as much as the best mother living could;
undertakes to provide for us. Now, I put it to you, Phoebe, has she any
right to be cast off in this fashion?'

'I don't know in what fashion you mean.'

'Don't you. Haven't you seen how Cilly has run restive from babyhood? A
pretty termagant she was, as even I can remember. And how my poor father
spoilt her! Any one but Honor would have given her up, rather than have
gone through what she did, so firmly and patiently, till she had broken
her in fairly well. But then come in these Charterises, and Cilly runs
frantic after them, her own _dear_ relations. Much they had cared for us
when we were troublesome little pests. But it's all the force of blood.
Stuff! The whole truth is that they are gay, and Honora quiet; they
encourage her to run riot. Honora keeps her in order.'

'Have you spoken to her?'

'As well speak to the wind. She thinks it a great favour to run down to
Hiltonbury for the Horticultural Show, turn everything topsy-turvy, keep
poor dear Sweet Honey in a perpetual ferment, then come away to Castle
Blanch, as if she were rid of a troublesome duty.'

'I thought Miss Charlecote sent Lucy to enjoy herself! We always said
how kind and self-denying she was.'

'Denied, rather,' said Owen; 'only that's her way of carrying it off. A
month or two in the season might be very well; see the world, and get the
tone of it; but to racket about with Ratia, and leave Honor alone for
months together, is too strong for me.'

Honora came in, delighted at her boy's visit, and well pleased at the
manner in which he was engrossed. Two such children needed no chaperon,
and if that sweet crescent moon were to be his guiding light, so much the
better.

'Capital girl, that,' he said, as she left the room. 'This is a noble
achievement of yours.'

'In getting my youngest princess out of the castle. Ay! I do feel in a
beneficent enchanter's position.'

'She has grown up much prettier than she promised to be.'

'And far too good for a Fulmort. But that is Robert's doing.'

'Poor Robert! how he shows the old distiller in grain. So he is taking
to the old shop?--best thing for him.'

'Only by way of experiment.'

'Pleasant experiment to make as much as old Fulmort! I wish he'd take me
into partnership.'

'You, Owen?'

'I am not proud. These aren't the days when it matters how a man gets
his tin, so he knows what to do with it. Ay! the world gets beyond the
d