‘Then you think he ought not to change his mind?’
‘You have thought so all along,’ smiled Honor.
‘I did not like it,’ said Phœbe, ‘but I did not know if I were right. I did tell him that I really believed Lucy would think the more highly of him if he settled for himself without reference to her.’
‘You did! You were a capital little adviser, Phœbe! A woman worthy to be loved at all had always rather be set second instead of first:—
“I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more.”
That is the true spirit, and I am glad you judged Lucy to be capable of it. Keep your brother up to that, and all may be well!’
‘I believe Robert knows it all the time,’ said Phœbe. ‘He always is right at the bottom; but his feelings get so much tried that he does not know how to bear it! I hope Lucy will be kind to him if they meet in London, for he has been so much harassed that he wants some comfort from her. If she would only be in earnest!’
‘Does he go to London, at all events?’
‘He has promised to attend to the office in Great Whittington-street for a month, by way of experiment.’
‘I’ll tell you what, Phœbe,’ cried Honora, radiantly, ‘you and I will go too! You shall come with me to Woolstone-lane, and Robin shall be with us every day; and we will try and make this silly Lucy into a rational being.’