"If you wish it, Sir, it shall certainly be so," answered Mrs Latrobe, who seemed to be under no doubt concerning Mr Welles' meaning. "I am yours to serve you in the matter." "Dearest Madam, you are an angel of mercy! The sooner I retire, then, the better." He kissed Mrs Latrobe's hand, and came round to Phoebe. "Mr Welles, you have not seen Rhoda yet. I do not understand!" said Phoebe blankly, as he bowed iver her hand. "Madam, I have but just now engaged myself--" "Phoebe, don't be a goose!" burst from her mother. "You must be a baby if you do not understand. Cannot you see that Mr Welles, in a most honourable manner, which does him infinite credit, withdraws all pretensions to your cousin's hand, leaving her free to engage herself elsewhere? Really, I should have thought you had sense enough for that." For a moment Phoebe looked, with a bewildered air, from her mother to Mr Welles. Then shyness, fear and reserve gave way before indignation. She did understand now. "You mean to desert Rhoda, because she has lost the paltry money that you expected she would have?" For once in his life, Mr Marcus Welles seemed startled and taken at a disadvantage. "I was afraid you wanted her chiefly for her money, but I did not believe you capable of this! So you do not care for her at all? And you run away, afraid to face the pangs you have created, and to meet the eyes of the maid you have so foully wronged. Shame on you!" "Phoebe, you must be mad!" exclaimed Mrs Latrobe, rising. "Don't listen to her, dear Mr Welles; 'tis a most distressing scene for you to bear. I am infinitely concerned my daughter should have so far forgotten herself as to address you with such vulgar abuse. I can only excuse her on the ground--" "Dearest Madam, there is every excuse," said Mr Welles, with the sweetest magnanimity. "Sweet Mrs Phoebe is a woodland bird, untrammelled as yet by those fetters which we men and women of the world must needs bear. 'Tis truly delightful to see the charming generosity and the admirable fire with which she plays the knight-errant. Indeed, Madam, such disinterested warmth and fervour of heart are seen but too seldom in this worn old world. Suffer me to entreat you not to chide Mrs Phoebe for her charming simplicity and high spirit." "Since Mr Welles condescends to intercede for you, Phoebe, notwithstanding your shocking behaviour, I am willing to overlook it this time; but I warn you I shall not prove thus easy another time." "I am sure I hope there will never be another time!" cried Phoebe, her eyes flashing. "Phoebe, go to your chamber, and don't let me hear one word more," said Mrs Latrobe, severely. And Phoebe obeyed, rushing upstairs with feet that seemed to keep pace with the whirlwind in her heart. "Phoebe, I wonder whether of these ribbons, the silk or the gauze, would go best with-- Why, whatever in the world is the matter?" said Rhoda, breaking off.