care of us
better than that!'

'But all ladies do not seem willing to believe as much, shame on them,'
said Honor; 'and, tell me, Phoebe, have people called on you?'

'Not many, but I have not called on them since they left their cards of
inquiry. I had been thinking whether I ought.'

'We will consider. Perhaps I had better take you round some day, but I
have been a very remiss protector, my poor child, if all be true that I
am told of some of Mervyn's friends. It was an insult to have them under
the same roof with you.'

'Will you look at this letter?' said Phoebe. 'It is very kind--it is
from Lucy.'

These plain words alone occurred to Phoebe as a preparation for a letter
that was sure to move Miss Charlecote greatly, if only by the slight of
not having written to her, the most obvious person. But the flighty
generosity, and deep though inconsistent feeling were precious, and the
proud relenting of the message at the end touched Honor with hope. They
laughed at the report that had elicited Lucilla's letter, but the reserve
of the warning about Mr. Hastings, coming from the once unscrupulous
girl, startled Honor even more than what she had heard at Moorcroft. Was
the letter to be answered? Yes, by all means, cried Honor, catching at
any link of communication. She could discover Lucilla's address, and was
sure that even brief thanks and explanations from Phoebe would be good
for Lucy.

Like Miss Fennimore, Honor was surprised by Phoebe's composure under her
share of the evil report. The strictures which would have been dreadful
to an older person seemed to fly over her innocent head, their force
either uncomprehended or unfelt. She yielded implicitly to the propriety
of the change, but her grief was at the family quarrel, the leaving home,
and the unmerited degree of blame cast on Mervyn, not the aspersions on
herself; although, as Honor became vexed at her calmness, she withheld
none of them in the desire to convince her of the expediency of leaving
Beauchamp at once for the Holt. No, even though this was Robert's wish,
Phoebe could still not see the necessity, as long as Mervyn should be
alone. If he should bring any of his discreditable friends, she promised
at once to come to Miss Charlecote, but otherwise she could perceive no
reason for grieving him, and astonishing the world, by implying that his
sisters could not stay in his house. She thought him unwell, too, and
wished to watch him, and,