to a
discussion on the neighbouring curates, and came at last to a resolution
that Philip should see whether Mr. Lascelles, a curate of Broadstone,
and an old schoolfellow of his own, would read with Guy a few hours in
every week.

After this was settled, Guy looked relieved, though he was not himself
all the evening, and sat in his old corner between the plants and the
window, where he read a grave book, instead of talking, singing, or
finishing his volume of 'Ten Thousand a Year.' Charlotte was all this
time ill at ease. She looked from Guy to Philip, from Philip to Guy; she
shut her mouth as if she was forming some great resolve, then coloured,
and looked confused, rushing into the conversation with something more
mal-apropos than usual, as if on purpose to appear at her ease. At last,
just before her bed-time, when the tea was coming in, Mrs. Edmonstone
engaged with that, Laura reading, Amy clearing Charles's little table,
and Philip helping Mr. Edmonstone to unravel the confused accounts
of the late cheating bailiff, Guy suddenly found her standing by him,
perusing his face with all the power of her great blue eyes. She started
as he looked up, and put her face into Amabel's great myrtle as if she
would make it appear that she was smelling to it.

'Well, Charlotte?' said he, and the sound of his voice made her speak,
but in a frightened, embarrassed whisper.

'Guy--Guy--Oh! I beg your pardon, but I wanted to--'

'Well, what?' said he, kindly.

'I wanted to make sure that you are not angry with Philip. You don't
mean to keep up the feud, do you?'

'Feud?--I hope not,' said Guy, too much in earnest to be diverted with
her lecture. 'I am very much obliged to him.'

'Are you really?' said Charlotte, her head a little on one side. 'I
thought he had been scolding you.'

Scolding was so very inappropriate to Philip's calm, argumentative way
of advising, that it became impossible not to laugh.

'Not scolding, then?' said Charlotte. 'You are too nearly grown up for
that, but telling you to learn, and being tiresome.'

'I was so foolish as to be provoked at first,' answered Guy; 'but I hope
I have thought better of it, and am going to act upon it.'

Charlotte opened her eyes wider than ever, but in the midst of her
amazement Mrs. Edmonstone called to Guy to quit his leafy screen and
come to tea.

Philip was to return to Broadstone the next day, and as Mrs. Edmonstone
had some errands there that would occupy he