with her at Redclyffe had passed off, Guy
might seek for excitement in the dissipation to which his uncle had
probably already introduced him. In the four years' probation, he
saw the only hope of steadying Guy, or of saving Amy, and he was much
concerned at the rejection of his advice, entirely for their sakes, for
he could not condescend to be affronted at the scornful, satirical tone
towards himself, in which Charles's little spitefulness was so fully
apparent.

The wedding was a regular sacrifice, and Amabel was nothing but a
victim; but an invitation to Hollywell had a charm for him that he
scarcely could resist. To see Laura again, after having parted, as he
thought, for so many years, delighted him in anticipation; and it would
manifest his real interest in his young cousins, and show that he was
superior to taking offence at the folly of Charles or his father.

These were his first thoughts and inclinations; his second were, that
it was contrary to his principles to sanction so foolish and hasty a
marriage by his presence; that he should thus be affording a triumph to
Guy, and to one who would use it less moderately--to Charles. It would
be more worthy of himself, more consistent with his whole course of
conduct, to refuse his presence, instead of going amongst them when they
were all infatuated, and unable to listen to sober counsel. If he stayed
away now, when Guy should have justified his opinion, they would all
own how wisely he had acted, and would see the true dignity which had
refused, unlike common minds, to let his complaisance draw him into
giving any sanction to what he so strongly disapproved. Laura, too,
would pass through this trying time better if she was not distracted
by watching him; she would understand the cause of his absence, and he
could trust her to love and comprehend him at a distance, better than
he could trust her to hear the marriage-service in his presence without
betraying herself. Nor did he wish to hear her again plead for the
confession of their engagement; and, supposing any misadventure should
lead to its betrayal, what could be more unpleasant than for it to be
revealed at such a time, when Charles would so turn it against him, that
all his influence and usefulness would be for ever at an end?

Love drew him one way, and consistency another. Captain Morville had
never been so much in the condition of Mahomet's coffin in his life; and
he grew more angry with his uncle, Char