d papers for Mervyn. But each fresh
exertion cost much previous coaxing and subsequent plaintiveness; and
when Phoebe, anxious to rouse her, persuaded her to come down-stairs, her
tottering steps proved her feebleness; and though her sons showed her
every attention, she had not been in the drawing-room ten minutes before
a nervous trembling and faintness obliged them to carry her back to her
room.

The family apothecary, a kind old man, declared that there was nothing
seriously amiss, and that she would soon 'recover her tone.' But it was
plain that much would fall on Phoebe, and Robert was uneasy at leaving
her with so little assistance or comfort at hand. He even wrote to beg
his eldest sister to come for a few weeks till his mother's health should
be improved; but Sir Nicholas did not love the country in the winter, and
Augusta only talked of a visit in the spring.

Another vexation to Robert was the schoolroom. During the last few
months Bertha had outgrown her childish distaste to study, and had
exerted her mind with as much eagerness as governess could desire; her
translations and compositions were wonders of ease and acuteness; she had
plunged into science, had no objection to mathematics, and by way of
recreation wandered in German metaphysics. Miss Fennimore rather
discouraged this line, knowing how little useful brain exercise she
herself had derived from Kant and his compeers, but this check was all
that was wanting to give Bertha double zest, and she stunned Robert with
demonstrations about her 'I' and her 'not I,' and despised him for his
contempt of her grand discoveries.

He begged for a prohibition of the study, but Miss Fennimore thought this
would only lend it additional charms, and added that it was a field which
the intellect must explore for itself, and not take on the authority of
others. When this answer was reported through Phoebe, Robert shrugged
his shoulders, alarmed at the hot-bed nurture of intellect and these
concessions to mental independence, only balanced by such loose and
speculative opinions as Miss Fennimore had lately manifested to him.
Decidedly, he said, there ought to be a change of governess and system.

But Phoebe, tears springing into her eyes, implored him not to press it.
She thoroughly loved her kind, clear-headed, conscientious friend, who
had assisted her so wisely and considerately through this time of
trouble, and knew how to manage Maria. It was no time for a