, for you know her father was a clergyman, and Miss Charlecote
brought her up.'

Phoebe's certainty made Robert catch something of her hopes.

'In that case,' he said, 'matters might be soon settled. This fortune of
mine would be no misfortune then; and probably, Phoebe, my sisters would
have no objection to your being happy with us.'

'As soon as you could get a curacy! Oh, how delightful! and Maria and
Bertha would come too.'

Robert held his peace, not certain whether Lucilla would consider Maria
an embellishment to his ideal parsonage; but they talked on with cheerful
schemes while descending through the wood, unlocking a gate that formed
the boundary between the Holt and the Beauchamp properties, crossing a
field or two, and then coming out into the park. Presently they were in
sight of the house, rising darkly before them, with many lights shining
in the windows behind the blinds.

'They are all gone up-stairs!' said Phoebe, dismayed. 'How late it must
be!'

'There's a light in the smoking-room,' said Robert; 'we can get in that
way.'

'No, no! Mervyn may have some one with him. Come in quietly by the
servants' entrance.'

No danger that people would not be on foot there! As the brother and
sister moved along the long stone passage, fringed with labelled bells,
one open door showed two weary maidens still toiling over the plates of
the late dinner; and another, standing ajar, revealed various
men-servants regaling themselves; and words and tones caught Robert's ear
making his brow lower with sudden pain.

Phoebe was proceeding to mount the stone stairs, when a rustling and
chattering, as of maids descending, caused her and her brother to stand
aside to make way, and down came a pair of heads and candles together
over a green bandbox, and then voices in vulgar tones half suppressed.
'I couldn't venture it, not with Miss Juliana--but Miss Fulmort--she
never looks over her bills, nor knows what is in her drawers--I told her
it was faded, when she had never worn it once!'

And tittering, they passed by the brother and sister, who were still
unseen, but Robert heaved a sigh and murmured, 'Miserable work!' somewhat
to his sister's surprise, for to her the great ill-regulated household
was an unquestioned institution, and she did not expect him to bestow so
much compassion on Augusta's discarded bonnet. At the top of the steps
they opened a door, and entered a great wide hall. All was exceedingly
st