her off
besides, in the space of a fortnight, which is the very utmost you could
possibly have out of your six weeks! Really, Maurice, I gave you credit
for more reasonableness."

"I have no doubt I could do it," he said, a little vexed, "and of
course I should try to get back as quickly as possible."

"Well, let me see if I cannot suggest something a little more
practicable. Is there no person who would undertake the management of
the mere business part of the arrangements?"

"Yes," Maurice answered a little reluctantly. "I dare say there is."

"As for the breaking up of the household, I should think my uncle would
like to give the directions himself, and I do not see what more you
could do; and for anything regarding his comfort, could not you trust to
those old friends you spoke of?"

Maurice shook his head impatiently.

"They are going away--for anything I know, they may be gone now. No,
Louisa, your schemes are very good, but they will not do. I must go
myself; that is, if I can."

"And the fact of the matter is that you want me to help you to persuade
grandpapa that he can spare you."

"Will you help me? I know it will be hard. I would not ask him if I were
not half wild with anxiety."

Lady Dighton looked at her cousin's face, which was indeed full of
excitement.

"What a good son you are, Maurice," she said slowly.

Maurice felt the blood rush to his very temples.

"I am a dreadful humbug," he said, feeling that the confession must
come. "Don't be shocked, Louisa; it is not altogether about my father,
but I tell you the truth when I say that I am half wild."

She smiled in a sort of satisfied, self-gratulatory way, and said,
"Well," which was just what was needed, and brought out all that Maurice
could tell about the Costellos. He said to himself afterwards that he
had from the first been half disposed to confess the whole story, and
only wanted to know how she was likely to take it; but the truth was
that, being as utterly unskilful as man could be in anything like
deception, he had placed himself in a dilemma from which she only meant
to let him extricate himself by telling her what was really in his mind.

So Lady Dighton made her first acquaintance with Lucia, not, as Maurice
had dreamed of her doing, in bodily presence, but through the golden
mist of a lover's description; in the midst of which she tried to see a
common-place rustic beauty, but could not quite succeed; and half
against her