a start or
shudder at some fresh disclosure; and when it was ended, he stood up,
gazed round, and walked uncertainly, as if he did not know where he
was. His next impulse was to throw himself on his knee beside his
grandfather, and caress him as he used to when a child. The 'good-night'
was spoken, and Guy was shut into his room, with his overwhelming
emotions.

His grandfather a blood-stained, remorseful man! The doom was complete,
himself heir to the curse of Sir Hugh, and fated to run the same career;
and as he knew full well, with the tendency to the family character
strong within him, the germs of these hateful passions ready to take
root downwards and bear fruit upwards, with the very countenance of Sir
Hugh, and the same darkening, kindling eyes, of which traditions had
preserved the remembrance.

He was crushed for awhile. The consciousness of strength not his own,
of the still small voice that could subdue the fire, the earthquake, and
the whirlwind, was slow in coming to him; and when it came, he, like his
grandfather, had hope rather of final repentance than of keeping himself
unstained.

His mind had not recovered the shock when his grandfather died,--died
in faith and fear, with good hope of accepted repentance, but unable to
convey the assurance of such hope to his grandson. Grief for the only
parent he had ever known, and the sensation of being completely alone in
the world, were joined to a vague impression of horror at the suddenness
of the stroke, and it was long before the influence of Hollywell, or the
elasticity of his own youthfulness, could rouse him from his depression.

Even then it was almost against his will that he returned to enjoyment,
unable to avoid being amused, but feeling as if joy was not meant for
him, and as if those around were walking 'in a world of light,' where he
could scarcely hope to tread a few uncertain steps. In this despondency
was Guy's chief danger, as it was likely to make him deem a struggle
with temptation fruitless, while his high spirits and powers of keen
enjoyment increased the peril of recklessness in the reaction.

It was Mrs. Edmonstone who first spoke with him cheerfully of
a successful conflict with evil, and made him perceive that his
temptations were but such as is common to man. She had given him a clue
to discover when and how to trust himself to enjoy; the story of Sintram
had stirred him deeply, and this very day, Amy's words, seemingly
unheeded