o as to be herself out of his sight. He neither resisted her
man[oe]uvre nor even saw it, but sat down wearily and began to reply to
her mother's questions.

"I have been out of town. I had seen nothing of the country round Paris,
so I thought I would make an excursion."

"An excursion all alone?"

"Yes; I have been to St. Denis."

"How did you go?"

"By rail. I started to come back by an omnibus I saw out there, but I
did not much care about that mode of conveyance, so I got out and
walked."

"Have you seen Lady Dighton?"

"I have seen no one. I am but just come back."

"Maurice! Have you not dined, then?"

"No. Never mind that. I will have some tea with you, please, by-and-by."

But Lucia had received a glance from her mother, and was gone already to
try what Claudine's resources could produce. Mrs. Costello leaned
forward, and laid her hand entreatingly on Maurice's arm,

"Tell me what all this means?" she said.

He tried to smile as he returned her look, but his eyes fell before the
earnestness of hers.

"What what means?" he asked.

"Both you and Lucia know something I don't know," she answered. "I would
rather question you than her. Has she troubled you?"

"Not in the way you think," he answered quickly. "I have partly changed
my plans. I shall be obliged to go back to England with my cousin. Don't
question Lucia, dear Mrs. Costello, let her be in peace for awhile."

"In peace? But she has been in peace--happy as the day was long,
lately."

"She is disturbed now--yes, it is my fault--and I will do penance for
it. You understand I do not give up my hopes--I only defer them."

"But, Maurice, I _don't_ understand. You are neither changeable, nor
likely to give Lucia any excuse for being foolish. Why should you go
away? She exclaimed how sorry she was when your cousin spoke of it."

"Did she? But I am only a brother to her yet. Don't try to win more
just now for me, lest she should give me less."

"Well, of course, you know your own affairs best. But it is totally
incomprehensible to me."

Maurice leaned his head upon his hands. He had had a miserable day, and
was feeling broken down and wretched. He spoke hopefully, but in his
heart he doubted whether it would not be better to give Lucia up at once
and altogether, only he had a strong suspicion that to give her up was
not a thing within the power of his will.

CHAPTER XV.

The evening passed in constraint and embarrassment. Mrs.