azed
at the window, and so they continued for some minutes, while an
uninteresting exchange of question and answer was kept up between her
and her nephew until at length the dressing-bell rang, and cleared the
room. Mrs. Edmonstone lingered till her son and daughters were gone, and
said,--

'You have heard from St. Mildred's?'

'Yes,' said Philip, as if he was as little inclined to be communicative
to her as to his cousins.

'From Guy, or from Margaret?'

'From Margaret.'

'But you say there is a letter from him?'

'Yes, for my uncle.'

'Does she say nothing more satisfactory?' asked his aunt, her anxiety
tortured by his composure. 'Has she learnt no more?'

'Nothing more of his proceedings. I see Amy knows nothing of the
matter?'

'No; her papa thought there was no need to distress her till we had seen
whether he could explain.'

'Poor little thing!' said Philip; 'I am very sorry for her.

Mrs. Edmonstone did not choose to discuss her daughter's affairs with
him, and she turned the conversation to ask if Margaret said much of
Guy.

'She writes to tell the spirit in which he received my uncle's letter.
It is only the Morville temper, again, and, of course, whatever you may
think of that on Amy's account, I should never regard it, as concerns
myself, as other than his misfortune. I hope he may be able to explain
the rest.'

'Ah! there comes your uncle!' and Mr. Edmonstone entered.

'How d'ye do, Philip? Brought better news, eh?'

'Here is a letter to speak for itself.'

'Eh? From Guy? Give it me. What does he say? Let me see. Here, mamma,
read it; your eyes are best.'

Mrs. Edmonstone read as follows:--

'MY DEAR MR. EDMONSTONE,--Your letter surprised and grieved me very
much. I cannot guess what proofs Philip may think he has, of what
I never did, and, therefore, I cannot refute them otherwise than by
declaring that I never gamed in my life. Tell me what they are, and I
will answer them. As to a full confession, I could of course tell you
of much in which I have done wrongly, though not in the way which he
supposes. On that head, I have nothing to confess. I am sorry I am
prevented from satisfying you about the L1OOO, but I am bound in honour
not to mention the purpose for which I wanted it. I am sure you could
never believe I could have said what I did to Mrs. Edmonstone if I had
begun on a course which I detest from the bottom of my heart. Thank you
very much for the kindness of the latter