fresh
parting, and her mother was in no state to be harassed by alterations.
This Robert allowed with a sigh, though delay did not suit with his
stern, uncompromising youthfulness, and he went on to say, 'You will bear
it in mind, Phoebe. There and elsewhere great changes are needed. This
great, disorderly household is a heavy charge. Acting for my mother, as
you will have to do, how are you to deal with the servants?'

'None of them come in my way, except dear old Lieschen, and Boodle, and
Mrs. Brisbane, and they are all kind and thoughtful.'

'Surface work, Phoebe. Taking my mother's place, as you do now, you
will, or ought to, become aware of the great mischiefs below stairs, and
I trust you will be able to achieve a great reformation.'

'I hope--' Phoebe looked startled, and hesitated. 'Surely, Robert, you
do not think I ought to search after such things. Would it be dutiful,
so young as I am?'

'Perhaps you are right,' said Robert; 'only, Phoebe, Phoebe, never let
toleration harden you to be indifferent to evil.'

'I hope not,' said Phoebe, gravely.

'My poor child, you are in for a world of perplexities! I wish I had not
to leave you to them.'

'Every labyrinth has a clue,' said Phoebe, smiling; 'as Miss Fennimore
says when she gives us problems to work. Only you know the terms of the
problem must be stated before the solution can be made out; so it is of
no use to put cases till we know all the terms.'

'Right, Phoebe. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.'

'I cannot see the evil yet,' said Phoebe; 'the trouble has brought so
much comfort. That happy Sunday with you, and my own year of being with
them both, have been such blessings! Last year, how much worse it would
have been for us all, when I scarcely knew mamma or Mervyn, and could not
go about alone nor to church! And Miss Charlecote will soon come home.
There is so much cause for thankfulness, that I can't be afraid.'

Robert said no more, but felt that innocent buoyancy a mystery to his
lower-pitched spirit. Never very gay or merry, Phoebe had a fund of
happiness and a power of finding and turning outwards the bright side,
which made her a most comfortable companion.

CHAPTER XV

Happy are they that learn in Him,
Though patient suffering teach
The secret of enduring strength,
And praise too deep for speech:
_Peace_ that no pressure from without,
No strife within can reach.--A. L. W