s a very precious thing,
Phoebe; the rather since 'tis so rare. But an empty, foolish, frivolous
woman is a sad, sad sight to see. Methinks I could scarce bear with
such, but for four words that I see, as it were, graven on their
brows,--`For whom Christ died.'"

"Very good!" said Mrs Latrobe. "I will not conceal from you, Phoebe,
that I am extreme gratified with this decision of Lady Betty. I trust
she will carry it out."

Phoebe felt a good deal surprised. Lady Betty had been the only inmate
of the Lodge whose society her mother had apparently cared to cultivate,
and yet she expressed herself much pleased to hear of her probable
departure. She remembered, too, that Mrs Dorothy had expected Mrs
Latrobe's assent. To herself it was a mystery.

Mrs Latrobe gave no explanation at the time. She went at once to
another part of the subject, informing Phoebe that she had asked Betty
and Molly Delawarr on a visit. Gatty had been invited also, but had
declined to leave her mother in her present condition. Phoebe received
this news with some trepidation. Had it been Betty alone, she would not
have minded; for she thought her very good-natured, and could not
understand Rhoda's expressed dislike to her. But Molly!--Phoebe tried
to remember that Molly had done one kind action, and hoped she would be
on her best behaviour at White-Ladies. Mrs Latrobe went on to say that
she wished Phoebe to share her room with Betty, and would put Rhoda and
Molly in another. But when Phoebe ventured to ask if Rhoda might not
retain the room which she knew her to prefer, and Phoebe herself be the
one to change, Mrs Latrobe refused to entertain the proposition.

"No, my dear, certainly not. You forget your station, Phoebe. You are
the daughter of this house, not your cousin. You must not be thinking
of how things were. They have changed. I could not think of allowing
Rhoda to have the best chamber. Besides, she has got to come down, and
she had best know it at once."

"What do you mean, Madam, if you please?"

"What do I mean? Why, surely you have some sense of what is proper.
You don't fancy she could continue to live here, do you? If she had
married Mr Welles, I should have said nothing against her staying here
till her marriage--of course, if it were a reasonable time; but now that
is all over. She must go."

"Go!" gasped Phoebe. "Go whither, Madam?"

"I shall offer her the choice of two things, my clear. She can ei