st she go and open the
door? It seemed so, since there was no one else; and while she hesitated
there was another ring, a little louder than the first.

She got up, put down her work, and went towards the door. "I wish
Claudine would come," she said to herself; but Claudine was not likely
to come yet, and meanwhile somebody was waiting.

"I suppose I shall have a flood of French poured over me," she thought
dolorously; but there was clearly no help.

She went to the door, and opened it; a gentleman stood there--a
gentleman! She uttered one little cry--

"Maurice!"

And then they were both standing inside the closed door; and he held her
two hands in his, and they were looking at each other with eyes too full
of joy to see well.

"Lucia!" he said; "just yourself." But somehow his voice was not quite
steady, and he dare not trust it any further.

"We wanted you so, and you are come. Oh, Maurice! you are good to find
us so soon!"

"Did you think I should not?"

"I cannot tell. How could you know where we were?"

"I went to Chester, and asked."

"To Chester? To my cousin's? Just to find us out?"

"Why not? Did not you know perfectly well that my first thought when I
was free would be to find you?"

He spoke half laughing, but there was no mistaking his earnestness in
the matter; was not he here to prove it? Tears came very fast to Lucia's
eyes. This was really like the old happy days coming back.

"Come in," she said, "mamma is here." But mamma still slept undisturbed,
for their tones had been low in the greatness of their joy; and Maurice
drew Lucia back, and would not let her awake her.

"She looks very tired," he said rather hypocritically; "and it will be
time enough to see me when she awakes. Don't disturb her."

Lucia looked at her mother anxiously. She knew this sleep was good for
the invalid, and yet it might last an hour, and how could she wait all
that time for the thousand things she wanted to hear from Maurice? The
door of their tiny salle a manger stood a little open.

"Come in here, then," she said, "we shall be able to see when she
wakes--and _I must_ talk to you."

Maurice followed obediently--this was better than his hopes, to have
Lucia all to himself for the first half hour. She made him sit down in
such a manner that he could not be seen by Mrs. Costello, while she
herself could see through the open door and watch for her mother's
waking.

"And now tell me," she asked, "have you