left to be divided among the three; and as soon as Philip perceived how
small was the provision for his sisters, he gave up his hopes of
university honours, and obtained a commission in the army.

On hearing this, Sir Guy started forward: 'Noble!' he cried, 'and yet
what a pity! If my grandfather had but known it--'

'Ah! I was convinced of _that_,' broke in Mr. Edmonstone, 'and so, I am
sure, was Philip himself; but in fact he knew we should never have
given our consent, so he acted quite by himself, wrote to Lord
Thorndale, and never said a word, even to his sisters, till the thing
was done. I never was more surprised in my life.'

'One would almost envy him the opportunity of making such a sacrifice,'
said Sir Guy, yet one must lament it.

'It was done in a hasty spirit of independence,' said Mrs. Edmonstone;
'I believe if he had got a fellowship at Oxford, it would have answered
much better.'

'And now that poor Fanny is dead, and Margaret married, there is all
his expensive education thrown away, and all for nothing,' said Mr.
Edmonstone.

'Ah,' said Mrs. Edmonstone, 'he planned for them to go on living at
Stylehurst, so that it would still have been his home. It is a great
pity, for his talent is thrown away, and he is not fond of his
profession.'

'You must not suppose, though, that he is not a practical man,' said