could not resist the pleasure of keeping
house with Phoebe, and resuming her studies with Bertha on safer ground.
She could not, however, quit her employment without a half-year's notice,
and when Mervyn went down for a day to Beauchamp, he found the Underwood
in such a woful state of disrepair, that turn in as many masons,
carpenters, and paperers as he would, there was no hope of its being
habitable before Martinmas. Therefore the intermediate time must be
spent in visiting, and though the head-quarters were at the Holt, the
Raymonds of Moorcroft claimed the first month, and the promise of
Cecily's presence allured Bertha thither, though the Fulmort mind had
always imagined the house highly religious and dull. Little had she
expected to find it ringing with the wild noise and nonsense of a joyous
home party of all ages, full of freaks and frolics, laughter and
merriment. Her ready wit would have made her shine brilliantly if her
speech had been constantly at command, but she often broke down in the
midst of a repartee, and was always in danger of suffering from
over-excitement. Maria, too, needed much watching and tenderness. Every
one was very kind to her, but not exactly knowing the boundary of her
powers, the young people would sometimes have brought her into situations
to which she was unequal, if Phoebe had not been constantly watching over
her.

Between the two sisters, Phoebe's visit was no sinecure. She was always
keeping a motherly eye and hand over one or the other, sometimes over
both, and not unseldom incurring Bertha's resistance under the petulance
of overwrought spirits, or anger at troublesome precautions. After
Cecily's arrival, however, the task became easier. Cecily took Bertha
off her hands, soothing and repressing those variable spirits, and making
a wise and gentle use of the adoration that Bertha lavished on her,
keeping her cousins in order, and obviating the fast and furious fun that
was too great a change for girls brought up like the Fulmorts. Maria was
safe whenever Cecily was in the room, and Phoebe was able to relax her
care and enjoy herself doubly for feeling all the value of the future
sister.

She thought Miss Charlecote and Lucilla both looked worn and dispirited,
when one day she rode with Sir John to see them and inspect the
Underwood, as well as to make arrangements for the Forest Show. Poor
Honora was seriously discomposed at having nothing to show there. It was
the