stop!" he said. "Miss Robarts, you really had better not--"

"Go on, Mark," said Lucy, in a whisper, which, whether audible or not
by Mr Crawley, was heard very plainly by the dean. And Mark, who had
slightly arrested Puck by the reins on the appearance of Mr. Crawley,
now touched the impatient little beast with his whip; and the vehicle
with its freight darted off rapidly, Puck shaking his head and going
away with a tremendously quick short trot, which soon separated Mr.
Crawley from his family.

"Miss Robarts," he began, "this step has been taken altogether
without--"

"Yes," said she, interrupting him. "My brother was obliged to return
at once. The children, you know, will remain all together at the
parsonage; and that, I think, is what Mrs. Crawley will best like. In
a day or two they will be under Mrs. Robarts's own charge."

"But, my dear Miss Robarts, I had no intention whatever of putting
the burden of my family on the shoulders of another person. They must
return to their own home immediately--that is, as soon as they can be
brought back."

"I really think Miss Robarts has managed very well," said the dean.
"Mrs. Crawley must be so much more comfortable to think that they are
out of danger."

"And they will be quite comfortable at the parsonage," said Lucy.

"I do not at all doubt that," said Mr. Crawley; "but too much of such
comforts will unfit them for their home; and--and I could have wished
that I had been consulted more at leisure before the proceeding had
been taken."

"It was arranged, Mr. Crawley, when I was here before, that the
children had better go away," pleaded Lucy.

"I do not remember agreeing to such a measure, Miss Robarts;
however-- I suppose they cannot be had back to-night?"

"No, not to-night," said Lucy. "And now I will go in to your wife."
And then she returned to the house, leaving the two gentlemen at the
door. At this moment a labourer's boy came sauntering by, and the
dean, obtaining possession of his services for the custody of his
horse, was able to dismount and put himself on a more equal footing
for conversation with his friend.

"Crawley," said he, putting his hand affectionately on his friend's
shoulder, as they both stood leaning on the little rail before the
door; "that is a good girl--a very good girl."

"Yes," said he slowly; "she means well."

"Nay, but she does well; she does excellently. What can be better
than her conduct now? While I was meditating h