not a woman to start away into
the world without plans of some kind, and yet no one in Cacouna knows
more than that they sailed from New York to Havre."

"It is incomprehensible, except on one supposition. Did you ever hear
Mrs. Costello speak of my return?"

"Not particularly. Don't be offended, Maurice, either with her or with
me, but I did fancy once or twice that she wished to be away before you
came. Only, mind, that is simply my fancy."

"I have no doubt you fancied right; but I have a thousand questions to
ask you. Tell me first--"

"Maurice," interrupted Mr. Bellairs from the other side of the room,
"what is this your father says about going away immediately? You can't
be in earnest in such a scheme!"

"I am afraid I am," Maurice answered, getting up and standing with his
arm resting on the mantelpiece, "at least, if my father can stand the
journey."

Mr. Leigh, full of self-reproach and secret disturbance, vowed that the
journey would do him good; that he was eager to see the old country once
again. He had resolved, as the penance for his blunder, that he would
not be the means of hindering his boy one day in his quest for Lucia.
Nevertheless, the discussion grew warm, for Mr. Bellairs having vainly
protested against a winter voyage for the Costellos, had his arguments
all ready and in order, and had no scruple in bringing them to bear upon
Maurice. Of course, they were thrown away, just so many wasted words;
the angry impatient longing that was in the young man's heart would have
been strong enough to overthrow all the arguments in the universe. Only
one reason would have been strong enough to keep him--his father's
unfitness for travel; and that could not fairly be urged, for Mr. Leigh
was actually in better health than he had been for years, and would not
himself listen to a word on the subject.

Just before the visitors left, Maurice found an opportunity of asking
Mrs. Bellairs one of his "thousand questions."

"Mr. Strafford, of Moose Island, was Mrs. Costello's great adviser, does
not he know?"

"No; I wrote to him, and got his answer this morning. He only knew they
would probably stay some time in France."

She was just going out to get into the sleigh as she spoke. Suddenly
with her foot on the step she stopped,

"Stay! I have the address of a friend, a cousin, I think, of Mrs.
Costello's in England. Mr. Strafford sent it to me."

"Thanks, thanks. I shall see you in the morning."

Maur