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Her little heart was soon open。 It appeared that Felix was the last
who had died； the nearest in age to Marianne； and her favourite
playfellow。 She told of some of their sports in their London home；
speaking of them with eagerness and fondness that showed what joys they
had been； though to Guy they seemed but the very proof of dreariness
and dinginess。 She talked of walks to school； when Felix would tell
what he would do when he was a man； and how he took care of her at the
crossings； and how rude boys used to drive them； and how they would
look in at the shop windows and settle what they would buy if they were
rich。 Then she talked of his being illill so very long； how he sat
in his little chair； and could not play； and then always lay in bed；
and she liked to sit by him； there； but at last he died； and they
carried him away in a great black coffin； and he would never come back
again。 But it was so dull now； there was no one to play with her。
Though the little girl did not cry； she looked very mournful； and Guy
tried to comfort her； but she did not understand him。 'Going to
heaven' only conveyed to her a notion of death and separation； and this
phrase； together with a vague idea who had made her； and that she ought
to be good； seemed to be the extent of the poor child's religious
knowledge。 She hardly ever had been at church and though she had read
one or two Bible stories； it seemed to have been from their having been
used as lessons at school。 She had a dim notion that good people read
the Bible； and there was one on the little table at home； with the
shell…turkey…cock standing upon it； and mamma read it when Felix died；
but it was a big book； and the shell…turkey…cock always stood upon it；
in short； it seemed only connected with mamma's tears； and the loss of
her brother。
Guy was very much shocked； and so deep in thought that he could hardly
talk to the child in their progress down the hill； but she was just so
tired as to be inclined to silence； and quite happy clinging to his
hand； till he delivered her over to her mother at the foot of the hill；
and went to join his tutor； at the place appointed。
'Wellwood；' said he； breaking silence； when they had walked about half
way back to the farm； 'do you think your cousin would do me a great
kindness？ You saw that child？ Well； if the parents consent； it would
be the greatest charity on earth if Miss Wellwood would receive her
into her school。'
'On what terms？ What sort of an education is she to have？'
'The chief thing she wants is to be taught Christianity； poor child；
the rest Miss Wellwood may settle。 She is my first cousin。 I don't
know whether you are acquainted with our family history？' and he went
on to explain as much as was needful。 It ended in a resolution that if
Miss Wellwood would undertake the charge； the proposal should be made
to Mrs。 Dixon。
It was a way of assisting his relations likely to do real good； and on
the other hand； he would be able； under colour of the payment for the
child； to further Miss Wellwood's schemes； and give her the interest of
the thousand pounds； until his five and twentieth year might put his
property in his own power。
Miss Wellwood readily consented； much pleased with the simplicity and
absence of false shame he showed in the whole transaction； and very
anxious for the good of a child in a class so difficult to reach。 He
next went to Mrs。 Dixon； expecting more difficulty with her； but he
found none。 She thought it better Marianne should live at St。
Mildred's than die in London； and was ready to catch at the prospect of
her being fitted for a governess。 Indeed； she was so strongly persuaded
that the rich cousin might make Marianne's fortune； that she would have
been very unwilling to interfere with the fancy he had taken for her。
Little Marianne was divided between fear of leaving mamma and liking
for St。 Mildred's； but her first interview with Miss Wellwood； and Miss
Jane's showing her a little white bed； quite turned the scale in their
favour。 Before the time came for Guy's return to Oxford； he had seen
her settled； heard her own account of her happy life； and had listened
to Miss Jane Wellwood's delight in her sweet temper and good
disposition。
Those thousand pounds； Guy considered again and again whether he could
explain their destination； and whether this would clear him。 It seemed
to him only a minor charge； and besides his repugnance to mention such
a design； he saw too many obstacles in his way。 Captain Morville and
his sister were the very persons from whom Miss Wellwood's project was
to be kept secret。 Besides； what would be gained？ It was evident that
Guy's own assertions were doubted； and he could bring no confirmation
of them； he had never spoken of his intention to his tutor； and Mr。
Wellwood could； therefore； say nothing in his favour。 If Mr。
Edmonstone alone had been concerned； or if this had been the only
accusation； Guy might have tried to explain it； but with Philip he knew
it would be useless； and therefore would not enter on the subject。 He
could only wait patiently。
CHAPTER 19
Most delicately； hour by hour；
He canvassed human mysteries；
And stood aloof from other minds。
Himself unto himself he sold；
Upon himself； himself did feed；
Quiet； dispassionate； and cold；
With chiselled features clear and sleek。TENNYSON
Guy had been about a week at Oxford； when one evening； as he was
sitting alone in his rooms； he received an unexpected visit from
Captain Morville。 He was glad； for he thought a personal interview
would remove all misconstructions； and held out his hand cordially；
saying：
'You here； Philip！ When did you come？'
'Half an hour ago。 I am on my way to spend a week with the Thorndales。
I go on to…morrow to my sister's。'
While speaking； Philip was surveying the apartment； for he held that a
man's room is generally an indication of his disposition； and assuredly
there was a great deal of character in his own； with the scrupulous
neatness and fastidious taste of its arrangements。 Here； he thought；
he could not fail to see traces of his cousin's habits； but he was
obliged to confess to himself that there was very little to guide him。
The furniture was strictly as its former occupant had left it； only
rather the worse for wear； and far from being in order。 The chairs
were so heaped with books and papers； that Guy had to make a clearance
of one before his visitor could sit down； but there was nothing else to
complain of； not even a trace of cigars； but knowing him to be a great
reader and lover of accomplishments； Philip wondered that the only
decorations were Laura's drawing of Sintram； and a little print of
Redclyffe； and the books were chiefly such as were wanted for his
studies； the few others having for the most part the air of old library
books； as if he had sent for them from Redclyffe。 Was this another
proof that he had some way of frittering away his money with nothing to
show for it？ A Sophocles and a lexicon were open before him on the
table； and a blotting…book； which he closed； but not before Philip had
caught sight of what looked like verses。
Neither did his countenance answer Philip's expectations。 It had not
his usual bright lively expression； there was a sadness which made him
smile like a gleam on a showery day； instead of constant sunshine； but
there was neither embarrassment nor defiance； and the gleam…like smile
was there； as with a frank； confiding tone； he said；
'This is very kind of you； to come and see what you can do for me。'
Philip was by no means prepared to be thus met half…way； but he thought
Guy wanted to secure him as an intercessor； and hardened himself into
righteous severity。
'No one can be more willing to help you than I； but you must； in the
first place； help yourself。'
Instantly the sedate measured tone made Guy's heart and head throb with
impatience； awakening all the former memories so hardly battled down；
but with the impulse of anger came the thought； 'Here it is again！ If
I don't keep it down now； I am undone！ The enemy will seize me again！'
He forced himself not to interrupt； while Philip went calmly on。
'While you are not open； nothing can be done。'
'My only wish； my only desire； is to be open；' said Guy； speaking fast
and low； and repressing the feeling； which； nevertheless； affected his
voice； 'but the opportunity of explanation has never been given me。'
'You need complain of that no longer。 I am here to convey to my uncle
any explanation you may wish to address to him。 I will do my best to
induce him to attend to it favourably； but he is deeply offended and
hurt by what has passed。'
'I knowI know；' said Guy； colour