ections reached
Arthur's ears in so distorted a shape, that even he was staggered and
revolted:--still Philip was so young--Arthur's oath to the orphans'
mother so recent--and if thus early inclined to wrong courses, should
not every effort be made to lure him back to the straight path? With
these views and reasonings, as soon as he was able, Arthur himself
visited Mrs. Lacy, and the note from Philip, which the good lady put
into his hands, affected him deeply, and confirmed all his previous
resolutions. Mrs. Lacy was very anxious to get at his name; but Arthur,
having heard that Philip had refused all aid from his father and Mr.
Blackwell, thought that the young man's pride might work equally against
himself, and therefore evaded the landlady's curiosity. He wrote the
next day the letter we have seen, to Mr. Roger Morton, whose address
Catherine had given to him; and by return of post came a letter from the
linendraper narrating the flight of Sidney, as it was supposed with his
brother. This news so excited Arthur that he insisted on going down to
N---- at once, and joining in the search. His father, alarmed for his
health, positively refused; and the consequence was an increase of
fever, a consultation with the doctors, and a declaration that Mr.
Arthur was in that state that it would be dangerous not to let him have
his own way, Mr. Beaufort was forced to yield, and with Blackwell
and Mr. Sharp accompanied his son to N----. The inquiries, hitherto
fruitless, then assumed a more regular and business-like character.
By little and little they came, through the aid of Mr. Sharp, upon the
right clue, up to a certain point. But here there was a double scent:
two youths answering the description, had been seen at a small village;
then there came those who asserted that they had seen the same youths
at a seaport in one direction; others, who deposed to their having taken
the road to an inland town in the other. This had induced Arthur and his
father to part company. Mr. Beaufort, accompanied by Roger Morton,
went to the seaport; and Arthur, with Mr. Spencer and Mr. Sharp, more
fortunate, tracked the fugitives to their retreat. As for Mr. Beaufort,
senior, now that his mind was more at ease about his son, he was
thoroughly sick of the whole thing; greatly bored by the society of
Mr. Morton; very much ashamed that he, so respectable and great a man,
should be employed on such an errand; more afraid of, than pleased with,
any ch