voured Amy at last for about half after three, the billiards
were interrupted, and Philip, pronouncing the rain to be almost over,
invited Guy to take a walk, and they set out in a very gray wet mist,
while Charlotte and Amy commenced a vigorous game at battledore and
shuttle-cock.

The gray mist had faded into twilight, and twilight into something like
night, when Charles was crossing the hall, with the aid of Amy's arm,
Charlotte carrying the crutch behind him, and Mrs. Edmonstone helping
Laura with her perspective apparatus, all on their way to dress for
dinner; the door opened and in came the two Morvilles. Guy, without,
even stopping to take off his great coat, ran at once up-stairs, and
the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook the
house, and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation.

'Redclyffe temper,' said he, coolly, with a half-smile curling his short
upper lip.

'What have you been doing to him?' said Charles.'

'Nothing. At least nothing worthy of such ire. I only entered on the
subject of his Oxford life, and advised him to prepare for it, for his
education has as yet been a mere farce. He used to go two or three days
in the week to one Potts, a self-educated genius--a sort of superior
writing-master at the Moorworth commercial school. Of course, though it
is no fault of his, poor fellow, he is hardly up to the fifth form, and
he must make the most of his time, if he is not to be plucked. I set
all this before him as gently as I could, for I knew with whom I had to
deal, yet you see how it is.'

'What did he say?' asked Charles.

'He said nothing; so far I give him credit; but he strode on furiously
for the last half mile, and this explosion is the finale. I am very
sorry for him, poor boy; I beg no further notice may be taken of it.
Don't you want an arm, Charlie?'

'No thank you,' answered Charles, with a little surliness.

'You had better. It really is too much for Amy,' said Philip, making a
move as if to take possession of him, as he arrived at the foot of the
stairs.

'Like the camellia, I suppose,' he replied; and taking his other crutch
from Charlotte, he began determinedly to ascend without assistance,
resolved to keep Philip a prisoner below him as long as he could, and
enjoying the notion of chafing him by the delay. Certainly teasing
Philip was a dear delight to Charles, though it was all on trust, as, if
he succeeded, his cousin never betraye