th
me. Good-bye." And so they parted.

CHAPTER LXXVII

The Story of Lucy Morris Is Concluded

On the day appointed, Lucy Morris went back from the house of the old
countess to Fawn Court. "My dear," said Lady Linlithgow, "I am sorry
that you are going. Perhaps you'll think I haven't been very kind to
you, but I never am kind. People have always been hard to me, and I'm
hard. But I do like you."

"I'm glad you like me, as we have lived together so long."

"You may go on staying here, if you choose, and I'll try to make it
better."

"It hasn't been bad at all,--only that there's nothing particular
to do. But I must go. I shall get another place as a governess
somewhere, and that will suit me best."

"Because of the money, you mean."

"Well;--that in part."

"I mean to pay you something," said the countess, opening her
pocket-book, and fumbling for two bank-notes which she had deposited
there.

"Oh, dear, no. I haven't earned anything."

"I always gave Macnulty something, and she was not near so nice as
you." And then the countess produced two ten-pound notes. But Lucy
would have none of her money, and when she was pressed, became proud
and almost indignant in her denial. She had earned nothing, and she
would take nothing; and it was in vain that the old lady spread the
clean bits of paper before her. "And so you'll go and be a governess
again; will you?"

"When I can get a place."

"I'll tell you what, my dear. If I were Frank Greystock, I'd stick to
my bargain." Lucy at once fell a-crying, but she smiled upon the old
woman through her tears. "Of course he's going to marry that little
limb of the devil."

"Oh, Lady Linlithgow,--if you can, prevent that!"

"How am I to prevent it, my dear? I've nothing to say to either of
them."

"It isn't for myself I'm speaking. If I can't--if I can't--can't have
things go as I thought they would by myself, I will never ask any one
to help me. It is not that I mean. I have given all that up."

"You have given it up?"

"Yes;--I have. But nevertheless I think of him. She is bad, and he
will never be happy if he marries her. When he asked me to be his
wife, he was mistaken as to what would be good for him. He ought not
to have made such a mistake. For my sake he ought not."

"That's quite true, my dear."

"But I do not wish him to be unhappy all his life. He is not bad, but
she is very bad. I would not for worlds that anybody should tell him
that he owe