Charteris
coming up, carried the two young men to inspect some of his doings out of
doors, and Phoebe returned with her wreaths of creepers to find that the
poor schoolmistress had become quite hysterical, and had been take away
by Lucilla.

Rashe summoned her at the same time to the decoration of the music-room,
and on entering, stopped in amusement, and made her a sign in silence to
look into a large pier-glass, which stood so as to reflect through an
open door what was passing in the little fanciful boudoir beyond, a place
fitted like a tent, and full of quaint Dresden china and toys of
_bijouterie_. There was a complete picture within the glass. Lucilla,
her fair face seen in profile, more soft and gentle than she often
allowed it to appear, was kneeling beside the couch where half reclined
the tall, handsome Edna, whose raven hair, and pale, fine features made
her like a heroine, as she nervously held the hands which Lucilla had
placed within her grasp. There was a low murmur of voices, one soothing,
the other half sobbing, but nothing reached the outer room distinctly,
till, as Phoebe was holding a long wreath, which Ratia was tying up, she
heard--'Oh! but it is so different with me from you young ladies who are
used to company and all. I dare say that young lady would not be timid.'

'What young lady, Edna? Not the one with the auburn hair?'

Ratia made an ecstatic face which disgusted Phoebe.

'Oh, no!--the young lady whom Mr. Sandbrook was helping. I dare say she
would not mind singing--or anything,' came amid sobs.

Ratia nodded, looked excessively arch, and formed a word with her lips,
which Phoebe thought was 'jealous,' but could not imagine what she could
mean by it.

'I don't know why you should think poor Phoebe Fulmort so brazen. She is
a mere child, taking a holiday from her strict governess.'

Phoebe laughed back an answer to Rashe's pantomime, which in this case
she understood.

'She has not had half your training in boldness, with your inspectors and
examinations, and all those horrid things. Why, you never thought of
taking fright before, even when you have sung to people here. Why should
you now?'

'It is so different, now--so many more people. Oh, so different! I
shall never be able.'

'Not at all. You will quite forget all about yourself and your fears
when the time comes. You don't know the exhilaration of a room full of
people, all lights and music! That symphony will