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Sir Guy as Mr。 Edmonstone could be； but made representations to his
master that he must not hunt Deloraine two days in the week； and ride
him to Broadstone two more。 Guy then walked to Broadstone； but William
was no better pleased； for he thought the credit of Redclyffe
compromised； and punished him by reporting Deloraine not fit to be used
next hunting day。 Mr。 Edmonstone perceived that Guy ought to have
another hunter； Philip heard of one for sale； and after due inspection
all admiredeven William； who had begun by remarking that there might
be so many screw…looses about a horse； that a man did not know what to
be at with them。
Philip； who was conducting the negotiation； came to dine at Hollywell
to settle the particulars。 Guy was in a most eager state； and they and
Mr。 Edmonstone talked so long about horses； that they sent Charles to
sleep； his mother began to read； and the two elder girls fell into a
low； mysterious confabulation of their own till they were startled by a
question from Philip as to what could engross them so deeply。
'It was；' said Laura； 'a banshee story in Eveleen de Courcy's last
letter。'
'I never like telling ghost stories to people who don't believe in
them；' half whispered Amabel to her sister。
'Do you believe them？' asked Philip； looking full at her。
'Now I won't have little Amy asked the sort of question she most
dislikes；' interposed Laura； 'I had rather ask if you laugh at us for
thinking many ghost stories inexplicable？'
'Certainly not。'
'The universal belief could hardly be kept up without some grounds；'
said Guy。
'That would apply as well to fairies；' said Philip。
'Every one has an unexplained ghost story；' said Amy。
'Yes；' said Philip； 'but I would give something to meet any one whose
ghost story did not rest on the testimony of a friend's cousin's
cousin； a very strong…minded person。'
'I can't imagine how a person who has seen a ghost could ever speak of
it；' said Amy。
'Did you not tell us a story of pixies at Redclyffe？' said Laura。
'O yes； the people there believe in them firmly。 Jonas Ledbury heard
them laughing one night when he could not get the gate open；' said Guy。
'Ah！ You are the authority for ghosts；' said Philip。
'I forgot that；' said Laura： 'I wonder we never asked you about your
Redclyffe ghost。'
'You look as if you had seen it yourself；' said Philip。
'You have not？' exclaimed Amy； almost frightened。
'Come； let us have the whole story；' said Philip。 'Was it your own
reflection in the glass？ was it old sir Hugh？ or was it the murderer of
Becket？ Come； the ladies are both ready to scream at the right moment。
Never mind about giving him a cocked…hat； for with whom may you take a
liberty； if not with an ancestral ghost of your own？'
Amy could not think how Philip could have gone on all this time；
perhaps it was because he was not watching how Guy's colour varied； how
he bit his lip； and at last his eyes seemed to grow dark in the middle；
and to sparkle with fire； as with a low； deep tone； like distant
thunder； conveying a tremendous force of suppressed passion； he
exclaimed； 'Beware of trifling' then breaking off hastened out of the
room。
'What's the matter？' asked Mr。 Edmonstone； startled from his nap； and
his wife looked up anxiously； but returned to her book； as her nephew
replied； 'Nothing。'
'How could you Philip？' said Laura。
'I really believe he has seen it！' said Amy； in a startled whisper。
'He has felt it； Amythe Morville spirit；' said Philip。
'It is a great pity you spoke of putting a cocked hat to it；' said
Laura； 'he must have suspected us of telling you what happened about
Mrs。 Brownlow。'
'And are you going to do it now？' said her sister in a tone of
remonstrance。
'I think Philip should hear it！' said Laura； and she proceeded to
relate the story。 She was glad to see that her cousin was struck with
it； he admired this care to maintain strict truth； and even opened a
memorandum…bookthe sight of which Charles dreadedand read the
following extract： 'Do not think of one falsity as harmless； and
another as slight； and another as unintended。 Cast them all aside。
They may be light and accidental； but they are an ugly soot from the
smoke of the pit； for all that； and it is better that our hearts should
be swept clean of them； without over care as to which is the largest or
blackest。'
Laura and Amy were much pleased； but he went on to regret that such
excellent dispositions should be coupled with such vehemence of
character and that unhappy temper。 Amy was glad that her sister
ventured to hint that he might be more cautious in avoiding collisions。
'I am cautious'； replied he； quickly and sternly； 'I am not to be told
of the necessity of exercising forbearance with this poor boy； but it
is impossible to reckon on all the points on which he is sensitive。'
'He is sensitive；' said Laura。 'I don't mean only in temper； but in
everything。 I wonder if it is part of his musical temperament to be as
keenly alive to all around； as his ear is to every note。 A bright day；
a fine view； is such real happiness to him； he dwells on every beauty
of Redclyffe with such affection； and then； when he reads； Charles says
it is like going over the story again himself to watch his face act it
in that unconscious manner。'
'He makes all the characters so real in talking them over；' said Amy；
'and he does not always know how they will end before they begin。'
'I should think it hardly safe for so excitable a mind to dwell much on
the world of fiction；' said Philip。
'Nothing has affected him so much as Sintram；' said Laura。 'I never
saw anything like it。 He took it up by chance； and stood reading it
while all those strange expressions began to flit over his face； and at
last he fairly cried over it so much； that he was obliged to fly out of
the room。 How often he has read it I cannot tell； I believe he has
bought one for himself； and it is as if the engraving had a fascination
for him； he stands looking at it as if he was in a dream。'
'He is a great mystery；' said Amy。
'All men are mysterious；' said Philip 'but he not more than others；
though he may appear so to you； because you have not had much
experience； and also because most of the men you have seen have been
rounded into uniformity like marbles； their sharp angles rubbed off
against each other at school。'
'Would it be better if there were more sharp angles？' said Laura； thus
setting on foot a discussion on public schools； on which Philip had； of
course； a great deal to say。
Amy's kind little heart was meanwhile grieving for Guy； and longing to
see him return； but he did not come till after Philip's departure。 He
looked pale and mournful； his hair hanging loose and disordered； and
her terror was