ember what he is, and show him who he has to deal with. Eh, Charlie?'

'Don't you think,' said Guy, preparing to go, 'that it might be better
to wait a day or two, till we see our way clearer, and are a little
cooler?'

'I tell you, Guy, there is no one that puts me out of patience now, but
yourself. You are as bad as Philip himself. Cool? I am coolness itself,
all but what's proper spirit for a man to show when his family is
affronted, and himself dictated to, by a meddling young jackanapes. I'll
serve him out properly!'

A message called him away. Guy stood looking perplexed and sorrowful.

'Never mind,' said Charles, 'I'll take care the letter is moderate.
Besides, it is only Philip, and he knows that letter-writing is not his
forte.'

'I am afraid things will be said in irritation, which you will both
regret. There are justice and reason in the letter.'

'There shall be more in the answer, as you will see.'

'No, I will not see. It is Mr. Edmonstone's concern, not mine. I am the
last person who should have anything to do with it.'

'Just what the individual in question would not have said.'

'Would you do one thing to oblige me, Charlie?'

'Anything but not speaking my mind to, or of, the captain.'

'That is the very thing, unluckily. Try to get the answer put off till
to-morrow, and that will give time to look at this letter candidly.'

'All the candour in the world will not make me think otherwise than that
he is disappointed at being no longer able to make us the puppets of his
malevolence. Don't answer, or if you do, tell me what you say in favour
of that delicate insinuation of his.'

Guy made a step towards the window, and a step back again. ''Tis not
fair to ask such questions,' he replied, after a moment. 'It is throwing
oil on the fire. I was trying to forget it. He neither knows my uncle
nor the circumstances.'

'Well, I am glad there is a point on which you can't even pretend to
stand up for him, or I should have thought you crazed with Quixotism.
But I am keeping you when you want to be off to Amy. Never mind Mr.
Ready-to-halt; I shall wait till my father comes back. If you want the
letter put off you had better give some hopes of--Oh! he is gone, and
disinterested advice it is of mine, for what is to become of me without
Amy remains to be proved. Laura, poor thing, looks like Patience on a
monument. I wonder whether Philip's disgrace has anything to do with it.
Hum! If mamma's old idea w