Guy very angry. He knew enough of the Archdeacon through Mrs.
Edmonstone, and the opinions held by Philip, to think his daughter was
ascribing to him what he had never held but, be that as it might, Guy
could not bear to hear good evil spoken of, and his indignation was
stirred as he heard these spiteful reports uttered by people who sat
at home at ease, against one whose daily life was only too exalted
for their imitation. His brow contracted, his eye kindled, his lip was
bitten, and now and then, when he trusted himself to reply, it was with
a keen, sharp power of rebuke that made people look round, astonished
to hear such forcible words from one so young. Mrs. Henley was afraid of
him, without knowing it; she thought she was sparing the Morville temper
when she avoided the subject, but as she stood in awe of no one else,
except her brother, she disliked him accordingly.

One evening Guy had been dining at Dr. Henley's, and was setting out,
enjoying his escape from Mrs. Henley and her friends, and rejoicing in
the prospect of a five miles' walk over the hills by moonlight. He had
only gone the length of two streets, when he saw a dark figure at a
little distance from him, and a voice which he had little expected to
hear, called out,--

'Sir Guy himself! No one else could whistle that Swedish air so
correctly!'

'My uncle!' exclaimed Guy. 'I did not know that you were here!'

Mr. Dixon laughed, said something about a fortunate rencontre, and began
an account about a concert somewhere or other, mixed up with something
about his wife and child, all so rambling and confused, that Guy,
beginning to suspect he had been drinking, was only anxious to get rid
of him, asked where he lodged, and talked of coming to see him in the
morning. He soon found, however, that this had not been the case, at
least not to any great extent. Dixon was only nervous and excited,
either about something he had done, or some request he had to make, and
he went on walking by his nephew's side, talking in a strange, desultory
way of open, generous-hearted fellows overlooking a little indiscretion,
and of Guy's riches, which he seemed to think inexhaustible.

'If there is anything that you want me to do for you, tell me plainly
what it is,' said Guy, at last.

Mr. Dixon began to overwhelm him with thanks, but he cut them short. 'I
promise nothing. Let me hear what you want, and I can judge whether I
can do it.'

Sebastian broke out into excl