mean time she tried in vain to persuade her more constant playmate,
Amabel, to join the game. Poor little Amy regretted the being obliged
to refuse, as she listened to the merry sounds and bouncing balls,
sighing more than once at having turned into a grown-up young lady;
while Philip observed to Laura, who was officiating as billiard-marker,
that Guy was still a mere boy.

The fates favoured Amy at last for about half after three, the
billiards were interrupted, and Philip, pronouncing the rain to be
almost over, invited Guy to take a walk, and they set out in a very
gray wet mist, while Charlotte and Amy commenced a vigorous game at
battledore and shuttle-cock.

The gray mist had faded into twilight, and twilight into something like
night, when Charles was crossing the hall, with the aid of Amy's arm,
Charlotte carrying the crutch behind him, and Mrs, Edmonstone helping
Laura with her perspective apparatus, all on their way to dress for
dinner; the door opened and in came the two Morvilles. Guy, without,
even stopping to take off his great coat, ran at once up-stairs, and
the next moment the door of his room was shut with a bang that shook
the house, and made them all start and look at Philip for explanation.

'Redclyffe temper,' said he, coolly, with a half-smile curling his
short upper lip.

'What have you been doing to him?' said Charles.'

'Nothing. At least nothing worthy of such ire. I only entered on the
subject of his Oxford life, and advised him to prepare for it, for his
education has as yet been a mere farce. He used to go two or three