CHAPTER XXII

When all is done or said, In th' end this shall you find, He most of all doth bathe in bliss That hath a quiet mind.--LORD VAUX

Robert had promised to return in the end of March to be present at the Assizes, when the burglars would be tried, and he did not come alone. Mr. Crabbe judged it time to inspect Beauchamp and decide for his wards; and Lady Bannerman, between Juliana's instigations, her own pride in being connected with a trial, and her desire to appropriate Phoebe, decided on coming down with the Admiral to see how matters stood, and to give her vote in the family council.

Commissions from Mervyn had pursued Robert since his arrival in town, all for Bertha's amusement, and he brought down, by special orders, a musical-box, all Leech's illustrations, and a small Maltese dog, like a spun-glass lion, which Augusta had in vain proposed to him to exchange for her pug, which was getting fat and wheezy, and 'would amuse Bertha just as well.' Lady Bannerman hardly contained her surprise when Maria, as well as Mervyn and Phoebe, met her in the hall, seemingly quite tame and at her ease. Mervyn looked better, and in answer to inquiries for Bertha, answered, 'Oh, getting on, decidedly; we have her in the garden. She might drive out, only she has such a horror of meeting any one; but her spirits are better, I really thought she would have laughed yesterday when Maria was playing with the kitten. Ha! the dog, have you got him, Robert. Well, if this does not amuse her, I do not know what will.'

Answer the following questions:
1. Who had vowed to come back?
2. When?
3. Where did he plan to be?
4. What would happen there?
5. was he alone?
6. What did Crabbe think it was time to do?
7. What kind of council was it?
8. What pursued Robert?
9. from whom?
10. since when?
11. for whose entertainment?
12. What did he bring?
13. what kind of dog was it?
14. was the pug healthy?
15. Was it thin?
16. where did they all meet?
17. How did Mervyn look?
18. Where was Bertha?
19. How is her mood?
20. What was Maria playing with?

Numbered answers:
1. Robert
2. in the end of March
3. at the Assizes
4. the burglars would be tried
5. no
6. inspect Beauchamp
7. a family council
8. Commissions
9. Mervyn
10. since his arrival in town
11. Bertha's
12. a musical-box
13. a small Maltese
14. no
15. no
16. in the hall
17. better
18. in the garden
19. better
20. the kitten