ight not consider it proper, and he began vigorously;
but though long used to writing in a recumbent posture, he found himself
less capable now than he had expected, and went on soliloquizing thus:
'What a pen you've given me, Charlotte. There goes a blot! Here, another
dip, will you! and take up that with the blotting paper before it
becomes more like a spider.'

'Won't you make a fresh beginning?'

'No, that has cost me too much already. I've got no more command over my
fingers. Here we go into the further corner of the paper. Well! C. M. E.
There 'tis--do it up, will you? If he can read it he'll be lucky. How my
arms ache!'

'I hope it has not hurt you, Charlie; but I am sure he will be very glad
of it. Oh! I am glad you said that about Amy.'

'Who told you to read it, Puss?'

'I could not help it, 'tis so large.'

'I believe I _didn't_ _ought_ to have said it. Don't tell her I did,'
said Charles; 'but I couldn't for the life of me--or what is more to the
purpose, for the trouble of it--help putting it. He is too true a knight
not to hear that his lady, not exactly smiled, but cried.'

'He is a true knight,' said Charlotte, emphatically, as with her best
pen, and with infinite satisfaction, she indited the 'Sir Guy Morville,
Bart., Redclyffe Park, Moorworth,' only wishing she could lengthen out
the words infinitely.

'Do you remember, Charlie, how we sat here the first evening he came,
and you took me in about the deadly feud?'

'It was no take-in,' said Charles; 'only the feud is all on one side.'

'Oh, dear! it has been such a stupid winter without Guy,' sighed
Charlotte; 'if this won't make papa forgive him, I don't know what
will.'

'I wish it would, with all my heart,' said Charles; 'but logically, if
you understand the word, Charlotte, it does not make much difference to
the accusation. It would not exactly be received as exculpatory evidence
in a court of justice.'

'You don't believe the horrid stories?'

'I believe that Guy has gamed quite as much as I have myself; but I want
to see him cleared beyond the power of Philip to gainsay or disbelieve
it. I should like to have such a force of proof as would annihilate
Philip, and if I was anything but what I am, I would have it. If you
could but lend me a leg for two days, Charlotte.'

'I wish I could.'

'One thing shall be done,' proceeded Charles: 'my father shall go and
meet him in person when he comes of age. Now Don Philip is out of the
wa