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without reading the whole of it； for he could not bear the appearance
of gossip and prying； and would not expose his sister； so he pieced it
out with his own words； and made it sound far less discreditable to
her。 It was quite enough for Mr。 Edmonstone； the accuracy of the
details seemed to strike him dumb； and there was a long silence； which
he broke by saying； with a deep sigh；
'Who could have thought it？ Poor little Amy！'
'Amy？' exclaimed Philip。
'Why； ay。 I did not mean to have said anything of it； I am sure； but
they did it among them；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； growing ashamed； under
Philip's eye； as of a dreadful piece of imprudence。 'I was out of the
way at the time； but I could not refuse my consent； you know； as things
stood then。'
'Do you mean to say that Amy is engaged to him？'
'Why； nonot exactly engaged； only on trial； you understand； to see if
he will be steady。 I was at Broadstone； 'twas mamma settled it all。
Poor little thing； she is very much in love with him； I do believe； but
there's an end of everything now。'
'It is very fortunate this has been discovered in time；' said Philip。
'Instead of pitying her； I should rejoice in her escape。'
'Yes；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； ruefully。 'Who could have thought it？'
'I am afraid the mischief is of long standing；' proceeded Philip；
resolved； since he saw his uncle so grieved； to press him strongly；
thinking that to save Amy from such a marriage was an additional
motive。 'He could hardly have arrived at losing as much as a thousand
pounds； all at once； in this month at St。 Mildred's。 Depend upon it；
that painful as it may be at present； there is great reason； on her
account； to rejoice in the discovery。 You say he has never before
applied； to you for money？'
'Not a farthing beyond his allowance； except this unlucky thirty
pounds； for his additional expense of the tutor and the lodging。'
'You remember； however； that he has always seemed short of money； never
appeared able to afford himself any little extra expense。 You have
noticed it； I know。 You remember； too； how unsatisfactory his reserve
about his proceedings in London has been； and how he has persisted in
delaying there； in spite of all warnings。 The work； no doubt； began
there； under the guidance of his uncle； and now the St。 Mildred's races
and Tom Harewood have continued it。'
'I wish he had never set foot in the place！'
'Nay； for Amy's sake； the exposure is an advantage； if not for his own。
The course must have been long since begun； but he contrived to avoid
what could lead to inquiry； till he has at length involved himself in
some desperate scrape。 You see； he especially desires to have the
money _soon_； and he never even attempts to say you would approve of
the object。
'Yes； he has the grace not to say that。'
'Altogether； it is worse than I could have thought possible；' said
Philip。 I could have believed him unstable and thoughtless； but the
concealment； and the attempting to gain poor Amy's affections in the
midst of such a course'
'Ay； ay！' cried Mr。 Edmonstone； now fully provoked； 'there is the
monstrous part。 He thought I was going to give up my poor little girl
to a gambler； did he？ but he shall soon see what I think of him；
riches； Redclyffe； title； and all！'
'I knew that would be your feeling。'
'Feel！ Yes； and he shall feel it； too。 So； Sir Guy； you thought you
had an old fool of a guardian； did you； whom you could blind as you
pleased？ but you shall soon see the difference！'
'Better begin cautiously；' suggested Philip。 'Remember his unfortunate
temper； and write coolly。'
'Coolly？ You may talk of coolness； but 'tis enough to make one's blood
boil to be served in such a way。 With the face to be sending her
messages in the very same letter！ That is a pass beyond me； to stand
coolly to see my daughter so treated。'
'I would only give him the opportunity of saying what he can for
himself。 He may have some explanation。'
'I'll admit of no explanation！ Passing himself off for steadiness
itself； daring to think of my daughter； and all the time going on in
this fashion！ I hate underhand ways！ I'll have no explanation。 He
may give up all thoughts of her。 I'll write and tell him so before I'm
a day older； nay； before I stir from this room。 My little Amy；
indeed！'
Philip put no obstacles in the way of this proposal； for he knew that
his uncle's displeasure； though hot at first； was apt to evaporate in
exclamations； and he thought it likely that his good nature； his
partiality for his ward； his dislike to causing pain to his daughter；
and； above all； his wife's blind confidence in Guy； would； when once at
home； so overpower his present indignation as to prevent the salutary
strictness which was the only hope of reclaiming Guy。 Beside； a letter
written under Philip's inspection was likely to be more guarded； as
well as more forcible； than an unassisted composition of his own； as
was； indeed； pretty well proved by the commencement of his first
attempt。
'My dear Guy；I am more surprised than I could have expected at your
application。'
Philip read this aloud； so as to mark its absurdity； and he began
again。
'I am greatly astonished； as well as concerned； at your application；
which confirms the unpleasant reports'
'Why say anything of reports？' said Philip。 'Reports are nothing。 A
man is not forced to defend himself from reports。'
'Yes；humha；the accounts I have received。 No。 You say there is
not to be a word of Mrs。 Henley。'
'Not a word that can lead her to be suspected。'
'Confirmsconfirms' sighed Mr。 Edmonstone。
'Don't write as if you went on hearsay evidence。 Speak of proofs
irrefragable proofsand then you convict him at once； without power of
eluding you。'
So Mr。 Edmonstone proceeded to write； that the application confirmed
the irrefragable proofs； then laughed at himself； and helplessly begged
Philip to give him a start。 It now stood thus：
'Your letter of this morning has caused me more concern than surprise；
as it unhappily only adds confirmation to the intelligence already in
my possession； that either from want of resolution to withstand the
seductions of designing persons； or by the impetuosity and instability
of your own character； you have been led into the ruinous and degrading
practice of gambling； and that from hence proceed the difficulties that
occasion your application to me for money。 I am deeply grieved at thus
finding that neither the principles which have hitherto seemed to guide
you； nor the pledges which you used to hold sacred； nor； I may add； the
feelings you have so recently expressed towards a member of my family；
have been sufficient to preserve you from yielding to a temptation
which could never be presented to the mind of any one whos