ave I gone and said?' ejaculated Lucilla, as the door
closed after him. 'Why did I let it out, and make him think me a vixen?
Better than a hypocrite though! I always professed to show my worst.
What's come to me, that I can't go on so contentedly? He must hear the
Charteris' sentiments, though, that he may not think mine a gratuitous
affront.'

Her explanation was at her tongue's end, but Robert only reappeared with
her brother, whom he had found dressing. Owen just greeted his sister,
but asked no questions, only dropping heavily into a chair, and let her
bring him his breakfast. So young was he, still wanting six weeks to
years of discretion; so youthful his appearance in spite of his size and
strength, that it was almost absurd to regard him as a widower, and
expect him to act as a man of mature age and feeling. There was much of
the boy in his excessive and freely-indulged lassitude, and his
half-sullen, half-shy reserve towards his sister. Knowing he had been in
conversation with Robert, she felt it hard that before her he only leant
his elbows on the table, yawned, and talked of his stiffness, until his
friend rising to leave them, he exerted himself to say, 'Don't go,
Fulmort.'

'I am afraid I must. I leave you to your sister.' (She noted that it
was not 'Lucy.')

'But, I say, Fulmort, there are things to settle--funeral, and all that,'
he said in a helpless voice, like a sulky schoolboy.

'Your sister has been arranging with Mrs. Murrell.'

'Yes, Owen,' said Lucilla, tears glistening in her eyes, and her voice
thrilling with emotion; 'it is right and just that she should be with our
mother and little Mary at home; so I have written to Mr. Prendergast.'

'Very well,' he languidly answered. 'Settle it as you will; only deliver
me from the old woman!'

He was in no state for reproaches; but Lucilla was obliged to bite her
lip to restrain a torrent of angry weeping.

At his urgent instance, Robert engaged to return to dinner, and went,
leaving Lucilla with nothing to do but to watch those heavy slumberings
on the sofa and proffer attentions that were received with the surliness
of one too miserable to know what to do with himself. She yearned over
him with a new awakening of tenderness, longing, yet unable, to console
or soothe. The light surface-intercourse of the brother and sister, each
selfishly refraining from stirring the depths of the other's mind,
rendered them mere strangers in the tim