rf and
the billiard-table. At present he was expiating some heavy debts by a
forced residence with his parents, and unwilling attention to the office,
a most distasteful position, which he never attempted to improve, and
which permitted him both the tedium of idleness and complaints against
all the employment to which he was necessitated.

The ill-managed brothers were just nearly enough of an age for rivalry,
and had never loved one another even as children. Robert's steadiness
had been made a reproach to Mervyn, and his grave, rather surly character
had never been conciliating. The independence left to the younger
brother by their mother's relative was grudged by the elder as an injury
to himself, and it was one of the misfortunes of Beauchamp that the two
sons had never been upon happy terms together. Indeed, save that
Robert's right principles and silent habits hindered him from readily
giving or taking offence, there might have been positive outbreaks of a
very unbrotherly nature.

CHAPTER II

Enough of science and of art,
Close up those barren leaves!
Come forth, and bring with you a heart
That watches and receives.--WORDSWORTH

'Half-past five, Miss Phoebe.'

'Thank you;' and before her eyes were open, Phoebe was on the floor.

Six was the regulation hour. Systematic education had discovered that
half-an-hour was the maximum allowable for morning toilette, and at
half-past six the young ladies must present themselves in the
school-room.

The Bible, Prayer Book, and 'Daily Meditations' could have been seldom
touched, had not Phoebe, ever since Robert had impressed on her the duty
of such constant study, made an arrangement for gaining an extra
half-hour. Cold mornings and youthful sleepiness had received a daily
defeat: and, mayhap, it was such a course of victory that made her frank
eyes so blithesome, and her step so free and light.

That bright scheme, too, shone before her, as such a secret of glad hope,
that, knowing how uncertain were her chances of pleasure, she prayed that
she might not set her heart on it. It was no trifle to her, and her
simple spirit ventured to lay her wishes before her loving Father in
Heaven, and entreat that she might not be denied, if it were right for
her and would be better for Robert; or, if not, that she might be good
under the disappointment.

Her orisons sent her forth all brightness, with her small head raised
like that of a yo