. Martyn, and enforce his opinion on Mr. Crabbe.
Honora settled the question by a laugh, and an assurance that Mervyn had
views in another direction; but Augusta knew of so many abortive schemes
for him, and believed him to be the object of so many reports, that she
treated this with disdain, and much amused Honora by her matronly
superiority and London patronage.

Dr. Martyn came to luncheon, and she endeavoured to extort from him that
indulgence hurt Bertha, and that Mervyn needed variety. Failing in this,
she remembered his anti-supper advice, and privately warned Mr. Crabbe
against him.

His advice threw a new light on the matter. He thought that in a few
weeks' time, Bertha ought to be taken to Switzerland, and perhaps spend
the winter in the south of France. Travelling gave the best hope of
rousing her spirits or bracing her shattered constitution, but the utmost
caution against fatigue and excitement would be requisite; she needed to
be at once humoured and controlled, and her morbid repugnance to new
attendants must be respected till it should wear off of its own accord.

Surely this might be contrived between sister, governess, and German
nurse, and if Mr. Fulmort himself would go too, it would be the best
thing for his health, which needed exemption from business and
excitement.

Here was playing into the governess's hands! Mindful of Juliana's
injunctions, Lady Bannerman announced her intention of calling heaven and
earth together rather than sanction the impropriety, and set off for her
party at the sheriff's in a mood which made Phoebe tremble lest the
attractions of ortolans and Burgundy should instigate the 'tremendous
sacrifice' of becoming chaperon.

Mervyn thought the doctor's sentence conclusive as to Miss Fennimore's
plans, but to his consternation it made no change in them, except that
she fixed the departure of the family as the moment of parting. Though
her manner towards him had become open and friendly, she was deaf to all
that he could urge, declaring that it was her duty to leave his sisters,
and that the change, when once made, would be beneficial to Bertha, by
removing old associations. In despair, he came to Miss Charlecote,
begging her to try her powers of persuasion for the sake of poor Bertha,
now his primary object, whom he treated with spoiling affection. He was
quite powerless to withstand any fancy of Bertha in her present state,
and not only helpless without Miss Fennimo