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'Eh？ From Guy？ Give it me。 What does he say？ Let me see。 Here；
mamma； read it； your eyes are best。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone read as follows：
'MY DEAR MR。 EDMONSTONE；
Your letter surprised and grieved me very much。 I cannot guess what
proofs Philip may think he has； of what I never did； and； therefore； I
cannot refute them otherwise than by declaring that I never gamed in my
life。 Tell me what they are； and I will answer them。 As to a full
confession； I could of course tell you of much in which I have done
wrongly； though not in the way which he supposes。 On that head； I have
nothing to confess。 I am sorry I am prevented from satisfying you
about the ￡1000； but I am bound in honour not to mention the purpose
for which I wanted it。 I am sure you could never believe I could have
said what I did to Mrs。 Edmonstone if I had begun on a course which I
detest from the bottom of my heart。 Thank you very much for the
kindness of the latter part of your letter。 I do not know how I could
have borne it； if it had ended as it began。 I hope you will soon send
me these proofs of Philip's。 Ever your affectionate； 'G。 M。'
Not a little surprised was Philip to find that he was known to be Guy's
accuser； but the conclusion revealed that his style had betrayed him；
and that Mr。 Edmonstone had finished with some mention of him； and he
resolved that henceforth he would never leave a letter of his own
dictation till he had seen it signed and sealed。
'Well！' cried Mr。 Edmonstone； joyfully beating his own hand with his
glove； 'that is all right。 I knew it would be so。 He can't even guess
what we are at。 I am glad we did not tease poor little Amy。 Eh；
mamma？eh； Philip？' the last eh being uttered much more doubtfully；
and less triumphantly than the first。
'I wonder you think it right；' said Philip。
'What more would you have？' said Mr。 Edmonstone； hastily。
'Confidence。'
'Eh？ Oh； ay； he says he can't tellbound in honour。'
'It is easy to write off…hand； and say I cannot satisfy you； I am bound
in honour； but that is not what most persons would think a full
justification； especially considering the terms on which you stand。'
'Why； yes； he might have said more。 It would have been safe enough
with me。'
'It is his usual course of mystery； reserve； and defiance。'
'The fact is；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； turning away； 'that it is a very
proper letter； right sense； proper feelingand if he never gamed in
his life； what would you have more？'
'There are different ways of understanding such a denial as this；' said
Philip。 'See； he says not in the way in which I suppose。' He held up
his hand authoritatively； as his aunt was about to interpose。 'It was
against gaming that his vow was made。 I never thought he had played；
but he never says he has not betted。'
'He would never be guilty of a subterfuge！' exclaimed Mr。 Edmonstone；
indignantly。
'I should not have thought so； without the evidence of the payment of
the cheque； my uncle had just given him； to this gambling fellow；' said
Philip； 'yet it is only the natural consequence of the habit of eluding
inquiry into his visits to London。'
'I can't see any reason for so harsh an accusation；' said she。
'I should hardly want more reason than his own words。 He refuses to
answer the question on which my uncle's good opinion depends； he owns
he has been to blame； and thus retracts his full denial。 In my
opinion； his letter says nothing so plainly as； 〃While I can stand fair
with you I do not wish to break with you。〃'
'He will not find that quite so easy。' cried Mr。 Edmonstone。 'I am no
fool to be hoodwinked； especially where my little Amy is concerned。
I'll see all plain and straight before he says another word of her。
But you see what comes of their settling it while I was out of the
way。'
Mrs； Edmonstone was grieved to see him so hurt at this。 It could not
have been helped； and if all had been smooth； he never would have
thought of it again； but it served to keep up his dignity in his own
eyes； and； as he fancied； to defend him from Philip's censure； and he
therefore made the most of it； which so pained her that she did not
venture to continue her championship of Guy。
'Well； well；' said Mr。 Edmonstone； 'the question is what to do next
eh； Philip？' I wish he would have spoken openly。 I hate mysteries。
I'll write and tell him this won't do； he must be expliciteh；
Philip？'
'We will talk it over by and by；' said Philip。
His aunt understood that it was to be in her absence； and left the
room； fearing it would be impossible to prevent Amy from being
distressed； though she had no doubt that Guy would be able to prove his
innocence of the charges。 She found Amy waiting for her in her room。
'Don't； ring； mamma； dear。 I'll fasten your dress；' said she； then
pausing'Oh！ mamma； I don't know whether I ought to ask； but if you
would only tell me if there is nothing gone wrong。'
'I don't believe there is anything really wrong； my dear；' said Mrs。
Edmonstone； kissing her； as she saw how her colour first deepened and
then faded。
'Oh！ no；' said she。
'But there is some mystery about his money…matters； which has vexed
your papa。'
'And what has Philip to do with it？'
'I cannot quite tell； my dear。 I believe Margaret Henley has heard
something； but I do not know the whole。'
'Did you see his letter； mamma？ said Amy； in a low； trembling voice。
'Yes； it is just like himself； and absolutely denies the accusations。'
Amy did not say 'then they are false；' but she held up her head。
'Then papa is satisfied？' she said。
'I have no doubt all will be made clear in time；' said her mother； 'but
there is still something unexplained； and I am afraid things may not go
smoothly just now。 I am very sorry； my little Amy； that such a cloud
should have come over you； she added； smoothing fondly the long； soft
hair； sad at heart to see the cares and griefs of womanhood gathering
over her child's bright； young life。
'I said I must learn to bear things！' murmured Amy to herself。 'Only；'
and the tears filled her eyes； and she spoke with almost childish
simplicity of manner； 'I can't bear them to vex him。 I wish Philip
would let papa settle it alone。 Guy will be angry； and grieved
afterwards。'
They were interrupted by the dinner…bell； but Amy ran into her own room
for one moment。
'I said I would learn to bear；' said she to herself； 'or I shall never
be fit for him。 Yes； I will； even though it is the thinking he is
unhappy。 He said I must be his Verena； I know what that means； I ought
not to be uneasy； for he will bear it beautifully； and say he is glad
of it afterwards。 And I will try not to seem cross to Philip。'
Mr。 Edmonstone was fidgety and ill at ease； found fault with the
dinner