'I do not quite enter into her,' said Phoebe, doubtfully.

'The best-natured and most unappreciated girl in the world. Up to
anything, and only a victim to prejudice. You, who have a strong-minded
governess, ought to be superior to the delusion that it is interesting to
be stupid and helpless.'

'I never thought so,' said Phoebe, feeling for a moment in the wrong, as
Lucilla always managed to make her antagonists do.

'Yes, you do, or why look at me in that pleading, perplexed fashion, save
that you have become possessed with the general prejudice. Weigh it, by
the light of Whately's logic, and own candidly wherefore Rashe and I
should be more liable to come to grief, travelling alone, than two men of
the same ages.'

'I have not grounds enough to judge,' said Phoebe, beginning as though
Miss Fennimore were giving an exercise to her reasoning powers; then,
continuing with her girlish eagerness of entreaty, 'I only know that it
cannot be right, since it grieves Robin and Miss Charlecote so much.'

'And all that grieves Robin and Miss Charlecote must be shocking, eh?
Oh, Phoebe, what very women all the Miss Fennimores in the world leave
us, and how lucky it is!'

'But I don't think you are going to grieve them,' said Phoebe, earnestly.

'I hate the word!' said Lucilla. 'Plaguing is only fun, but grieving,
that is serious.'

'I do believe this is only plaguing!' cried Phoebe, 'and that this is
your way of disposing of all the flies. I shall tell Robin so!'

'To spoil all my fun,' exclaimed Lucilla. 'No, indeed!'

Phoebe only gave a nod and smile of supreme satisfaction.

'Ah! but, Phoebe, if I'm to grieve nobody, what's to become of poor
Rashe, you little selfish woman?'

'Selfish, no!' sturdily said Phoebe. 'If it be wrong for you, it must be
equally wrong for her; and perhaps' she added, slowly, 'you would both be
glad of some good reason for giving it up. Lucy, dear, do tell me
whether you really like it, for I cannot fancy you so.'

'Like it? Well, yes! I like the salmons, and I dote on the fun and the
fuss. I say, Phoebe, can you bear the burden of a secret? Well--only
mind, if you tell Robin or Honor, I shall certainly go; we never would
have taken it up in earnest if such a rout had not been made about it,
that we were driven to show we did not care, and could be trusted with
ourselves.'

'Then you don't mean it?'

'That's as people behave themselves. Hush! Here comes Honor. Look