ought to have brought my sketches. I had two years of lessons from
S---.'

'Sarah is burning for teaching in that line. Music? Dr. Prendergast
likes the grand old pieces, and hardly cares for modern ones.'

'I hardly played anything newer than Mozart at Hiltonbury. Miss
Charlecote taught me very well, I believe, and I had lessons from the
organist from Elverslope, besides a good deal in the fashionable line
since. I have kept that up. One wants it.'

There was another shy pause, and Lucilla growing more scrupulous and more
confidential, volunteered,--'Mine has been an idle life since I came out.
I am three-and-twenty now, and have been diligently forgetting for the
last six years. Did you know that I had been a fast young lady?'

But things had come to such a pass, that say what she would, all passed
for ingenuous candour and humility, and the answer was,--

'I know that you have led a very trying life, but to have passed through
such unscathed is no disadvantage.'

'If I have,' said Lucy, sadly.

Mrs. Prendergast, who had learned all the facts of Lucilla's history
through the Wrapworth medium, knew only the heroic side of her character,
and admired her the more for her diffidence. So when terms were spoken
of, the only fear on the one side was, that such a treasure must be
beyond her means; on the other, lest what she needed for her nephew's
sake might deprive her of such a home. However, seventy pounds a year
proved to be in the thoughts of both, and the preliminaries ended with,
'I hope you will find my little Sarah a pleasant companion. She is a
good girl, and intelligent, but you must be prepared for a few angles.'

'I like angles. I don't care for commonplace people.'

'I am afraid that you will find many such at Southminster. We cannot
promise you the society you have been used to.'

'I am tired of society. I have had six years of it!' and she sighed.

'You must fix your own time,' said Mrs. Prendergast; 'and indeed we will
try to make you at home.'

'My brother will be gone in a fortnight,' said Lucilla. 'After that I
should like to come straight to you.'

Her tone and look made those two last words not merely _chez vous_, but
to _you_, individually--to you, kind one, who will comfort me after the
cruel parting. Mrs. Prendergast put her arm round her and kissed her.

'Don't,' said Lucilla, with the sweetest April face. 'I can't bear being
made foolish.'

Nevertheless Mrs. Prende