ents took place, apparently at the rate of five
per day; but Mrs. Charteris interposed an invitation to dinner for the
next evening, including Robert; and farther it appeared that all the
three were expected to take part in the Castle Blanch festivities. Lolly
had evidently been told of them as settled certainties among the guests,
and Lucilla, Owen, and Rashe vied with each other in declaring that they
had imagined Honor to have brought Phoebe to London with no other intent,
and that all was fixed for the ladies to sleep at Castle Blanch the night
before, and Robert Fulmort to come down in the morning by train.

Nothing could have been farther from Honora's predilections than such
gaieties, but Phoebe's eyes were growing round with eagerness, and there
would be unkindness in denying her the pleasure, as well as churlishness
in disappointing Lucy and Owen, who had reckoned on her in so gratifying
a manner. Without decidedly accepting or refusing, she let the talk go
on.

'Miss Fulmort,' said Ratia, 'I hope you are not too religious to dance.'

Much surprised, Phoebe made some reply in the negative.

'Oh, I forgot, that's not your sisters' line; but I thought . . . ' and
she gave an expressive glance to indicate Miss Charlecote.

'Oh, no,' again said Phoebe, decidedly.

'Yes, I understand. Never mind, I ought to have remembered; but when
people are _gone in_, one is apt to forget whether they think
"promiscuous dancing" immoral or praiseworthy. Well, you must know some
of my brother's constituents are alarmingly excellent--fat, suburban, and
retired; and we have hatched a juvenile hay-making, where they may eat
and flirt without detriment to decided piety; and when they go off, we
dress for a second instalment for an evening party.'

To Phoebe it sounded like opening Paradise, and she listened anxiously
for the decision; but nothing appeared certain except the morrow's
dinner, and that Lucilla was to come to spend the Sunday at Miss
Charlecote's; and this being fixed, the luncheon party broke up, with
such pretty bright affection on Lucilla's part, such merry coaxing of
Honor, and such orders to Phoebe to 'catch that Robin to-morrow,' that
there was no room left for the sense of disappointment that no rational
word had passed.

'Where?' asked Owen, getting into the carriage.

'Henry knows--the Royal Academy.'

'Ha! no alteration in consequence of the invitation? no finery required?
you must not carry Hilto