Guy?'

'May he only be worthy of his dog!' replied Charles.

'Ah!' said Laura, 'many men are neither worthy of their wives, nor of
their dogs.'

'Dr. Henley, I suppose, is the foundation of that aphorism,' said
Charles.

'If Margaret Morville could marry him, she could hardly be too worthy,'
said Laura. 'Think of throwing away Philip's whole soul!'

'O Laura, she could not lose that,' said Amabel.

Laura looked as if she knew more; but at that moment, both her father
and mother entered, the former rubbing his hands, as he always did when
much pleased, and sending his voice before him, as he exclaimed, 'Well,
Charlie, well, young ladies, is not he a fine fellow--eh?'

'Rather under-sized,' said Charles.

'Eh? He'll grow. He is not eighteen, you know; plenty of time; a very
good height; you can't expect every one to be as tall as Philip; but
he's a capital fellow. And how have you been?--any pain?'

'Hem--rather,' said Charles, shortly, for he hated answering kind
inquiries, when out of humour.

'Ah, that's a pity; I was sorry not to find you in the drawing-room, but
I thought you would have liked just to see him,' said Mr. Edmonstone,
disappointed, and apologizing.

'I had rather have had some notice of your intention,' said Charles, 'I
would have made myself fit to be seen.'

'I am sorry. I thought you would have liked his coming,' said poor Mr.
Edmonstone, only half conscious of his offence; 'but I see you are not
well this evening.'

Worse and worse, for it was equivalent to openly telling Charles he was
out of humour; and seeing, as he did, his mother's motive, he was still
further annoyed when she hastily interposed a question about Sir Guy.

'You should only hear them talk about him at Redclyffe,' said Mr
Edmonstone. 'No one was ever equal to him, according to them. Every one
said the same--clergyman, old Markham, all of them. Such attention to
his grandfather, such proper feeling, so good-natured, not a bit of
pride--it is my firm belief that he will make up for all his family
before him.'

Charles set up his eyebrows sarcastically.

'How does he get on with Philip?' inquired Laura.

'Excellently. Just what could be wished. Philip is delighted with him;
and I have been telling Guy all the way home what a capital friend he
will be, and he is quite inclined to look up to him.' Charles made an
exaggerated gesture of astonishment, unseen by his father. 'I told him
to bring his dog. He would have