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with Markham； the steward； and； as has been said before； he expected to
discover in the accounts something that might explain why Guy had
ceased to press for the thousand pounds。 However； he could find
nothing amiss in them； thoughbearing in mind that it is less easy to
detect the loss of a score of sheep than of onehe subjected them to a
scrutiny which seemed by no means agreeable to the gruff old grumbling
steward。 He also walked about the park； saw to the marking of certain
trees that were injuring each other； and finding that there was a
misunderstanding between Markham and the new rector； Mr。 Ashford； about
certain parish matters； where the clergyman was certainly right； he
bore down Markham's opposition with Mr。 Edmonstone's weight； and felt
he was doing good service。
He paused at the gate； and looked back at the wide domain and fine old
house。 He pitied them； and the simple…hearted； honest tenantry； for
being the heritage of such a family； and the possession of one so
likely to misuse them； instead of training them into the means of
conferring benefits on them； on his country。 What would not Philip
himself do if those lands were his；just what was needed to give his
talents free scope？ and what would it be to see his beautiful Laura
their mistress？
CHAPTER 20
The longing for ignoble things；
The strife for triumph more than truth；
The hardening of the heart； that brings
Irreverence for the dreams of youth。LONGFELLOW
After his week at Thorndale Park； Captain Morville returned to make his
farewell visit at Hollywell； before joining his regiment at Cork；
whence it was to sail for the Mediterranean。 He reckoned much on this
visit； for not even Laura herself could fathom the depth of his
affection for her； strengthening in the recesses where he so sternly
concealed it； and viewing her ever as more faultless since she had been
his own。 While she was his noble； strong…minded； generous； fond Laura；
he could bear with his disappointment in his sister； with the loss of
his home； and with the trials that had made him a grave； severe man。
She had proved the strength of her mind by the self…command he had
taught her； and for which he was especially grateful to her； as it made
him safer and more unconstrained； able to venture on more demonstration
than in those early days when every look had made her blush and
tremble。
Mr。 Edmonstone brought the carriage to fetch him from the station； and
quickly began；
'I suppose； as you have not written； you have found nothing out？'
'Nothing。'
'And you could do nothing with him。 Eh？'
'No； I could not get a word of explanation； nor break through the fence
of pride and reserve。 I must do him the justice to say that he bears
the best of characters at Oxford； and if there were any debts I could
not get at them from the tradesmen。'
'Well； well； say no more about it； he is an ungrateful young dog； and I
am sick of it。 I only wish I could wash my hands of him altogether。
It was mere folly to expect any of that set could ever come to good。
There's everything going wrong all at once now； poor little Amy
breaking her heart after him； and； worse than all； there's poor Charlie
laid up again；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； one of the most affectionate
people in the world； but his maundering mood making him speak of
Charles's illness as if he only regarded it as an additional
provocation for himself。
'Charles ill！' exclaimed Philip。
'Yes； another； of those formations in the joint。 I hoped and trusted
that was all over now； but he is as bad as ever；has not been able to
move for a week； and goodness knows when he will again。'
'Indeed！ I am very sorry。 Is there as much pain as before？'
'Oh； yes。 He has not slept a wink these four nights。 Mayerne talks of
opium； but he says he won't have it till he has seen you； he is so
anxious about this unlucky business。 If anything could persuade me to
have Guy back again it would be that this eternal fretting after him is
so bad for poor Charlie。'
'It is on Amy's account that it is impossible to have him here；' said
Philip。
'Ay！ He shall never set eyes on Amy again unless all this is cleared
up； which it never will be； as I desire mamma to tell her。 By the bye；
Philip； Amy said something of your having a slip with Charles on the
stairs。'
There was very nearly an accident； but I believed he was not hurt。 I
hope it has nothing to do with this illness？'
'He says it was all his own fault；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'and that he
should have been actually down but for you。'
'But is it really thought it can have caused this attack？'
'I can hardly suppose so； but Thompson fancies there may have been some
jar。 However； don't distress yourself； I dare say it would have come
on all the same。'
Philip did not like to be forgiven by Mr。 Edmonstone； and there was
something very annoying in having this mischance connected with his
name； though without his fault； nor did he wish Charles to have the
kind of advantage over him that might be derived from seeming to pass
over his share in the misfortune。
When they arrived at Hollywell； it was twilight； but no one was in the
drawing…room； generally so cheerful at that time of day； the fire had
lately been smothered with coals； and looked gloomy and desolate。 Mr。
Edmonstone left Philip there； and ran up to see how Charles was； and
soon after Laura came in； sprang to his side； and held his hand in both
hers。
'You bring no good news？' said she； sadly； as she read the answer in
his face。 '0！ how I wish you had。 It would be such a comfort now。
You have heard about poor Charlie？'
'Yes； and very sorry I am。 But； Laura； is it really thought that
accident could have occasioned it？'
'Dr。 Mayerne does not think so； only Mr。 Thompson talked of remote
causes； when Amy mentioned it。 I don't believe it did any harm； and
Charlie himself says you saved him from falling down…stairs。'
Philip had begun to give Laura his version of the accident； as he had
already done to her father； when Mrs。 Edmonstone came down； looking
harassed and anxious。 She told her nephew that Charles was very
desirous to see him； and sent him up at once。
There was a fire in the dressing…room； and the door was open into the
little room； which was only lighted by a lamp on a small table； where
Amy was sitting at work。 After shaking hands； she went away； leaving
him alone with Charles； who lay in his narrow bed against the wall；
fixed in one position； his forehead contracted with pain； his eyelids
red and heavy from sleeplessness； his eyes very quick and eager； and
his hands and arms thrown restlessly outside the coverings。
'I am very sorry to find you here；' said Philip； coming up to him； and
taking； rather than receiving； his hot； limp hand。 'Is the pain very
bad？'
'That is a matter of course；' said Charles； in a sharp； quick manner；
his voice full of suffering。 'I want to hear what you have been doing
at Oxford and St。 Mildred's。'
'I am sorry I do not bring the tidings you wish。'
'I did not expect you would。 I know you too well； but I want to hear
what you have been doingwhat he said；' answered Charles； in short；
impatient sentences。
'It can be of no use； Charlie。 You are not in a state to enter on
agitating subjects。'
'I tell you I will hear all；' returned Charles； with increased
asperity。 'I know you will say nothing to his advantage that you can
help； but still I know you will speak what you think the truth； and I
want to judge for myself。'
'You speak as if I was not acting for his good。'
'Palaver！' cried Charles； fully sensible of the advantage his illness
gave him。 'I want the facts。 Begin at the beginning。 Sit down
there's a chair by you。 Now tell me； where did you find him？'
Philip could not set Charles down in his present state； and was obliged
to submit to a cross…examination； in which he showed no abatement of
his natural acuteness； and； unsparing as he always was； laid himself
under no restraint at all。 Philip was compelled to give a full history
of his researches； and if he had afforded no triumph to Guy； Charles
revenged him。
'Pray； what did Guy say when he heard the result of this fine voyage of
discovery？'
'I did not see him again。'
'Not see him！ not tell him he was so far justified！'
'I had no timeat least I thought not。 It would have been useless；
for while these mysteries continue； my opinion is unchanged； and there
was no benefit in renewing vain disputes。'
'Say no more！' exclaimed Charles。 'You have said all I expected； and
more too。 I gave you credit for domineering and prejudice； now I see
it is malignity。'
As he spoke； Laura entered fr