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soon as he saw him。 'Just what I wanted！ Your gun； man！ We are going
to ferret a rabbit。'
Guy ran off at full speed in search of his gun； whistling to Bustle。
Mr。 Edmonstone found his man； and the sisters were again alone。
'Poor fellow！' said Laura。
'You will not tell all this to Philip？' said Amy。
'It would show why he was hurt； and it can be no secret。'
'I dare say you are right； but I have a feeling against it。 Well； I am
glad he had not seen the ghost！'
The two girls had taken their walk； and were just going in； when；
looking round； they saw Philip walking fast and determinedly up the
approach； and as they turned back to meet him； the first thing he said
was； 'Where is Guy？'
'Ferreting rabbits with papa。 What is the matter？'
'And where is my aunt？'
Driving out with Charles and Charlotte。 What is the matter？'
'Look here。 Can you tell me the meaning of this which I found on my
table when I came in this morning？'
It was a card of Sir Guy Morville； on the back of which was written in
pencil； 'Dear P。； I find hunting and reading don't agree； so take no
further steps about the horse。 Many thanks for your trouble。G。M。'
'There；' said Philip； 'is the result of brooding all night on his
resentment。'
'Oh no！' cried Laura； colouring with eagerness； 'you do not understand
him。 He could not bear it last night； because； as he has been
explaining to us； that old Sir Hugh's story was more shocking than we
ever guessed； and he has a fancy that their misfortunes are a family
fate； and he could not bear to hear it spoken of lightly。'
'Oh！ He has been telling you his own story； has he？'
Laura's colour grew still deeper； 'If you had been there；' she said；
'you would have been convinced。 Why will you not believe that he finds
hunting interfere with reading？'
'He should have thought of that before；' said 〃Philip。
'Here have I half bought the horse！ I have wasted the whole morning on
it； and now I have to leave it on the man's hands。 I had a dozen times
rather take it myself； if I could afford it。 Such a bargain as I had
made； and such an animal as you will not see twice in your life。'
'It is a great pity；' said Laura。 'He should have known his own mind。
I don't like people to give trouble for nothing。'
'Crazy about it last night； and giving it up this morning！ A most
extraordinary proceeding。 No； no； Laura； this is not simple
fickleness； it would be too absurd。 It is temper； temper； which makes
a man punish himself； in hopes of punishing others。
Laura still spoke for Guy； and Amy rejoiced； for if her sister had not
taken up the defence of the absent； she must； and she felt too strongly
to be willing to speak。 It seemed too absurd for one feeling himself
under such a doom to wrangle about a horse； yet she was somewhat amused
by the conviction that if Guy had really wished to annoy Philip he had
certainly succeeded。
There was no coming to an agreement。 Laura's sense of justice revolted
at the notion of Guy's being guilty of petty spite； while Philip； firm
in his preconceived idea of his character； and his own knowledge of
mankind； was persuaded that he had imputed the true motive； and was
displeased at Laura's attempting to argue the point。 He could not wait
to see any one else； as he was engaged to dine out； and he set off
again at his quick； resolute pace。
'He is very unfair！' exclaimed Amy。
'He did not mean to be so；' said Laura； 'and though he is mistaken in
imputing such motives； Guy's conduct has certainly been vexatious。'
They were just turning to go in； when they were interrupted by the
return of the carriage； and before Charles had been helped up the
steps； their father and Guy came in sight。 While Guy went to shut up
Bustle； who was too wet for the drawing…room； Mr。 Edmonstone came up to
the others； kicking away the pebbles before him； and fidgeting with his
gloves； as he always did when vexed。
'Here's a pretty go！' said he。 'Here is Guy telling me he won't hunt
any more！'
'Not hunt！' cried Mrs。 Edmonstone and Charles at once； 'and why？'
'Oh！ something about its taking his mind from his reading； but that
can't be itimpossible； you know； I'd give ten pounds to know what has
vexed him。 So keen as he was about it last night； and I vow； one of
the best riders in the whole field。 Giving up that horse； tooI
declare it is a perfect sin！ I told him he had gone too far； and he
said he had left a note with Philip this morning。'
'Yes；' said Laura； Philip has just been here about it。 Guy left a
card； saying； hunting and reading would not agree。'
'That is an excuse； depend upon it；' said Mr。 Edmonstone。 'Something
has nettled him； I am sure。 It could not be that Gordon； could it；
with his hail…fellow…well…met manner？ I thought Guy did not half like
it the other day； when he rode up with his 〃Hollo； Morville！〃 The
Morvilles have a touch of pride of their own； eh； mamma？'
'I should be inclined to believe his own account of himself；' said she。
'I tell you； 'tis utterly against reason；' said Mr。 Edmonstone；
angrily。 'If he was a fellow like Philip； or James Ross； I could
believe it； but hehe make a book…worm！ He hates it； like poison； at
the bottom of his heart； I'll answer for it； and the worst of it is；
the fellow putting forward such a fair reason one can'tbeing his
guardian； and allsay what one thinks of it oneself。 Eh； mamma？'
'Not exactly；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； smiling。
'Well； you take him in hand； mamma。 I dare say he will tell you the
rights of it； and if it is only that Gordon； explain it rightly to him；
show him 'tis only the man's way； tell him he treats me so for ever；
and would the Lord…Lieutenant if he was in it。'
'For a' that and a' that；' said Charles； as Amy led him into the
drawing…room。
'You are sure the reading is the only reason？' said Amy。'
'He's quite absurd enough for it；' said Charles； but 'absurd' was
pronounced in a way that made its meaning far from annoying even to
Guy's little champion。
Guy came in the next moment； and running lightly up…stairs after Mrs。
Edmonstone； found her opening the dressing…room door； and asked if he
might come in。
'By all means；' she said； 'I am quite ready for one of our twilight
talks。'
'I am afraid I have vexed Mr。 Edmonstone；' began Guy； 'and I am very
sorry。'
'He was only afraid that something might have occurred to vex you；
which you might not like to mention to him；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone；
hesitating a little。
'Me！ What could I have done to make him think so？ I am angry with no
one but myself。 The fact is only this； the hunting is too pleasant； it
fills up my head all day and all night； and I don't attend rightly to
anything else。 If I am out in the morning and try to pay for it at
night； it w