,' was the reply.

'Report,' said Mervyn; 'I know it as well as I know myself!' then
recollecting himself, 'but she does not understand, it is of no use to
talk to children. Take her away, Phoebe, and keep her in the nursery
till Mr. Crabbe comes to settle what is to be done with her.'

'I insist on having my letter,' said Bertha, with womanly grandeur.

'Let her have it. It is not worth bothering about a mere joke,' said
Mervyn, leaning back, wearied of the struggle, in which, provoking as he
was, he had received some home thrusts.

Phoebe felt bewildered, and as if she had a perfect stranger on her
hands, though Bertha's high tone was, after all, chiefly from her
extremity, and by way of reply to her brother's scornful incredulity of
her exalted position. She was the first to speak on leaving the library.
'Pray, Phoebe, how came you to tamper with people's letters?'

Phoebe explained.

'From Mervyn and his spy one could expect no delicacy,' said Bertha, 'but
in you it was treachery.'

'No, Bertha,' said Phoebe, 'I was grieved to expose you, but it was my
duty to clear the innocent by examining the letter, and Mervyn had a
right to know what concerned you when you were under his charge. It is
our business to save you, and a letter sent in this way does not stand on
the same ground as one coming openly under your own name. But I did not
read it to him, Bertha--not all.'

'If you had,' said Bertha, more piqued than obliged by this reserve, 'he
would have known it was in earnest and not childish nonsense. You saw
that it was earnest, Phoebe?' and her defiant voice betrayed a
semi-distrust.

'I am afraid it looked very much so,' said Phoebe; 'but, Bertha, that
would be saddest of all. I am afraid he might be wicked enough to be
trying to get your fortune, for indeed--don't be very much vexed,
dearest, I am only saying it for your good--you are not old enough, nor
formed, nor pretty enough, really to please a man that has seen so much
of the world.'

'He never met so fresh, or original, or so highly cultivated a mind,'
said Bertha; 'besides, as to features, there may be different opinions!'

'But, Bertha, how could you ever see him or speak to him?'

'Hearts can find more ways than you dream of,' said Bertha, with a touch
of sentiment; 'we had only to meet for the magnetism of mind to be felt!'

Argument was heartless work. Flattery and the glory of her conquest had
entirely filled the child's mind, a