had married and sunk himself lower, and though he had an
excellent engagement, the days were past when he was the fashion, and
his gains and his triumphs were not what they had been. He had a long
list of disappointments and jealousies with which to entertain Guy, who,
on his side, though resolved to like him, and dreading to be too refined
to be friends with his relations, could not feel as thoroughly pleased
as he intended to have been.

Music was, however, a subject on which they could meet with equal
enthusiasm, and by means of this, together with the aid of his own
imagination, Guy contrived to be very happy. He stayed with his uncle as
long as he could, and promised to spend a day with him in London, on his
way to Oxford, in October.

The next morning, when Philip knew that Guy would be with his tutor, he
walked to Hollywell, came straight up to his aunt's dressing-room, asked
her to send Charlotte down to practise, and, seating himself opposite to
her, began--

'What do you mean to do about this unfortunate rencontre?'

'Do you mean Guy and his uncle? He is very much pleased, poor boy! I
like his entire freedom from false shame.'

'A little true shame would be hardly misplaced about such a connection.'

'It is not his fault, and I hope it will not be his misfortune,' said
Mrs. Edmonstone.

'That it will certainly be,' replied Philip, 'if we are not on our
guard; and, indeed, if we are, there is little to be done with one so
wilful. I might as well have interfered with the course of a whirlwind.'

'No, no, Philip; he is too candid to be wilful.'

'I cannot be of your opinion, when I have seen him rushing into this
acquaintance in spite of the warnings he must have had here--to say
nothing of myself.'

'Nay, there I must defend him, though you will think me very unwise; I
could not feel that I ought to withhold him from taking some notice of
so near a relation.'

Philip did think her so unwise, that he could only reply, gravely--

'We must hope it may produce no evil effects.'

'How?' she exclaimed, much alarmed. 'Have you heard anything against
him?'

'You remember, of course, that Guy's father was regularly the victim of
this Dixon.'

'Yes, yes; but he has had enough to sober him. Do you know nothing
more?' said Mrs. Edmonstone, growing nervously anxious lest she had been
doing wrong in her husband's absence.

'I have been inquiring about him from old Redford, and I should judge
him to be a m