the kind, but he would not
listen.

'That is worst of all,' he said; 'and you must not trust what they say
of me. They would be sure to praise me, if I was anything short of a
brute.'

A silence ensued, while Mrs. Edmonstone was trying to think of some
consolation. Suddenly Guy looked up, and spoke eagerly:--

'I want to ask something--a great favour--but you make me venture. You
see how I am left alone--you know how little I can trust myself. Will
you take me in hand--let me talk to you--and tell me if I am wrong, as
freely as if I were Charles? I know it is asking a great deal, but you
knew my grandfather, and it is in his name.'

She held out her hand; and with tears answered--

'Indeed I will, if I see any occasion.'

'You will let me trust to you to tell me when I get too vehement? above
all, when you see my temper failing? Thank you; you don't know what a
relief it is!'

'But you must not call yourself alone. You are one of us now.'

'Yes; since you have made that promise,' said Guy; and for the first
time she saw the full beauty of his smile--a sort of sweetness and
radiance of which eye and brow partook almost as much as the lips. It
alone would have gained her heart.

'I must look on you as a kind of nephew,' she added, kindly. 'I used to
hear so much of you from my brother.'

'Oh!' cried Guy, lighting up, 'Archdeacon Morville was always so kind to
me. I remember him very well!'

'Ah! I wish--' there she paused, and added,--tete-a-tete 'it is not
right to wish such things--and Philip is very like his father.'

'I am very glad his regiment is so near. I want to know him better.'

'You knew him at Redclyffe, when he was staying there?'

'Yes,' said Guy, his colour rising; 'but I was a boy then, and a
very foolish, headstrong one. I am glad to meet him again. What a
grand-looking person he is!'

'We are very proud of him,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, smiling. 'I don't
think there has been an hour's anxiety about him since he was born.'

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of Charles's crutches
slowly crossing the hall. Guy sprang to help him to his sofa, and then,
without speaking, hurried up-stairs.

'Mamma, tete-a-tete with the silent one!' exclaimed Charles.

'I will not tell you all I think of him,' said she, leaving the room.

'Hum!' soliloquised Charles. 'That means that my lady mother has adopted
him, and thinks I should laugh at her, or straightway set up a dislike
to him, knowi