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is too much afraid of small faults to be invited by larger evils。
While he punishes himself for an idle word； he is not likely to go
wrong in greater matters。'
'Not at present。'
'Is the man in debt or difficulties？ Guy heard nothing of that； and I
thought it a good sign。'
'I don't suppose he is。 He ought not； for he has a fixed salary；
besides what he gets by playing at concerts when it is not the London
season。 The wasting money on a spendthrift relation would be a far
less evil than what I apprehend。'
'I wish I knew what to do！ It is very unlucky that your uncle is from
home。'
'Very。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone was frightened by the sense of responsibility； and was
only anxious to catch hold of something to direct her。
'What would you have me do？' she asked； hopelessly。
'Speak seriously to Guy。 He must attend to you： he cannot fly out with
a woman as he does with me。 Show him the evils that must result from
such an intimacy。 If Dixon was in distress； I would not say a word；
for he would be bound to assist him but as it is； the acquaintance can
serve no purpose but degrading Guy； and showing him the way to evil。
Above all； make a point of his giving up visiting him in London。 That
is the sure road to evil。 A youth of his age； under the conduct of a
worn…out roué； connected with the theatres！ I can hardly imagine
anything more mischievous。'
'Yes； yes； I will speak to him；' said Mrs。 Edmonstone； perfectly
appalled。
She promised； but she found the fulfilment difficult； in her dislike of
vexing Guy； her fear of saying what was wrong； and a doubt whether the
appearance of persecuting Mr。 Dixon was not the very way to prevent
Guy's own good sense from finding out his true character； so she
waited； hoping Mr。 Edmonstone might return before Guy went to Oxford；
or that he might write decisively。
Mrs。 Edmonstone might have known her husband better than to expect him
to write decisively when he had neither herself nor Philip at his
elbow。 The same post had brought him a letter from Guy； mentioning his
meeting with his uncle； and frankly explaining his plans for London；
another from Philip； calling on him to use all his authority to prevent
this intercourse； and a third from his wife。 Bewildered between them；
he took them to his sister； who； being as puzzle…headed as himself； and
only hearing his involved history of the affair； confused him still
more； so he wrote to Philip； saying he was sorry the fellow had turned
up； but he would guard against him。 He told Guy he was sorry to say
that his uncle used to be a sad scamp； and he must take care； or it
would be his poor father's story over again； and to Mrs。 Edmonstone he
wrote that it was very odd that everything always did go wrong when he
was away。
He thought these letters a great achievement； but his wife's perplexity
was not materially relieved。
After considering a good while； she at length spoke to Guy； but it was
not at a happy time； for Philip； despairing of her； had just taken on
himself to remonstrate； and had angered him to the verge of an
outbreak。
Mrs。 Edmonstone； as mildly as she could； urged on him that such
intercourse could bring him little satisfaction； and might be very
inconvenient； that his uncle was in no distress； and did not require
assistance； and that it was too probable that in seeking him out he
might meet with persons who might unsettle his principles；in short；
that he had much better give up the visit to London。
'This is Philip's advice；' said Guy。
'It is； but'
Guy looked impatient； and she paused。
'You must forgive me；' he said； 'if I follow my own judgment。 If Mr。
Edmonstone chose to lay his commands on me； I suppose I must submit；
but I cannot see that I am bound to obey Philip。'
'Not to obey； certainly； but his advice'
'He is prejudiced and unjust；' said Guy。
'I don't believe that my uncle would attempt to lead me into bad
company； and surely you would not have me neglect or look coldly on one
who was so much attached to my parents。 If he is not a gentleman； and
is looked down on by the world； it is not for his sister's son to make
him conscious of it。'
'I like your feelings； Guy； I can say nothing against it； but that I am
much afraid your uncle is not highly principled。'
'You have only Philip's account of him。'
'You are resolved？'
'Yes。 I do not like not to take your advice； but I do believe this is
my duty。 I do not think my determination is made in self…will；' said
Guy； thoughtfully； 'I cannot think that I ought to neglect my uncle；
because I happen to have been born in a different station； which is all
I have heard proved against him；' he added； smiling。 'You will forgive
me； will you not； for not following your advice？ for really and truly；
if you will let me say so； I think you would not have given it if
Philip had not been talking to you。'
Mrs。 Edmonstone confessed； with a smile； that perhaps it was so； but
said she trusted much to Philip's knowledge of the world。 Guy agreed
to this； though still declaring Philip had no right to set him against
his uncle； and there the discussion ended。
Guy went to London。 Philip thought him very wilful； and his aunt very
weak； and Mr。 Edmonstone； on coming home； said it could not be helped；
and he wished to hear no more about the matter。
CHAPTER 12
Her playful smile； her buoyance wild；
Bespeak the gentle； mirthful child；
But in her forehead's broad expanse；
Her chastened tones； her thoughtful glance；
Is mingled； with the child's light glee；
The modest maiden's dignity。
One summer's day； two years after the ball and review； Mary Ross and
her father were finishing their early dinner； when she said；
'If you don't want me this afternoon； papa； I think I shall walk to
Hollywell。 You know Eveleen de Courcy is there。'
'No； I did not。 What has brought her？'
'As Charles expresses it； she has over…polked herself in London； and is
sent here for quiet and country air。 I want to call on her； and to ask
Sir Guy to give me some idea as to the singing the children should
practise for the school…feast？'
'Then you think Sir Guy will come to the feast？'
'I reckon on him to conceal all the deficiencies in the children's
singing。'
'He won't desert you； as he did Mrs。 Brownlow？'
'0 papa！ you surely did not think him to blame in that affair？'
'Honestly； Mary； if I thought about the matter at all； I thought it a
pity he should go so much to the Brownlows。'
'I believe I could tell you the history； if you thought it worth while；
and though it may be gossip； I should like you to do justice to Sir
Guy。'
'Very well； though I don't think there is much danger of my doing
otherwise。 I only wondered he should become intimate there