oats! I know better! Come here,
Phoebe, and listen. You shall live here as you have always done, Maria
and all, and keep the Fennimore woman to mind the children. Answer me,
will that content you? Don't go looking at Robert, but say yes or no.'

Mervyn's innuendo had deprived his offer of its grace, but in spite of
the pang of indignation, in spite of Robert's eye of disapproval, poor
desolate Phoebe must needs cling to her home, and to the one who alone
would take her and her poor companion. 'Mervyn, thank you; it is right!'

'Right! What does that mean? If any one has a word to say against my
sisters being under my roof, let me hear it openly, not behind my back.
Eh, Juliana, what's that?'

'Only that I wonder how long it will last,' sneered Lady Acton.

'And,' added Robert, 'there should be some guarantee that they should not
be introduced to unsuitable acquaintance.'

'You think me not to be trusted with them.'

'I do not.'

Mervyn ground his teeth, answering, 'Very well, sir, I stand indebted to
you. I should have imagined, whatever your opinion of me, you would have
considered your favourite sky-blue governess an immaculate guardian, or
can you be contented with nothing short of a sisterhood?'

'Robert,' said Phoebe, fearing lest worse should follow, 'Mervyn has
always been good to us; I trust to him.' And her clear eyes were turned
on the eldest brother with a grateful confidence that made him catch her
hand with something between thanks and triumph, as he said--

'Well said, little one! There, sir, are you satisfied?'

'I must be,' replied Robert.

Sir Bevil, able to endure no longer, broke in with some intelligence from
the newspaper, which he had been perusing ever since his unlucky appeal
to his lady. Every one thankfully accepted this means of ending the
discussion.

'Well, Miss,' was Juliana's good night, 'you have attained your object.
I hope you may find it answer.'

'Yes,' added Augusta, 'when Mervyn brings home that Frenchwoman, you will
wish you had been less tenacious.'

'That's all an idea of yours,' said Juliana. 'She'll have punishment
enough in Master Mervyn's own temper. I wouldn't keep house for him, no,
not for a week.'

'Stay till you are asked,' said Augusta.

Phoebe could bear no more, but slipped through the swing-door, reached
her room, and sinking into a chair, passively let Lieschen undress her,
not attempting to raise her drooping head, nor check the tea