ou know, a fine young man;
and if we manage well, we shall be in time for Carrie Gosling's supper.
So mind that, Phoebe, and don't get engaged to too many dances.'

'Is there to be dancing?'

'Most likely. I hope you have something to wear.'

'I provided myself at Paris, thank you.'

'Not mourning, I trust! That will never do! Nobody thinks of mourning
for a sister more than six months, and it makes me so low to think of
poor Juliana, and this horrid complaint being in the family. It is quite
a duty to keep one's spirits up. But there's Robert always so
lugubrious; and poor Sir Bevil looks as deplorable, and comes up to town
with that poor little girl all in crape, and won't eat any luncheon! I
declare it gave me such a turn that I was obliged to have my little
cordial before I could swallow a mouthful! And now you come in black!
It is quite provoking! You must and shall get some colours to-morrow.'

'Thank you, what I have is white and lilac.'

On which neutral ground Phoebe took her stand, and the French style and
fashion so impressed Augusta's maid, that she forced her ladyship to
accept even simplicity as 'the thing,' and to sink back rebuked for the
barbarism of hinting at the enlivenment of pink ribbons or scarlet
flowers.

Though thus fortified against shopping on her own account, liberty even
to go to see her sisters was denied her, in Augusta's infinite disgust at
the locality, and consideration for the horses. She was forced to be
contented with the report of Mervyn, who came to dinner and to go to the
evening parties, and who spoke of the girls as well and happy; Maria 'in
her native element' at the infant school, and both in a perfect rapture
at receiving Miss Fennimore, whom their hostess had asked to spend the
evening in Woolstone-lane.

Mervyn professed that he came entirely to see Phoebe's debut in her
Parisian costume, and amused himself maliciously with endeavouring to
delay the start from Lady Jane's till too late for Mrs. Gosling's supper;
but Phoebe, who did not wish to enhance the sacrifice, would not abet
him, and positively, as he declared, aided Augusta in her wild goose
chase.

He contrived to have a good deal of conversation with Phoebe in the
course of the evening, and she heard from him that old Crabbe was more
crusty than ever, and would not hear of his taking his sisters home, but,
said he, that mattered the less, considering that now they would be able
to be at the par