and if his business
scatters the seeds of vice, surely "obedience in the Lord" should not
prevent me from trying to counteract them.'

It was a case of conscience to be only judged by himself, and where even
a sister like Phoebe could do little but hope for the best, so she
expressed a cheerful hope that her father must know that it was right,
and that he would care less now that he was away, and pleased with
Augusta's prospects.

'Yes,' said Robert, 'he already thinks me such a fool, that it may be
indifferent to him in what particular manner I act it out.'

'And how does it stand with Mr. Parsons?'

'He will give me an answer to-morrow evening, provided I continue in the
same mind. There is no chance of my not doing so. My time of suspense
is over!' and the words absolutely sounded like relief, though the set
stern face, and the long breaths at each pause told another tale.

'I did not think she would really have gone!' said Phoebe.

'This once, and we will mention her no more. It is not merely this
expedition, but all I saw at Wrapworth convinced me that I should risk my
faithfulness to my calling by connecting myself with one who, with all
her loveliness and generosity, lives upon excitement. She is the very
light of poor Prendergast's eyes, and he cannot endure to say a word in
her dispraise; she is constantly doing acts of kindness in his parish,
and is much beloved there, yet he could not conceal how much trouble she
gives him by her want of judgment and wilfulness; patronizing and
forgetting capriciously, and attending to no remonstrance. You saw
yourself the treatment of that schoolmistress. I thought the more of
this, because Prendergast is so fond of her, and does her full justice.
No; her very aspect proves that a parish priest has no business to think
of her.'

Large tears swelled in Phoebe's eyes. The first vision of her youth was
melting away, and she detected no relenting in his grave resolute voice.

'Shall you tell her?' was all she could say.

'That is the question. At one time she gave me reason to think that she
accepted a claim to be considered in my plans, and understood what I
never concealed. Latterly she has appeared to withdraw all
encouragement, to reject every advance, and yet-- Phoebe, tell me
whether she has given you any reason to suppose that she ever was in
earnest with me?'

'I know she respects and likes you better than any one, and speaks of you
like no one else