illa; but
this might seem an unkind suggestion, and the same moment, Sir Bevil was
heard impetuously bounding up the stairs. 'Robert, where are you?' he
called from the end of the gallery. 'I never believed you could have
been so infamously treated.'

'Hush!' said Robert, shocked; 'I cannot hear this said. You know it was
only want of time.'

'I am not talking of your father. He would have done his best if he had
been allowed. It is your brother!--his own confession, mind! He boasted
just now that his father would have done it on the spot, but for his
interference, and expected thanks from all the rest of us for his care of
our interests.'

'What is the use of telling such things, Acton?' said Robert, forcing his
voice to calm rebuke, and grasping the baluster with an iron-like grip.

'The use! To mark my detestation of such conduct! I did my best to show
him what I thought of it; and I believe even Bannerman was astounded at
his coolness. I'll take care the thing is made public! I'll move heaven
and earth but I'll get you preferment that shall show how such treatment
is looked upon.'

'I beg you will do nothing of the kind!' exclaimed Robert. 'I am
heartily obliged to you, Acton. You gained me the certainty of
forgiveness, without which I should have felt a curse on my work. For
the rest, I complain of nothing. I have had larger means than the
others. I knew I was to look for no more. I prefer my own cure to any
other; and reflection will show you that our family affairs are not to be
made public.'

'At any rate, your mother might do something. Let me speak to her.
What, not now? Then I will come down whenever Phoebe will summon me.'

'Not now, nor ever,' said Robert. 'Even if anything were in her power,
she could not understand; and she must not be harassed.'

'We will talk that over on our way to town,' said Sir Bevil. 'I start at
once. I will not see that fellow again, nor, I should think, would you.'

'I stay till Saturday week.'

'You had better not. You have been abominably treated; but this is no
time for collisions. You agree with me, Phoebe; his absence would be the
wisest course.'

'Phoebe knows that annoyance between Mervyn and me is unhappily no
novelty. We shall not revert to the subject, and I have reasons for
staying.'

'You need not fear,' said Phoebe; 'Robert always keeps his temper.'

'Or rather we have the safeguard of being both sullen, not hot,' said
Robert.