was there lost between me and Corny
Carlyle. Is Mr. Carlyle at home?"

"He will be home to dinner. I dare say you would like some tea; you
shall come and take it with me and Wilson, in the nursery."

"I was thinking you might have the grace to offer me something," cried
Afy. "I intend to stop till to-morrow in the neighborhood. My lady
gave me two days' holiday--for she was going to see her dreadful old
grandmother, where she can't take a maid--and I thought I'd use it in
coming to have a look at the old place again. Don't stare at me in that
blank way, as if you feared I should ask the grand loan of sleeping
here. I shall sleep at the Mount Severn Arms."

"I was not glancing at such a thought, Afy. Come and take your bonnet
off."

"Is the nursery full of children?"

"There is only one child in it. Miss Lucy and Master William are with
the governess."

Wilson received Afy with lofty condescension, having Richard Hare in her
thoughts. But Joyce explained that it was all a misapprehension--that
her sister had never been near Richard Hare, but was as indignant
against him as they were. Upon which Wilson grew cordial and chatty,
rejoicing in the delightful recreation her tongue would enjoy that
evening.

Afy's account of herself, as to past proceedings, was certainly not the
most satisfactory in the world; but, altogether, taken in the present,
it was so vast an improvement upon Joyce's conclusions, that she had
not felt so elated for many a day. When Mr. Carlyle returned home Joyce
sought him, and acquainted him with what had happened; that Afy was
come; was maid to Lady Mount Severn; and, above all, that she had never
been with Richard Hare.

"Ah! You remember what I said, Joyce," he remarked. "That I did not
believe Afy was with Richard Hare."

"I have been telling her so, sir, to be sure, when I informed her what
people had believed," continued Joyce. "She nearly went into one of her
old passions."

"Does she seem steady, Joyce?"

"I think so, sir--steady for her. I was thinking, sir, that as she
appears to have turned out so respectable, and is with Lady Mount
Severn, you, perhaps, might see no objection to her sleeping here for
to-night. It would be better than for her to go to the inn, as she talks
of doing."

"None at all," replied Mr. Carlyle. "Let her remain."

Later in the evening, after Mr. Carlyle's dinner, a message came that
Afy was to go to him. Accordingly she proceeded to his presence.