gentlemen--whose company you have again forced upon me. You must be
aware that your father has shut the door of this house against them."

"My father has shut the door against better men than they are," said the
youth carelessly; "witness my own uncles Henry and George."

The lip of the lady quivered, the indignant colour rose even to her
temples; she attempted to speak, but her voice failed her, and she
turned aside to hide her emotion.

"Well, mother, I did not mean to vex you," said Philip, who was rather
weak in purpose than hardened in evil; "it _was_ a shame to bring Jones
and Wildrake here, but--but you see I couldn't help it." And he played
uneasily with his gold-headed riding-whip, while his eye avoided meeting
that of his mother.

"They have acquired some strange influence, some mysterious hold over
you," answered the lady. "It cannot be," she added anxiously, "that you
have broken your promise,--that they have drawn you again to the
gaming-table,--that you are involved in debt to these men?"

Philip whistled an air and sauntered up to the window.

Lady Grange pressed her hand over her eyes, and a sigh, a very heavy
sigh, burst from her bosom. Philip heard, and turned impatiently round.

"There's no use in making the worst of matters," said he; "what's done
can't be helped; and my debts, such as they are, won't ruin a rich man
like my father."