ly by his existence, which was the principal grievance of
all. Lucy's brief life had been embellished, almost ever since she had
been capable of independent action, by deeds and thoughts of mercy.
With her whole heart she was a disciple of Him who came to seek the
lost; notwithstanding, a natural human sentiment in her heart
protested against the existence of this man, who had brought shame and
distress into the family without any act of theirs, and who injured
everybody he came in contact with. When the thought of Rosa Elsworthy
occurred to her, a burning blush came upon Lucy's cheek--why were such
men permitted in God's world? To be sure, when she came to be aware of
what she was thinking, Lucy felt guilty, and called herself a
Pharisee, and said a prayer in her heart for the man who had upset all
her cherished ideas of her family and home; but, after all, _that_ was
an after-thought, and did not alter her instinctive sense of repulsion
and indignation. All this swept rapidly through her mind while she sat
awaiting the entrance of the person or persons who were approaching
the door. "If it is the--owner of the house, it will be best to tell
him what things you mean to remove," said Lucy; and before Miss
Wodehouse could answer, the door was opened. They started, however, to
perceive not Wodehouse, but a personage of very different appearance,
who came in with an easy air of polite apology, and looked at them
with eyes which recalled to Lucy the eyes which had been gazing into
her own scarcely an hour ago. "Pardon me," said this unlooked-for
visitor; "your brother, Miss Wodehouse, finds some difficulty in
explaining himself to relations from whom he has been separated so
long. Not to interfere with family privacy, will you let me assist at
the conference?" said Jack Wentworth. "My brother, I understand, is a
friend of yours, and your brother--is a--hem--friend of mine," the
diplomatist added, scarcely able to avoid making a wry face over the
statement. Wodehouse came in behind, looking an inch or two taller for
that acknowledgment, and sat down, confronting his sisters, who were
standing on the defensive. The heir, too, had a strong sense of
property, as was natural, and the disarrangement of the room struck
him in that point of view, especially as Miss Wodehouse continued to
prop herself up against the St Agnes in the back of her chair.
Wodehouse looked from the wall to the table, and saw what appeared to
him a clear ca