Mrs. Henley.

'Was he, indeed?'

'O, you need not think of _that_. It would be too absurd. The youngest
must be twice his age.'

'I was not thinking of any such thing,' said Philip, smiling, as he
thought of the very different course Guy's affections had taken.

'I did hear he was to marry Lady Eveleen de Courcy. Is there anything in
that report?'

'No; certainly not.'

'I should pity the woman who married him, after the specimen I saw of
his temper.'

'Poor boy!' said Philip.

'Lady Eveleen has been a great deal at Hollywell, has she not? I rather
wondered my aunt should like to have her there, considering all things.'

'What things, sister?'

'Considering what a catch he would be for one of the Edmonstone girls.'

'I thought you had just been pitying the woman who should marry him.
Perhaps my aunt had Lady Eveleen there to act as a screen for her own
daughters.'

'That our good-natured aunt should have acted with such ultra-prudence!'
said Margaret, laughing at his grave ironical tone. 'Lady Eveleen is
very pretty, is she not? A mere beauty, I believe?'

'Just so; she is much admired; but Guy is certainly not inclined to fall
in love with her.'

'I should have thought him the very man to fall in love young, like his
father. Do you think there is any chance for either of the Edmonstones?
Laura's beauty he spoke of, but it was not in a very lover-like way. Do
you admire Laura so much?'

'She is very pretty.'

'And little Amy?'

'She is a mere child, and will hardly ever be anything more; but she is
a very good little amiable thing.'

'I wish poor Charles's temper was improved.'

'So do I; but it is very far from improvement at present, in consequence
of his zeal for Guy. Guy has been very attentive and good natured to
him, and has quite won his heart; so that I should positively honour him
for his championship if it was not in great degree out of opposition to
his father and myself. To-morrow, Margaret, you must give me some guide
to the most probable quarters for learning anything respecting this poor
boy's follies.'

Mrs. Henley did her best in that way, and Philip followed up his
inquiries with great ardour, but still unsuccessfully. Jack White, the
hero of the draft, was not at St. Mildred's, nor likely to be heard
of again till the next races; and whether Sir Guy had been on the
race-ground at all was a doubtful point. Next, Philip walked to
Stylehurst, to call on Colonel Harewood, and s