e inflaming the minds of all parties. At last Mr. Edmonstone was
called away; and Charles, rising, declared he should go at that moment,
and write to tell Guy that there was one person at least still in his
senses.

'You will do as you please,' said Philip.

'Thank you for the permission,' said Charles, proudly.

'It is not to me that your submission is due,' said Philip.

'I'll tell you what, Philip, I submit to my own father readily, but I do
not submit to Captain Morville's instrument.'

'We have had enough of unbecoming retorts for one day,' said Philip,
quietly, and offering his arm.

Much as Charles disliked it, he was in too great haste not to accept it;
and perceiving that there were visitors in the drawing-room, he desired
to go up-stairs.

'People who always come when they are not wanted!' he muttered, as he
went up, pettish with them as with everything else.

'I do not think you in a fit mood to be advised, Charles,' said Philip;
'but to free my own conscience, let me say this. Take care how you
promote this unfortunate attachment.'

'Take care what you say!' exclaimed Charles, flushing with anger, as
he threw himself forward, with an impatient movement, trusting to his
crutch rather than retain his cousin's arm; but the crutch slipped, he
missed his grasp at the balusters, and would have fallen to the bottom
of the flight if Philip had not been close behind. Stretching out his
foot, he made a barrier, receiving Charles's weight against his breast,
and then, taking him in his arms, carried him up the rest of the way
as easily as if he had been a child. The noise brought Amy out of the
dressing-room, much frightened, though she did not speak till Charles
was deposited on the sofa, and assured them he was not in the least
hurt, but he would hardly thank his cousin for having so dexterously
saved him; and Philip, relieved from the fear of his being injured,
viewed the adventure as a mere ebullition of ill-temper, and went away.

'A fine helpless log am I,' exclaimed Charles, as he found himself alone
with Amy. 'A pretty thing for me to talk of being of any use, when I
can't so much as show my anger at an impertinence about my own sister,
without being beholden for not breaking my neck to the very piece of
presumption that uttered it.'

'Oh, don't speak so' began Amy; and at that moment Philip was close
to them, set down the crutch that had been dropped, and went without
speaking.

'I don't care wh