'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 Hiltonbury philosophy _too_ far.' 'I have not accepted it.' 'That is not required; it is your fate, Phoebe; why don't you speak, or are you under an embargo from any of the wicked enchanters? Even if so, you might be got off among the pious juveniles.' 'Papa was so kind as to say I might go wherever Miss Charlecote liked,' said Phoebe; 'but, indeed, I had rather do exactly what suits her; I dare say the morning party will suit her best--' 'The oily popular preachers!' 'Thank you, Owen,' laughed Honor. 'No, now you must accept the whole. There's room to give the preachers a wide berth, even should they insist on "concluding with prayer," and it will be a pretty sight. They have the Guards' band coming.' 'I never heard a military band,' ejaculated Phoebe. 'And there are to be sports for the village children, I believe,' added Owen; 'besides, you will like to meet some of the lions--the Archdeacon and his wife will be there.' 'But how can I think of filling up Mrs. Charteris's house, without the least acquaintance?' 'Honey-sweet philosopher, Eloisa heeds as little how her house is filled, so it _be_ filled, as Jessica did her father's ring. Five dresses a day, with accoutrements to match, and for the rest she is sublimely indifferent. Fortune played her a cruel trick in preventing her from being born a fair sultana.' 'Not to be a Mahometan?' said Phoebe. 'I don't imagine she is far removed from one;' then, as Phoebe's horror made her look like Maria, he added--'don't mean that she was not bred a Christian, but the Oriental mind never distinctly embraces tenets contrary to its constitution.' 'Miss Charlecote, is he talking in earnest?' 'I hope not,' Honora said, a little severely, 'for he would be giving a grievous account of the poor lady's faith--'