'Have you not learnt that whatever he dislikes she forwards?'

'Oh! Robert, you can hinder that scheme from ever being thought of
again!'

'Yes,' said Robert; '_there_ she should never have been, even had you not
made resistance.'

'And, Robert, may we stay here?' asked Phoebe, trembling.

'Crabbe sees no objection,' he answered.

'Do you, Robert? If you think we ought not, I will try to change; but
Mervyn is kind, and it _is_ home! I saw you thought me wrong, but I
could not help being glad he relented to Maria.'

'You were right. Your eldest brother is the right person to give you a
home. I cannot. It would have shown an evil, suspicious temper if you
had refused him.'

'Yet you do not like it.'

'Perhaps I am unjust. I own that I had imagined you all happier and
better in such a home as Mrs. Parsons or Miss Charlecote could find for
you; and though Mervyn would scarcely wilfully take advantage of your
innocence, I do not trust to his always knowing what would be hurtful to
you or Bertha. It is a charge that I grudge to him, for I do not think
he perceives what it is.'

'I could make you think better of him. I wonder whether I may.'

'Anything--anything to make me think better of him,' cried Robert
eagerly.

'I do not know it from him alone, so it cannot be a breach of
confidence,' said Phoebe. 'He has been deeply attached, not to a pretty
person, nor a rich nor grand one, but she was very good and religious--so
much so that she would not accept him.'

'How recently?'

'The attachment has been long; the rejection this spring.'

'My poor Phoebe, I could not tell you how his time has been passed since
early spring.'

'I know in part,' she said, looking down; 'but, Robin, _that_ arose from
despair. Oh, how I longed for him to come and let me try to comfort
him!'

'And how is this to change my opinion,' asked Robert, 'except by showing
me that no right-minded woman could trust herself with him?'

'Oh, Robert, no! Sisters need not change, though others ought, perhaps.
I meant you to see that he does love and honour goodness for itself, and
so that he will guard his sisters.'

'I will think so, Phoebe. You deserve to be believed, for you draw out
his best points. For my own part, the miserable habits of our boyhood
have left a habit of acrimony, of which, repent as I will, I cannot free
myself. I gave way to it last night. I can be cool, but I cannot help
being contemptuous. I make hi