it was almost like the music lesson in "La Figlia del Reggimento"; he
started, and looked at Guy, and seemed in a perfect transport, and now
Guy is to take regular lessons.

'Indeed.'

'But do you really mean,' said Laura, 'that if your mother had been a
musician's daughter, and you had inherited her talent, that you would
be ashamed of it.'

'Indeed, Laura,' said Philip, with a smile, 'I am equally far from
guessing what I should do if my mother had been anything but what she
was, as from guessing what I should do if I had a talent for music.'

Mrs. Edmonstone here called her daughters to get ready for their walk,
as she intended to go to East-hill, and they might as well walk with
Philip as far as their roads lay together.

Philip and Laura walked on by themselves, a little in advance of the
others. Laura was very anxious to arrive at a right understanding of
her cousin's opinion of Guy.

'I am sure there is much to like in him,' she said.

'There is; but is it the highest praise to say there is much to like?
People are not so cautious when they accept a man in toto.'

'Then, do you not?'

Philip's answer was--