lf. No! Yes, you may,'
added Mr. Edmonstone, with a rapid glance at the end of the letter,--a
movement, first to retain it, and then following his first impulse, with
an unintelligible murmuring.

Philip read,--

'SOUTH MOOR, SEPT. 7th.

'MY DEAR MR. EDMONSTONE,--You will be surprised at the request I have to
make you, after my resolution not to exceed my allowance. However, this
is not for my own expenses, and it will not occur again. I should be
much obliged to you to let me have L1OOO, in what manner you please,
only I should be glad if it were soon. I am sorry I am not at liberty to
tell you what I want it for, but I trust to your kindness. Tell Charlie
I will write to him in a day or two, but, between our work, and walking
to St. Mildred's for the letters, which we cannot help doing every
day, the time for writing is short. Another month, however, and what a
holiday it will be! Tell Amy she ought to be here to see the purple of
the hills in the early morning; it almost makes up for having no sea.
The races have been making St. Mildred's very gay; indeed, we laugh at
Wellwood for having brought us here, by way of a quiet place. I never
was in the way of so much dissipation in my life.

'Yours very affectionately,
'GUY MORVILLE.'

'Well, what do you think of it? What would you do in my place--eh,
Philip! What can he want of it, eh?' said Mr. Edmonstone, tormenting
his riding-whip, and looking up to study his nephew's face, which, with
stern gravity in every feature, was bent over the letter, as if to
weigh every line. 'Eh, Philip?' repeated Mr. Edmonstone, several times,
without obtaining an answer.

'This is no place for discussion,' at last said Philip, deliberately
returning the letter. 'Come into the reading-room. We shall find no one
there at this hour. Here we are.'

'Well--well--well,' began Mr. Edmonstone, fretted by his coolness to the
extreme of impatience, 'what do you think of it? He can't be after any
mischief; 'tis not in the boy; when--when he is all but--Pooh! what am I
saying? Well, what do you think?'

'I am afraid it confirms but too strongly a report which I received
yesterday.'

'From your sister? Does she know anything about it?'

'Yes, from my sister. But I was very unwilling to mention it, because
she particularly requests that her name may not be used. I came here to