rf and Culpepper say that the season
is early this year. I must go down to Framley before I start--about
my horses: and therefore I came to tell you that I shall be there
to-morrow."

"At Framley to-morrow! If you could put it off for three days I
should be going myself." But Lord Lufton could not put it off for
three days. It may be that on this occasion he did not wish for his
mother's presence at Framley while he was there; that he conceived
that he should be more at his ease in giving orders about his stable
if he were alone while so employed. At any rate he declined her
company, and on the following morning did go down to Framley by
himself.

"Mark," said Mrs. Robarts, hurrying into her husband's book-room
about the middle of the day, "Lord Lufton is at home. Have you heard
it?"

"What! here at Framley?"

"He is over at Framley Court; so the servants say. Carson saw him in
the paddock with some of the horses. Won't you go and see him?"

"Of course I will," said Mark, shutting up his papers. "Lady Lufton
can't be here, and if he is alone he will probably come and dine."

"I don't know about that," said Mrs. Robarts, thinking of poor Lucy.

"He is not in the least particular. What does for us will do for
him. I shall ask him, at any rate." And without further parley the
clergyman took up his hat and went off in search of his friend. Lucy
Robarts had been present when the gardener brought in tidings of Lord
Lufton's arrival at Framley, and was aware that Fanny had gone to
tell her husband.

"He won't come here, will he?" she said, as soon as Mrs. Robarts
returned.

"I can't say," said Fanny. "I hope not. He ought not to do so, and I
don't think he will. But Mark says that he will ask him to dinner."

"Then, Fanny, I must be taken ill. There is nothing else for it."

"I don't think he will come. I don't think he can be so cruel.
Indeed, I feel sure that he won't; but I thought it right to tell
you." Lucy also conceived that it was improbable that Lord Lufton
should come to the parsonage under the present circumstances; and she
declared to herself that it would not be possible that she should
appear at table if he did do so; but, nevertheless, the idea of his
being at Framley was, perhaps, not altogether painful to her. She did
not recognize any pleasure as coming to her from his arrival, but
still there was something in his presence which was, unconsciously
to herself, soothing to her feelings. But that