aid out for her. Lady Lufton
had of course heard of the doctor's death, and had sent all manner of
kind messages to Mark, advising him not to hurry home by any means
until everything was settled at Exeter. And then she was told of the
new-comer that was expected in the parish. When she heard that it
was Lucy, the younger, she also was satisfied; for Blanche's charms,
though indisputable, had not been altogether to her taste. If a
second Blanche were to arrive there what danger might there not be
for young Lord Lufton! "Quite right," said her ladyship, "just what
he ought to do. I think I remember the young lady; rather small, is
she not, and very retiring?"

"Rather small and very retiring. What a description!" said Lord
Lufton.

"Never mind, Ludovic; some young ladies must be small, and some
at least ought to be retiring. We shall be delighted to make her
acquaintance."

"I remember your other sister-in-law very well," said Lord Lufton.
"She was a beautiful woman."

"I don't think you will consider Lucy a beauty," said Mrs. Robarts.

"Small, retiring, and--" so far Lord Lufton had gone, when Mrs.
Robarts finished by the word, "plain." She had liked Lucy's face, but
she had thought that others probably did not do so.

"Upon my word," said Lady Lufton, "you don't deserve to have a
sister-in-law. I remember her very well, and can say that she is not
plain. I was very much taken with her manner at your wedding, my
dear, and thought more of her than I did of the beauty, I can tell
you."

"I must confess I do not remember her at all," said his lordship. And
so the conversation ended. And then at the end of the fortnight Mark
arrived with his sister. They did not reach Framley till long after
dark--somewhere between six and seven--and by this time it was
December. There was snow on the ground, and frost in the air, and no
moon, and cautious men when they went on the roads had their horses'
shoes cocked. Such being the state of the weather Mark's gig had
been nearly filled with cloaks and shawls when it was sent over to
Silverbridge. And a cart was sent for Lucy's luggage, and all manner
of preparations had been made. Three times had Fanny gone herself to
see that the fire burned brightly in the little room over the porch,
and at the moment that the sound of the wheels was heard she was
engaged in opening her son's mind as to the nature of an aunt.
Hitherto papa and mamma and Lady Lufton were all that he had known,