from whence
a path led through a ragged garden from the road to Mr. Crawley's
house, Lady Lufton hardly knew how to proceed. The servant came to
the door of the carriage, and asked for her orders. "H--m--m, ha,
yes; I think I'll send in my card;--and say that I hope Mrs. Crawley
will be able to see me. Won't that be best; eh, Fanny?" Fanny,
otherwise Mrs. Robarts, said that she thought that would be the best;
and the card and message were carried in.

It was happily the case that Mr. Crawley was not at home. Mr. Crawley
was away at Hoggle End, reading to the brickmakers, or turning the
mangles of their wives, or teaching them theology, or politics, or
history, after his fashion. In these days he spent, perhaps, the
happiest hours of his life down at Hoggle End. I say that his absence
was a happy chance, because, had he been at home, he would certainly
have said something, or done something, to offend Lady Lufton. He
would either have refused to see her, or when seeing her he would
have bade her hold her peace and not interfere with matters which did
not concern her, or,--more probable still,--he would have sat still
and sullen, and have spoken not at all. But he was away, and Mrs
Crawley sent out word by the servant that she would be most proud to
see her ladyship, if her ladyship would be pleased to alight. Her
ladyship did alight, and walked into the parsonage, followed by Mrs
Robarts.

Grace was with her mother. Indeed Jane had been there also when the
message was brought in, but she fled into back regions, overcome by
shame as to her frock. Grace, I think, would have fled too, had she
not been bound in honour to support her mother. Lady Lufton, as she
entered, was very gracious, struggling with all the power of her
womanhood so to carry herself that there should be no outwardly
visible sign of her rank or her wealth,--but not altogether
succeeding. Mrs. Robarts, on her first entrance, said only a word or
two of greeting to Mrs. Crawley, and kissed Grace, whom she had known
intimately in early years. "Lady Lufton," said Mrs. Crawley, "I am
afraid this is a very poor place for you to come to; but you have
known that of old, and therefore I need hardly apologise."

"Sometimes I like poor places best," said Lady Lufton. Then there was
a pause, after which Lady Lufton addressed herself to Grace, seeking
some subject for immediate conversation. "You have been down at
Allington, my dear, have you not?" Grace, in a whi