onger to detain him from his parish, although Bertha was only able to be
lifted to a couch, took little notice of any endeavour to interest her,
and when he bade her farewell, hardly raised eye or hand in return.

CHAPTER XXII

When all is done or said,
In th' end this shall you find,
He most of all doth bathe in bliss
That hath a quiet mind.--LORD VAUX

Robert had promised to return in the end of March to be present at the
Assizes, when the burglars would be tried, and he did not come alone.
Mr. Crabbe judged it time to inspect Beauchamp and decide for his wards;
and Lady Bannerman, between Juliana's instigations, her own pride in
being connected with a trial, and her desire to appropriate Phoebe,
decided on coming down with the Admiral to see how matters stood, and to
give her vote in the family council.

Commissions from Mervyn had pursued Robert since his arrival in town, all
for Bertha's amusement, and he brought down, by special orders, a
musical-box, all Leech's illustrations, and a small Maltese dog, like a
spun-glass lion, which Augusta had in vain proposed to him to exchange
for her pug, which was getting fat and wheezy, and 'would amuse Bertha
just as well.' Lady Bannerman hardly contained her surprise when Maria,
as well as Mervyn and Phoebe, met her in the hall, seemingly quite tame
and at her ease. Mervyn looked better, and in answer to inquiries for
Bertha, answered, 'Oh, getting on, decidedly; we have her in the garden.
She might drive out, only she has such a horror of meeting any one; but
her spirits are better, I really thought she would have laughed yesterday
when Maria was playing with the kitten. Ha! the dog, have you got him,
Robert. Well, if this does not amuse her, I do not know what will.'

And at the first possible moment, Mervyn, Maria, and the Maltese were off
through the open window. Robert asked what Phoebe thought of Mervyn.
She said he was much stronger, but the doctor was not satisfied that the
mischief was removed, and feared that a little want of care or any
excitement might bring on another attack. She dreaded the morrow on his
account.

'Yes,' said the elder sister, 'I don't wonder! A most atrocious attempt!
I declare I could hardly make up my mind to sleep in the house! Mind you
swear to them all, my dear.'

'I only saw Smithson clearly.'

'Oh, never mind; if they have not done that, they have done something
quite as bad; and I should n