boy by her side as she drove upon the ground; but there was no
time to be lost, and rousing herself into action with strong effort,
Phoebe left the fern brake, walking like one in a dream, and exchanging
civilities with various persons who wondered to see her alone, made her
way to the principal marquee, where luncheon had taken place, and which
always served as the rendezvous. Here sat mammas, keeping up talk enough
for civility, and peeping out restlessly to cluck their broods together;
here gentlemen stood in knots, talking county business; servants
congregated in the rear, to call the carriages; stragglers gradually
streamed together, and 'Oh! here you are,' was the staple exclamation.

It was uttered by Mrs. Fulmort as Phoebe appeared, and was followed by
plaintive inquiries for her sisters, and assurances that it would have
been better to have stayed in the cool tent, and gone home at once.
Phoebe consoled her by ordering the carriage, and explaining that her
sisters were at hand with some other girls, then begged leave to go home
with Miss Charlecote for the night.

'My dear, what shall I do with the others without you? Maria has such
odd tricks, and Bertha is so teasing without you! You promised they
should not tire me!'

'I will beg them to be good, dear mamma; I am very sorry, but it is only
this once. She will be alone. Owen Sandbrook is obliged to go away.'

'I can't think what she should want of you,' moaned her mother, 'so used
as she is to be alone. Did she ask you?'

'No, she does not know yet. I am to tell her, and that is why I want you
to be so kind as to spare me, dear mamma.'

'My dear, it will not do for you to be carrying young men's secrets, at
least not Owen Sandbrook's. Your papa would not like it, my dear, until
she had acknowledged him for her heir. You have lost your glove, too,
Phoebe, and you look so heated, you had better come back with me,' said
Mrs. Fulmort, who would not have withstood for a moment a decree from
either of her other daughters.

'Indeed,' said Phoebe, 'you need not fear, mamma. It is nothing of that
sort, quite the contrary.'

'Quite the contrary! You don't tell me that he has formed another
attachment, just when I made sure of your settling at last at the Holt,
and you such a favourite with Honor Charlecote. Not one of those plain
Miss Raymonds, I hope.'

'I must not tell, till she has heard,' said Phoebe, 'so please say
nothing about it. It will