own to breakfast with Philip, Guy said,
'Do you think Philip could come to me to-day? I want much to speak to
him.'

'I am sure he could.'

'Then pray ask him to come, if it will not tire him very much.'

Philip had, the last two mornings, risen in time to breakfast with
Amabel, in the room adjoining his own; he was still very weak, and
attempted no more than crossing the room, and sitting in the balcony to
enjoy the evening air. He had felt the heat of the weather severely, and
had been a good deal thrown back by his fatigue and agitation the day he
wrote the letter, while also anxiety for Guy was retarding his progress,
though he only heard the best side of his condition. Besides all this,
his repentance both for his conduct with regard to Laura and the hard
measure he had dealt to Guy was pressing on him increasingly; and the
warm feelings, hardened and soured by early disappointment, regained
their force, and grew into a love and admiration that made it still more
horrible to perceive that he had acted ungenerously towards his cousin.

When he heard of Guy's desire to see him, he was pleased, said he was
quite able to walk up-stairs, had been thinking of offering to help her
by sitting with him, and was very glad to hear he was well enough to
wish for a visit. She saw she must prepare him for what the conversation
was likely to be.

'He is very anxious to see you,' she said. 'He is wishing to set all in
order. And if he does speak about--about dying, will you be so kind as
not to contradict him?'

'There is no danger?' cried Philip, startling, with a sort of agony. 'He
is no worse? You said the fever was lower.'

'He is rather better, I think; but he wishes so much to have everything
arranged, that I am sure it will be better for him to have it off
his mind. So, will you bear it, please, Philip?' ended she, with an
imploring look, that reminded him of her childhood.

'How do you bear it?' he asked.

'I don't know--I can't vex him.'

Philip said no more, and only asked when he should come.

'In an hour's time, perhaps, or whenever he was ready,' she said, 'for
he could rest in the sitting-room before coming in to Guy.'

He found mounting the stairs harder than he had expected, and, with
aching knees and gasping breath, at length reached the sitting-room,
where Amabel was ready to pity him, and made him rest on the sofa till
he had fully recovered. She then conducted him in; and his first glance
gave hi