lete justice was
Mrs. Costello. She, who had peculiar reasons for looking with
unspeakable terror upon the suitors whom her child's beauty was certain
to attract, had weighed each look, word, gesture--gleaned such knowledge
as she could of his life, past and present, and judged him at last with
an accuracy which her intense interest in the subject made almost
perfect. Over this result she both rejoiced and lamented; but for the
present the one idea most constantly and strongly present to her was
that Lucia must pass by-and-by, only too soon, out of the sweet hopes
and dreams of girlhood, into the deep shadow which continually rested
upon her own heart. She knew how youth, which has never suffered, rebels
with passionate struggles against its first sorrows. She lived over and
over again in imagination her child's predestined trial.

But away from the unquiet household at the Cottage, there was beginning
to be much gossip with regard to all these things, and many speculations
of the usual kind as to the issue of Mr. Percy's undisguised admiration
for the beauty of Cacouna. Bella Latour was questioned on all sides, and
finding the general thirst for information a source of considerable
amusement, she did not scruple to supply her friends with plenty of
materials for their comments. From Maurice Leigh, no such satisfaction
was to be obtained--the most inveterate news-seekers gained nothing from
him.

A party of young people were collected one evening at Mrs. Scott's--a
house about a mile from Cacouna, in the opposite direction to the
Cottage. Lucia had been invited, but Maurice, who arrived late, had
brought a hasty note from her, excusing herself on the plea of her
mother's not being well. Little notice was taken at the time, for all
knew that Mrs. Costello had been looking ill lately, and it was
therefore probable enough that she might be too much indisposed for
Lucia to leave her. But later in the evening, when they were tired with
dancing, a group of girls began to chatter as they sat in a corner.

"I wonder what is the matter with Mrs. Costello," said one. "Lucia seems
to me to go out very little lately."

"She is better employed at home," replied another.

"You should have brought Mr. Percy, Bella," said Magdalen Scott.

"You did not invite him; and beside, I think we are better off without
him."

"Why? Don't you like him?"

"Tolerably well, but I am getting tired of him."

"Tired of him already?"

"I'm n