d and gone. There's only one that will shed tears good for
anything, and he is well quit of me!'

The poor little lonely thing wept again, and after her many sleepless
nights, she fairly cried herself to sleep. She awoke with a start, at
some one being admitted into the room.

'My dear, am I disturbing you?'

It was the well-known voice, and she sprang up.

'Mr. Pendy, Mr. Pendy, I was very naughty! I didn't mean it. Oh, will
you bear with me again, though I don't deserve it?'

She clung to him like a child wearied with its own naughtiness.

'I was too hasty,' he said; 'I forgot how wrapped up you were in your
brother, and how little attention you could spare, and then I thought
that in him you had found all you wanted, and that I was only in your
way.'

'How could you? Didn't you know better than to think that people put
their brothers before their--Mr. Pendys?'

'You seemed to wish to do so.'

'Ah! but you should have known it was only for the sake of being coaxed!'
said Lucilla, hanging her head on one side.

'You should have told me so.'

'But how was I to know it?' And she broke out into a very different kind
of laughter. 'I'm sure I thought it was all magnanimity, but it is of no
use to die of one's own magnanimity, you see.'

'You are not going to die; you are coming to this Spanish place, which
will give you lungs of brass.'

'Spanish place? How do you know? I have not slept into to-morrow, have
I? That Robin has not flown to Wrapworth and back since three o'clock?'

'No, I was only inquiring at Mrs. Murrell's.'

'Oh, you silly, silly person, why couldn't you come here?'

'I did not want to bother you.'

'For shame, for shame; if you say that again I shall know you have not
forgiven me. It is a moral against using words too strong for the
occasion! So Robert carried you the offer of the chaplaincy, and you
mean to have it!'

'I could not help coming, as he desired, to see what you thought of it.'

'I only know,' she said, half crying, yet laughing, 'that you had better
marry me out of hand before I get into any more mischief.'

The chaplaincy was promising. The place was on the lovely coast of
Andalusia. There was a small colony of English engaged in trade, and the
place was getting into favour with invalids. Mervyn's correspondent was
anxious to secure the services of a good man, and the society of a
lady-like wife, and offered to guarantee a handsome salary, such as
just