, how is he to be expected to take the law from his old
grandmother as to what he is to do?

And young Philip did go to town triumphantly by the night mail. He had
never done such a thing before, and his sense of manly independence, of
daring, almost of adventure, was more delightful than words could say.
There was not even any one, except the man who had driven him into
Penrith, to see him away, he who was generally accompanied to the last
minute by precautions, and admonitions, and farewells. To feel himself
dart away into the night with nobody to look back to on the platform,
no gaze, half smiling, half tearful, to follow him, was of itself an
emancipation to Pippo. He was a good boy and no rebel against the double
maternal bond which had lain so lightly yet so closely upon him all his
life. It was only for a year or two that he had suspected that this was
unusual, or even imagined that for a growing man the sway of two ladies,
and even their devotion, might make others smile. Perhaps he had been a
little more particular in his notions, in his manners, in his fastidious
dislike to dirt and careless habits, than was common in the somewhat
rough north country school which had so risen in scholastic note under
the last head master, but which was very far from the refinements of
Eton. And lately it had begun to dawn upon him that a mother and a
grandmother to watch over him and care for him in everything might be
perhaps a little absurd for a young man of his advanced age. Thus his
escapade, which was against the will of his elder guardian, and without
the knowledge of his mother--which was entirely his own act, and on
his own responsibility, went to Philip's head, and gave him a sort of
intoxication of pleasure. That his mother should be displeased, really
displeased, should not want him--incredible thought! never entered into
his mind save as an accountable delusion of granny's. His mother not
want him! All the arguments in the world would never have got that into
young Pippo's head.

Mrs. Dennistoun waking up in the middle of the night to think of the boy
rushing on through the dark on his adventurous way, recollected only
then with much confusion and pain that she ought to have telegraphed to
Elinor, who might be so engaged as to make it very embarrassing for her
in her strange circumstances to see Pippo--that the boy was coming. In
her agitation she had forgotten this precaution. Was it perhaps true, as
the young o