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invitation to him to come to his rooms； knowing； as he must have done；
what would be the result of his inquiry。
Philip was conscious that it would have been kind to have gone to say
that； so far； he had found nothing amiss； but he did not like giving
Guy this passing triumph。 It made no difference in his real opinion；
and why renew a useless discussion？ He persuaded himself that he had
left himself no time； and should miss the train； and hastened off to
the station； where he had to wait a quarter of an hour； consoling
himself with reflecting
'After all； though I might have gone to him； it would have been
useless。 He is obstinate； and occasions of irritating his unfortunate
temper are above all to be avoided。'
One short year after； what would not Philip have given for that quarter
of an hour！
By six o'clock he was at St。 Mildred's； greeted with delight by his
sister； and with cordiality by Dr。 Henley。 They were both proud of
him； and every tender feeling his sister had was for Philip； her pet；
and her pupil in his childhood； and her most valued companion and
counsellor through her early womanhood。
She had a picked dinner…party to meet him； for she knew the doctor's
conversation was not exactly the thing to entertain him through a whole
evening； and the guests might well think they had never seen a
handsomer or more clever brother and sister than Mrs。 Henley and
Captain Morville。 The old county families； if they did wonder at her
marriage； were always glad to meet her brother； and it was a great
pleasure to him to see old friends。
Only once did his sister； in the course of the evening； make him feel
the difference of their sentiments； and that was about Miss Wellwood。
Philip defended her warmly； and when he heard that there was a plan
getting up for excluding her from the hospital； he expressed strong
disapprobation at the time； and after the guests were gone； spoke upon
the subject with his sister and her husband。 The doctor entered into
no party questions； and had only been stirred up to the opposition by
his wife； he owned that the Miss Wellwoods had done a great deal of
good； and made the nurses do their duty better than he had ever known；
and was quite ready to withdraw his opposition。 Mrs。 Henley argued
about opinions； but Philip was a match for her in her own line； and the
end of it was； that though she would not allow herself to be convinced；
and shook her head at her brother's way of thinking； he knew he had
prevailed； and that Miss Wellwood would be unmolested。
There was not another person in the world to whom Margaret would have
yielded； and it served to restore him to the sense of universal
dominion which had been a little shaken by his conversation with Guy。
'Sir Guy was a great deal with the Wellwoods；' said Mrs。 Henley。
'Was he； indeed？'
'0； you need not think of _that_。 It would be too absurd。 The
youngest must be twice his age。'
'I was not thinking of any such thing；' said Philip； smiling； as he
thought of the very different course Guy's affections had taken。
'I did hear he was to marry Lady Eveleen de Courcy。 Is there anything
in that report？'
'No； certainly not。'
'I should pity the woman who married him； after the specimen I saw of
his temper。'
'Poor boy！' said Philip。
'Lady Eveleen has been a great deal at Hollywell； has she not？ I
rather wondered my aunt should like to have her there； considering all
things。'
'What things； sister？'
'Considering what a catch he would be for one of the Edmonstone girls。'
'I thought you had just been pitying the woman who should marry him。
Perhaps my aunt had Lady Eveleen there to act as a screen for her own
daughters。'
'That our good…natured aunt should have acted with such ultra…
prudence！' said Margaret； laughing at his grave ironical tone。 'Lady
Eveleen is very pretty； is she not？ A mere beauty； I believe？'
'Just so； she is much admired； but Guy is certainly not inclined to
fall in love with her。'
'I should have thought him the very man to fall in love young； like his
father。 Do you think there is any chance for either of the
Edmonstones？ Laura's beauty he spoke of； but it was not in a very
lover…like way。 Do you admire Laura so much？'
'She is very pretty。'
'And little Amy？'
'She is a mere child； and will hardly ever be anything more； but she is
a very good little amiable thing。'
'I wish poor Charles's temper was improved。'
'So do I； but it is very far from improvement at present； in
consequence of his zeal for Guy。 Guy has been very attentive and good
natured to him； and has quite won his heart； so that I should
positively honour him for his championship if it was not in great
degree out of opposition to his father and myself。 To…morrow；
Margaret； you must give me some guide to the most probable quarters for
learning anything respecting this poor boy's follies。'
Mrs。 Henley did her best in that way； and Philip followed up his
inquiries with great ardour； but still unsuccessfully。 Jack White； the
hero of the draft； was not at St。 Mildred's； nor likely to be heard of
again till the next races； and whether Sir Guy had been on the race…
ground at all was a doubtful point。 Next； Philip walked to Stylehurst；
to call on Colonel Harewood； and see if he could learn anything in
conversation with him； but the Colonel did not seem to know anything；
and his sons were not at home。 Young Morville was； he thought； a
spirited lad； very good natured； he had been out shooting once or twice
with Tom； and had a very fine spaniel。 If he had been at the races；
the Colonel did not know it； he had some thoughts of asking him to join
their party； but had been prevented。
This was no reason； thought Philip； why Guy might not have been with
Tom Harewood without the Colonel's knowledge。 Tom was just the man to
lead him amongst those who were given to betting； he might have been
drawn in； and； perhaps； he had given some pledge of payment when he was
of age； or； possibly； obtained an immediate supply of money from the
old steward at Redclyffe； who was devotedly attached to him。 If so；
Philip trusted to be able to detect it from the accounts； on the other
supposition； there was no hope of discovery。
The conversation with Colonel Harewood kept him so late that he had no
time for going； as usual； to his old haunts； at Stylehurst； nor did he
feel inclined just then to revive the saddening reflections they
excited。 He spent the evening in talking over books with his sister；
and the next day proceeded on his journey to Thorndale Park。
This was one of the places where he was always the most welcome； ever
since he had been a school…boy； received in a way especially
flattering； considering that the friendship was entirely owing to the
uncompromising good sense and real kindness with which he had kept in
order the follies of his former fag。
Charles might laugh； and call them the young man and young man's
companion； and Guy more classically term them the pious Aeneas and his
fidus Achates； but it was a friendship that did honour to both； and the
value that the Thorndales set upon Captain Morville was not misplaced；
and scarcely over…rated。 Not particularly clever themselves； they the
more highly appreciated his endowments； and were proud that James had
been able to make such a friend； for they knew； as well as the rest of
the world； that Captain Morville was far from seeking the acquaintance
for the sake of their situation in life； but that it was from real
liking and esteem。 How far this esteem was gained by the deference the
whole family paid to his opinion； was another question； at any rate；
the courting was from them。
The Miss Thorndales deemed Captain Morville the supreme authority in
drawing； literature； and ecclesiastical architecture； and whenever a
person came in their way who was thought handsome； always pronounced
that he was not by any means equal to James's friend。 Lady Thorndale
delighted to talk over James with him； and thank him for his kindness；
and Lord Thorndale； rather a pompous man himself； liked his somewhat
stately manners； and talked politics with him； sincerely wishing he was
his neighbour at Redclyffe； and calculating how much good he would do
there。 Philip listened with interest to accounts of how the Thorndale
and Morville influence had always divided the borough of Moorworth；
and； if united； might dispose of it at will； and returned evasive
answers to questions what the young heir of Redclyffe might be likely
to do。
James Thorndale drove his friend to Redclyffe； as Philip had authority
from Mr。 Edmonstone to transact any business that might be required
with Markham； the steward； and； as has been said before； he ex