move vaguely
about the world.

For three days this went on successfully enough: young Philip Compton
and Ralph Marshall saw enough to last them all the rest of their lives,
and there was no limit to the satisfaction of the good country clergyman,
who felt that he never could have succeeded so completely in improving
his son's mind, instead of delivering him over to the frivolous amusements
of town, if it had not been for the companionship of Philip, who made
Ralph feel that it was all right, and that he was not being victimised
for nothing. But on the fourth day a hitch occurred. John Tatham had
been made to give all sorts of orders and admissions for the party
to see every nook and corner of the Temple, much to Elinor's alarm,
who felt that place was too near to be safe; but she was herself in
circumstances too urgent to permit her dwelling upon it. She had left
the house on that particular morning long before Philip was ready, and
every anxiety was dulled in her mind for the moment by the overwhelming
sense of the crisis arrived. She went to his room before he had left it,
and gave him a kiss, and told him that she might be detained for a long
time; that she did know exactly at what hour she should return. She
was very pale, paler than he had ever seen her, and her manner had a
suppressed agitation in it which startled Philip; but she managed to
smile as she assured him she was quite well, and that there was nothing
troubling her. "Nothing, nothing that has to do with us--a little
disturbed for a friend--but that will be all over," she said, "to-night,
I hope." Philip made a leisurely breakfast after she was gone, and it
happened to him that morning for the first time as he was alone to make
a study of the papers. And the consequence was that he said to himself
really those words which his mother in imagination had so often heard
him say, "Hallo! Philip Compton, my name! I wonder if he is any relation.
I wonder if we have anything to do with those St. Serf Comptons." Then
he reflected, but vaguely, that he did not know to what Comptons he
belonged, nor even what county he came from, to tell the truth. And then
it was time to hurry over his breakfast, to swallow his cup of tea, to
snatch up his hat and gloves, and to rush off to meet his friends. But
on that day Philip was unlucky. When he got to the place of meeting he
found nothing but a telegram from Ralph, announcing that his father was
so knocked up with his prev