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