew；
wrote letters； and strove to keep down the piles of books and
periodicals under which it seemed as if her brother might some day be
stifleda vain task； for he was sure to want immediately whatever she
put out of his reach。
Laura and Amabel both played and sung； the former remarkably well； and
the first time they had any music after the arrival of Sir Guy； his
look of delighted attention struck everyone。 He ventured nearer； stood
by the piano when they practised； and at last joined in with a few
notes of so full and melodious a voice； that Laura turned round in
surprise； exclaiming； 'You sing better I than any of us！'
He coloured。 'I beg your pardon；' he said； 'I could not help it； I
know nothing of music。'
'Really！' said Laura； smiling incredulously。
'I don't even know the notes。'
'Then you must have a very good ear。 Let us try again。'
The sisters were again charmed and surprised； and Guy looked gratified；
as people do at the discovery of a faculty which they are particularly
glad to possess。 It was the first time he appeared to brighten； and
Laura and her mother agreed that it would do him good to have plenty of
music； and to try to train that fine voice。 He was beginning to
interest them all greatly by his great helpfulness and kindness to
Charles； as he learnt the sort of assistance he required； as well as by
the silent grief that showed how much attached he must have been to his
grandfather。
On the first Sunday； Mrs。 Edmonstone coming into the drawing…room at
about half…past five； found him sitting alone by the fire； his dog
lying at his feet。 As he started up； she asked if he had been here in
the dark ever since church…time？
'I have not wanted light；' he answered with a sigh； long； deep； and
irrepressible； and as she stirred the fire； the flame revealed to her
the traces of tears。 She longed to comfort him； and said
'This Sunday twilight is a quiet time for thinking。'
'Yes；' he said； 'how few Sundays ago' and there he paused。
'Ah！ you had so little preparation。'
'None。 That very morning he had done business with Markham； and had
never been more clear and collected。'
'Were you with him when he was taken ill？' asked Mrs。 Edmonstone；
perceiving that it would be a relief to him to talk。
'No； it was just before dinner。 I had been shooting； and went into the
library to tell him where I had been。 He was well then； for he spoke；
but it was getting dark； and I did not see his face。 I don't think I
was ten minutes dressing； but when I came down； he had sunk back in his
chair。 I saw it was not sleepI rangand when Arnaud came； we knew
how it was。' His； voice became low with strong emotion。'
'Did he recover his consciousness？'
'Yes； that was _the_ comfort；' said Guy； eagerly。 'It was after he had
been bled that he seemed to wake up。 He could not speak or move； but
he looked at meorI don't know what I should have done。' The last
words were almost inaudible from the gush of tears that he vainly
struggled to repress； and he was turning away to hide them； when he saw
that Mrs。 Edmonstone's were flowing fast。
'You had great reason to be attached to him！' said she； as soon as she
could speak。
'Indeed； indeed I had。' And after a long silence 'He was everything
to me； everything from the first hour I can recollect。 He never let me
miss my parents。 How he attended to all my pleasures and wishes； how
he watched and cared for me； and bore with me； even I can never know。'
He spoke in short half sentences of intense feeling； and Mrs。
Edmonstone was much moved by such affection in one said to have been
treated with an excess of strictness； much compassionating the lonely
boy； who had lost every family tie in one。
'When the first pain of the sudden parting has passed；' said she； 'you
will like to remember the affection which you knew how to value；'
'If I had but known！' said Guy； 'but there was I； hasty； reckless；
disregarding his comfort； rebelling against0； what would I not give
to have those restraints restored！'
'It is what we all feel in such losses；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone。 'There
is always much to wish otherwise； but I am sure you can have the
happiness of knowing you were his great comfort。'
'It was what I ought to have been。'
She knew that nothing could have been more filial and affectionate than
his conduct； and tried to say something of the kind； but he would not
listen。
'That is worst of all；' he said； 'and you must not trust what they say
of me。 They would be sure to praise me； if I was anything short of a
brute。'
A silence ensued； while Mrs。 Edmonstone was trying to think of some
consolation。 Suddenly Guy looked up； and spoke eagerly：…
'I want to ask somethinga great favourbut you make me venture。 You
see how I am left aloneyou know how little I can trust myself。 Will
you take me in handlet me talk to youand tell me if I am wrong； as
freely as if I were Charles？ I know it is asking a gr