marked disapproval.
Part of it was well founded, but part was dislike to all that might
be considered as vulgar, and part was absolute injustice to Sebastian
Dixon, there was everything that could offend in his line of argument,
and in the very circumstance of his interfering; and Guy had a continual
struggle, in which he was not always successful, to avoid showing the
affront he had taken, and to reason down his subsequent indignation. The
ever-recurring irritation which Philip's conversation was apt to cause
him, made him avoid it as far as he could, and retreat in haste from the
subjects on which they were most apt to disagree, and so his manner had
assumed an air of reserve, and almost of distrust, with his cousin, that
was very unlike its usual winning openness.

This had been one unfortunate effect of his intercourse with his uncle,
and another was a certain vague, dissatisfied feeling which his silence,
and Philip's insinuations respecting the days he spent in London,
left on Mr. Edmonstone's mind, and which gained strength from their
recurrence. The days were, indeed, not many; it was only that in coming
from and going to Oxford, he slept a night at an hotel in London (for
his uncle never would take him to his lodgings, never even would tell
him where they were, but always gave his address at the place of his
engagement), was conducted by him to some concert in the evening, and
had him to breakfast in the morning. He could not think there was any
harm in this; he explained all he had done to Mr. Edmonstone the first
time, but nothing was gained by it: his visits to London continued to be
treated as something to be excused or overlooked--as something not quite
correct.

He would almost have been ready to discontinue them, but that he saw
that his uncle regarded him with affection, and he could not bear the
thought of giving up a poor relation for the sake of the opinion of
his rich friends. These meetings were the one pure pleasure to which
Sebastian looked, recalling to him the happier days of his youth, and of
his friendship with Guy's father; and when Guy perceived how he valued
them, it would have seemed a piece of cruel neglect to gratify himself
by giving the time to Hollywell.

Early in the course of their acquaintance, the importunity of a creditor
revealed that, in spite of his handsome salary, Sebastian Dixon was
often in considerable distress for money. In process of time, Guy
discovered that at the