ith her dread of her latent
jealousy, made her particularly tender and affectionate, it gave even
more probability to the supposition. This made Guy, who felt as if he
was committing a robbery on them all, particularly kind to her, as if
he wished to atone for the injury of taking away her sister; and his
kindness gave her additional pain at entertaining such hard thoughts of
him.

How false she felt when she was pitied! and how she hated the
congratulations, of which she had the full share! She thought, however,
that she should be able to rejoice when she had heard Philip's opinion;
and how delightful it would be for him to declare himself satisfied with
Guy's exculpation.

CHAPTER 27

I forgave thee all the blame,
I could not forgive the praise.
--TENNYSON

'If ever there was a meddlesome coxcomb on this earth!' Such was the
exclamation that greeted the ears of Guy as he supported Charles into
the breakfast-room; and, at the same time, Mr. Edmonstone tossed a
letter into Guy's plate, saying,--

'There's something for you to read.'

Guy began; his lips were tightly pressed together; his brows made one
black line across his forehead, and his eye sparkled even through his
bent-down eyelashes; but this lasted only a few moments; the forehead
smoothed, again, and there was a kind of deliberate restraint and force
upon himself, which had so much power, that no one spoke till he had
finished, folded it up with a sort of extra care, and returned it, only
saying,

'You should not show one such letters, Mr. Edmonstone.'

'Does not it beat everything?' cried Mr. Edmonstone. 'If that is not
impertinence, I should like to know what is! But he has played my
Lord Paramount rather too long, as I can tell him! I ask his consent,
forsooth! Probation, indeed! You might marry her to-morrow, and welcome.
There, give it to mamma. See if she does not say the same. Mere spite
and malice all along.'

Poor Laura! would no one refute such cruel injustice? Yes, Guy spoke,
eagerly,--

'No no; that it never was. He was quite right under his belief.'

'Don't tell me! Not a word in his favour will I hear!' stormed on Mr.
Edmonstone. 'Mere envy and ill-will.'

'I always told him so,' said Charles. 'Pure malignity!'

'Nonsense, Charlie!' said Guy, sharply; 'there is no such thing about
him.'

'Come, Guy; I can't stand this,' said Mr. Edmonstone. 'I won't have him
defended; I never thought