that moment, as it happened, Lucy was playing chess with her father;
and her heart, though not remorseful, was as heavy as George could have
wished. But she did not let Eugene see that she was troubled, and he was
pleased when he won three games of her. Usually she beat him.

Chapter XIX

George went driving the next afternoon alone, and, encountering Lucy
and her father on the road, in one of Morgan's cars, lifted his hat,
but nowise relaxed his formal countenance as they passed. Eugene waved
a cordial hand quickly returned to the steering-wheel; but Lucy only
nodded gravely and smiled no more than George did. Nor did she accompany
Eugene to the Major's for dinner, the following Sunday evening, though
both were bidden to attend that feast, which was already reduced in
numbers and gayety by the absence of George Amberson. Eugene explained
to his host that Lucy had gone away to visit a school-friend.

The information, delivered in the library, just before old Sam's
appearance to announce dinner, set Miss Minafer in quite a flutter.
"Why, George!" she said, turning to her nephew. "How does it happen
you didn't tell us?" And with both hands opening, as if to express her
innocence of some conspiracy, she exclaimed to the others, "He's never
said one word to us about Lucy's planning to go away!"

"Probably afraid to," the Major suggested. "Didn't know but he might
break down and cry if he tried to speak of it!" He clapped his grandson
on the shoulder, inquiring jocularly, "That it, Georgie?"

Georgie made no reply, but he was red enough to justify the Major's
developing a chuckle into laughter; though Miss Fanny, observing her
nephew keenly, got an impression that this fiery blush was in truth more
fiery than tender. She caught a glint in his eye less like confusion
than resentment, and saw a dilation of his nostrils which might have
indicated not so much a sweet agitation as an inaudible snort. Fanny had
never been lacking in curiosity, and, since her brother's death, this
quality was more than ever alert. The fact that George had spent all the
evenings of the past week at home had not been lost upon her, nor had
she failed to ascertain, by diplomatic inquiries, that since the day of
the visit to Eugene's shops George had gone driving alone.

At the dinner-table she continued to observe him, sidelong; and toward
the conclusion of the meal she was not startled by an episode which
brought discomfort to the other