lness that was her form of suspense.

They came! The peals of the Hiltonbury bells rung merrily in the cold
air, the snow sparkled bridally, the icicles glittered in the sunset
light, the workpeople stood round the house to cheer the arrival, and the
sisters hurried out.

It was no more the pale, patient face! The cheeks were rounded, the
brown eyes smiled, the haggard air, that even as a bride Cecily had worn,
was entirely gone, and Mervyn watched exultingly Phoebe's surprise at
what he had made of the wan, worn girl they had met at Hyeres. The only
disappointment was Bertha's absence, and there was much regret that the
new-comers had not heard of her cold so as to have seen her at the
Underwood on their way. They had spent the previous day in town in going
over the distillery, by Cecily's particular wish, and had afterwards
assisted at a grand impromptu entertainment of all the workpeople, at
their own expense and Robert's trouble. Mervyn did certainly seem
carried out of his own knowledge of himself, and his wife had
transgressed every precedent left by his mother, who had never beheld
Whittingtonia in her life!

Phoebe found their eager talk so mazy and indistinct to her perception
that she became resolved to speak and clear her mind at the first
opportunity; so she tarried behind, when Cecily went up, under Maria's
delighted guidance, to take off her bonnet, and accosted Mervyn with the
ominous words, 'I want to speak to you.'

'Make haste, then; there is Cecily left to Maria.'

'I wanted to tell you that I am engaged.'

'The deuce you are!'

'To Mr. Randolf, Miss Charlecote's Canadian cousin.'

Mervyn, who had expected no less than John Raymond, whirled round in
indignant surprise, and looked incredulously at her, but was confronted
by her two open, unabashed eyes, as she stood firm on both her feet, and
continued: 'I have been thrown a good deal with him, so as to learn his
goodness and superiority. I know you will think it a very bad match, for
he has nothing but his hands and head; but we mean to wait till he can
offer what are considered as equal terms. We thought it right you should
know.'

'Upon my word, that's a clever fellow!'

Phoebe knew very well that this was ironical, but would not so reply.
'He has abilities,' she said, 'and we are ready to wait till he has made
proof of them.'

'Well, what now?' he cried in despair. 'I _did_ think you the sensible
one of the lot.'

'When you