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adopted him； and thinks I should laugh at her； or straightway set up a
dislike to him； knowing my contempt for heroes and hero…worship。 It's
a treat to have Philip out of the way； and if it was but possible to
get out of hearing of his perfection； I should have some peace。 If I
thought this fellow had one spice of the kind； I'd never trouble my
head about him more； and yet I don't believe he has such a pair of
hawk's eyes for nothing！'
The hawk's eyes； as Charles called them； shone brighter from that day
forth； and their owner began to show more interest in what passed
around。 Laura was much amused by a little conversation she held with
him one day when a party of their younger neighbours were laughing and
talking nonsense round Charles's sofa。 He was sitting a little way off
in silence； and she took advantage of the loud laughing to say：
'You think this is not very satisfactory？' And as he gave a quick
glance of inquiry 'Don't mind saying so。 Philip and I often agree
that it is a pity spend so much time in laughing at nothingat such
nonsense。'
'It is nonsense？'
'Listenno don't； it is too silly。'
'Nonsense must be an excellent thing if it makes people so happy；' said
Guy thoughtfully。 'Look at them； they are likenot a picturethat
has no lifebut a dreamor； perhaps a scene in a play。'
'Did you never see anything like it？'
'Oh； no！ All the morning calls I ever saw were formal； every one
stiff； and speaking by rote； or talking politics。 How glad I used to
be to get on horseback again！ But to see thesewhy； it is like the
shepherd's glimpse at the pixies！as one reads a new book； or watches
what one only half understandsa rook's parliament； or a gathering of
sea…fowl on the Shag Rock。'
'A rook's parliament？'
'The people at home call it a rook's parliament when a whole cloud of
rooks settle on some bare； wide common； and sit there as if they were
consulting； not feeding； only stalking about； with drooping wings； and
solemn； black cloaks。'
'You have found a flattering simile；' said Laura； 'as you know that
rooks never open their mouths without cause。'
Guy had never heard the riddle； but he caught the pun instantly； and
the clear merry sound of his hearty laugh surprised Charles； who
instantly noted it as another proof that was some life in him。
Indeed； each day began to make it evident that he had； on the whole；
rather a superabundance of animation than otherwise。 He was quite
confidential with Mrs。 Edmonstone； on whom he used to lavish； with
boyish eagerness； all that interested him； carrying her the passages in
books that pleased him； telling her about Redclyffe's affairs； and
giving her his letters from Markham； the steward。 His head was full of
his horse； Deloraine； which was coming to him under the charge of a
groom； and the consultations were endless about the means of transport；
Mr。 Edmonstone almost as eager about it as he was himself。
He did not so quickly become at home with the younger portion of the
family； but his spirits rose every day。 He whistled as he walked in
the garden； and Bustle； instead of pacing soberly behind him； now
capered； nibbled his pockets； and drew him into games of play which
Charles and Amabel were charmed to overlook from the dressing…room
window。 There was Guy leaping； bounding； racing； rolling the dog over；
tripping him up； twitching his ears； tickling his feet； catching at his
tail； laughing at Bustle's springs； contortions； and harmless open…
mouthed attacks； while the dog did little less than laugh too； with his
intelligent amber eyes； and black and red mouth。 Charles began to find
a new interest in his listless life in the attempt to draw Guy out； and
make him give one of his merry laughs。 In this； however； he failed
when his wit consisted in allusions to the novels of the day； of which
Guy knew nothing。 One morning he underwent a regular examination；
ending in
'Have you read anything？'
'I am afraid I am very ignorant of modern books。'
'Have you read the ancient ones？' asked Laura。
'I've had nothing else to read。'
'Nothing to read but ancient books！' exclaimed Amabel； with a mixture
of pity and astonishment。
'Sanchoniathon； Manetho； Berosus； and Ocellus Lucanus！' said Guy；
smiling。
'There； Amy；' said Charles； 'if he has the Vicar of Wakefield among his
ancient books； you need not pity him。'
'It is like Philip；' said Laura； 'he was brought up on the old standard
books； instead of his time being frittered away on the host of idle
modern ones。'
'He was free to concentrate his attention on Sir Charles Grandison；'
said Charles。
'How could any one do so？' said Guy。 'How could any one have any
sympathy with such a piece of self…satisfaction？'
'Who could？ Eh； Laura？' said Charles。
'I never read it；' said Laura； suspecting malice。
'What is your opinion of perfect heroes？' continued Charles。
'Here comes one；' whispered Amy to her brother； blushing at her piece
of naughtiness； as Philip Morville entered the room。
After the first greetings and inquiries after his sister； whom he had
been visiting； Laura told him what they had been saying of the
advantage of a scanty range of reading。
'True；' said Philip； 'I have often been struck by finding how ignorant
people are； even of Shakspeare； and I believe the blame chiefly rests
on the cheap rubbish in which Charlie is nearly walled up there。'
'Ay；' said Charles； 'and who haunts that rubbish at the beginning of
every month？ I suppose to act as pioneer； though whether any one but
Laura heeds his warnings； remains to be proved。'
'Laura does heed？' asked Philip； well pleased。
'I made her read me the part of Dombey that hurts women's feelings
most； just to see if she would go onthe part about little Pauland I
declare； I shall think the worse of her ever aftershe was so stony
hearted； that to this day she does not know whether he is dead or
alive。'
'I can't quite say I don't know whether he lived or died；' said Laura；
'for I found Amy in a state that alarmed me； crying in the green…house；
and I was very glad to find it was nothing worse than little Paul。'
'I wish you would have read it；' said Amy； and looking shyly at Guy；
she added'Won't you？'
'Well done； Amy！' said Charles。 'In the very face of the young man's
companion！'
'Philip does not really think it wrong；' said Amy。
'No；' said Philip； 'those books open fields of thought； and as their
principles are negative； they are not likely to hurt a person well
armed with the truth。'
'Meaning；' said Charles； 'that Guy and Laura have your gracious
permission to read Dombey。'
'When Laura has a cold or toothache。'
'And I；' said Guy。
'I am not sure about； the expediency for you；' said Philip 'it would be
a pity to begin with Dicken