lved to take the risk of reading
all aloud, considering that whatever might be the effect, it could not be
worse than that of his surmises.

'Cecily has written to me, greatly to my surprise, begging for my
influence with Randolf to induce him to become partner in the house. I
understand by this that he has already refused, and that you are aware of
his determination; therefore I have no scruple in writing to tell you
that he is perfectly right. It is true that the trade, as Mervyn
conducts it, is free from the most flagrant evils that deterred me from
taking a share in it; and I am most thankful for the changes he has
made.'

'You show it, don't you?' interjected Mervyn.

'I had rather see it in his hands than those of any other person, and
there is nothing blameworthy in his continuance in it. But it is of
questionable expedience, and there are still hereditary practices carried
on, the harm of which he has not hitherto perceived, but which would
assuredly shock a new-comer such as Randolf. You can guess what would be
the difficulty of obtaining alteration, and acquiescence would be even
more fatal. I do not tell you this as complaining of Mervyn, who has
done and is doing infinite good, but to warn you against the least
endeavour to influence Randolf. Depend upon it, even the accelerating
your marriage would not secure your happiness if you saw your husband and
brother at continual variance in the details of the business, and
opposition might at any moment lead Mervyn to undo all the good he has
effected.'

'Right enough there;' and Mervyn, who had looked furious at several
sentences, laughed at last. 'I must get another partner, then, who can
and will manage; and when all the gin-palaces are more splendiferous than
ever, what will you and the parson say?'

'That to do a little wrong in hopes of hindering another from doing
worse, never yet succeeded!' said Phoebe, bravely.

She saw that the worst was over when he had come to that laugh, and that
the danger of a quarrel between the brothers was averted. She did not
know from how much terror and self-reproach poor Cecily was suffering,
nor her multitudinous resolutions against kindly interferences upon
_terra incognita_.

That fit of wrath subsided, and Mervyn neither looked out for his moneyed
partner, nor fulfilled his threat of bringing the united forces of the
family displeasure upon his sister. Still there was a cloud
overshadowing the enjoyment