he very sound of it.'

At the cost of several sheets of paper, Philip at length completed a
letter to Mr. Edmonstone, which, when he had sent it, made his suspense
more painful.

'St. Mildred's, March 12th.

'MY DEAR MR. Edmonstone,--It is with a full sense of the unfitness of
intruding such a subject upon you in the present state of the family,
that I again address you on the same topic as that on which I wrote to
you from Italy, at the first moment at which I have felt it possible
to ask your attention. I was then too ill to be able to express my
contrition for all that has passed; in fact, I doubt whether it was even
then so deep as at present, since every succeeding week has but added
to my sense of the impropriety of my conduct, and my earnest desire for
pardon. I can hardly venture at such a time to ask anything further, but
I must add that my sentiments towards your daughter are unaltered, and
can never cease but with my life, and though I know I have rendered
myself unworthy of her, and my health, both mental and bodily, is far
from being re-established, I cannot help laying my feelings before
you, and entreating that you will put an end to the suspense which has
endured for so many months, by telling me to hope that I have not for
ever forfeited your consent to my attachment. At least, I trust to your
kindness for telling me on what terms I am for the present to stand with
your family. I am glad to hear such favourable reports of Lady Morville,
and with all my heart I thank Charles for his letter.

'Yours ever affectionately,
'P. H. MORVILLE.'

He ardently watched for a reply. He could not endure the idea of
receiving it where Margaret's eyes could scan the emotion he could
now only conceal by a visible rigidity of demeanour, and he daily
went himself to the post-office, but in vain. He received nothing but
business letters, and among them one from Markham, with as much defiance
and dislike in its style as could be shown, in a perfectly formal,
proper letter. Till he had referred to Lady Morville, he would not
make any demonstration towards Redclyffe, and evaded all his sister's
questions as to what he was doing about it, and when he should take
measures for leaving the army, or obtaining a renewal of the baronetcy.

Anxiety made him look daily more wretchedly haggard; the Doctor was at
fault, Mrs. Henley looked sagacious, while his manner became so dry
and repellent tha