gagements of his own at St. Mildred's and its neighbourhood, and
had been several times at Mrs. Henley's and at Colonel Harewood's. The
latter place, unfortunately, was the very object of Philip's suspicions;
and thus the letter was anything but an exculpation.

Guy wrote to Charles in the fulness of his heart, expressing gratitude
for his confidence and sympathy. He again begged for the supposed
evidence of his misconduct, declaring he could explain it, whatever it
might be, and proceeded to utter deep regrets for his hasty expressions.

'I do not know what I may have said,' he wrote; 'I have no doubt it
was unpardonable, for I am sure my feelings were so, and that I deserve
whatever I have brought on myself. I can only submit to Mr. Edmonstone's
sentence, and trust that time will bring to his knowledge that I am
innocent of what I am accused of. He has every right to be displeased
with me.

Charles pronounced this to be only Guy's way of abusing himself; but his
father saw in it a disguised admission of guilt. It was thought, also,
to be bad sign that Guy intended to remain at South Moor till the end
of the vacation, though Charles argued that he must be somewhere; and if
they wished to keep him out of mischief, why exile him from Hollywell!
He would hardly listen to his mother's representation, that on Amy's
account it would not be right to have him there till the mystery was
cleared up.

He tried to stir his father up to go and see Guy at St. Mildred's, and
investigate matters for himself; but, though Mr. Edmonstone would have
liked the appearance of being important, this failed, because Philip
declared it to be unadvisable, knowing that it would be no investigation
at all, and that his uncle would be talked over directly. Next, Charles
would have persuaded Philip himself to go, but the arrangements about
his leave did not make this convenient; and it was put off till he
should pay his farewell visit to his sister, in October. Lastly, Charles
wrote to Mrs. Henley, entreating her to give him some information about
this mysterious evidence which was wanting, but her reply was a complete
'set down' for interference in a matter with which he had no concern.

He was very angry. In fact, the post seldom came in without occasioning
a fresh dispute, which only had the effect of keeping up the heat of Mr.
Edmonstone's displeasure, and making the whole house uncomfortable.

Fretfulness and ill-humour seemed to have taken