s I do, one of the best things in this
world or out of it,' said Guy, speaking quickly.

'I know it is so felt by those who understand its secrets,' said Philip.
'I would not depreciate it; so you may hear me patiently, Guy. I only
meant to warn you, that it is often the means of bringing persons into
undesirable intimacies, from which they cannot disentangle themselves as
easily as they enter them.'

A flush crossed Guy's cheek, but it passed, and he simply said--'I
suppose it may. Good-night.'

Philip looked after him, and pondered on what it was that had annoyed
him--manner, words, or advice. He ascribed it to Guy's unwillingness to
be advised, since he had observed that his counsel was apt to irritate
him, though his good sense often led him to follow it. In the present
case, Philip thought Mrs. Brownlow and her society by no means desirable
for a youth like Guy; and he was quite right.

Philip and his friend went the next morning; and in the afternoon Laura
received the book of algebra--a very original first gift from a lover.
It came openly, with a full understanding that she was to use it by his
recommendation; her mother and brother both thought they understood the
motive, which one thought very wise, and the other very characteristic.

Lord Kilcoran and Lady Eveleen also departed. Eveleen very sorry to go,
though a little comforted by the prospect of seeing Laura so soon
in Ireland, where she would set her going in all kinds of
'rationalities--reading, and school teaching, and everything else.'

'Ay,' said Charles, when all were out of hearing but his mother; 'and
I shrewdly suspect the comfort would be still greater if it was Sir Guy
Morville who was coming.'

'It would be no bad thing,' said his mother: 'Eveleen is a nice creature
with great capabilities.'

'Capabilities! but will they ever come to anything?'

'In a few years,' said Mrs. Edmonstone; 'and he is a mere boy at
present, so there is plenty of time for both to develop themselves.'

'Most true, madame mere; but it remains to be proved whether the liking
for Sir Guy, which has taken hold of my lady Eveleen, is strong enough
to withstand all the coquetting with young Irishmen, and all the idling
at Kilcoran.'

'I hope she has something better to be relied on than the liking for Sir
Guy.'

'You may well do so, for I think he has no notion of throwing off his
allegiance to you--his first and only love. He liked very well to make
fun with