ng into her hands.'

'Into whose?' said Robert, unable to suppose it could be Phoebe's.

'Come, Robert, you ought not to let yourself be so blinded. I am sure it
is more for your interest than my own, but I see you are as simple as
ever. Juliana said any one could hoodwink you by talking of altar-cloths
and Anglo-Saxons.'

'Anglo-Catholics, possibly.'

'Well, it is all the same! It is those nonsensical distinctions, rather
than your own interests; but when you are cut out, and depend upon it,
she will lose no time in his state of health--'

'Of whom or what are you talking?'

'I never thought well of her, pretending to drink nothing but water; and
with that short, dry way, that I call impertinence; but I never thought
she could be so lost till last night! Why, when I thought I would just
go and see how the child was--there, after calling himself too ill to
come in to dinner, there sat Mervyn, actually drinking tea. I promise
you they looked disconcerted!'

'Well they might be! Bertha suffered half the night from that sudden
visit.'

'And you believe that, Robert! Well! it is a convenient blind! But if
you won't, we shall do our best to shame them, and if she dares it, we
shall never visit her! That's all!'

Her drift here becoming revealed to Robert, his uncontrollable smile
caused Augusta to swell with resentment. 'Aye! nothing on earth will
make you own yourself mistaken, or take the advice of your elders, though
you might have had enough of upholding Phoebe's wilfulness.'

'Well, what do you want me to do?'

'To join us all in seeing that Miss Fennimore leaves the house before us.
Then I will take the girls to Brighton, and you and the Actons might keep
watch over him, and if he should persist in his infatuation--why, in the
state of his head, it would almost come to a commission of lunacy.
Juliana said so!'

'I have no doubt of it,' said Robert, gravely. 'I am obliged to you
both, Augusta. As you observe, I am the party chiefly concerned,
therefore I have a right to request that you will leave me to defend my
interests as I shall see best, and that you will confide your surmise to
no one else.'

Robert was not easily gainsaid when he spoke in that tone, and besides,
Augusta really was uncertain whether he did not seriously adopt her
advice; but though silenced towards him, she did not abstain from
lamenting herself to Miss Charlecote, who had come by particular request
to consult with Dr