"Miss Robarts," he said, "I am starting for London to-morrow, and if
I do not say good-bye to you now, I shall not be able to do so at
all."

"Good-bye, Lord Lufton," she said, giving him her hand, and smiling
on him with her old genial, good-humoured, racy smile. "And mind you
bring into Parliament that law which you promised me for defending my
young chickens."

He took her hand, but that was not all he wanted. "Surely Mrs.
Podgens and her baby can wait ten minutes. I shall not see you again
for months to come, and yet you seem to begrudge me two words."

"Not two hundred if they can be of any service to you," said she,
walking cheerily back into the drawing-room; "only I did not think
it worth while to waste your time, as Fanny is not here." She was
infinitely more collected, more master of herself than he was.
Inwardly, she did tremble at the idea of what was coming, but
outwardly she showed no agitation--none as yet; if only she could so
possess herself as to refrain from doing so, when she heard what he
might have to say to her.

He hardly knew what it was for the saying of which he had so
resolutely come thither. He had by no means made up his mind that
he loved Lucy Robarts; nor had he made up his mind that, loving her,
he would, or that, loving her, he would not, make her his wife. He
had never used his mind in the matter in any way, either for good
or evil. He had learned to like her and to think that she was very
pretty. He had found out that it was very pleasant to talk to her;
whereas, talking to Griselda Grantly, and, indeed, to some other
young ladies of his acquaintance, was often hard work. The half-hours
which he had spent with Lucy had always been satisfactory to him. He
had found himself to be more bright with her than with other people,
and more apt to discuss subjects worth discussing; and thus it had
come about that he thoroughly liked Lucy Robarts. As to whether his
affection was Platonic or anti-Platonic he had never asked himself;
but he had spoken words to her, shortly before that sudden cessation
of their intimacy, which might have been taken as anti-Platonic by
any girl so disposed to regard them. He had not thrown himself at her
feet, and declared himself to be devoured by a consuming passion;
but he had touched her hand as lovers touch those of women whom they
love; he had had his confidences with her, talking to her of his own
mother, of his sister, and of his friends; and he had