Guy. 'Surely you take the high view of her.'

'I think,' said Philip, 'that she is a much injured person, as much
by her friends as her enemies; but I don't pretend to enter either
enthusiastically or philosophically into her character.'

What was it that made Guy's brow contract, as he began to strip the
feather of a pen, till, recollecting himself, he threw it from him with
a dash, betraying some irritation, and folded his hands.

'Lavender,' read Charlotte.

'What should make any one choose that?' cried Eveleen.

'I know!' said Mrs. Edmonstone, looking up. 'I shall never forget the
tufts of lavender round the kitchen garden at Stylehurst.'

Philip smiled. Charlotte proceeded, and Charles saw Laura's colour
deepening as she bent over her work.

'"Lavender--steadfastness--Strafford--Cordelia in 'King Lear'--the
late war." How funny!' cried Charlotte. 'For hear the next:
"Honeysuckle--steadfastness--Lord Strafford--Cordelia--the present
time." Why, Laura, you must have copied it from Philip's.'

Laura neither looked nor spoke. Philip could hardly command his
countenance as Eveleen laughed, and told him he was much flattered by
those becoming blushes. But here Charles broke in,--'Come, make haste,
Charlotte, don't be all night about it;' and as Charlotte paused, as if
to make some dangerous remark, he caught the paper, and read the next
himself. Nothing so startled Philip as this desire to cover their
confusion. Laura was only sensible of the relief of having attention
drawn from her by the laugh that followed.

'A shamrock--Captain Rock--the tailor that was "blue moulded for want of
a bating"--Pat Riotism--the time of Malachy with the collar of gold.'

'Eva!' cried Charlotte.

'Nonsense,' said Eveleen; 'I am glad I know your tastes, Charles. They
do you honour.'

'More than yours do, if these are yours,' said Charles, reading them
contemptuously; 'Rose--generosity--Charles Edward--Catherine Seyton--the
civil wars.'

'You had better not have disowned Charlie's, Lady Eveleen,' said Guy.

'Nay do you think I would put up with such a set as these?' retorted
Charles; 'I am not fallen so low as the essence of young ladyism.'

'What can you find to say against them?' said Eveleen.

'Nothing,' said Charles, 'No one ever can find anything to say for or
against young ladies' tastes.'

'You seem to be rather in the case of the tailor yourself,' said Guy,
'ready to do battle, if you could but get any opposition.