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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 573
were so pretty that Charlotte could not make up her mind which
of the two she would take ?"
Philip roared out one of his laughs, which made the windows
shake. He was in great spirits. For a man who was going to
ruin himself, he was in the most enviable good-humour. Did
Charlotte know about this—this claim which was impending over
him 1 No. It might make her anxious,—poor little thing ! Philip
had not told her. He had thought of concealing the matter from
her. What need was there to disturb her rest, poor innocent child ?
You see, we all treated Mrs. Charlotte more or less like a child.
Philip played with her. J. J., the painter, coaxed and dandled
her, so to speak. The Little Sister loved her, but certainly with a
love that was not respectful ; and Charlotte took everybody's goodwill
with a pleasant meekness and sweet smiling content. It was
not for Laura to give advice to man and wife (as if the woman was
not always giving lectures to Philip and his young wife !); but in
the present instance she thought Mrs. Philip certainly ought to
know what Philip's real situation was ; what danger was menacing ;
" and how admirable and right, and Christian—and you will have
your reward for it, dear Philip !" interjects the enthusiastic lady—
" your conduct has been !"
When we came, as we straightway did in a cab, to Charlotte's
house, to expound the matter to her, goodness bless us ! she was
not shocked, or anxious, or frightened at all. Mrs. Brandon had
just been with her, and told her of what was happening, and she
had said, " Of course, Philip ought to help his father ; and Brandon
had gone away quite in a tantrum of anger, and had really been
quite rude; and she should not pardon her, only she knew how
dearly the Little Sister loved Philip ; and of course they must help
Dr. Firmin; and what dreadful dreadful distress he must have
been in to do as he did ! But he had warned Philip, you know,"
and so forth. " And as for the chintzes, Laura, why I suppose we
must go on with the old shabby covers. You know they will do
very well till next year." This was the way in which Mrs. Charlotte
received the news which Philip had concealed from her, lest it should
terrify her. As if a loving woman was ever very much frightened
at being called upon to share her husband's misfortune 2
As for the little case of forgery, I don't believe the young person
could ever be got to see the heinous nature of Dr. Firmin's offence.
The desperate little logician seemed rather to pity the father than
the son in the business. " How dreadfully pressed he must have
been when he did it, poor man !" she said. " To be sure, he ought
not to have done it at all; but think of his necessity! That is
what I said to Brandon. Now, there's little Philip's cake in the