re exciting, though
considerably less agreeable, than he had once expected, would not go
away with the womankind; but as soon as the door was shut, exclaimed,

'Now then, Philip, let me know the true grounds of your persecution.'

It was not a conciliating commencement. His father was offended, and
poured out a confused torrent of Guy's imagined misdeeds, while Philip
explained and modified his exaggerations.

'So the fact is,' said Charles, at length, 'that Guy has asked for his
own money, and when in lieu of it he received a letter full of unjust
charges, he declared Philip was a meddling coxcomb. I advise you not to
justify his opinion.'

Philip disdained to reply, and after a few more of Mr. Edmonstone's
exclamations Charles proceeded,

'This is the great sum total.'

'No,' said Philip; 'I have proof of his gambling.'

'What is it?'

'I have shown it to your father, and he is satisfied.'

'Is it not proof enough that he is lost to all sense of propriety,
that he should go and speak in that fashion of us, and to Philip's own
sister?' cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'What would you have more?'

'That little epithet applied to Captain Morville is hardly, to my mind,
proof sufficient that a man is capable of every vice,' said Charles,
who, in the pleasure of galling his cousin, did not perceive the harm
he did his friend's cause, by recalling the affront which his father,
at least, felt most deeply. Mr. Edmonstone grew angry with him for
disregarding the insulting term applied to himself; and Charles, who,
though improved in many points, still sometimes showed the effects of
early habits of disrespect to his father, answered hastily, that no one
could wonder at Guy's resenting such suspicions; he deserved no blame at
all, and would have been a blockhead to bear it tamely.

This was more than Charles meant, but his temper was fairly roused, and
he said much more than was right or judicious, so that his advocacy only
injured the cause. He had many representations to make on the injustice
of condemning Guy unheard, of not even laying before him the proofs on
which the charges were founded, and on the danger of actually driving
him into mischief, by shutting the doors of Hollywell against him. 'If
you wanted to make him all you say he is, you are taking the very best
means.'

Quite true; but Charles had made his father too angry to pay attention.
This stormy discussion continued for nearly two hours, with no effect
sav