rself could say but
little in defence of her old friend, who had lost all claim upon
that friendship since the offer of the bribe had been made,--so that
it was understood among them all that Lizzie was to be regarded as
a black sheep;--but hitherto Lord Fawn himself had concealed his
feelings before Lucy. Now unfortunately he spoke out, and in speaking
was especially bitter against Frank. "Mr. Greystock has been most
insolent," he said as they were all sitting together in the library
after dinner. Lady Fawn made a sign to him and shook her head. Lucy
felt the hot blood fly into both her cheeks, but at the moment she
did not speak. Lydia Fawn put out her hand beneath the table and took
hold of Lucy's. "We must all remember that he is her cousin," said
Augusta.

"His relationship to Lady Eustace cannot justify ungentlemanlike
impertinence to me," said Lord Fawn. "He has dared to use words to me
which would make it necessary that I should call him out, only--"

"Frederic, you shall do nothing of the kind!" said Lady Fawn, jumping
up from her chair.

"Oh, Frederic, pray, pray don't!" said Augusta, springing on to her
brother's shoulder.

"I am sure Frederic does not mean that," said Amelia.

"Only that nobody does call any body out now," added the pacific
lord. "But nothing on earth shall ever induce me to speak again to
a man who is so little like a gentleman." Lydia now held Lucy's
hand still tighter, as though to prevent her rising. "He has never
forgiven me," continued Lord Fawn, "because he was so ridiculously
wrong about the Sawab."

"I am sure that had nothing to do with it," said Lucy.

"Miss Morris, I shall venture to hold my own opinion," said Lord
Fawn.

"And I shall hold mine," said Lucy bravely. "The Sawab of Mygawb had
nothing to do with what Mr. Greystock may have said or done about his
cousin. I am quite sure of it."

"Lucy, you are forgetting yourself," said Lady Fawn.

"Lucy, dear, you shouldn't contradict my brother," said Augusta.

"Take my advice, Lucy, and let it pass by," said Amelia.

"How can I hear such things said and not notice them?" demanded Lucy.
"Why does Lord Fawn say them when I am by?"

Lord Fawn had now condescended to be full of wrath against his
mother's governess. "I suppose I may express my own opinion, Miss
Morris, in my mother's house."

"And I shall express mine," said Lucy. "Mr. Greystock is a gentleman.
If you say that he is not a gentleman, it is not true." U