ght of him as she
could get hold of Lucia, had a dozen questions to ask. "Was he
Mademoiselle's brother? Her cousin then? Only a friend? What a charming
young man! How tall he was! and what magnifiques yeux bruns! Now,
surely, Mademoiselle would not be so _triste_? She would go out a
little? and everybody would remark them, Mademoiselle being so graceful,
and monsieur so _very_ tall."

Lucia told her mother, laughing, that she and Maurice were going to walk
up the Champs Elysees next day, with placards, saying that they were two
North Americans newly caught; and when Maurice came next morning, she
repeated Claudine's comments to him with a perfect enjoyment of the good
little woman's admiration for "ce beau Monsieur Canadien."

CHAPTER XII.

After that day, Paris became quite a different place to Lucia. Maurice
was with them most of every day, and every day they saw something new,
or made some little country excursion. The weather, though still rather
cold, was fine and bright; winter had fairly given place to spring, and
all externally was so gay, sunny and hopeful, that it was quite
impossible to give way either to sad recollections of the past, or to
melancholy thoughts of the future.

Mrs. Costello's health seemed steadily, though slowly improving; she had
now no anxiety, except that one shadowy doubt of Lucia's decision with
regard to Maurice, and that she was glad to leave for the present in
uncertainty. She felt no hesitation in letting the two young people go
where they would together; they had always been like brother and sister,
and, at the worst, they would still be that.

When this pleasant life had lasted about ten days, Maurice came in one
morning and said,

"What do you say to a visitor to-day, Lucia?"

Lucia looked up eagerly with clasped hands,

"Who?" she cried. "Not your cousin?"

"Why not?"

"Oh, Maurice! I am afraid of her--I am indeed. I am sure she is a
_grande dame_, and will annihilate me."

"Silly child! She is a tiny woman, with a fair little face and not a bit
of grandeur about her. You yourself will look like a queen beside her."

"She is your very good friend, is not she?"

"Indeed she is. Promise me to try to like her."

"Of course, I will try. Is she really coming here?"

"She wishes to call this afternoon."

Lucia looked round the room. It was nice enough, and pretty in its way
with its mirrors, gilt ornaments, and imposing clock on the mantelpiece;
but it wa