ot quite
approve of the visit.

That morning old Lady Lufton herself had come across to the parsonage
with the express view of bidding all the party to come across
to the Court to dine. "You can tell Mr. Oriel, Fanny, with Lucy's
compliments, how delighted she will be to see him." Old Lady Lufton
always spoke of her daughter-in-law as the mistress of the house. "If
you think he is particular, you know, we will send a note across."
Mrs. Robarts said that she supposed Mr. Oriel would not be particular,
but, looking at Grace, made some faint excuse. "You must come, my
dear," said Lady Lufton. "Lucy wishes it particularly." Mrs. Robarts
did not know how to say that she would not come; and so the matter
stood,--when Mrs. Robarts was called upon to leave the room for a
moment, and Lady Lufton and Grace were left alone.

"Dear Lady Lufton," said Grace, getting up suddenly from her chair;
"will you do me a favour,--a great favour?" She spoke with an energy
which quite surprised the old lady, and caused her almost to start
from her seat.

"I don't like making promises," said Lady Lufton; "but anything I can
do with propriety, I will."

"You can do this. Pray let me stay here to-day. You don't understand
how I feel about going out while papa is in this way. I know how
kind and how good you all are; and when dear Mrs. Robarts asked me
here, and mamma said that I had better come, I could not refuse. But
indeed, indeed, I had rather not go out to a dinner-party."

"It is not a party, my dear girl," said Lady Lufton, with the kindest
voice which she knew how to assume. "And you must remember that my
daughter-in-law regards you as so very old a friend! You remember, of
course, when she was staying over at Hogglestock?"

"Indeed I do. I remember it well."

"And therefore you should not regard it as going out. There will be
nobody there but ourselves and the people from this house."

"But it will be going out, Lady Lufton; and I do hope you will let
me stay here. You cannot think how I feel it. Of course I cannot go
without something like dressing--and--and-- In poor papa's state I
feel that I ought not to do anything that looks like gaiety. I ought
never to forget it;--not for a moment."

There was a tear in Lady Lufton's eye as she said,--"My dear, you
shan't come. You and Fanny shall stop and dine here by yourselves.
The gentlemen shall come."

"Do let Mrs. Robarts go, please," said Grace.

"I won't do anything of the